6 major expenses to reconsider if you want to save money

1. Food

More than 60% of Russians spend about halfThe Russians revealed what share of income they spend on food / RIA Novosti your monthly income. Food is the budget item from which you can really squeeze some free money. Here are some working life hacks that will help you save money on food.

"‎Reboot"‎ Approach to Cooking

Analyze the cost of your menu and revise your shopping list in favor of local products and seasonal vegetables and fruits. To save money on food, try preparing meals a few days in advance. For example, chicken fillet can be fried and eaten in one dinner, or you can send it to pilaf, which is enough for at least 2-3 meals. Try to give up semi-finished products from the store: many blanks are easy to make at home and send to the freezer. Freezing is perfectly tolerated not only by cutlets or fish steaks, but also by broth, cheesecakes and spring rolls.

Even if money is not easy, try to stick to a balanced diet whenever possible. Good if in the daily menu

willHealthy Eating / World Health Organization at least 400 grams of fruits and vegetables. Potatoes are not included in this norm, but cabbage or carrot fit quite well. Add whole grains and legumes to your regular shopping list, but reduce your intake of red meat and meat products to three servings a week - their excess in the diet can be tiedLimit red and processed meat / World Cancer Research Fund with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Bring homemade meals to work

Perhaps a business lunch at the nearest cafe is the only thing that pleases you during the working day. But if you need money urgently, you will have to give up going to establishments. Of course, you can calculate the time for searching for products, cooking, washing dishes and decide that lunch at a restaurant will save you 3-4 hours of rest. But, as a rule, minutes free from the kitchen rarely turn into additional income. But you still have to cook for the family and go to the store anyway. Therefore, put aside part of the dinner in a lunch box and proudly carry homemade lunch at the office.

Make lists and buy groceries for the week at once

Determine how much you are willing to spend on food this month and divide it into 4 equal parts. This will be a weekly food budget: based on it, you can estimate an approximate menu and make a list of necessary products. Once every couple of days, looking into the supermarket is a bad idea: there is a risk that your hand will reach for unnecessary little things at the checkout or a promotional product that you could do without. Try to buy globally once a week, without deviating from the list and the allocated amount. Food that is stored for a long time is better to buy in wholesale stores, and bread and greens in small shops near the house.

For seasonal vegetables and fruits, look at the market: most likely, they will be cheaper there than in the store. And if you go shopping in the late afternoon, there is a chance negotiate the seller has a discount.

Take with a margin only what you will definitely eat

It’s hard to resist discounts, but it’s even harder to admit to yourself that you shouldn’t have spent money on food that ended up in the bin. Do not give in to the hype and buy for the future only those products that are included in your regular diet. For example, if you don’t like canned fish, it makes no sense to stuff a closet with a dozen cans of saury on a rainy day. You are unlikely to eat it, but it will be a shame to spend money in vain.

2. House

Housing costs can also be cut. If flat rent eats up most of the income - this is not a bell, but an alarm. Look at comfortable options in the suburbs. It may be cheaper to travel to a metropolis than to live in it, especially if you work remotely.

And if you have your own apartment or house, pay attention to regular expenses.

Disable unnecessary services

Take a closer look around the apartment. Maybe somewhere behind the TV there is an old cable box that you don’t watch, and a house phone is dusty on the shelf. Call the service companies and check if you are on the list of subscribers.

Review all the services you use. For example, Internet service providers often release promotional offers and give good discounts to new customers. It's also worth looking into subscriptions. Turn off auto payments for apps and services you can do without.

Save on utilities

There are quite a few life hackswhich will help to reduce the consumption of water and electricity. For example, you can replace conventional lamps with energy-saving ones and install aerators on taps. You should also be attentive to your own household habits. Don't run the washing machine for one T-shirt, turn off the lights when you leave the room, and unplug your appliances after you've used them. Finally, don't waste water and turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth, soaping your face, or wiping food off a plate or pan.

Buy universal household chemicals

Advertising insistently convinces that every surface in the house needs its own cleaning agent. In fact, you can do without extra spending. Search stores for options that are suitable for mopping floors, tiles, and plumbing fixtures. For example, with the help of a universal grease remover, it will be possible to wash the stove, table, tiled apron and hood. And it’s also profitable to buy household chemicals immediately in a large container.

3. Entertainment

If you decide to go into saving mode, this does not mean that you have to sit at home all day long. The choice of budget entertainment is not so small: for example, movie tickets, Museum or the exhibition does not cost a lot of money. To learn how to relax economically, try organizing a couple of “free” days for yourself. You can visit the park and feed the birds, arrange movie gatherings for the whole family, or go to a trial tango class at a dance school. Also, study the entertainment poster of your city: there will surely be festivals, fairs or master classes in art spaces with free admission.

When making vacation plans, try to consciously avoid places where you can lose control of your wallet. If you feel that a Friday get-together with colleagues will inevitably turn into a noisy party in an expensive bar, it is better to decline the invitation in advance.

4. Personal care

Intervention in the beauty routine is a rather sensitive topic. Even the phrase “self-saving” may not sound very inspiring. But you can look and feel good without spending too much.

Skip popular salon treatments

Long-term nail coverage, hair and eyelash extensions can cost a pretty penny. If you really need to save money, it makes sense to temporarily refuse these services. So you get rid of the monthly expenses for correction. If you are doing expensive and complex coloring, like balayage or ombre, consult with the master how to get out of it without harm to the hair and maintain color at home.

Aesthetic procedures, if possible, should be replaced with medical ones. For example, instead of teeth whitening, it is worth carrying out a complete sanitation of the oral cavity, and refer skin problems to a dermatologist and not try to mask them with peels and injections. In the long run, this investment will definitely pay off.

Rethink your home care system

If you're on a tight budget, don't waste time and money testing new products. Choose basic care products that you are confident in. A reliable and proven cream will definitely not fly into the trash, which means it will not add to the list of wasted expenses.

Hair care can also be on a budget. A worthy alternative to expensive salon jars is sure to be found: shampoos and conditioners with a vegan formula, rulers to maintain color and special products for curls also available in the mass market. Also pay attention to budget professional products: they are often sold in large packages, so in terms of the amount of funds they can be more profitable than options from the supermarket.

Take care of yourself

You can master the techniques of hygienic manicure, learn how to trim your beard and even cut your hair - this is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. Study video tutorials, read the tips of the masters and do not hesitate to ask friends and acquaintances who know how to do something similar for help. Perhaps your close friend is fine dyes hair. Why not organize a master class and master a new skill?

5. Transport

If fuel costs "eat up" a significant part of the budget, in emergency financial situations it is worth switching to public transport. Carefully study your routes and select a travel card for the necessary modes of transport. As a rule, cards for a month or longer are more profitable than for a certain number of trips. And when distance and time allow, walk. It's useful and free.

6. Purchases

Universal advice: plan all acquisitions. From large household appliances to a new pair of shoes. Lists, savings apps, expense calculators, any tool will do to curb your love of shopping.

Take a break more often

If it's hard for you to leave the mall without something "for the soul", remember how often you have to spend decluttering, throw out the unnecessary and give away impulsively bought things to friends and acquaintances. Before you open your wallet, think for a couple of days whether it’s really worth spending money on another purchase that will please you for a couple of days.

A simple trick will help you to be conscious about expenses: calculate how many hours you need to work in order to earn money for your next purchase. So it will be possible to soberly assess whether you really need this thing or whether it is better to save money for something more useful.

Make friends with sales and buy things out of season

As a rule, swimwear is cheaper in winter, and down jackets are cheaper in summer. If you learn how to properly plan expenses and save a little bit in a separate envelope for the necessary purchases, then global sales can profitably replenish your wardrobe.

Many companies that provide services are also willing to participate in discounts. For example, if you catch a promotion, you can get a car serviced or enroll in an English course at a good discount.

Communicate with pharmacists

Many brand name drugs have budget analogues with the same dosage of the active substance. Of course, it’s not worth taking risks and choosing them yourself, but you can consult a pharmacist. And do not hesitate to ask the pharmacy for "the simplest." Even an ordinary green, but in the form of a felt-tip pen, can cost three times more than the usual solution in a vial.

Rent what you won't need for a long time

It makes no sense to buy a drill if you need to screw on a shelf once a year, or invest in ski equipment for the whole family if you only see the mountains on vacation. Look into rent. Firstly, it’s cheaper, and secondly, you don’t have to think about where to store a thing that is needed only occasionally. Treadmills, baby walkers, carnival costumes, construction tools, snowboards, crutches, TVs - all this can be rented.