Establishing new habits care be very challenging. One only need read all the hype before every New Year to understand that resolutions are rarely kept.
Unless?
You concentrate on small, meaningful changes and goals.
Studies have long shown that making small, meaningful changes, one by one, are the key to successfully attaining your resolutions so don’t wait until New Years to start your frugal resolutions. Start now with small changes that will add up over time:
- Stop eating out 20% of the meals you are currently eating out. Don’t go cold turkey, just resolve to eat more meals at home. If 20% seems daunting, aim for 10% and work your way up until you are only eating out a handful of meals every month.
- Cut down on those pricy convenience apps. Start with one you hardly use and every few weeks, delete the account and app for another. You honestly don’t need the temptation of multiple delivery apps that will only cost you money.
- Track your current spending. Every frugal person I know does this. Go old school if you have with a pad of paper and a pen to but just track what you normally spend. I prefer a spreadsheet, but any old method will do to start. The results will be eye opening.
- Go spend free one day a week. Figure out which day is easiest and resolve to spend not even one penny. Every month or so, add another day until you are spending no money the majority of your week. That includes spending money on food, gas, deliveries, you name it.
- Start saving now. It could be just $10 a week but start now.
- Repair, recycle or repurpose at least one thing a week. I keep a basket of ‘projects’ for this. It includes clothes that I plan to alter or repair, some crafting projects using recycled items and a couple of odds and ends that I want to repurpose, but I am honestly not sure what I am going to do with them. Yet.
- Hunt for value, not just the lowest price, when you need to buy something. Quality products that last longer can save money over time. Make this your go-to response any time you need to purchase something.
- Learn a new skill that can save you money. Maybe preserve foods or do simple repairs on your home. Many community centers offer very reasonably priced classes. Most cities also have gardening groups that will advise you for free. A friend and I took a pasta making class on a whim and now nothing beats the homemade pasta I regularly make. Pasta, admittedly, can be pretty cheap, but certainly not at a high-end restaurant. My partner would now rather eat my homemade pasta than eat out. I also taught myself how to make a variety of cheeses which has definitely saved me money. I simply wait until milk goes on special and then make homemade cheese for very cheap.
- Learn and use new sources for finding free things and go to them first when you need something. Two options to consider: The Buy Nothing Project is made up of hyper-local groups where neighbors give away furniture, clothing, home décor, kitchen items, plants, and more for free. The Buy Nothing Project. Freecycle is a nonprofit network where people give away items they no longer need. Great for furniture, household goods, tools, garden supplies, and even vintage items. Membership is free. Freecycle: Front Door
- Tackle one chore a month that you used to contract out. Cleaning the house, washing the car, a manicure…something that you used to pay someone else to do but you can certainly do yourself.
- Bag it at least twice-three times a week. If you work, start bringing your lunch to work. Not only will you save money but time. You aren’t out at restaurants, you are working at your desk, getting home earlier. You will also use up leftovers and end up saving even more.
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