Are you a savvy saver?

Being a savvy saver can reduce your stress in many ways, from eliminating the risk of having bad credit to giving you the peace of mind of knowing you are prepared for a rainy day.

Before we get started on listing some great tips on how to save money, you might want to assess just how good you are at saving right now. Use our fun quiz below to see how you rate!

Now that you know which saver category you fall under, let’s look at how you might boost your financial wellbeing. Even if you got the ‘Savvy Saver’ result (nice work!), you should definitely keep reading – there is always room to improve when it comes to saving money.

The Dreaded ‘B’ Word

As much as you may loathe the idea of a budget, there is no doubt that drawing one up is the best place to start. Physically writing down the ideal amount of money your household should be spending (and not spending!) each week will help motivate you to keep on track with your goals. It is much harder to ignore a figure on paper than an approximate number that only exists in your head.

Shop Smart

Grocery stores can sometimes be like casinos; you walk in without knowing how much lighter your wallet might be when you come back out. To reduce the risk of overspending on groceries, be sure to write a list beforehand and stick to it. Also, look out for sales on items you regularly eat or use. Buying sale items in bulk can be a great way to save big in the long term – but only if the product in question is actually something you need.

If you are a bit of a shopaholic and your preferred supermarket happens to be in a shopping centre, try to restrict your grocery shopping to night time. This way, the neighbouring retail stores should be closed and unable to tempt you into browsing for some extra purchases. Also remember to always shop on a full stomach!

Save on Your Basic Amenities

Electricity and water bills can be the Achilles’ heel of any household’s money-saving efforts. Few things are as disheartening as seeing the extra cash you have saved over several weeks being repurposed to cover an unexpectedly hefty power bill.

Small yet effective ways to keep these bills low include:

• Turning lights off when not in use
• Turning appliances off at the wall
• Using the air conditioner or heater sparingly
• Using energy-efficient appliances
• Having shorter showers
• Recycling bath water for watering the garden
• Use the ‘cold water’ option whenever appropriate.

Make a copy of this list and keep it where your whole family will regularly be reminded of it.

For more ideas check out our list of the top 10 budgeting tips.

Little Things Add Up

Reflect on your daily and weekly routine. Have you developed any habits that could be costing you more than they are worth? Buying your lunch or morning coffee each day might seem inexpensive, but the total cost of doing so over a long period of time can be surprisingly steep.

Try to swap costly habits for cheaper alternatives, or cut them out of your life altogether. This might mean going out for dinner less often or cutting down on alcoholic beverages, for example.

If you need some professional help with your savings situation or any other financial products, we are here to help. Browse our website to discover what we can do for you or contact us now to chat with one of our friendly staff members.