No matter how much money you make, the first step to saving more money is to create a budget. Budgets are easy to make- all you do is list out your expenses for the month- rent/mortgage, utility bills, insurance, car payment,gas, food- all the essentials- as well as things that you like to spend a little extra on- clothes, makeup, entertainment, video games, etc. It’s important to have fun built into your budget, so you don’t go crazy and splurge without planning! Then, you examine your expenses against your income. Any you have left over will go into your savings. (If you don’t have any left over, you need to go over your expenses and see where you can cut.)
Now, this is all good in theory. However, while I think I’m good at making budgets, I’m definitely not good at sticking to them. I’ll follow it for a month, or maybe two, and then just go back into my old ways of overspending. That’s why I was interested to read this article by Caroline at CarolineVencil.com. She has a lot of great tips on actually staying under your budget! If you have the same problem as me, check it out:
-Cutting down without actually changing your spending patterns will never work.
-Keep your budget high, but try to spend less than you need to.
-For example, if your grocery budget is $500/month for your family of five, but you only end up spending $350, that’s $150 more that can go into your savings…which adds up to $1,800 extra a year!
-Any time you stay UNDER budget on a certain expense, divert the extra to your savings!
If you and your spouse are buying a home together, it makes sense that you will both be on the mortgage as owners. Your combined income will mean you can be approved for more, and both parties are protected in case of divorce. However, there are certain instances where only one partner should apply.
I recently went vegetarian for a few reasons: ethical, environmental, and even health reasons. However, there is another reason that a lot of people don’t talk about: financial! There is a common misconception that to fit in with the “vegan lifestyle,” you have to be upper middle class, and able to afford shopping at expensive health food stores. But it’s simply not true! Some of the most frugal foods you can buy are vegan/vegetarian friendly, like rice, beans, and canned/fresh produce. And yes, while some meat substitutes can be quite pricey, not all of them are. A one pound block of tofu at my local Kroger is $1.88: compared to the absolute cheapest ground beef they have, which is $3.50 a pound.
Saving for a home is probably the largest lump sum that most of will ever spend. It takes years and lots of careful budgeting and planning to achieve, so of course it makes sense to do everything you can to protect it. Always, always, always hire a Realtor when buying or selling a home- they know the legal ins and outs and will have your (and your money)’s best interest at heart. For other ways to make sure your deposit is protected, check out this post by 
Shopping at thrift stores is a great way to save money, if you do it right. Buying used clothes, furniture, home décor, and books is usually way cheaper than buying new- and helps the environment by recycling these materials. However, since their prices are lower, it is tempting for people to spend more than they should there! I can walk into a Goodwill or other store and walk out after spending $50- which I would never spend at another store. But I justify it, since I was able to get so much for the price. For tips on being thrift store savvy, read this post by 