3 Household Tips to Uncover Extra Money in Your Budget

It doesn’t matter how much you make or how much your bills are — everyone should be saving more. And everyone knows it.

But sometimes what you know you should do and what you actually do are two very different things.

The problem is, saving isn’t easy. If you’re finding it hard to put cash in the bank, look to your home for inspiration. Here are three ways it can help you find more money to save.

1. Become the host with the most

Anyone with a jam-packed social calendar can tell you it can be costly to have friends — especially if you only ever meet over tapas and wine, or apps and beer, at your favorite restaurant. Eating out, drinks, and other special events all add up — taking a big bite out of your budget.

To save some coin, invite your friends over to your place the next time you get together. The cost of entertaining your friends can be a fraction of your bill  at a bar.

Bring up the plan with your closest friends to explain why you’re inviting them over. They might jump on board with your plan and offer to host the next night in at their place. With the task of host constantly rotating, you’ll spend even less catching up with friends.

2. Repair old clothes

A missing button, a broken zipper, or an unraveling seam — they’re reason enough to toss an old shirt or pair of pants, right? Not if you’re thinking with your budget first. These minor issues have relatively simple repairs that anyone can perform with a bit of practice.

Go online to see mending tutorials for these common problems. In most cases, the materials you’ll need are inexpensive, so you won’t have to invest a fortune in this new hobby. And any money you spend will likely be worth it when you can save your clothes from the dumpster.

3. Create a financial corner

One of the best ways to save money is to make your finances a priority in your home. When you carve out a regular time to deal with your bills and investments, you’ll have a better grasp of your cash flow. Having a dedicated space where you can work on your finances will only make it easier to make this a habit you keep all year round.

It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want — just make sure it’s deliberate, and you only use the space for your finances. That means the corner of the kitchen counter or the TV dinner stand that you keep near the couch aren’t the greatest choices. 

A desk in the corner of your living room, on the other hand, is. Whether you’re paying bills, researching alternatives to payday loans, comparing APRs of common credit cards, or doing your taxes — this is the place where you should do it all.

If you keep this area organized, it’ll be easier to find important bills, warranties, and other documents you need. Add a calendar where you mark important due dates, and you’ll have a better chance at staying on top of bill payments.

It will also help you stay focused on the task at hand. Without distractions, you’ll be able to take a deep dive into products or services you want to know more about — like direct lenders or IRAs. If you use your time wisely, you’ll find out why you would want to deal directly with your lender or what the exact contribution limits to your retirement account are for the current year. 

Creating a dedicated finance nook is a great way to save, but don’t stop here. Spend some time thinking about other ways you can find extra cash in your home. Once you get brainstorming, you might be surprised by how simple saving can be!