The holidays are over, and spring is still a few months (and lots of degrees) away. Shake off the winter blues with these fun, creative strategies that turn saving money into an activity your whole family can enjoy.
- Make Saving Money a Game
Try a saving challenge like a “no-spend week,” where you limit spending on nonessentials – like your favorite coffee-shop latte. If that latte costs $5 and you buy three every week, you could save $15 on coffee alone. Another idea is a “saving swap month,” where you pick an item that you’d normally spend money on each day and transfer that same amount into your savings account. You’ll be amazed by how much you can save!
- Turn a Hobby Into a Side Hustle
If you’re into arts and crafts, consider selling your creations online. Do you love pets? You can sign up online as a pet sitter or dog walker and make a little extra cash while spending time with some new furry friends.
- Get Creative With Leftovers
When you toss out leftovers, you’re not just throwing away food, you’re throwing away money. Think about repurposing leftovers: If you made baked chicken, use the leftovers for sandwiches, pot pies, soup, or chicken salad later in the week.
- Save Loose Change in a Big Jar
This may sound old school, but it’s still an effective way to save a little cash with a minimum of effort. Take loose change from your pocket or purse at the end of the day and toss it in a jar. Once the jar is full, treat your family to a pizza night!
- Eat at Home for a Week
Ordering takeout or going to restaurants can take a big bite out of your budget. Eat your meals at home (and pack a lunch for work) for an entire week. If you really want a challenge, try doing this for 30 days!
- Take the 52-Week Savings Challenge
With this challenge, you save an increasing amount every week for 12 months. Here’s an example: Save $1 the first week, $2 the second week, $3 the third week, and so on. By the end of the 52 weeks, you’ll have saved $1,378!
- Get Your Kids Involved
You can teach your kids good savings habits in a fun and engaging way. Find small jobs around the house and then pay them for completing the tasks. For example, you can pay your kids 50 cents for every room they vacuum. The money they earn adds up and teaches them a lesson while you get the benefit of help around the house. It’s a win-win.
- Cut Back on One Expense
Depriving yourself of all luxuries isn’t just difficult; it’s also impractical. However, choosing one expense to reduce or eliminate is totally doable. That could be dining out for lunch a few times a week, a gym membership you don’t use much, or a cable or streaming service you can live without. By targeting just one expense, you can free up a little cash in your budget without feeling like you’re sacrificing a lot.
- Write It Down Before You Buy
If there’s something you want to buy, like a new pair of shoes or a golf club, write it down and wait a week. If you’re still thinking about it after seven days, go ahead and buy it. You might be amazed at how much you can save by thinking twice about an impulse purchase.
- Save for Something Fun
Having a savings goal can keep you motivated, and what better goal than saving for something fun? Maybe it’s a family vacation, a new big-screen TV, or even a car. Saving for something you’re excited about makes the process more enjoyable and helps keep you on track.
- Open an EZSavings Account
With just $100, you can open an EZSavings account at Citizens Bank. Skip the trip to a branch and set up automatic transfers, which makes building your savings easy and convenient.
Citizens Bank has helped Tennesseans with their banking needs for more than four generations. Whatever your savings goals are, we’re here for you.