Saving money is an essential priority for most consumers. For a lot of people, saving money for a significant purchase can be quite a challenge.
It is a lot more than just putting a hundred dollars in your bank account. You need proper planning so that your daily lifestyle isn’t too far-stretched when you are saving for a big purchase. It will be difficult at first because you’ll need some time to adjust to this new phase of your life, so don’t stress yourself out too much.
Plan your saving schedule to include yearly or quarterly bonuses. Also, remember to mark months when you won’t be saving as much as you normally do, which includes your birthday or that of your partner’s, parents’, or children’s because you’ll be spending extra during that time.
If you are looking to lease your dream car or put down the first down payment for your house, then it is best to stop focusing on small details. Learn how to train yourself to be a natural saver every time you make a big purchase.
The Top 5 Tips to Help You Save More
Here are five tips that can help you save money every time you make a major purchase.
1. Buy Used or Older Models.
Honestly, we all know that new shiny things cost a lot more. If you are looking to buying a car for your business, maybe it is best to start looking for a used model.
A refurbished model will save you a couple of dollars, if not a couple thousand dollars! Some new products cost a lot of money and in the long run, they fail to be worth that massive markup. However, if you are not interested in refurbished vehicles then look for older versions of models.
For instance, if you are looking to buy a laptop, Windows 8 (which is an older version) will cost less than one running on Windows 10. If you are looking to buy a motorcycle, you can go to TexasBestUsedMotorcycles.com to buy a mean machine at an affordable cost.
2. Always Look for New Promotions and Coupons.
Most people find it a hassle to look for coupons. Imagine having to go through a newspaper just looking for a coupon code. But there is an easy way to go about this process.
For instance, you can subscribe to newsletters of your favourite stores you shop at. This makes it easier for you to always be aware of the latest deals and promotions. Make an email especially for all these types of emails and sort through them on every Saturday morning. Whenever you are online shopping, look for random coupons that can help you save a few bucks.
If you have a good follower count on Instagram, say around 20k followers, reach out to brands you usually use and ask for free products that you’ll promote on your social media page. These products can be anything from mobile cases to beauty products. Some brands may also be ready to pay you and offer giveaways of free products.
3. Compare Prices.
Retail stores are always trying to give the best prices. If you are looking to purchase an item at a reasonable price you can just compare prices at different stores, either online or retail.
For instance, Amazon developed a feature called Camelcamelcamel.com which can track prices of any items you want. Using just your account, you can set the price you want of any item and just wait to get an alert when the price drops to your desired price.
Many other retailers, including Best Buy, Walmart, and Target, offer similar kinds of browser extensions, so you can track a product that you want to purchase and buy it when there’s a big discount.
When it comes to electronics, you can also purchase the display piece, which usually costs 10 to 15 percent lower than a packed one. All display pieces are kept on display for only three to four months, so it is almost like buying new ones.
4. Buy Gift Cards at a Discounted Price.
If you did not know, some online retail stores such as Target sell gift cards at a discounted price. This is because some people sell their unused gift cards to these websites and in afterwards, the websites sell them at cheap prices. So, you will get a $100 gift card for only $90 and if you’re lucky, for only $85.
The best thing about gift cards is that they don’t expire, so you can save up for six to seven months and then make your big purchase. You might not be able to collect gift cards worth the price of the thing that you want to buy, but it will at least mark it down somewhat.
5. Look for Cash-Back Opportunities.
Did you know you can use cash-backs to purchase anything? For instance, a site such as Swagbucks helps you earn points by doing activities such as surveys. In the end, when the points reach the threshold, you can redeem them for gift cards. At first, you’ll find these activities time-consuming, but once it becomes a habit, you’ll be minting hundreds of dollars monthly.
When you shop for items, small or big, through affiliate links offered by Ebates, you get a certain amount of cash-back money. Once you reach the threshold, you can credit it to your bank account.
Save more by making smart choices and get on your way to reaching your goals faster!
