Getting Rid of Bills is just like Getting Rid of Calories
-The GiRL
I honor of upcoming New Year’s resolutions and the consumerism of the holiday I’ve taken and twisted the Gold’s Gym “How to drop 500 Calories a Day” into a “Lose Weight and Change your Budget every Day.”
Change your Daily Grind
-Dance for two hours
-Plan out your week adding activities to your routine that are cheap and fun. They’ll use up your time and keep you from spending on entertainment that isn’t in the budget.
-Get enough sleep
-Caffeine to stimulate you in the morning? Starbucks not only packs on the pounds if you choose your comfort it also jumps on the budget. One Starbucks a week can be an extra $25 a month. Can’t get enough sleep? Starbucks makes hot coffee and iced coffee that you can buy at Safeway or Target for only $5-6 dollars. You’ll get 6 dinks out of what you would regularly spend for one.
-Don’t eat in front of the TV, trade the hour in front of the TV with an hour of walking.
-Really hate commercials? Drop that cable or satellite bill and save up to $50 a month. Trade in for Hulu Plus or Netflix and spend only $10-20 a month. Or if you just love having those sports and history channels go over to a friend or family member’s house and enjoy the game there – you’ll see people and save money.
-Get in tune with your Tummy (pay attention to how full you are)
-Overeating leads to extra weight just like over spending leads to high credit cards and extra bills. Pay attention to how much money you’re actually making.
-Limit your Dinner guests (7 or more people make you eat 96% more food)
-Um, this one is s stretch, but ever remember the saying “keeping up with the Joneses.” Unfortunately, your friends might make more money than you or worse, they might be more willing to max out their Credit Cards than you…so remember, friends can make you spend, stick within your own means and don’t be afraid to say no to the people that will steal the tip from the waiter.
Slim your Habits
-Simple tricks to fill up (with less!). Always tired on Tuesdays? Plan to eat in with an inexpensive routine. You know you’re always tired on Tuesdays and not having to make dinner makes you feel better – so plan on eating that $5 Safeway pizza you bought on Friday and put in the freezer today.
-Don’t clean your plate. Stop trying to live month to month. Build an emergency fund for those stupid accidents in life that always set you behind.
-Use smaller plates. Stop paying for items with cash lately? Make the switch back to cash, or if you’re using a debit card a lot trying signing up for aggregation services like mint.com (remember to check on security and all that stuff first – that’s like buying microwave and dishwasher safe dishes so you don’t have to clean up after a mess).
-Serve and sit. This one is about leaving serving dishes on an island and not on a dinner table. Essentially do what you can to not go back for more – make grocery lists, plan meals, and stick to it!
-Make a swap. Shop around for great prices.
-Make mine a mini. Considering buying a new car? Watch out for cars that will cost a lot in the long run. How expensive are the parts to replace if they break? Do you really need a truck if you use the bed once a year? You can always rent a truck for a day if you need it.
-Ditch that buttered movie popcorn. No comment. Buttered popcorn is always good – I’d make my cuts someplace else.
-Count your chips (and crackers). Track your spending to see where the money is really going. Are you paying the right percentages toward your living expenses or are you weighted a little heavy in the restaurant category?
-Step away from the nuts, especially if they’re in a big bowl. Go right to the clearance rack first to see if you like an item there before pursuing the fully priced items.
-Skip the whip — or at least size it down. Find ways to indulge without spending a lot. Maybe you need to set aside some ‘fun money’ each month.
-Skinny up cocktails. Um…alcohol is expensive. Make what you drink special with special people. You’ll cut calories and save a ton of money.
-Kick the soda habit. I’m not even going to try to comment on this one. Anyone that knows me knows I fail about every day. Don’t forget to recognize that you will fail with finances too, but you can always try to do better.
I could go on through the 50 tip list. Just remember that losing weight is a lot like sticking within your means. You can go overboard and even skimp too much. Find out what is healthy for your finances just like you do for your body. After all, you don’t want to do what this Dad did:
So concerned about finances every morning a Dad would make his children cereal for breakfast. Whatever the children didn’t eat in the morning went into the fridge until after school. The kiddos couldn’t have any snacks or dinner until they finished whatever cereal (in milk) was leftover from the morning meal.
Don't be a soggy cereal man and don't be a over indulgent fudge-sickle either.
