. Track your spending and income so you have an accurate picture of your financial situation. Save receipts or write down your purchases in a notebook as you make them. Review your bills each month and add those expenses to your budget.
Organize your purchases by category (food, clothing, entertainment, etc.). Categories with the highest monthly amounts (or monthly amounts you consider surprisingly high) may be good targets for saving money.
Once you've tracked your purchases for a while, create a monthly (or weekly) limit for each category. Make sure the total budget is smaller than your income for that period, with enough left over for savings if possible.
2Plan your purchases in advance. Making spur of the moment decisions can balloon your expenditures. Write down what you need to buy while you're calm and at home.
Make a preliminary trip before you go on your real shopping trip. Note the prices of several alternatives at one or more stores. Return home without buying anything and decide which products to buy on your second, "real" expedition. The more focused you are and the less time you spend in the store, the less you'll spend.
If you are motivated to treat each purchase as an important decision, you will make better decisions.
Do not accept free samples or try something on just for fun. Even if you don't plan on purchasing it, the experience can convince you to make a decision now instead of considering it carefully in advance.
3Avoid impulse purchases. If planning your purchases in advance is a good idea, buying something on the spur of the moment is a terrible one. Follow these tips to avoid making shopping decisions for the wrong reasons:
Don't browse store windows or shop for fun. If you're only buying something because you find the act of shopping fun, you'll likely end up spending too much on stuff you don't need.
Don't make purchasing decisions when your judgement is impaired. Alcohol, other drugs, or sleep deprivation can harm your ability to make sensible decisions. Even shopping while hungry or listening to loud music can be a bad idea if you don't stick to your shopping list.
4Shop alone. Children, friends who love shopping, or even just a friend whose tastes you respect can influence you to spend extra money.
Do not take advice from store employees. If you need a question answered, politely listen to their response but ignore any advice on purchasing decisions. If they won't leave you alone, leave the store and return later to make your decision.
5Pay in full and in cash. Credit and debit cards increase spending for two reasons: you have much more money available to spend than you normally would, and because no visible money is changing hands, it doesn't register as a "real" purchase. Similarly, running up a bar tab or using a delayed payment scheme makes it harder to realize how much you're actually spending.
Don't bring more cash with you than you need. If you don't have the extra money, you can't spend it. Similarly, withdraw your weekly budget from an ATM once a week rather than filling up your wallet whenever you run out.
6Don't be fooled by marketing. Outside influences are a huge factor affecting what we spend our money on. Be vigilant and try to be aware of all the reasons you're drawn to a product.
Don't buy something on the basis of an advertisement. Whether on television or the product's packaging, treat ads with skepticism. They are designed to encourage you to spend money and will not provide an accurate portrayal of your options.
Don't purchase something just because it's reduced price. Coupons and sales are great for products you were alr purchasing something you don't need just because it's 50% off does not save money.
Be aware of pricing tricks. Translate that "$1.99" price into "$2". Judge the price of an item on its own merits, not because it's a "better deal" than another option by the same company. (By making the "worse deal" atrocious value, someone can trick you into paying more for add-ons you don't need).
7Wait for sales and discounts. If you know you'll need a particular item but don't need it today, wait until it ends up in the bargain bin or try to find a coupon for it.
Only use a coupon or take advantage of a discount for an item you absolutely need or decided to buy before the discount occurred. The attraction of a cheaper price is an easy way to get customers to buy something they don't need.
Buy products only useful at particular times of year during the off season. A winter coat should be cheap during summer weather.
8Do your research. Before making expensive purchases, go online or read consumer reports to find out how to get the most bang for the least buck. Find the product within your budget that will last longest and meet your needs best.
9Take all the costs into account. You'll end up paying a lot more than the sticker price for many big-ticket items. Read all the fine print and add up the total amount before making your decision.
Don't be fooled by lower monthly payments. Calculate the total amount you'll spend (monthly payments x number of months until fully paid) to find out what the cheapest option is.
If you're taking out a loan,
you'll have to pay.
10Give yourself occasional, inexpensive treats. This may sound paradoxical (isn't this buying something you don't need?) but in fact, it's easier to maintain your spending goals if you give yourself the occasional reward. Try to go cold turkey on unnecessary spending and you may eventually "crack" and splurge much more than you should.
Set aside a very limited amount of money in your budget for these treats. The goal is to give yourself a small reward to keep your spirits up and prevent a giant splurge later.
If your usual methods of treating yourself are expensive, find cheaper alternatives. Take a bubble bath at home instead of going to the spa, or borrow a movie from the library instead of going to the theater.
1Only purchase what you actually need. Go through your closet and see what you already have. Sell or give away anything you don’t wear or that doesn’t fit so you have a better idea of your situation.
Clearing out your closet is not an excuse to buy replacements. The goal is to find out what types of clothing you have enough of, and which you actually need more of.
2Know when to spend more for quality. It's foolish to buy the priciest brand of socks, since those wear out quickly. However, spending more money on a pair of higher quality, longer lasting shoes may save you money in the long run.
Remember that price doesn't guarantee quality. Research what the longest lasting brands are rather than assume the most expensive option is best.
Similarly, wait until the item you need goes on sale when possible. Remember not to use sales an excuse to purchase items you don't require.
3Shop at thrift stores. Some secondhand clothing shops carry surprisingly high quality items. At the very least, you should be able to purchase basic items for a fraction of brand new prices.
Thrift stores in more affluent neighborhoods usually receive higher-quality donations.
4If you can't find it in a thrift store, buy cheap, generic brands. A designer logo does not indicate a higher quality.
1Compile a weekly menu and shopping list. Once you have an amount budgeted for food, write down in advance the exact meals you will eat and what you need to purchase at the grocery store to make them.
This will not only prevent you from making impulse buys at the grocery store, but also prevent wasting money due to food waste, a major expenditure for many people. If you find yourself throwing away food, reduce the size of your planned meals.
. There are many ways to save money while grocery shopping, from buying food in bulk to knowing the times of day when various products are cheaper.
3Minimize eating at restaurants. Eating out is much more expensive than preparing your own food, and should never be done as an impulse by someone who is trying to save money.
Pack a lunch at home instead and bring it with you to work or class.
Fill a water bottle using your tap at home instead of buying expensive bottled water.
Similarly, if you drink coffee frequently, buy a cheap French press and save money by preparing it at home.
. Making wise spending decisions goes hand in hand with saving. Budget as much as you can each month toward a savings account or other reliable, interest-accumulating investment. The more money you save each month, the better your overall financial health will be. Which is pretty much the point of spending money wisely, isn't it? Here are some savings ideas for you to consider:
Establish an emergency fund.
. Compulsive habits such as smoking, drinking, or gambling can easily consume any money you save. Eliminating them from your life is both a boon to your wallet and your health.
3Don't buy what you don't need. If you're unsure about a particular purchase, ask yourself these questions. If you don't answer "yes" to all of them, that's a strong sign you shouldn't spend the money.
Will I use this item regularly? Make sure you'll drink all that milk before it goes bad, or that you have enough summer months left to wear that skirt more than a couple times.
Do I lack something that serves the same purpose? Beware specialized products whose role can be performed by basic items you already have. You probably don't need ultra-specialized kitchen equipment, or a special workout outfit when sweatpants and a T shirt will work just as well.
Will this item change my life for the better? This is a tricky question, but purchases that encourage "bad habits" or cause you to neglect important parts of your life should be avoided.
Will I miss this item if I don't buy it?
Will this item make me happy?
4Prune your hobbies. If you have a gym membership and don’t use it, don’t renew it. Avid collector turned to lukewarm possessor? Sell it. Devote your finances and your energy only into areas you are truly passionate about.
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For example:Don't say: Eat more fats.Do say: Add fats with some nutritional value to the foods you already eat. Try olive oil, butter, avocado, and mayonnaise.
Following a budget will be much easier if the entire household is committed.
Shop around regularly for utilities and insurance. Many services (phone, internet, cable or satellite, insurance, etc.) offer better deals for new customers to attract new business. If you keep moving between companies you can always stay on the cheaper plan. (Some phone companies will pay your old phone contract's early cancellation fee if you switch to them.)
When comparing two cars, calculate how much more you'll spend in gas money if you buy the less efficient (lower MPG) model.
Avoid dry-clean only clothing. Check the tags before you purchase any clothing. You don't want to repeatedly spend money on dry cleaning.
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& Waiting for a City Link delivery? You may have to collect it
Waiting for a City Link delivery? You may have to collect it
Features Desk Leader
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Update: 3.30pm, 2 January
2015: The administrators have confirmed
a "small quantity" of parcels are being held by contractors so some customers won't be able to collect them from the depots. It adds that it's in discussions with the sub-contractors to enable parcels to be returned.
Thousands of customers waiting for City Link parcels have just a week left to pick up packages from depots after the delivery firm appointed administrators
on Christmas Eve.
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'If I waste a day, you'll pay' Use the web to cut courier costs 40+ tips to slash the cost of buying online
City Link, which handles deliveries for retailers such as John
Lewis, Amazon and Mothercare, still has 30,000 parcels waiting for collection at 53
depots across the UK.
Adminstrators today said that depots will remain open until 8pm on Tuesday 6 January for customers to collect City Link parcels.
Most of the retailers who used the parcel firm have arranged
an alternative way of delivering orders but some have been unable to and in those cases, customers must go
to depots to collect their parcels.
Administrators of the failed firm say that parcels should be claimed "as
soon as possible" from depots.
How do I find out where my parcel is?
First, check with the retailer that you ordered from. It
should be able to tell you if it has arranged alternative delivery. If not, then
you can use City Link?s online tracking service to find out which depot has
your parcel. You will need your order number to locate your parcel and this
should be on your delivery confirmation. You can contact City Link on .
How long do I have to collect my parcel?
You?ll have to be quick. Administrators said that depots
will remain open for recipients and City Link customers to pick up parcels
until approximately 6 January 2015. Depots will be open from 8am to 8pm and we've asked if this is Monday to Friday and includes New Year's Day. We'll update this article as soon as we get a response.
To collect a parcel you'll need to bring
proof of purchase, plus proof of ID and proof of address. If
you're collecting a failed delivery, you may have received a card through
your letterbox which will also provide instructions.
If you don't collect the parcel in time, it doesn't necessarily mean City Link will not hold on to it, but we don't know yet what arrangements will be made after 6 January.
Don't miss out on the latest news
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What if I can?t collect my parcel?
Your contract is with the retailer, not the delivery firm,
so it?s up to them to refund you for the item and the delivery charge.
Legally you are entitled to ask for a refund if your goods haven't arrived, but if you have a problem securing one from a retailer
and you've paid for even a proportion
of the cost by credit card, then you could try to claim under Section 75 of the
Consumer Credit Act as long as the item is worth at least ?100 and under
?30,000. For more information, read our
Where Section 75 doesn't apply, there's another rule that
you may be able to fall back on if you've used a debit card or paid for an
item worth less than ?100 on a credit card. It's called chargeback, and it
allows the card provider to reverse a payment you've made to a retailer if it
agrees you've a legitimate complaint. See the full
Which retailers are involved?
John Lewis, Amazon and Mothercare, as well as
many other retailers, have used City Link to deliver packages.
A spokesman for John Lewis says: "John Lewis operates its
deliveries and click and collect proposition through a number of
external suppliers as well as its own in-house green van fleet. This enables us
to work flexibly and we have since transferred all our business with City Link
to alternative carriers."
"Mothercare has transferred all business with
City Link to alternative carriers. It is our plan to deliver customer orders
according to the original schedule," a spokesperson from Mothercare says.
We have asked Amazon for information and will
update this article as soon as we receive a reply.
What happens to staff?
The joint administrator, Hunter Kelly announced on Wednesday 31 December that 2,356 of the 2,727 staff will be made redundant after an offer which "significantly undervalued the assets to be acquired" and which "offered no money up front" was declined. The remainder ? 371 will be retained to "deal with outstanding parcels, to help realise assets and to wind down operations".
Any staff made redundant have statutory rights to redundancy pay and cash for unused holidays ? this is met by the Government if City Link itself can't pay. See
for more on your rights.Comment/Discuss
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