Many people do not know how hard it is to live alone unless they have been through the same situation themselves. Generally speaking, being on your own is hard because technically you have no one to rely on. One of the most significant problems of people living alone is their failure to save enough money which puts them in significant financial distress in the future.
When you first moved out of your parents’ home and took the risk of living in the real world, you may have realized that you still had many things to learn the hard way. One of them is how to handle your finances properly. Questions like how much money should you save in the bank or is getting home appliance insurance necessary for your brand new TV or other appliances are just some of the problems that you need to address personally. To prevent you from having a major headache here are some practical money saving tips that you can learn from.
Choose the best phone plan
Being independent means that it is time for you to exclude yourself from the family home phone plan. Take your time in choosing the best phone and data provider in the market that fits your needs and your budget. Having your own phone plan will teach you to manage your data usage as well as your calls and text messages.
Plan your finances accordingly
If you have a laptop or computer, it is easier to plan your monthly budget using a spreadsheet. Writing your estimated income and expenses in different columns gives you visibility regarding how much money you should be spending each month. Just make sure that you save at least 10% to 15% of your salary as a buffer in case of emergencies and make sure that your expenses are lower than your income.
Plan your meals in advance
Before heading down the grocery store, it is essential to make a complete list of the things that you need for the rest of the week. Creating a menu for each meal is a big help when you are trying to save money. Dining out with friends can be fun, but if you do it most of the time, you are going to end up spending a lot of money.
Clean as you go
One of the disadvantages of living in a tiny space is that it can get pretty messy in a short period. Household chores could start to pile up, and you might end up hiring a person to clean up your mess which costs money. To prevent this from happening it is best to instil discipline in the household by cleaning up your space regularly. You can also do the laundry every 2 to 3 days to prevent it from piling up.
Having the right kind of discipline when living alone will prevent you from accumulating debt in the future. That is why it is vital to save while you have the chance to do it.
