We all have the Spring cleaning itch as the sun peeks through our windows, and the cloudy skies give way to lovely blue skies with white puffy clouds. It’s kind of hard to resist the spring cleaning urge, to purge, clean and make a difference.
There are so many ways that you can spring clean from you house to your car to your budget. That’s right, your budget needs spring cleaned as well and if you just paid taxes or are getting ready to pay taxes you may already have seen the green light to clean up how you spend.
Get ready to lavishly live life out loud and learn those 3 secrets of spring cleaning your budget that will forever change how you spend.
3 Secrets of Spring Cleaning Your Budget
Most people are so upset by the end of tax time because they wanted bigger refunds, no payouts, and of course, suddenly their bottom line gets a tad shaken from their year of spending. The big question of where did all my money go always seems to occur during the spring. While greater plans are on the cusp of the season (vacation, summer fun, etc) it might not be the best thing their budget.
Today I have partnered with Tatu Digital Media to share with you one of the most amazing sales to help you spring clean your spring budget!
Step By Step
I am not suggesting that you just up and stop everything you are doing in your spending habits, I am suggesting that making a few small tweaks can make a large difference. The biggest step forward in spring cleaning your budget is the realization that you need to do this in small, gradual steps, being consistent with your plan and keeping with it. Tackling your spending is not about cutting everything you spend out of your life, rather it is about finding ways to spend smarter and earn as you go.
1) Stop Dining Out Everyday
Most of us that work are guilty of going out to lunch or dinner on a daily basis, stop the madness. Before you, believe me, believe yourself. For one week before you stop dining out, gather your receipts and put them in a zippy bag for the whole week. At the end of the week total out what YOU spend on dining out, you will astound yourself with the cost.
Don’t kill yourself by NOT dining out just cut back. Perhaps instead of 5 days a week start by cutting out 1 day a week, then 2, then 3, leaving yourself with 2 days out and 3 days in, the savings will add up! Now save those receipts each week, and compare them to total of the receipts weeks ago, how are you doing? I bet you are starting to spring clean your budget and cut back on frivolous spending right?
2) Rewards For Spending
Make sure that no matter where you are spending you are signed up for their rewards. If it is clothing at American Eagle, sign up for their program, if it is at Starbucks, get signed up for their rewards program so that every cup of coffee gets you a cup somewhere down the road.
Spending is about earning and maximizing your spending potential. Realize that you will spend money at any given time, but at least if you do spend money you will have something waiting for you down the road whether it is a free coffee or a large discount on clothing!
3) Gift Cards
For those that shop a lot, or love Starbucks or American Eagle, Toys R’ Us, Crate and Barrell, all those addictive stores, shop, but use gift cards. Buy a gift card, and limit your spending to what the amount of the gift card is. Your spending habits will quickly dial back and your credit cards won’t be maxed out with Extra that you did not need. There are limits and a gift card teaches that quickly.
Gift Cards Can Make A Difference
Perhaps you have a ton of gift cards in a drawer that you swore you would use but you truly don’t like the places they are too. You have a few choices, a) Re-Gift b) find a site like Cardpool that allows you to do a gift card exchange.
Cardpool allows you to safely and securely buy discounted, pre-owned gift cards and here is the crazy value…. You can buy these up to 35% off so you are already getting a discount before you ever get out the door. Perhaps you want to sell your unwanted gift cards, you can for up to 92% of their value.
Use my 3 secrets to spring clean your spring budget and start making easy financial changes in your bottom line! Lavishly live springtime savings out loud!