Banal truth: financial well-being is determined not by how much we receive, but by how much and on what we spend what we earn. But how to learn how to save money and save money with a small salary, when one trip to the store punches a hole in the family budget. Especially when the income is small, and everything is so expensive. But how many things you need to buy, you want to have even more in order to keep up with those around you. And this is a real test of love and family union for strength.

How many families have collapsed due to the fact that the wife does not know how to save money, and the husband cannot deny himself the purchase of a cool device. In a family where salaries are small, you need to learn how to buy only what you cannot do without. At least the first years of the formation of the family, this should be the case. It is better to refuse purchases that are purchased with the thought that "it may be needed."

Planning with the help of computer programs

You can trust your computer to plan income and expenses. Now there are applications for smartphones and free programs accounting for finance, which can be used for this purpose. They are usually simple and make it possible for several family members to keep their home accounting at once.

You may be surprised when you find that chips or pizza is a fat amount in your budget. You do not notice these purchases, it seems such a trifle. But in total, this item of expenditure can greatly worry and make you give up "fast food" in favor of something really important and necessary.

Gone are the days when a piece of paper and a paycheck dropped out of your wallet were enough to make a plan for spending the entire month. Now it is difficult to keep in mind all the funds that are distributed among different cards, accounts, electronic wallets and cards linked to mobile phones. The more valuable are accounting systems that bring everything together and give a complete picture of income, expenses, payments, loans and receipts from all types of earnings.

An excellent option is a family finance accounting program - Home Bookkeeping. You can find, install, use and keep track of your income and expenses.

Now there are other programs for the same purpose, but when you try to download and test them, all the time there were either “loading into the load”, or some other surprises. Therefore, we will give their name, and if you can find safe options, use it and decide which one is more convenient for you.

• Dom Economy,
• Personal finance.
• Home finance.

There is also an inexpensive program Housekeeper with a free version, if the total income of all users does not exceed 14 thousand rubles. The total cost is about 600 rubles.

Well, we offer a proven, reliable, non-buggy, free version of the paid Home Bookkeeping program (4.3.1.5 RUS). Read the documentation before installing and install it as written.

It has been working faithfully for several years now and there is no desire to switch to newer programs and options after the unsuccessful trials mentioned above.

How to save money as a family

Learning to save money and save money with a small salary is important. But it is equally important to change your attitude towards money.

Sometimes you need to rethink something, and re-understand something in order to financial situation families got stronger and money ceased to be the main headache.

The management of family finances should be carried out jointly by husband and wife in a spirit of openness and trust.

1. Control over money by one of the spouses creates inequality in marriage, and this should be avoided.
2. Conversely, if the partner in marriage voluntarily and completely withdraws from planning family finances, then he or she is evading responsibility, shifting it onto the shoulders of the other spouse.

The ability to limit oneself in desires

Learning to say “no” to yourself when it comes to money can be more important than taking an accounting course. Newlyweds must accept that they cannot spend the same amount of money and maintain the lifestyle that they are used to in their parents' family. Now they themselves fill and spend the family piggy bank.

A spouse proves his maturity when he thinks about the needs of his family before satisfying his desire and spending money on something. Money management skills should be learned together, solving all issues together.

If a husband thinks that money is slipping through his wife's hands, all that can be said is that you both need to learn how to budget. And he will learn to step on the throat of his desires if they do not fit into the family budget. Otherwise, you yourself will not notice how you will drown in loans and borrowings.

You can get into loans only when it is vital or will give you the opportunity to earn money with the help of purchased equipment or inventory. And then three hundred times it is necessary to calculate all the risks and provide for force majeure. It is very easy to be in bondage for years, it is difficult to get out of there.

How to plan a family budget

Every family should have an understanding of how much money will be available each month. As well as the amount that is paid regularly for utilities, communications, transport, and so on. The Home Bookkeeping program clearly takes this into account. You can connect a reminder so as not to overdue monthly payments.

1. With the exception of buying a house, paying for an education, or other very important investments, avoid debt and the financial obligations that come with it.
2. Buy durable goods and pay for vacations with cash or savings.
3. Avoid loans and microloans and be careful when using credit cards.

Keep a small percentage of your income in the bank. The savings needed in case of force majeure should be enough to fulfill all family obligations for at least three months. This is the airbag that must be accumulated in the first place.

1. Compare income with expenses and spend less than you earn.
2. Start teaching your loved ones early on the importance of working and earning a living. One of the most important skills that parents can give to children is to teach them how to work and earn money.
3. Some financial rewards for children can be set based on academic achievement and other worthy goals.

   A child who thinks that there is a kind of family tree that regularly bears fruit with money is not adapted to life. Children must see and understand that money does not appear by itself. They are earned and spent sparingly.

4. Teenagers should be responsible for the consequences of unwise spending, even if it is their own money.
5. Teach yourself and teach your children how to save money. But you need to save up for some specific desire.: bike, phone, skates, travel. This inspires and makes you look for ways to earn and save the right amount faster.

And Educational Moment too

A common goal unites and unites the family very much. If everyone wants to go on a trip and together they save up for the fulfillment of a common dream - this is The best way to teach all family members to save and understand each other.

Teach each family member to contribute to the general family welfare and, if necessary, to help one person achieve their dreams faster. Why not get together and offer a brother/sister to help save. Next time help will be given to another family member. This will teach everyone to help each other.

Priorities of financial well-being

About education. If possible, get all the full education available to you, including vocational schools and colleges. This is - good investment capital. Considering the potential lifetime earnings, the hours you spend on raising your education will pay off many times over.

Additional education. Acquire special skills or abilities that you can use to avoid long-term unemployment. Visit courses, study wherever you can. Any hobby can be turned into a job.

Often, the ability to repair an apartment and a car can come in handy - this helps to save money. Times of unexpected unemployment can come for anyone. We should not allow ourselves, when we are out of work, to sit down and wait for “things to our liking” if another opportunity to earn money presents itself.

Housing in the property. Treat the purchase of real estate as an investment, not an expense. Buy a home that is within your means. Constantly improve the condition of your home and work in the surrounding area. So that if you have to sell it, you can use the money received after the sale to purchase a better home.

Insurance. It is very important to get sufficient insurance for medical services, car and home, as well as full life insurance. The costs of illness, accident, and death can be so great that families in distress often find themselves in years of financial hardship.

Be aware of the influence of external forces on family finances and investments. Inflation continues to absorb most of the growth in average earnings. Raising wages does not at all indicate an increase in purchasing power and should not serve as an excuse for extravagant purchases or taking additional loans.

In addition to saving for emergencies, families should develop and implement a prudent investment program in preparation for financial hardship, possible disability, and retirement. Avoid any risky offers, even if they promise a quick riches.

strategic reserves. Establish and implement a food stockpiling and emergency preparedness program. This is the wisdom of our grandmothers, who have never failed. However, you should not get into debt for this. Don't be fooled by discounts and promotions. Usually expired or close to expired products are sold this way. They are definitely not suitable for long-term storage.

Health. The annual cultivation of vegetables and fruits can be beneficial for the family in many ways, including for the food supply. Eat nutritious foods and exercise to improve your health and thus avoid high medical costs.

These few points and suggestions are not intended to cover or exhaust the issue. Rather, one can express the hope that a topic that requires serious consideration has been raised to the surface. We need to know and remember these basic guidelines for managing money wisely.

Money management is an important ingredient in proper personal well-being. You have to constantly learn to live within your means. We must continually work to stay free from financial problems and credit bondage.

1. The deferred funds that you have managed to accumulate will allow you to live on the interest from them.
2. The property you can buy in addition to your main residence will provide you with rental income.

It is never too late to think about how to learn how to save money and save money with a small salary in order to improve the financial situation of your family. Bring the time, interest is working for you, not against you.

Hello, friends!

Until now, we have an opinion that an economical person is a greedy, always angry and dissatisfied with life miser. Then let's get acquainted. I am not only an economist, but also an economical person since childhood. But not at all greedy, sociable and happy. And if you at least once asked yourself the question of how to save money, then welcome to my article.

Do you know whose words these are? Cat Matroskin from the cartoon about Prostokvashino. Let my article begin with his statement. I like it and captures the very essence of the thought that I want to convey to you.

The rich are not the one who earns, but the one who does not spend. You can live comfortably on any income. Do not borrow, save money and spend it on things that are valuable in your family. Close the article if you have cool parties, collections of clothes from world brands and phones of the latest model on credit in the first place. You and I are not on the same path.

But I will be glad if the article is read by those who have firmly decided to take the path of reasonable savings in order to fulfill their dreams - education, their own house or apartment, travel or a small cottage. I will try to reach out to people who believe that it is impossible to save money with a small salary. It's real, you just have to learn. This is what we will do now.

Accounting, planning and control

Beware also of small wastes, for a small leak can sink a large ship.

Benjamin Franklin

How to start saving and why do it?

Saving only for the sake of the process itself will not give anything. Without motivation, without purpose, there is no result. You will start dozens of times and quit dozens of times. So first decide what you want to save for. Maybe save up for a vacation, a new phone, a car, an apartment, the education of children. For example, a student, a pensioner and other low-income people - in order to live with dignity on a small income.

Choose a goal that will motivate you. This is exactly the answer to the first part of the question: “How to start saving?”

So the goal is set. Now it's time to start keeping track of your monthly expenses. We talked about this in detail in the article about. You must keep a strict record of all your expenses every day, down to the box of matches. What for? To understand where the money goes, of course.

Summarize at the end of the month. Break down all expenses into mandatory and optional. Table example.

The next stage is the analysis of the obtained results. What can you save on next month? We start planning. Pay attention to the line in blue called “Accumulations”. This is a very important expense item. It is mandatory and planned first.

You save, among other things, in order to set aside part of the income to achieve your goal. We talked about how best to save money, what methods are most popular among families with low incomes in an article about.

The last step is control. It is great if you are able to control the entire process from start to finish. If not, don't despair. Find a more resilient and disciplined family member who will take on this important mission. With such a serious approach, you will definitely achieve results in the first month. Imagine what will happen in a year!

In this section of the article, I will give general advice on how to save money and how to do it. Now you yourself will make a list of ways to save money that are right for your family. After all, it can be completely based on the analysis of expenses that you have done before. So, some obvious things that psychologists advise us:

• Never go shopping on an empty stomach.

I noticed on myself that the smells of freshly baked bread, the aromas of spices act in a special way when you are hungry. It is very difficult to resist and not buy a delicious bun. And this despite the fact that I try to eat less bread. And there is no need to prove that the check in the supermarket will increase significantly if you are hungry.

• After receiving the salary - immediately home.

Psychologists say that after receiving money, there is a false sense of wealth, when you can afford more than usual. I advise you not to go shopping on this day, but to calmly plan expenses at home. This can be done in a special application on a smartphone, at your computer or in a notebook for maintaining a family budget. When everything is laid out on the shelves, a cold mind turns on, not a hot head.

• Don't make random purchases.

How often do we follow a promotion that takes place in the next store? We didn't even want to go in. And three jeans for the price of two, we certainly don’t need anything. A work colleague showed off a new phone today, and you looked at your gadget with sadness? In such cases, you should always remember the goal that you set yourself at the beginning of the journey. Are new jeans really worth not achieving your dreams? I do not believe.

Give yourself a few days to think. Imagine what you will do with new purchases. Do you really need them? Is it possible to do without them, but get closer to the cherished goal?

It works almost automatically for me. Even while I am writing this article, I have already told myself several times that I do not need a new dress, and the bag is still quite okay. And all because I have a goal - a trip to Greece in the summer. And no outfits will empty my card.

• Don't borrow.

The habit of living in debt, unfortunately, in recent times actively supported by banks and various microloan organizations. And this is not because people began to live worse and cannot hold out until the salary. It's about a person's love for freebies and other people's money. Banks are taking advantage of this.

Do you want to buy on credit? Do some simple things first. Take a piece of paper, a pen and a calculator. Calculate how much money you will return with interest, and your overpayment. I assure you, the desire to use other people's funds can disappear for a long time. If not, then tempting offers from banks are waiting for you.

There are critical situations when the money is needed urgently, but the salary is far away. For example, an illness or breakdown of equipment, which is difficult to do without. In such cases, have credit cards with a large grace period repayment or installment cards. Just don't make them a permanent means of payment for purchases.

• Don't lend.

Yes, like this. People who borrow money “until payday” every time are disorganized, irresponsible and non-punctual payers. I think that I will find many objections on this issue, but I will not enter into polemics. Everyone decides this question for himself. I made it for myself 18 years ago.

• Give up bad habits.

Calculate how much money you spend on cigarettes or liquor per month instead of per year. Impressive? Now think about what you have lost by spending this amount on your weaknesses. I'm not talking about the harm that you cause to your health and the health of your loved ones.

I know one girl who started saving and saving just after she calculated how much money a year she spends on a daily cup of aromatic cappuccino in a coffee shop.

This list could go on and on, but I think the idea is clear. The main thing is to start, and then it will become part of your life. And believe me, not unhappy at all. If you want to become an advanced economist, then read on about how to save on food. Don't worry, diet is not my area of ​​expertise. Let's talk about something else.

How can you save on food?

To begin with, it is necessary to save on food, but not on your health. Therefore, here we will not talk about how to live on bread and water and not die. You will be surprised how easy it is to cut down on food expenses if you follow these tips. I will give some examples.

Plan your menu ahead of time

For example, I want to cook borscht. For him, I need meat, vegetables, spices, sour cream. My family consists of 4 people, and I cook a dish for 2 times. Based on this, I can easily make a list of everything you need. The same goes for other meals for the week.

There is one inviolable rule in our family - to the supermarket only with a list. And it is better to make it in advance. If you keep groceries in your head or make a list the day before going to the store, then you are sure to forget something. There is no list - there are extra purchases. This method of saving on products is tested on itself.

Don't fall for marketing tricks

The menu is family approved. The list has been written. With peace of mind you go to the store. And only at the checkout you find that the amount in the check still exceeds expectations. Did you buy too much? This is the result of the work of marketers. Nicolas Corot (Marketing Guild Council Member) argues that in fact our choice has already been made. In 82% of cases, what our eyes stop at by the end of the 6th second is sent to the cashier and paid.

Soothing music in the store, multi-colored price tags with the words “discount” or “promotion”, aromas of spices that tickle the nose, a special arrangement of products on the shelves. All this is part of a single system to push us to buy and buy, including what is not needed.

Enticing labels: organic, organic, no cholesterol, no GMOs - nothing more than a gimmick. Please note that in vegetable oil, salt, sugar and no cholesterol at all.

My almost 20 years of married life allows me to give one more piece of advice. It won't work for everyone, but it's worth a try. Any marketer is powerless in front of a man with a list. So send your husband or son to the supermarket. Men do not really like to go shopping and, once there, they try to finish the job as soon as possible. They type according to the list and leave, almost without being distracted by the bait placed by the advertisers.

Store food properly

In no case do I urge you to buy cereals in bags, matches in packages, and salt in packs. But there are a few simple rules that will help stock up on groceries in in large numbers and keep them fresh for a long time:

• Don't be afraid to freeze, just do it right. Products must be well dried. Scientists have proven that frozen vegetables and fruits are in no way inferior to fresh ones. Meat, fish, some ready-made dishes (stuffed cabbage rolls, dumplings) are also perfectly stored.

Divide the food into portions so that you do not have to break off pieces later or defrost the entire package.

• You can also extend the shelf life of fresh herbs. Wrap it in foil. Due to the fact that the foil prevents the ingress sunlight, evaporation of moisture inside the product, the greens do not fade and do not lose color.
• Arrange food in the refrigerator correctly. This helps prolong her life. According to the laws of physics, warm air rises. In this regard, the temperature on the upper shelves of the refrigerator is several degrees higher than on the lower ones. Therefore, store finished products, sausages there. Dairy products are on the middle shelves. Perishable products - on the bottom.

cook at home

If you are not a top manager for whom time is money, then cooking at home will help you save money. Frequent visits to cafes and restaurants can have a detrimental effect not only on health and figure, but also on our wallet. At home, we can reduce the amount of salt, sugar, fat.

Change your diet

There is a stereotype that healthy eating is expensive. I will prove otherwise. The body needs protein. There is a lot of it in meat, but it is expensive. But the same protein is found in chicken or turkey, which are cheaper. It is not necessary to buy exotic products. Vitamins and trace elements are enough in our cabbage, carrots, beets, pumpkins, potatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Elite varieties of fish are no healthier than cheaper cod or pangasius. But you should not replace ordinary meat with sausages and sausages. It is processed meat that scientists have recognized as a carcinogen.

If you follow these tips, the result will affect your wallet, and your health will improve. Agree that for this it is worth trying to save on food.

If you have a desire to normalize your weight and at the same time save a lot, then read the next section. It will not be about diets, but about psychology.

5 ways to eat less

Let's talk about science. I promise it won't be boring. After all, we are talking about food psychology. The human body needs only 2,000 kcal per day. How about eating less? Scientists in the course of research have identified several subconscious mechanisms that control our appetite:

1. The size of the dishes.

Psychologists advise: "Choose the right dishes." Don't take large plates. The habit of eating to the end can play a cruel joke. If you fill a small plate with food, then subconsciously you will not feel deprived and will eat everything with pleasure. A different picture, if you put quite a bit on a large plate. In this case, there is an unsettling feeling of dissatisfaction.

2. The color of the dishes.

Color also plays an important role. Try to avoid matching the color of food and plate. They merge with each other and it seems that you put a little and start reporting more and more.

3. Inconvenient dishes.

Arm yourself with chopsticks. The thing is that most people are uncomfortable eating with chopsticks, which are so cleverly used by residents of Asian countries. This is the psychological trick. You subconsciously try to eat less so as not to feel awkward at the table.

Therefore, feel free to start eating with chopsticks until you bring this method to perfection. That's when it's better to refuse it. It will stop working.

4. Free hands.

We often eat on autopilot. The hand itself reaches for the next portion. To turn off this mode, psychologists advise, after each piece of food that you put in your mouth, put a fork or spoon on the table. Then you start thinking about what and how you eat. And this, in turn, increases control over the process.

5. Noise and chaos.

Scientists conducted a study and found that in conditions of noise (TV, radio, household appliances), a person eats more. Loud noises prevent you from enjoying your food. We simply do not notice what we take into our mouths and how much. Therefore, less noise.

Here is another scientific observation. People who ate in an untidy kitchen with a constantly ringing phone ate more. On a subconscious level, they felt that everything was out of control, including the process of eating. So less chaos.

That's all the tricks. Let's try to fool ourselves, and at the same time save a decent amount on food.

Conclusion

If you are interested in saving money, then you have already read a lot of articles on this topic. Me too. I did this in order to try to write something new. There is no point in duplicating information, for example, on reducing utility bills. All methods have been described for a long time and they really work. Take and implement.

In my article, no less effective methods based on my own experience. Listen to a 20-year-old economist and a 35-year-old economy man. I would be glad if they help you, as they have been helping me and my family for many years. Good luck!

Saving money every month can seem like an impossible task, especially when inflation is rising and the pace of wage growth is slowing down. Many people are familiar with the situation when at the end of the month the money is practically running out, which forces valiant citizens to use loans or borrow money. cash at acquaintances.

For some, this situation is inevitable, but there are real ways to save money without causing inconvenience to your life.

How to save money

1. Start accumulating money in bank accounts

The problem of saving money closely intersects with the question. If you think that you have nothing to put off, this is self-deception. Any person, without exception, can safely start saving monthly in an amount equivalent to 10% of his income.

But that's not the point. Believe me, if immediately after receiving your income (salary) you transfer part of the funds to a bank savings account (deposit), you will not spend this money and, thus, you will be able to save. The most interesting thing is that the remaining money will be enough for you until the next paycheck.

In addition, do not forget that interest is charged on deposits.

2. Stop watching TV

There are many financial benefits to doing this: reduced exposure to spend-inducing advertising, reduced energy and cable TV bills (if you opt for a budget TV package).

An additional plus will be the release of free time, so you can focus on more important things in life, for example.

3. Stop hoarding old stuff and sell it

Is your balcony, pantry, garage in the country full of unnecessary junk? Get rid of it.

Don't collect items of dubious value. Sell ​​what you can, say goodbye to the rest. Internet sites for posting ads to help you.

4. Participate in various loyalty programs

No matter where you live, there are plenty of outlets near you ready to reward you for shopping at their store.

5. Master the “30-Day Reasonable Waiting Rule”

Many purchases, like decisions in life, are made not from the mind, but from the heart. Avoiding momentary satisfaction of the arisen desire to acquire a completely unnecessary or completely optional gizmo is one of the most important rules of personal finance. Waiting and thinking for 30 days to make a purchase decision is a great way to implement this rule.

At the end of the month, you may find that the urge to buy has gone like dry summer rain, and you'll save yourself money just by taking a break. Cool, isn't it?

13. Turn off the lights at home

Savings on electricity may seem insignificant, but over a long period, a sufficient amount of hard-earned and native money is sure to accumulate.

To save as much as possible, turn off the lights every time you leave your home, leave the room, or natural sunlight is sufficient.

14. Install energy-saving light bulbs

These bulbs are more expensive, but they have a much longer life than conventional incandescent bulbs, and consume much less electricity.

You don't have to replace all the light bulbs in your house at once, you can do it as they wear out.

15. Install a programmable thermostat in your home

If your home is heated with a boiler, then a room thermostat can help reduce energy consumption by up to 30%. By installing it to heat or cool your home at the right time, you'll see for yourself how easy it is to automate the process of saving money.

16. Buy only high-quality household appliances

When buying a new home appliance, it is wise to take the time to research similar products on the market. Reliable and economical washing machine may cost more, but if it saves energy consistently and has a lifespan of 15 years instead of five, then you will see a positive effect in the long run.

17. Change the air filter in the car in a timely manner

A clean air filter will cut your fuel consumption by 7%, which will definitely bode well for your wallet, allowing it to stay tighter.

18. Forget about the credit card

If you've made a habit of getting into trouble with your credit cards because you use them a lot, hide them and keep them in a safe place in your home, not in your wallet. Credit card might come in handy for emergencies, just don't carry it around with you.

19. Find a Cheaper Grocery Store

Most of us fall into vicious circle shopping at the same grocery store and we may not even realize that there are better options.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to find the cheapest store. Simply identify the 20 products you buy the most and then buy them from a wide variety of stores. As a result, you will determine the “cheapest store”, make it the main place to shop, and automatically save money.

20. Avoid Spending to Reduce Stress

It's easy to give in to spending money just to recover from a stressful day at work, but that's rarely the right thing to do. Instead of buying things, it's wise to find other ways to de-stress in order to feel better.

Exercise is a great idea, as is either good old-fashioned sleep. Read books, watch or take an evening walk, because spending money will not improve your emotional state in the long run.

21. Stop paying for services you don't use

Do you make monthly expenses for using a landline home phone, but you forgot when you last touched it? Are you paying for a gym membership or golf club membership that you don't attend? Every week, does the postman bring you a paid subscription newspaper that you use to light the barbecue in your country house? Stop this wastefulness immediately.

Remember that you can always resume using such services later if you still need them.

22. Shop After the Holidays

Some smart people use this method after New Years or Christmas, but it works for every holiday.

Take a break for 1-2 days after the holiday, and then go shopping for the things you need, which will be subject to discounts and sales.

Buy your girlfriend flowers on March 9, give her a teddy bear on February 15. It's a joke, but you get the point.

23. Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, get yourself involved in a positive project without spending any money.

By taking part in organizational participation in various communities and movements, you can have fun and save money at the same time.

24. Reduce your use of laundry detergent

Today you can buy highly concentrated washing powder, which is recommended to be used in smaller proportions, while getting the same clean clothes as a result.

25. Change to a reliable economical car

A reliable and economical car will save you a tidy sum of money. This applies both to reducing fuel consumption and to a more rare visit to a car service.

26. Avoid malls

The mall can be an interesting place to kill your time, but it's also full of temptation. So unless you really need to buy something, stay away from these alluring objects.

A walk in the fresh air, going to the cinema for a good movie can easily replace your usual adventures in shopping centers.

27. Master the “10 Second Rule”

Every time you pick up a potential purchase, stop for 10 seconds and ask yourself why you want to buy this item and if there is really an urgent need for it. If a convincing answer doesn't come to mind, put the product back on the counter. Doing these smart things will definitely save you money.

28. Optimize your wardrobe

Compliance with the speed limit will allow you to protect yourself from unnecessary problems and save money.

41. Making Smart Choices When Buying a Home

There are many reasons to buy a smaller house. You don't have to live in a giant mansion that requires more maintenance, cleaning, repairs and heating. Buy something a little more modest and you'll find yourself with enough places and a supply of money in your pocket.

42. Change your route to work

This is a particularly powerful tip if you find yourself "automatically" stopping on your way to work or on your way home. Get rid of this constant leak by taking a different route that doesn't come from temptation, even if the new route is a bit longer. You will still save time by not stopping, and the money you save from any unnecessary indulgences you avoid will add up over time.

43. Always ask for a discount.

This is especially true if you're buying from the market, and more often than not, you'll get a discount if you ask.

44. Optimize the cost of hygiene products

Many people have already been able to make sure that inexpensive hygiene products are no worse than expensive counterparts. This approach can be applied to toothpaste, deodorant, and the like.

45. Eat less meat

Meat is not the cheapest product, especially if you compare its nutritional value with vegetables and fruits. But even if you don't want to go completely vegan, you can save a lot of money just by eating less meat.

46. ​​Insulate your home

Many homes have air leaks that negatively affect keeping cool in summer and warm in winter, which ends up wasting money. Insulate your home and save yourself unnecessary expenses.

47. Cut down on vacation expenses

Instead of going on a long, dizzying journey, get in your car and take a road trip around your neighborhood.

Such a vacation can be incredibly cheap and quite memorable.

If you still decide to go to, for example, why not choose a last-minute tour or the cheapest season.

48. Get preventive medical check-ups

It is much easier and cheaper to prevent a disease or cure it at an early stage than to do it in an advanced form.

49. Determine your budget

From the first day of the new month, keep receipts for all purchases made. Sort the checks into categories: food, hygiene products, clothes, etc. At the end of the month, you will be able to clearly understand what your funds are spent on. The only way to save money is to be clear about your expenses.

50. Restrictions on bank cards

You are an active user bank cards? In this case, you probably felt that money sometimes runs out unnoticed.

If you're having trouble overspending non-cash, try a cash budget system where you use a certain amount of cash for most expenses. And as soon as the amount allocated for expenses ends, your expenses stop.

By the way, do not forget to withdraw cash only from ATMs of banks that do not charge a commission.

Bonus 51st way. Stop Overeating

Thus, you can not only save money, but also, if, of course, you need it.

Cafes and restaurants. We put this item of expenditure in first place, since it is usually not paid attention to, but it is she who results in a significant amount at the end of the month. The authors, among other things, judge by themselves, as they often meet people in cafes and restaurants. In Moscow cafes, this takes at least 200-300 rubles. (a cup of coffee or juice with dessert), and if you sit in a restaurant in the evening - at least 500–700 rubles. If you calculate everything, from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles can go away per month under this article. For people with relatively low incomes, this article is the first contender for a reduction.

Food. Food expenses are one of the important components of the family budget. At the same time, many people associate saving on food with poverty, miserliness and loss of health. As a rule, this is what people never plan to save on, and at the same time - expenses that need to be reduced in the first place.

According to polls of people on the street conducted by various media, they have already begun to save, and it is on products.

The secret of this phenomenon is explained simply: without taking into account expenses and incomes, it is difficult for a person to navigate what costs he has, which are redundant and which are easy to optimize. But they eat everything and regularly. When the financial situation worsens, regardless of the diet, we automatically catch ourselves thinking about how to save money on food. All ways to reduce food costs lead to an increase in time spent: on cooking (including in connection with the rejection of semi-finished products), more detailed accounting of products, etc. Therefore, if the share of food expenses in the family budget is small, the savings are unjustified.

Now I propose specific steps that allow, if not optimizing, then at least assessing your costs for this article.

Step 1. Is it really for products?

This is the first question you need to ask yourself if it “seems” that an excess amount is going down the toilet. First, check if there are any accounting errors.

• Attribution to products of all small expenses. If you're estimating your expenses in your head, or if your accounting system isn't detailed enough, you can "write off" anything that isn't a major purchase to groceries.
• Accounting for checks from the supermarket in one amount.

Today's super- and hypermarkets sell everything or almost everything. By referring the entire check to the products, you unwittingly deceive yourself. This approach does not allow you to analyze spending and exclude really unnecessary things.

Step 2 Separate "flies from cutlets".

This means singling out snacks, alcohol and delicacies from food spending - something that can be ditched without prejudice, and sometimes even with health benefits. Exotic fruits brought from afar are not always full of vitamins and, in addition, are most likely treated with chemicals for long-term transportation.

Step 3 Revolution in the kitchen.

This step requires serious time spending (previous steps, in fact, were reduced to improving accounting). But if it arrives somewhere, it means that the same number will decrease elsewhere. Menu planning and shopping lists can really help cut down on food costs. This will allow you not to buy extra products that are likely to spoil in the refrigerator and end their days in the wastebasket. In addition, semi-finished products should be abandoned: self-cooking will reduce food costs and at the same time add variety to the menu.

Step 4 Quantity is not at the expense of quality.

Here we are talking about the need to replace the store in which you are currently shopping with a cheaper one.

It is no secret that the cost of the same products in different stores is not the same. By going to the point of economy class, you can significantly reduce the cost of groceries. At the same time, do not forget to take into account the cost of travel and back (should retain the gain from the replacement).

It is worth paying attention to other brands of products - cheaper products are not always of lower quality. Often we pay extra for brand awareness, good advertising, etc. Of course, finding the best price / quality ratio can take some time.

Step 5 Sturgeon of the second freshness.

Reducing the quality and variety of products is a last resort solution, because health may suffer in the end. This step may include searching for economical recipes, greatly simplifying menus, etc.

If you remember Russian fairy tales, there is nothing tastier than soup from an axe. In addition, the domestic culinary epic offers Druzhba processed cheese soup, sausage grated on sandwiches and a tea bag brewed several times. These are the harsh methods of student economy from the "dashing" 90s. Alas, usually lead to gastritis.

Taxes. In most Russian families, the line “income tax” among the items of expenditure can only be seen if the property has been sold and the tax office has sent a short but formidable letter. In other cases, the tax will bypass the family budget: the employer will pay it for the employee, the broker for the stock market speculator, the bank for the depositor, etc. But is it worth leaving an income item of 13% or more uncontrolled? The answer to this question is suggested by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation, which gives certain taxpayers personal income tax benefits.

Tax deductions are tax benefits enshrined in the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. They are called so because the taxable income is reduced by the amount of the deduction.

Who can take advantage of tax deductions?

First of all, in order to take advantage of the tax deduction, you need to know about it. But its receipt is a purely voluntary matter, and no one will remind you of the possibility of receiving a personal income tax refund.

Only tax residents of the Russian Federation (those who live in Russia for at least 183 days a year) can exercise their right to a deduction and only on income taxed at a rate of 13% (salary, income from the sale of movable and immovable property, etc.) .

What are the tax deductions?

property deductions.

The most significant benefits in terms of size can be obtained when buying real estate. Since January 2008 - this is 2 million rubles. This means that you can return the income tax previously paid from 2 million, or 260,000 rubles. If you did not have time to fully use the deduction within 12 months (for example, the income was less than 2 million rubles), it is transferred to the next year. Unfortunately, this benefit is provided to a person only once in a lifetime.

If the property was bought with a loan, in addition to the specified deduction, you will be able to return 13% of the interest paid on the loan.

Tax benefits are also provided in the event of the sale of property. If you own real estate for less than 3 years, the deduction will be 1 million rubles. (the tax will be reduced by 130,000 rubles). After the three-year term of ownership, no tax is due. For other property, a deduction in the amount of 125,000 rubles is provided. when owning it for up to 3 years (tax savings - about 16,000 rubles) or complete exemption from tax for a longer period.

Social deductions.

Tax credits also apply to charities, tuition, medical treatment, and pension contributions.

If the taxpayer transfers income to charitable purposes, he can return the tax paid on them within 25% of the income.

If in the reporting year you spent money on your education and treatment or paid pension contributions, you can save 15,600 rubles on tax. The total amount of the deduction for such expenses does not exceed 120,000 rubles. It does not carry over to the next year.

You can get a tax deduction for the education of children (50,000 rubles). This will save on tax of 6500 rubles.

To receive a tax deduction, you must:

• get an individual taxpayer number - TIN (if you do not have one);
• collect documents confirming the right to a tax deduction:
• for all types of deductions - payment documents: checks, receipts, bank statements. Additionally, for a property deduction - an act of acceptance and transfer. To deduct for treatment - a certificate of payment for medical services (issued medical institution) and prescription forms;
• contracts - purchase and sale of real estate, for medical services or training;
• for the deduction for interest paid on a mortgage - a mortgage agreement and a certificate from the bank on the amount of interest received;
• when selling property - documents confirming the expenses incurred during the purchase.
• receive from the employer a certificate of income in the form of 2-NDFL;
• make copies of the documents listed in paragraph 1 for submission to the tax office;
• fill out a tax return in the form of 3-NDFL (the program for filling out every year is posted on the website www.nalog.ru);
• submit a declaration and copies of documents to the tax office to which you are attached. Write an application for withdrawal.

An application for the refund of the amount of overpaid tax can be submitted within 3 years from the date of payment of the specified amount.

Anyone who was too lazy to issue a deduction before the crisis did not have time to spend it. This means that you can get an unplanned replenishment of the reserve fund by submitting declarations for several years that have passed from the date of purchase (no more than three!). Previous editions of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation provided for smaller deductions than the current ones. Therefore, you should not count on a large replenishment.

Credits. Loan payments can eat up a large part of your family budget. At first glance, you can’t save money, you can only not aggravate the situation - pay carefully and on time so as not to fall into bank penalties and fines.

The only way to save on loan repayments is to repay them ahead of schedule: this will reduce not only the final overpayment on the loan, but also monthly payments. I want to warn you right away: a bank is not a mutual benefit fund, but a commercial enterprise that should make a profit. Therefore, leave hope that he will meet your difficult financial situation and cancel payments, forget about penalties and fines. The unwillingness of the borrower, together with the bank, to resolve issues of restructuring loans, including mortgage loans with the involvement of the state, usually leads to litigation or the sale of the collateral.

There are two extremes when it comes to loans. The first is not to consider the existence of a loan and the inability to repay it as a problem. Representatives of this category are sure that the bank will meet them halfway and, unlike the landlord, will not kick them out of the apartment. The second is to get rid of the loan at any cost. For example, through insurance fraud. Such acts, firstly, are punishable, and secondly, they are pushed into an even deeper financial hole.

Savings on utilities and communications. The effect of savings on these items of expenditure is possible only in the long term. To save on utilities, you can install meters for water, gas and two- or three-tariff electricity meters. However, it will take several years to recoup the cost of their installation.

If utilities account for more than 10% of a family's income, there is a chance to receive a government subsidy.

In addition, you can save money by choosing a more economical tariff plan for a fixed, mobile communication and the Internet. For long-distance and international calls, it is better to use alternative communication - computer or IP-telephony systems.

"When leaving, turn off the light!" The slogan of Soviet everyday life is not applicable to energy-saving light bulbs, which, with frequent on-off, shorten their service life.

We optimize medical expenses. The worst thing is to save on your health: the consequences will affect not only the wallet, but also life expectancy. Therefore, if you often visit doctors, you should use the services of free medicine or choose risky insurance that is optimal in price and provides the necessary medical services. At the same time, it should be taken into account that most insurance companies do not insure disabled people of groups I and II - such people need to increase the reserve fund to cover planned and emergency medical care.

In addition, it will help to save planned purchases. essential medicines(prices for expensive drugs in different pharmacies can vary significantly).

If the employer's health insurance remains from good times, it will not be superfluous to use it - in terms of examination and subsequent treatment.

Expensive purchases. Expensive purchases and projects during the crisis are better to postpone or reduce their budget (as a rule, these costs are not of paramount importance). The effect of the savings will be very noticeable.

For example, replacing a holiday in the Maldives with a trip to Egypt will not only not deprive you of your annual vacation, but will also save you several thousand dollars. A delayed renovation will allow you to survive several months without work.

Rest. You can't save on vacation - everyone knows that. But you can choose a more economical option. If you are used to relaxing on distant islands (Maldives, Canaries, Caribbean, etc.), it is better to replace them with cheaper countries located not so far from Russia or from the country in which you live. The savings can be quite substantial.

Sport. Another article that is not worth saving on. Yes, you need to go in for sports - to be healthy and keep yourself in good shape. But here, as in the case of rest, you will have to moderate your appetites and move from an elite gym with a subscription for 100,000 rubles. per year, in a more democratic one, classes in which are at least half the price. ()

Mobile phones. There are two savings here. The first is the device itself. We have long come to the conclusion that the phone is needed as a means of conversation, and not a camera or a computer. Therefore, do not chase after novelties; it is better to use simple and convenient models. You may need other features in the phone, but do not overestimate their importance. Unfortunately, there are often people with very expensive phone models ... bought on credit. At the same time, the owner does not always know about all the functions of his "golden" acquisition. By the way, many wealthy people have the most common inexpensive mobile phones. They use them to talk. No more.

Another component is the tariff that you use. How long have you had it? Perhaps since the time of buying the first SIM card? Then we strongly advise you to visit the provider and choose something new and more economical.

• tariff without subscription fee;
• the main conversations are conducted within the same network.

I was immediately offered a tariff that turned out to be cheaper than the one used on this moment(although I regularly follow the news and try to use their capabilities). Considering that the tariff was changed by three family members at once, the savings turned out to be very significant.

Sometimes people spend 20-50% more than if they used a different tariff plan or the services of another mobile operator. To understand the need and opportunities for optimizing costs, you need to ask for an extract for the last 5-7 months and analyze which phone numbers of which regions and telecom operators you called most often; how many SMS were sent.

Trips. We're talking about air travel here. Now you can find a lot of interesting offers from air carriers, which will significantly save on tickets.

For example, can you imagine flying from Moscow to San Francisco and back for $500? If you look at the websites of domestic companies, it’s difficult, but if you dig and fish out options for American carriers, it’s real.

For example, one of our colleagues bought plane tickets from Moscow to India three times cheaper than regular fares, because she bought them 6 months before departure. In general, there are options.

Promotions, discounts and loyalty cards as a way to save money. To attract a customer, manufacturers and retailers often offer discounts, promotions, and more: two yogurts for the price of one, detergent plus rubber gloves, minus 3% on medicines, for nine flights Moscow-St. Petersburg, the tenth is free. You can save in this way only in one case - if they do not stimulate excess consumption and at a discount it comes out really cheaper than in a nearby store. And if the second yogurt goes bad and goes to the trash, you don’t use gloves, medicines in a nearby pharmacy are already 5% cheaper, and you flew to St. Petersburg for the ninth time for a free ticket, this is no savings.

Therefore, soberly assess how much you need all these special offers and bonuses. So, if you often fly to relatives or on business trips, you should issue loyalty cards of various airlines. At the same time, the choice of flight should be approached from the point of view of economic feasibility: the cost of a ticket plus a transfer to the airport. (Time-inconvenient flights are cheaper, but keep in mind that a taxi to the airport will cost more than an express bus.)

Loyalty cards usually do not give discounts, but offer to accumulate points, miles, etc., and then exchange them for some kind of gift.

You will need a store discount card only if you constantly buy goods in it.

Perhaps there are other savings secrets, and we are sure that some readers have them. In addition to savings items, there are also such items of expenditure that cannot be excluded from the budget.

What not to save on during a crisis

We think no one will argue that you can not save on health. But what is included in the concept of HEALTH, if you try to break it down into specific items of expenditure?

Medicines. If you have been taking Swiss medicines until today, and now, in order to save money, you decide to use the Russian or Ukrainian analogue, such savings can cost you sooooo much. Remember Zhvanetsky? “Well, why can’t our people make a medicine that would heal like a Swiss one? And the formula seems to be the same - CH3COC2H5, but for some reason the Swiss tablet fights the virus, and ours cooperates with it. This is true, no matter how much we would like Russian pharmacology to work no worse than Swiss. Therefore, you should not change Western originals for domestic counterparts.

Food. It is dangerous to switch to cheap and not very high-quality products. Although there is another side to the coin: you can save on groceries if you prefer to eat Italian bread for 300 rubles. and drink milk for 200 rubles. (there are such shops in Russia). AT this case switching to regular foods will not affect health badly.

Rest. You cannot refuse to rest, otherwise your income will inevitably decrease (a tired person cannot work effectively). And again - flip side medals: you can save on vacation by choosing a cheaper resort, but not by reducing the amount of time allotted for it.

Sport. This has already been discussed above - savings are possible not by giving up sports, but by using less expensive sports clubs and equipment.

Final Conclusions

During a crisis (and not only) you need to CONTROL your money, and not focus solely on reducing costs.

You can always cut your costs! But first they need to be analyzed.

Be careful about reducing expenses that are related to health: medicines, recreation, sports.

It is necessary not only to think about saving on certain items, but also to look for ways to increase income.

Reference

Vladimir Savenok- a leading expert in personal money management, the first independent financial consultant in Russia, entrepreneur, writer. Bestselling author of How to Build a Personal financial plan. The path to financial independence”, “How to implement a personal financial plan, or How much money is needed for happiness”, “Personal finance. Self-teacher".

the site thanks the publishing house "Peter" for the provided excerpt.

I love money, do you? I like everything that is connected with them - earning, spending, saving, collecting and viewing. I easily part with the right amount, but I really like to save money - why overpay or buy what you don’t need?

Therefore, today I will tell you how to start saving money. Sometimes my friends ask me how I manage to always have money, and at the same time not deny myself anything. The thing is that even as a student I learned how to save money with a small salary - unfortunately, no one offered me a big salary, but I wanted to live normally. Since then, I have put together a whole collection of tricks that contains comprehensive information on how to save and save in a time of crisis.

What is your budget? For a long time, my budget has been a complex Excel spreadsheet where I enter all income and expenses. It takes into account various regular payments such as utilities, light and electricity, housing and communal services, clothing, entertainment.

If you want to understand how to save money as a family, you must have your own table, which takes into account any information about the goods and services that you pay for. There are many programs and all kinds of applications, you can use them - the table in the program will clearly demonstrate what expenses are the most, what you can try to save on. I believe that you can save on such categories of expenses as:

• nutrition;
• clothes;
• light and electricity;
• clothes;
• petty spending.

In general, the psychology of spending says that you need to save on those expenses that are the most. Because saving on gadgets, for example, which are bought quite rarely, is a bad idea. But choosing a more budget option for a daily lunch is a good way to save money. The table will tell you what expenses can be cut.

Food and Nutrition

My mother says that it is impossible to save on food, they say, how to save on food, if health directly depends on it. In fact, there are many ways to save on food and still eat tasty, varied and healthier. In a crisis, you can save on food in different ways:

• choose more budgetary brands of certain products;
• refuse semi-finished products;
• read the packaging carefully.

Budget brands of products help to save on food - I did not notice much difference between pasta under a well-known Italian brand and ordinary Russian pasta. Quite often in large hypermarkets there are own brands products, and for the most part these are normal quality goods, fresh and good.

Saving on food should not be at the expense of your menu.

What else you need to know to understand how to start saving money:

• present your true expenses and income;
• have additional sources of income other than salary;
• be able to save money.

How to save on food and not spoil your health? Easy and simple, you need to plan the menu for the week. A properly composed menu for the week will help in the following:

• no need to think about what to cook;
• you can make homemade semi-finished products;
• you can prepare the necessary food in advance;
• you can balance the principles of nutrition of the whole family.

How to make a menu for the week

The time you spend on compiling the menu for the week will not be wasted, and at the end of the month you can be pleased with the amount saved. When the menu for the week is planned in advance, the food in the process becomes more varied.

In order to make a menu for the week, you need to choose free time, it is best to do it on the weekend (in order to have time to buy groceries for the week). It is best to make a weekly menu in some notebook or one document (I mean a text file), do not throw them away - after some time they can be reused.

I also scroll cookbooks at the time of compiling the menu for the week - this way I get to repeat less often and cook something new all the time. For example, in my menu there are two days when I cook something from meat, two fish days, two vegetarian days. Sometimes I substitute something with chicken.

When making a meal plan for the week, also be guided by the time of cooking, so as not to stand in the kitchen all day when you are already too tired.

Savings on household and utility bills

Here's where you can save a lot of money, so it's on utility bills. Be sure to analyze how many utility bills you pay, ask if you can pay something in advance and still save money.

One of my savings items was electricity. First of all, I checked the energy consumption class of all household appliances that I use at home. Now I have a large washing machine - it consumes a little more energy than a small one, but at the same time I wash once a week in large loads. So you can save light and water, which means that the savings on housing and communal services are impressive.

The next step to save on utility bills is the rational use of resources. I had to get confused, and first fix all the plumbing in the house. If the taps are leaking, you will never save! A leaking faucet in the kitchen deprives you of a huge amount of water per day.

How to save the family budget with the help of counters. Be sure to put meters on water, gas and electricity, because the average consumption rates usually greatly exceed real consumption utilities.

How to save the family budget on utilities? Actually, it's easy. Start eating less. Get a dishwasher instead of washing by hand (or learn how to fill the sink with water). Turn off the lights in those rooms where there is no one, use energy-saving lamps that give bright light.

In the heating season, saving on housing and communal services helps, oddly enough, a good repair - properly made thermal insulation and good batteries reduce the amount of utility bills. And if you are not used to turning off the light behind you, then you can install an automatic shutdown system.

It is really easy to save light - just start turning it off, and also use electrical appliances not at full capacity - then payments for light will be justified and somewhat less.

Courses and books

There are different courses and books on how to learn how to save money. They talk about how to save money, how to plan your expenses, how to save and save.

I would not buy such a course for money (this is contrary to the very idea of ​​\u200b\u200bsaving), but from time to time I read blogs where they publish advice on how to save on utility bills, how to pay less for electricity and how to survive the crisis in general. If you are close to psychology, then be sure to read articles on how to live in a crisis.

Save on stupidity

Perhaps this is the most fun and simple thing you can do in order to understand how to save money the right way. We all need some goods and services, pay for electricity and utilities, learn how to save money, and regularly begin to save it. But there are such items of expenditure that, it would seem, could simply be crossed out - I'm talking about excesses.

The psychology of spending says the opposite - excesses are needed, and moreover, regularly. Otherwise, you can have a bunch of problems and complexes, and completely ruin your relationship with money.

Money is not only a way to pay for utilities and gasoline, it is also a resource. In fact, the psychology of spending says that money is the equivalent of our time, knowledge and effort (spent on work). Undoubtedly, they should not only provide for us, but also please us.

Therefore, there must be stupid things - a beautiful magazine with which it is pleasant to lie in the bath, going to a good cinema, in-app purchases on Facebook - all this makes our life more pleasant and fulfilling.

Please yourself, please yourself, but always do it consciously.

How to survive a crisis

How to learn how to save money if they are really short? In this case, you will have to reconsider your priorities a little. If your task is how to save the family budget in the conditions of the most severe deficit, then I advise you to turn to the experience of our grandmothers and mothers.

Reconsider your values ​​in favor of minimal spending, start doing many things yourself. Our mothers did not need the services of outsiders - they themselves cut their children's hair, washed windows themselves, and made semi-finished products themselves.

They knew exactly the answer to the question of how to learn how to save the family budget - because often the conditions of the deficit did not allow either to earn more or somehow regulate spending. Start going to the wholesale market instead of the grocery store (only after calculating the costs and making sure that it is profitable), and also feel free to use secondary goods.

Second hand is a great idea not only for students, but also for children. In most cases, children's things have to be put aside before they have time to wear out - simply because babies grow quickly. Very often, people are ready to give away for free what they no longer need - you can see it in the communities of your city in the sections I will give for free.

Be sure to make preparations and stocks. It is not always possible to save money, there are too many temptations, but it is still possible to gradually save canned food in the pantry.

Some useful household skills are a very strong help - for example, when I needed money as a student, I sewed dresses for my girlfriends to order.

Psychology and Crisis

How to save the family budget if there is a crisis in the country? Crisis time always has a very hard effect on people - everything becomes more expensive, there are reductions, and some kind of general anxiety is felt.

The best way to deal with general panic is to accumulate. I advise absolutely everyone to learn how to save money, as well as learn how to invest it correctly - this will help protect yourself from inflation. You can save a little even from the smallest salary, and over time this money will become a good support if you continue to save it.

Think about what services people continue to need during a crisis and learn something new. My needlework skills help me save money - the entire female half of my family knows how to create something beautiful with their hands, this is both a hobby and a good income.

And I also advise you to think through all the options for the development of events. What will you do if you suddenly lose your job? What will you do if you can't find it for a long time? Do you have a financial airbag? When a person knows the answers to all these questions, he is not afraid of any crisis.

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