15 Ways to Budget for the Fun Stuff
Daily life expenses add up, but a little bit of budgeting can go a long way. Save on the everyday stuff and you’ll free up cash to spend on the sweeter things in life, from floor seats at the next Thunder game to a night of cocktails and jazz at the WSKY Lounge. Here, we give you 15 easy-peasy financial decisions to incorporate into your daily life, so you’ll never have to say “I can’t afford it!” again.
Make your own coffee. It takes only a few minutes and can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Don’t have a coffee machine? No problem! You can make cold brew coffee in bulk with nothing but coffee grounds, a strainer and a large pitcher.
Get cozy with coupons. We’re not talking about the kind your grandma clipped out of the Pennysaver. Today, you can find some of the best coupons online with a simple Google search, or through sites and apps like RetailMeNot, Shopular, or SnipSnap, which you can pull up right on your smartphone, no printer required. Never go to a big box store without them and never buy anything online without first Googling for promo codes.
Say goodbye to hidden banking fees. If you’re paying monthly fees, ATM fees, minimum balance fees, or any other mysterious amounts you don’t remember signing on for, it’s time to bid your current bank farewell and opt for a fee-free alternative, like Quail Creek Bank’s LINQ account. It’s free to set up with no minimum balance requirement and even offers an interest rate of 0.05% (read: money for nothing, right into your pocket!), which is rare for a free account. Oh, and did we mention ATM fee reimbursements of up to $25?
Sell your old clothes. This is a great way to purge your closet while also making some dough. If you have a lot of brand name items, opt for a consignment shop. You won’t walk out with cash in hand immediately like you will with a typical resale store, but you will make more money in the long run—some shops offer up to 60% of the selling price! Whatever doesn’t sell, be sure to donate for good karma.
Pack your own lunches. Going out for lunch every day takes a toll on both your wallet and your weight. Make your own and you could slash $1,500 off your yearly budget. But brown bagging it doesn’t have to be all sad sandwiches and squished bananas. Invest in a slow cooker to whip up bulk stews, curries and soups for a low-cost dinner, then pack up the leftovers in Tupperware for an easily reheatable lunch.
Carry snacks and water with you everywhere. And put that $5 coffee shop pastry down! Sudden bouts of hunger or thirst are guaranteed budget-killers for the unprepared, but easily avoided if you already have your own reusable water bottle and bulk bag of nuts in your car or at your desk.
Watch your electricity consumption. Are you wearing a sweater in the house during the heat of summer? Leaving the porch light on all day? These kinds of oversights are uselessly wasteful. Switch to low energy bulbs if you haven’t already and train yourself and your family to be more wary. The environment—and your bank account—will thank you.
Make your money mobile. It’s tough to stay in control of your budget when you can’t even keep track of your money. Streamline your finances and your life, with an easy-to-use mobile banking app like Quail Creek Bank’s QCB App. With the swipe of a finger, you can aggregate all your accounts, even those with other banks, on your smartphone or even your Apple watch. It’s banking made easy, with mobile deposits, billpay, P2P, transfers, transaction tagging, and a cool feature that allows you to upload an image, such as a receipt, to each transaction. No more digging through a box of faded paper slips—the future is here!
Ditch the gym membership. The fitness industry seems to have just about reached saturation point. Skip the $30 spin class and just…go for a run! If the weather won’t cooperate, download one of the many free fitness apps that are out there, like FitStar, Sworkit or Pocket Yoga and get sweaty in the comfort of home. Can’t motivate on your own? Find a similarly cash-conscious workout buddy to keep you accountable.
Meet your new best friends: Salvation Army and Goodwill. If you haven’t thrifted lately, you’d be surprised at the quality and quantity you can find at a good secondhand shop, from furniture to home appliances to clothes. Plus, you never know when you’ll strike gold—a cashmere sweater, an antique hardwood armoire—and the proceeds go to charity, so you can feel good about your purchases.
Get hip to DIY. It’s all the rage these days, and it’s a great way to save cash. Plus, learning something new is good for your brain and self-confidence. Start simple by making your own all-purpose household cleaner with vinegar, water and a dash of lemon juice. Before long you’ll be growing your own veggies and sewing your own clothes.
Let your age work in your favor. Are you over the age of 55? You might make the cut for senior discounts at local restaurants, museums, movie theatres and amusement parks. If you’re under 12, same deal. But there are also less obvious options to look for. 30 or under? Sign up for a Quail Creek Bank LINQ Account with $30 or more, and you’re eligible for a $30 dollar match. You can then get another $30 if you set up a direct deposit. That’s $60 to spend impressing your next date with a steak dinner for two at Cattleman’s!
Save (on) gas. Sure, it’s cheaper these days than it was a few years ago, but it’s still a serious daily expense. Save as much as possible by taking advantage of public transportation, bicycling, or walking whenever possible. And when you do need it, use a smartphone app like GasBuddy to find the cheapest pump prices in your area.
Secure your finances. Plastic credit and debit cards are so yesterday and leave you vulnerable to theft, which could wipe out your entire savings. Apple Pay, which is included in QCB’s handy app, offers a safer, easier and more secure way to pay with just a touch. No card information is stored on your device, so theft is no longer a worry. Leave your cards somewhere safe and your smartphone or watch will do the rest.
Join the sharing economy. Whether this means using a rideshare app to get to work, renting out your extra bedroom on Airbnb, creating a Couchsurfing account for your next vacation, or setting up a tool sharing program amongst your friends, it’s a bona fide way to save (and even make!) money and build community while you’re at it.