In 2019 Tim and I started the Dave Ramsey journey. We took classes but never finished them because it became too much for me. This was all in my first trimester of pregnancy when I was really sick. Although we stopped attending classes, we still are doing a loose Dave Ramsey plan. *This is NOT recommended by Dave Ramsey*
In the beginning of Financial Peace University, Dave has you identify who is the nerd and who is the spender in your relationship. Right off the bat, I knew I am both. I love to spend but I also love to save and get rid of debt!
Throughout our months of doing a loose Dave Ramsey plan, I have discovered a few ways to save in areas that I really did not want to buckle down on. So, my thoughts on how to save when you’re a spender! ⤵️
Use what you have before you buy new!
I am one of those people who gets so sucked into advertisements that I will buy new products way before my old ones run out just for fun. STOP DOING THIS!!!! Use every drop of that body lotion before you test out that new one that is all over your Instagram! I have so many beauty products that I have tossed aside because I purchased a different version. For example, I have 3 eyebrow pencils……… Yes, some are better than others but until they’re all gone I refuse to buy another! Not only does this cut back on my beauty supply spending but also brings me closer to my goal of a zero waste life! 🙂
Shop Around!
When those advertisements are sucking you in, keep in mind there is probably a similar version for much less somewhere on the internet. Take the time to find it. I love my Native Deodorant, but $11 for one stick is not helping me pay off debt. I found a generic brand of Native that has equally clean ingredients for half the price! It isn’t quite the same, but it is getting the job done and helping me save. You do not have to sacrifice clean ingredients for your budget. You just have to search for them!
Thrift Shopping!
When I get the craving to spend it is so hard to tell myself no. Those advertisements are even more desirable in that time and I find myself making excuses and silly decisions. Does this happen to other people or just me? The desire to shop is so great that it controls a majority of your thinking?! When this happens to me I have to get myself to a thrift store. I will buy myself a new outfit or shop for home decor that is second hand. This fills my urge to spend, spend, spend without breaking the bank. I have found so many great things at Goodwill! Over half my wardrobe is second hand.
Entertainment!
Entertainment is hard to cut back on. I cannot sit for hours. I get so bored, I know this drives Tim nuts!! We cut out cable and decided to get Hulu instead. When we signed up for Hulu it was $0.99 / month for a year. This saved us a ton of money while still being able to keep up with some of our favorite shows! Another way I have kept myself entertained is by working on our home renovation. Weekly we pick something to do on the house that wont break the bank but will keep me busy. So far doing this, we have stayed away from spending due to boredom.
*A great way to save money if you’re a book worm is to go to the library and/or buy books second hand! I have read one book throughout this journey but I sure didn’t buy it new!
Car Pool!
Gas is a huge expense. Luckily, I am able to car pool with my mom to work everyday. This often makes my car available for Tim to drive to work, keeping his gas guzzling truck parked. If it is possible for you, get a ride! *Tim and I both have a drive to work that is around 15 miles. Before I started riding with my mom, I was filling my car up once a week.*
Buy off brand groceries!
Alright, food snobs. This is a tough one for you! Buy the knock off brand groceries!!! I shop at Aldi and the savings are unreal. My overflowing cart is a quarter the price of an overflowing cart at Walmart. Sometimes there are items I buy that I do not love and the name brand is the way to go…. BUT for the most part, off brand is the same! Another trick is to do everything you can to not waste food (including the stuff you don’t love and will never buy again.) Eat leftovers, get your butt up and cook the fresh veggies before they go bad, and stop over buying food you cannot eat fast enough! If a gallon of milk will expire before you can finish it, buy a smaller size. The food I was disposing every week added up to so much money it almost made me sick. I have started to limit myself to mainly frozen vegetables because I don’t cook often enough to buy all fresh. I also stopped trying to grocery shop in huge amounts because I will never eat all of it. Small grocery trips only purchasing food I will cook and eat saves us lots of money and keeps us away from restaurants!
I am the first to admit I am not a perfect saver! Many times I spend unnecessarily and I do not live off of a rice and beans budget like Dave suggest. I am still learning and growing, very slowly cutting down debt. Budgeting doesn’t have to be a huge sacrifice and can be very enjoyable if you do it right. I hope some of you are inspired and search for your own ways to save. Please share any savings tips with me in the comments!
Happy budgeting! 🙂
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