Plan a “day of indulgence”
It’s virtually impossible to afford the new car or the dream trip to Australia without saving. Most people think they need a small fortune to pay for it. They then gear themselves up for a kind of financial abstinence. To buy the new car, dinner with friends is quickly sacrificed, the new T-shirt is not purchased, food prepared at home is taken for lunch instead of takeaways and water is chosen over beer when going for after-work drinks. However, it doesn’t have to be like that every day. To make periods of saving more pleasant, an occasional reward can act as an incentive.
Instead of looking at the forthcoming period of saving negatively, try asking yourself this question instead – when was the last time you really splashed out in the shops? Whether it’s clothing, furniture or gifts for loved ones – if you or others indulge yourselves from time to time while saving for your big goal, it can make a supposedly lean financial spell more bearable. It’s a bit like being on a diet. Instead of starving yourself for weeks on end, which eventually results in uncontrolled, ravenous indulgence, plan a “treat day”. Enjoy a day when you eat what you want to make it easier to avoid high-calorie food the next day.
Does that sound like a good plan? Then you should follow these tips. To save for your next shopping trip, it’s best to set a date as a deadline as well as the planned amount. The many promotional days and sales weeks are a good bet. That way you get more for your money thanks to special offers. Here we provide you with some key tips on how to really save some money the next time you go shopping: