Tips that $ave
Whether your schedule is crazy, your apartment is cluttered, or your budget is mismanaged, here are some tips to get more organized.
Save time
Do you find it difficult to find really good birthday presents because you wait until the last minute? And then do you spend hours in the stores because you can't find anything you like?
Whenever you're shopping and you see a gift at a great price, buy it and put it in your closet. When a special occasion comes up and you need a gift for someone, you'll have a selection of things to choose from. You won't have to make a special trip for last-minute shopping.
Do you ever pay bills late because you lose them in all the papers and clutter in your home? Well, if you need a system for paying your bills on time, the trick is to pay them online. You can arrange to pay your bills directly from your bank account. Once you have set up online bill pay, you can either set up a reminder for yourself to pay on a certain date, or you can have your bills paid automatically.
Save space
Magazines can take over your home before you know it. Most magazines are also
available online. Save space by reading the articles online. Or, if you like to read a print magazine and want to save an article, go online and download the article to your computer. Then read it again whenever you want.
Buy brightly colored baskets or boxes for your shelves to store smaller items neatly. Label them with their contents. Your shelves will look neater, and you'll have more space for your larger items. Hang single shelves above doorways to store things you rarely use. Place low shelves in your closet to take advantage of unused space.
Save money
Save for a rainy day, little by little. It's easy to make progress if you give yourself a weekly allowance. Try to spend less than your allowance each week. Put the remaining money in an envelope. At the end of each month, put the money in your bank account.
It's the little habits that count. Have you added up the cost of those cappuccinos you buy every morning? If you spend $3.50 on coffee five days a week, that adds up to $910 a year! By doing without fancy drinks and making your coffee at home, you can save a bundle. You might want to try packing a lunch instead of eating at the local café, too – this habit can also save you hundreds a year.