 | Lisa Vermillion is President and co-owner of Get Fit Bee Fit and Thin and Healthy Weight Management. Lisa opened Get Fit- 4 years ago in Valley Center, after receiving certifications thorough the American Council on Exercise as a Weight and Lifestyle Management Consultant and Certified Personal Trainer. In January, she Grand Opened Thin and Healthy Weight Management in the same location. Lisa not only provides weight loss programs for individuals but she also implements business wellness programs for small businesses and large corporations. Additionally, Lisa is a Certified Life Coach providing guidance for individuals in the areas of career, relationship and personal development. She is available for speaking engagements in the areas of Physical Fitness, Weight Management, or any Life Coaching area (goal setting, positive attitude, sales, etc). Lisa can be reached for questions or speaking engagements by phone (316) 755-1115 or email at mvmillion@yahoo.com |
Diet & Nutrition
2011-06-01 10:02:00
Saving money for regular people
Question: I read an article on the internet entitled, “How we’re planning to save $12,000 this summer”. I thought it was a little crazy and judging from all the comments most everyone felt like I did. These people obviously had a fairly large amount of money to begin with. How can regular people, maybe people who live paycheck to paycheck, save money?
Answer: First, look at your current spending habits, writing down everything you spend money on during a month. An easy method, is divide a legal note pad paper into columns. Label categories such as utilities, entertainment, food, restaurants, gasoline, etc. Every day, record the days expenditures in the proper column. At the end of the month you can easily total each category giving you a detailed picture of your spending. You might be surprised at how drive through meals, foo foo coffee’s, and drop- in’s to the neighborhood convenience store can rack up hundreds of dollars in a short time.
Next, look at what can go. Do you really need flavored coffee EVERY day? Can you pack a lunch instead of eating out? Can you trade a can of soda for a glass of water? You don’t have to give up TV completely, but perhaps you can par down the high buck cable TV, premium, all inclusive, get every station in the world that you don’t watch half of, plan in favor of the basic, no frills, but still lets me watch my favorite show, plan. A few simple changes could save you over $1000 a year.
Savings can also be found looking at your entertainment spending and finding alternate activities. Instead of spending $10 going to a movie, spend a $1 and rent one. Better yet, ditch the TV, get out in the fresh air and take a walk, ride your bike, or play with your kids. Get a FREE library card and read a book. Play a cool board game with your family or put on music and dance around the house. Here’s a novel idea: have a real conversation about something important in your life. The $9 a week you’ll save equals $36 a month or $432 a year. At restaurants you can split an entrée and save $10-$15. If you did that once per week, you’d save $40-$60 a month and $480-$720 a year.
Another easy place to save is your grocery store purchases. Save money by finding coupons for products that you use the most. Don’t waste time or money clipping coupons for things you won’t normally buy. Try out generic products. Trial and error will help you figure out which generics you like and which products you’d rather pay higher prices for. You’ll find that many big manufacturers make the off label stuff too and the taste is virtually the same. Skip on expensive junk food. Look for fresh produce or better yet grow your own. Most importantly, take a list to the grocery store, stick to it, and pay cash. Our family went from spending $180 a week to $120 just by making a list and paying with green stuff instead of a debit card. That’s a savings of around $2800 a year.
Save money on gas by carpooling, riding a bike, or using your feet. When you must drive, plan your errand path by grouping together places that are in close proximity. Plan your time so that you can do those errands all at once instead of driving a dozen miles out of your way.
Save money on clothing by shopping stores at the end of the season. Many times you’ll save up to 75% or 80% off the regular price. An even better option is to shop at thrift stores. It takes a little more time but I’ve found brand new dress jackets with the tag still on for $5, not to mention several cute shirts and skirts for $2.00 each.. One of my employees looks fabulous all the time; her favorite store is a thrift store.
Finally, quit making excuses. How important is saving money to you? You can come up with a thousand reasons why you’re too busy, too stressed, too frustrated, or too tired. The truth is saving money gives you energy and peace of mind. You can use your newfound extra cash, to get out of debt, start or add to a savings account, or invest in your future. Just a few cost saving measures could give you enough to pay cash for a great used car saving you even more money on interest! It’s so easy even the average American can do it.
