Many people add "save money" to their New Year's Resolution list. However, "save money" is not a very meaningful or concrete goal to have. By making your goal of frugality more specific and breaking it down into different steps, you will be more likely to achieve your goal of... saving money.
Here are some example New Year's Resolutions that will help you save money in the new year.
- Be mindful about your spending. Before whipping out the cash or credit card or pressing that submit button online, take a step back and think.
- Use it up. Find ways to get more use out of what you have. Can you add a half cup of water to that "empty" detergent bottle and get enough out for another load? Could you have those leftovers for lunch instead of going out or making something new?
- Make it do. If you get 10 percent more use out of something you already have, that is a savings.
- Use less. Half a dryer sheet works just as well as a whole one (I've been doing this for years). A pea sized dot of toothpaste is just as effective as the 1" strip the manufacturer suggests using.
- Reuse what you can. Empty yogurt containers work great for starting seeds, using as paint cups for kids or playing in the dirt or sand. Just don't keep a ridiculous amount of stuff. That is hoarding, which is not frugal.
- Do without. Yes, it's grandma's favorite advice. When she was a kid she had one pair of socks and washed them every day. So do you need to have your own (fill in the blank)? Can you borrow it first? How have you gotten along so far without one? Would you rather have a (fill in the blank) than more savings for retirement, money to travel, funds to give to charity?
- Buy it used. Columbus has dozens of fantastic secondhand shops, from Goodwill Columbus thrift stores to used bike shops, musical instrument shops and more.
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