Living on your own for the first time is exciting. You get to make all of your own decisions, decorate any way you like, and eat whatever you want (within reason). However, it also means that you have to take responsibility for everything from groceries to rent payments. The good news is that there are ways to save money living on your own! In this article, we will discuss ways that people can reduce their monthly expenses while still enjoying life in a beautiful apartment or house.
Cut Down Your Costs of Grocery Budgeting
The first step to saving money while living on your own is cutting down the cost of groceries. It’s incredibly easy for anyone, especially college students, to go grocery shopping and spend $50-$100 or more on one trip! However, there are ways around this to keep costs low without sacrificing food quality.
First, create a meal plan for the week. This will help you keep track of what ingredients you need and allow you to shop accordingly instead of buying extra groceries that go bad before they’re used up.
Second, buy food in bulk! Costco is one option for this type of shopping, but if it’s too far away or not affordable consider splitting grocery costs with roommates on bigger items like toilet paper or cereal.
Finally, don’t shop when you’re hungry! This is a major mistake that many people make and it leads to buying extra junk food just because it’s there in front of them. If you go shopping with your stomach full, then the only thing on your grocery list will be necessities instead of snacks. It is one of the most efficient ways to save money living on your own.
Reduce Your Transportation Costs
Depending on where you live, transportation costs can take a big chunk out of any budget. However, there are ways to reduce these expenses while still being able to get around town!
First, avoid leasing or financing cars unless it’s absolutely necessary for your career path. If the only reason that you drive is so that you have access to a vehicle, then look for ways to get around without one. You can share rides with friends or use public transportation like buses and subways.
Second, make sure your car is as fuel-efficient as possible! Cars that are more efficient offer better gas mileage which means you won’t have to visit the pump quite so frequently. This will not only save you money at the pump but will also help the environment!
Finally, consider ways to reduce your daily commute. If it’s possible for you to work from home or telecommute one day per week then do so and enjoy an extra afternoon off each week! This can be hard if your job requires face-to-face meetings or constant collaboration, but if possible it’s a great way to save money.
Reduce Your Energy Costs
Many people who are living on their own for the first time don’t realize that energy costs can be just as high (if not higher) than food expenses! This is largely due to appliances like space heaters and TVs constantly drawing power even when they’re not in use. Luckily, there are ways to reduce energy costs without having to give up too many conveniences!
First, unplug appliances that aren’t being used. This seems simple enough but it can be surprising how much electricity is wasted by leaving items plugged in all the time. Even if you don’t need them at the moment, try to turn off and unplug appliances that you can after using them.
Second, use energy-efficient lightbulbs! These may cost a bit more upfront but they will last longer than traditional bulbs so it evens out in the long run. They also only use about half of the electricity of standard lights which will save you money on your monthly bill.
Finally, don’t try to heat or cool the entire house! The temperature outside typically doesn’t affect rooms that aren’t used often like guest bedrooms and basements so only adjust the thermostat for those rooms when necessary. This can help keep energy costs down without making you uncomfortable in other parts of the house.
Regular Saving Account
Make sure you have a separate savings account.
It’s easy to spend money every time you get your paycheck and forget about it, but this is one of the biggest ways that people accidentally waste money! You should always have some extra funds in an emergency fund or savings account just in case something unexpected comes up like car problems or medical expenses.
You should try to save at least ten percent of your paycheck. This might seem like a lot, but it’s important for financial security which is why you should always have some extra cash saved up! You never know when an emergency may happen and if you don’t have the money in savings then you could end up having to take out a loan which is very expensive.
Reduce Your Entertainment Expenses
Many people who are living on their own for the first time don’t realize that entertainment expenses can be even higher than food costs! This is largely due to subscriptions like television services and mobile phone plans as well as recurring fees like Netflix or Spotify. Luckily, there are ways to reduce your entertainment costs without giving up too many conveniences!
First, look for ways to cut back on subscriptions. For example, you might not really need all of the channels that come with cable television or Netflix if there are only certain shows that you watch regularly. This can save you a lot of money over time and will make it easier to keep track of your entertainment expenses.
Next, get rid of the extras! Many people subscribe to an overabundance of streaming services or apps because they think that there’s no harm in just having them available but this is another unnecessary cost that can add up quickly! Try cutting back on subscriptions and only keeping the ones you actually use to reduce your monthly entertainment expenses.
Finally, switch from a cell phone plan to a prepaid one! These plans may seem more expensive upfront but they can actually save you money in the long run because there are no hidden fees or overages. If you always have your phone on silent and don’t use it for web browsing then this is a great option to save money!
Lower Your Heating Bills
Many people don’t realize that their heating bills can be pretty high even in the winter when they aren’t using the oven or stove, but it all comes down to keeping your house at a comfortable temperature. Luckily, there are ways to reduce your heating costs without giving up too many conveniences!
First, make sure you’re not wasting heat in the summer.
If you’re leaving windows open to let in cool air then keep them closed when it’s windy outside because this can actually make your home colder! You should also leave shades drawn on south-facing windows during the day and close off rooms that aren’t used often or don’t have central heating units like guest bedrooms and basements. This can help keep your home at the perfect temperature without wasting extra energy that you’d be paying for otherwise!
Try to use a programmable thermostat if you don’t already have one installed in your home. These are specially designed to automatically lower heating costs by warming up rooms when they’re needed and cooling them down when they aren’t. This can make a huge difference in your monthly heating expenses and will quickly pay for itself!
Cut the Rent
One of the ways that people accidentally spend more money than they need to is by renting an apartment or home when it might be possible to get a cheaper one. If you’re just moving out on your own then this can save you hundreds of dollars every month and help pay off student loans faster!
Start looking for places to rent well before you actually need to move and make sure that they’re in areas with good public transportation so you aren’t paying for a car every month.
If possible, consider sharing an apartment or home with friends instead of getting your own place especially if there are ways to split the rent evenly among all roommates! If this isn’t possible then look for ways to reduce the cost of your monthly rent.
If you’re renting a home then make sure that all appliances are included in your current expenses and look for ways to negotiate with landlords because they may be willing to knock off a few bucks if you sign a longer lease or pay the first month’s rent upfront! Sadly, many don’t acknowledge this approach as one of the ways to save money living on your own.
FAQ
What is the 30 Day Rule?
The 30-day rule is a way to prevent impulse purchases by waiting at least 30 days between planning to buy something and actually buying it. This can help stop you from making unnecessary purchases because many people forget about them after the first few weeks which makes it easier to avoid giving in!
What are the Cheapest Ways to Live?
There are many ways to live that can help reduce your monthly expenses and save you money. The cheapest ways involve cutting back on unnecessary spending such as subscriptions, only purchasing the essentials like food and rent while avoiding impulse purchases in general!
How Can I Save Money on a Low Income Fast?
Saving money can be difficult on a low income but there are ways to do it. Avoid making unnecessary purchases because this is the easiest way for people to waste their hard-earned cash!