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Last Updated on August 8, 2021
If you’re trying to change your food and lifestyle habits, you might need some extra cash. After all, you could be replacing a lot of your snack food and even some of your kitchenware, trading out the deep fryer for an air fryer. Maybe you’d even like to pick up a pair of running shoes, an exercise bike or a gym membership. Whatever changes you are making, figuring out how to get more money can make the transition easier.
Reduce Debts and Bills
You might be able to reduce what you are paying on some of your debts or regular bills. For example, have a look at your internet or cell phone bill and see if you can get a better price. If you are paying off student loans, you may want to combine multiple college debt balances into a single one with a student loan consolidation. You can look online and see what options are available from private lenders.
Tracking Your Spending
If you’re trying to come up with some extra cash, you might be surprised at what you can find if you track your spending. This can mean writing down everything that you spend, or you can use an app that does this for you. Be sure that you include even little things, like a coffee in the morning. You’ll be surprised at how much little things add up, and you may be able to cut back on your spending without really sacrificing or even noticing.
Make a Budget
If you really want to rearrange how you are spending your money, you can make a budget. When you are serious about creating a budget, you should spend a few months tracking your spending to give you an accurate idea of your expenses. You can then use another app, a spreadsheet or just pen and paper to make a budget. Make a special category for the healthy living supplies that you want to purchase.
You should also avoid two common errors. One is creating an unrealistic budget. Some people may make a plan that is simply too austere. If there is no room for entertainment and other indulgences, you won’t stick to it. The other mistake is forgetting to include things you only spend money on occasionally. You may only buy birthday presents once a year or use a dry cleaner every few months, but you will need to remember to include these types of costs.
Pay Yourself First
Many financial gurus suggest that you pay yourself first, meaning that you make sure you always put away some money in savings before you do anything else. You might already be doing this if you have a retirement account set up through your workplace. You can also have some of your paycheck automatically deposited into a savings account. This may work especially well for people who don’t want the hassle of creating a budget but who want to make sure to put aside a certain amount of money each month.
