Saving money can be confusing and overwhelming. Everyone has so many tips for saving money, and if you try to follow all of them, you tend to end up just feeling exhausted and defeated with still no money saved. Saving money isn’t supposed to be that way. It is not just about following all of the tips/money saving plans, it is about pursuing the right mind set. With having the correct mindset, saving money can be a much happier, easier, and feeling accomplished experience. These ‘tips’ are to help you achieve a better mindset with saving money, so you can actually save without feeling like you are depriving yourself.

Starting to have the Right Mindset

How do you have the right mindset though, and make that a habit instead of what you currently think? Some people think change just takes will power, I personally believe that it takes practice and knowing yourself. When you go to buy something, you may look at it like you are deprived of that item and other things (that mentality tends to come from comparing yourself to others, or being taught that you do not have enough). Instead, realize you already have enough, this is a luxury item. (You can think about what all you already do have to be grateful for). Ask yourself if using the money you have to buy that item is robbing your future self of that money/and your financial goals? Would your future self (five years from now) want the money or that item more? If you need to, write these questions down on your list when you go to the store (or on a sticky note, or on your phone), or wherever you will see it when you are out in the stores. If you go to the store with a significant other, friend, or sibling, have them help you remember to ask yourself these questions.

You can also ask yourself when you shop if it would really make you that much more happy or will it make your life that much easier? (Or are you just wanting the shopping high?) Will what you gain from this item outweigh having to keep another item in the home? Do you have a place to store/display/put the item?

Do not beat yourself up too much when you stumble either. Learn from your mistakes. If you bought something and realized that you should not have, return it if you can. If not, you can always find that item a good home or donate it.

Starting off the day and ending it with listing out five to ten things you are grateful for can help you to have the mentality of ‘I have enough.’ Even if it is simple things like ‘I am grateful for the food on my table, having a toothbrush and toothpaste, being able to practice my religion, having a roof over my head (even if I just rent), the weather today, and having shoes on my feet.’ Listing out things that you are grateful for (tangible and not) can help you realize how much you already have. You will naturally start to want less then, and not feel the need to want more material things. And if you forget, don’t beat yourself up over it, just do it when you remember. The more often you do it, the quicker the results come.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Our culture does a great job at having us compare ourselves to everyone else around us constantly, and not in a good way. We are taught to be so worried with what everyone else thinks of us, what everyone else is doing to be noticed and what they own, and how we ‘measure up’ to everyone else. Culture tells us we are supposed to look and act young forever, just worry about material things and try to own them all, and to be ‘busier’ than everyone else so we can ‘look good.’

We are supposed to care about others, and caring does not mean what they are wearing/have/etc. It means that we are supposed to love others (as ourselves), but not worry about what they are doing to get noticed, or what they have in comparison to us or vice versa. And the ‘love others as ourselves’ means we have to love ourselves; and if we don’t love ourselves, we need to work on ourselves and give ourselves grace and compassion so we can love ourselves too. It is a change of heart. Same goes for loving others: we need to have grace and compassion towards them. Culture has twisted the caring about others and yourself, so we must untwist that.

When we quit comparing ourselves to the outside world, and quit worrying about ‘what will ______ think of me?’ then we can really get the right mindset to save money (and even better, heal a part of ourselves). When we can be grateful for what we have, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life, we have also unlocked a key to the mindset we need for saving money.

Wait before buying

Wait about a week (or at least three days) before buying something you saw in stores or online to make sure it is what you really want. A lot of the times, we want that ‘shopping high’ more than the actual item. If you still really want that particular item after that time, then it will probably be a good purchase. If you are second guessing it, wished it was a bit different in some way, or simply do not want it anymore, then it would not be a good purchase.

Waiting a bit before buying can further help you remember that it takes time to collect quality pieces. Most people who have a lot of quality pieces got it over their lifetime (50 years or so), bought those pieces little by little as they could afford it, not all in under five years.

Research

Do your research before going out and purchasing something (while you are waiting the 48 hours to a week), no matter how small. If you buy an item because you think ‘I just need something right this minute’ and it is not what you absolutely want and/or think is perfect for you in every way, you will end up wasting money on that item and buying something else later. Even if it is just $5, that money can really add up quick.

Also, quality matters more than quantity. For example, if you have to purchase 5 pairs of $20 shoes in a year, and the pair of $100 shoes lasts two years, then the $100 shoes just became a lot cheaper over the course of two years than the $20 shoes because you only spent $100 instead of $200. It also produces less waste by only going through one pair of shoes instead of ten pairs over the two years.

When you do your research first, you can also find what is of better quality for the price. What is popular or easy to buy may not be the best choice or right quality for you. Do not worry what culture thinks you should have, focus on what works for you. When you do your research first, you may also find that you really don’t need/want that item anymore, which saves you 100%.

Know what works for you

With seeing innumerable ideas everywhere about how to save money, and where to save money, know which of the saving tips/ideas could honestly work for you. For example, I find it is easy for me to save money by not truly dining out. I am not much of a restaurant or fast food person. On the other hand, I cannot get myself to skip the coffee shop completely, but I can keep that habit to once a month or so, as that is my ‘kudos’ for working hard. That coffee shop trip takes place of other things I could do as my treat to myself. Being honest with yourself about what you absolutely want to keep (in moderation of course) and what you could live without helps you save money without feeling deprived.

In saying this, do not be afraid to experiment and try new ways of saving money, you could surprise yourself. I enjoy painting my nails substantially more than I thought I would, instead of going to the salon. Part of saving money is figuring out what works for you, and knowing yourself with what you can and really do not want to live without.

It is important to know what works for you money saving wise. It is wearing to try and make yourself completely stop something you enjoy. Make it a treat though, and do not go overboard with it. Save in other areas, that way you are saving without feeling deprived.

Know your Triggers

If you have a shopping problem, do not walk into the mall, that particular store, etc. Avoid places where you know you cannot walk out empty-handed until you have worked through that addiction and changed your mindset to the mentality of ‘I have enough already’ and being thankful for what you have. I used to have this problem big-time. I have found that keeping myself out of stores for awhile, and finding other hobbies (or even just going for a walk with that spare time) has helped me. It saves money in the meantime, and you can see your savings start to grow. I can now go into a store knowing that I will not blow my budget, as I have seen some money saved, and changed my mindset to knowing/remembering that I have enough, which gives me momentum to only buy what I walked in to buy.

Instead of Shopping, Find a different hobby

This is a big one. So many people use shopping (even online shopping) as a space filler, and for ‘something to do.’ In place of shopping, find a different hobby. What have you wanted to do or try that you have not done yet? Do you enjoy cooking? Try to find some online recipes and vlogs that will walk you through a new cooking recipe, or take an online cooking class even. Or explore your own town on foot, or visit your local library; never know what you will find until you do so. Go to a museum, or use that time to learn something new (language, a craft, a new skill). Or have you wanted to be able to do pull-ups or run a mile? Use that time to start getting into shape (and researching to help) to be able to do pull-ups, run a mile, etc. one day.

If you go shopping with your friends, let them know you are taking a break and happy to do something else with them. If they are true friends, they will understand that. You can even invite them to join you on this new journey of finding a new hobby/learning new things instead of just shopping. One of my favorite memories with a good friend of mine is when we first started to get into baking and tried to bake in the kitchen together. We ended up with awful, over buttery tasting cookies since we did not know the difference between shortening and butter at the time (recipe called for both), but we had a ton of fun attempting to bake together and learning together. Maybe they also would like to learn something new with you- if you both want to learn the same language, then you have one more person to practice with. Just don’t let them hold you back either when you make a commitment to putting something else in place of shopping.

Find friends who are savers, not spenders

Who you hang out with the most has an impact on you, even if it is subconsciously. Whether at work, home, or out and about, who you interact with the most matters. If they all spend a ton of money, chances are you will too. It is natural for us to pick up many habits and mannerisms from the people we see the most (and not just money wise). Find people that you want learn from, and have the good habits that you want. For me, that meant changing my work setting even to help me advance to where I wanted to go. The steps you have to take may be big steps, but it is worth it in the long-term investment of you.

Conclusion

Saving money does not have to be super stressful and time consuming. Having the right mindset is the most important step to saving money. Do not be afraid to change how you think in this area. Read books on the matter, research, and practice these and other simple tips you can see yourself putting into your life. Practice happier living by being grateful for what you have, not comparing yourself to others, and not trying to impress others.

When you do have to buy a product, make sure to research before you buy a product, and take your time making decisions (do not rush) to make sure that item will work for you. This researching time will also help you wait at least three days before buying the item to make sure you really want it, and not just want ‘something new.’

Ask your friends to join you on this new journey, as it will give you a support group, and help you find other hobbies you all enjoy doing. Also, finding friends who are savers can help with the mindset shift needed, as people tend to be most like who they are closest with.

Remember to know what works for you, and know your triggers. Stay away from places where you know you will spend money, and cut down your spending where it makes sense to. Give yourself compassion and grace as you practice these new mindsets, and saving will become easier and easier for you. Let me know if you have any tips or ways of saving money that work for you!