Bet you have three bucks in your wallet right now. If so, you’re well on your way to having $1,000. Don’t think it’s possible to save that much when starting with a lousy $3? Well, it is. You just have to be a little sneaky about it.
|By Paula Sirois, www.RetailMeNot.com
Bet you have three bucks in your wallet right now. If so, you’re well on your way to having $1,000. Don’t think it’s possible to save that much when starting with a lousy $3? Well, it is. You just have to be a little sneaky about it.
When you multiply three by the number of days in a year, you get $1,095. But we’re just going to focus on the $1,000, which should be easier. Think you can save $3 a day? Of course you can, and here’s how:
Find it: You can locate $3 right this minute just by looking around your home, office or car. Start by rummaging through the usual suspects: the couch cushions, desk drawers and abandoned suitcases. Make sure to delve into your jean pockets before throwing your jeans in the wash, and don’t forget to thoroughly investigate your vehicle’s interior. Check these places now, and I guarantee you will come back with at least $3. Simply add those extra dollars to the $1,000 jar you’re about to create and consider yourself ahead of the penny-pinching pack.
Brew it: You have a coffeepot at home; use it. You probably already do, right? Every morning you brew a cup of joe. But then when it’s time for work, you hop in the car and head directly to the closest coffee drive-through. Why not make that second cup of coffee at home? Just pour it into a travel mug and skip paying the $3 to $5 tomorrow morning , and every morning after that. Hear that? That’s the sound of money dropping into your jar.
Pack it: Are you buying lunches at work or fast food for the kids because it’s easier? I get it, believe me. But for just this month, eat only the grub you purchase at the grocery store. Yes, that means packing leftovers, preparing sandwiches and even grilling up your own version of Mickey D’s at home. But here’s a two-problem solver in one trick: While cleaning off the dinner table every night, simply place the remains into lunch bags and food storage containers. Now your next meal is ready to go, and your cleanup is done in a flash of Tupperware.
Within 30 days, you will have $90 in your $1,000 jar. If you do this every month for a year, you’ll have saved more than $1,000 and probably not even missed it. Start saving today, and if you’re especially gung-ho, have each family member who earns an income contribute. If Mom and Dad both drop three bucks into the jar every day, they’ll have saved $180 in just one month. Now that’s impressive. Happy savings!
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