15 Ways To Save Money for the Future

ad // I’m turning 30 this year and the future is starting to look very… daunting. There will be a fair few changes happening in my life over the next year or so, which has brought to light the importance of money even more so than ever before. I had no doubt that money was important – everyone knows that – but looking to the future makes it even more apparent.

We all have a future that’s going to require money. Whether that’s saving for retirement, moving home, raising a family or even upping sticks and travelling the world. And whilst it’s still quite a touchy subject for some people, the fact is, money is just an exchange of energy.

I did a lot of money mindset work a few years ago which really altered my perspective on money. When you learn that it’s simply an exchange of energy, it starts to feel a little less daunting to think about.

In this post I’m going to share a range of different ways to save money for the future. Some of these are super simple and easy ways to make a little bit of extra cash through your phone every day, others are bigger methods which might require a little more research and time.

But every little thing helps and even the small things will add up over time and allow you to make some extra money that you can put aside for the future. Some of these won’t be relevant to you, others will. So take what you want and leave what you don’t and hopefully this post will help you save some extra money for the future!

De-clutter regularly and sell your old stuff

Selling stuff you no longer want or need instead of just binning it is one of the easiest things to do when it comes to making extra money. This could be anything from larger items such as that old car taking up space on the driveway you have been holding on to “just in case”, to the box of vintage clothes in the attic gathering dust.

Selling can be quick and easy, a quick search for “we buy cars” should bring up companies in your area to buy your car, for example. Other items such as clothes, shoes, books, kitchen equipment, and more, can be sold online at sites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or even at local car boot sales.

Decluttering regularly will also put you in a much healthier headspace! When your life is cluttered, your mind often is, too.

Use AQRU to earn interest on Crypto

Crypto can sound scary to those who don’t use it but brands like AQRU have launched an app which makes it simple and easy for anyone to earn interest on crypto. Investment experts and software developers have made it accessible to anyone to make high returns of up to 12% on the assets they hold.

You receive a $10 bonus when you sign up then start depositing either cash or Crypto into one of their investment products and watch the interest accumulate. The app is available on both iOS and android!

Use the Shoppix app to earn money on your receipts

I love things like this because it allows you to earn money on things you’re ALREADY doing. The Shoppix app allows you to upload your receipts for purchases (both physical receipts and e-receipts) and when you hit a certain amount of points, you get a payout. I’ve had around £30 from Shoppix so far for literally no effort.

Learn how to budget properly

Saving for the future will require budgeting. And budgeting is DEFINITELY something they should teach you in school but don’t. No wonder so many people worry about money and have a hard time managing it when we’re not taught how to. But whatever your age, start learning how to budget for whatever YOUR future holds. Not what everyone else’s does.

Helpful read: How To Budget for Large Expenses

Use cashback sites

Similarly to the receipt app, using cashback sites on the purchases you’re already making is brilliant because you were going to make that purchase anyway, why not get some money back from it? You’ll be surprised at how much can build up from cashback at the end of the year!

Keep your eye out for free money offers

If you’re in the blogging industry and in particular, follow money bloggers, you’ll likely see a lot of free money offers floating around. These usually require you to download an app or sign up for something but typically, I’ve found them really good from the reputable bloggers I follow. Check out Emma at Make Money Without a Job for a TON of free money offers!

Use survey sites in your free time

Another one I like to do which I’ve had a lot of success with is survey sites. Some are better than others, understandably. But over time, your side income can really build up with these and it can give you a good chunk to go into savings or to spend on Christmas without you having to touch your actual income.

Try matched betting

Matched betting won’t be for everyone. I certainly couldn’t have done it without having someone to talk me through it. But it can be an AMAZING source for making hundreds of pounds of extra income. And yes, it’s legal. Here’s my experience with matched betting.

Track your outgoings and incomings

Something you should really get into the habit of doing when you want to save money, especially for your future, is to track your money. Everything coming in and out and then spend a good chunk of time going over your spreadsheets, to see where you can save, what you can cut out, what is necessary etc.

Find extra work from home jobs to boost your income

If you can and have the time or capacity to do so, then work from home jobs can be a great way to make extra money to help save for your future. You might try starting a blog, freelance writing or transcribing. Create art and sell it or even start your own business!

Establish long and short term saving goals

I love goal setting, so this is a BIG one for me! Setting goals is important to help keep you on track. But you don’t want to just set those massive long term goals that at a glance look completely unreachable. That will ultimately make you feel awful and unmotivated. So short term and achievable goals are crucial for keeping up the momentum.

Related read: 9 Truth Bombs About Goal Setting You Need To Hear

Try the 30 day rule when buying something

If you spend quite a lot of money and need to cut back, you could try this simple technique. The 30 day rule. If you see something you want (not something you really need) – perhaps a new dress or a handbag – leave it 30 days before buying it. If you’ve forgotten about it before then, then clearly it wasn’t something you really wanted in the first place!

Figure out where you can cut back on spending

For me, it’s takeaways. By tracking your outgoings, like we mentioned earlier, we can see where we’re struggling. If you notice you spend a lot on clothes or perhaps you have more subscription services than you really need, it might be time to cut back on a few of those.

Establish healthy money habits early

Again, something else that should be taught in school but isn’t. Learning about money, the dynamics of money and healthy money habits is so important. The quicker you get into these habits, the better! But it’s never too late to learn. Some health money habits include:

• Always saving something
• Shopping in the sales
• Planning your purchases
• Paying off debt where you can
• Spending mindfully

Remember your why

And finally, something that ties in with the above point and that’s remembering your why. When you want to go on a shopping spree you don’t REALLY need to go on or buy something that you don’t REALLY need, it’s important to remember your why. Of course we all need to treat ourselves every now and again, I’d NEVER tell anyone not to. I’m a big fan of treating myself.

But this short term happiness from buying a brand new expensive handbag might be damaging your future self and savings in the long run. If you can incorporate the above point about establishing healthy spending and money habits, then you’ll know your limits and you’ll be able to tap into whether this purchase is 100% necessary or not.

What tips do you have to add to this post? How do you save more money for the future? Let me know!

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