I honestly can't tell you how many times I've been asked how in the world I can afford to do the things I do, whether it's shopping (a tad excessively lol), traveling, or suggesting products to you guys. I'm typically not the kind of person that's comfortable talking about finances and/or money because, you know, it's personal. But between you and me, I actually don't spend as much as it may look like I do.  I'm avid about setting goals/challenges for myself, so today, I'm gonna share some tips on what I do to save money. This may sound a little similar to my budget post since they go hand in hand so take all the free game I'm giving you!

1. Budget

• You can't necessarily start saving what you don't have. So the first thing I do every month is budget ALL of my reoccurring finances as these numbers hardly fluctuate, so they're easy to work with. Once my necessities are subtracted from my income, I work with any extra (or unexpected) income numbers separately. This is where you are truly in control of determining how much you can or want to save and put it to good use.

2. Open a Savings Account

• I feel like we're in a time where savings accounts are a bit old school, but I promise there's nothing wrong with setting aside some extra cash in an account you don't touch. The withdrawal limits/fees are usually helpful in encouraging that. If your checking account is anything like mine, you'll see a ton of red subtractions from daily purchases. It can be pretty difficult to track any savings in real-time there, so I always make sure to transfer any money I want to save, to my separate savings account.

3. Invest *Optional*

• I say optional because this is a risk you have to be willing to take. Investing can be a way to gain (or lose) some extra cash. For example, I tend to keep up with the stock and crypto markets, so every once in a while, I'll take a dip out of my checking or saving that I can afford to lose (because there is no guarantee in either market) to place into the market that I feel comfortable with for some quick earns. This is not the same, as buying and holding long term, you can get the same results, but I'm speaking in regards to daily/weekly/monthly trading. Strategically enough, this has helped my saving process and has earned me extra income but remember, it's a risk you have to be willing to take.

4. Plan a Spending Freeze

• Whether you'd like to stop purchasing a specific item for a month or you'd just like a day with no spending can all be beneficial to your pockets. I have a horrible habit of eating takeout often and giving all my coins to local coffee shops. Picking a random day out of the week to use the kitchen that is conveniently located in the apartment and resisting the urge to order an iced matcha latte can save me roughly $20+ a day. Can you imagine if I were to do this for 30 days? Insane. Create a challenge for yourself and set a spending freeze once a month (or week)!

5. Recycle Your Money

• You're probably like Krissy; what in the world are you talking about. Well, here goes nothing. I consider recycling money, using money that you gained from old things (kind of like recycling or repurposing). For example, you guys know I'm a bit of a shopaholic, so if you're questioning what I do with all of the clothes, shoes, and handbags I buy, listen up. For pieces that I feel are not in resell condition, I donate! You can also take things to consignment shops, you may be lowballed, but if you were thinking of tossing it anyway, something is better than nothing. For more quality pieces, especially pricer luxury items, I prefer to sell locally on Facebook Marketplace. Growing up, I've always heard the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," so instead of tossing out things, simply sell or donate. You can then either use the money you've earned to save (recommended) or purchase a new piece you've been eyeing without technically using any new income.

I hope you guys were able to benefit from this in any way, whether it was one sentence or the entire post. Don't get me wrong, I'm not an accountant or someone with high expertise when it comes to money management skills; I'm simply sharing what works for me, which may not work for everyone. It's also never too late to start working on your goals, so write them down and get to it!

 xox.

krissy