Shopping is a natural part of life, and for many, the purchase of more expensive items comes along with the stress that can make the experience an ordeal. Idealizing the purchasing experience is something that we all do, but the reality can often be far from it. When buying a new car, phone, or piece of furniture for the house, the outgoing cash can feel like a wave, taking away all your hard-earned dollars in an instant.
Saving on these more expensive purchases is something that can reduce this feeling of dread, and it’s a must for anyone in the market for something expensive this holiday season and beyond. With these great tips, saving money on all your major purchases can become an instinctual habit, providing you with a rewarding feeling rather than a stress-filled one.
Start with your methods of saving and approach to money itself.
With an online bank on your side, building a personal savings account that you can look on at with pride is once again a reality. For many, the idea of using a savings account has become antiquated as the interest rates (or APY, Annual Percentage Yield) and monthly maintenance fees that debit card withdrawals, money market accounts, and checking accounts are stacking up. Savings accounts aren’t what they used to be, but with some of the best rates on the market coming from online banks that depart from the traditional brick-and-mortar model that drives up costs for local banks and credit unions, taking back some of this power is possible.
For some, these savings accounts make for an excellent place to put away emergency savings funds. Emergency funds provide you and your family with the capital necessary to pay for emergency expenses without relying on the credit card to make ends meet. This is a powerful change for many, who are stuck in a loop from statement cycle to statement cycle and an interest rate that ensures a minimal payment to the actual principal of the capital borrowed.
Building an emergency fund is a great way to help stave off these expensive bills, and as a result, they can help you save more over the long run. Cash can be put to use buying the staples and additions that make for a fulfilling and enjoyable life.
Purchase necessities as an intelligent consumer.
Not only is it important to create savings that will help you buoy your personal finance through the leaner times, but making smart purchases is also a crucial component of the life of a consumer. Researching products and goods that you are in the market for is the best way to understand where you can save simply by buying from a different seller or by upgrading or downgrading for strategic longevity in your purchases. For instance, many people ask “Why buy a Subaru?” when searching for a new car. Yet the answer is clear. Subaru owners get great satisfaction out of the ride that the car provides to them, and the cars themselves are built to last. Expanding the timeline between purchases is one excellent way to increase your buying power and to save money over the long term on essential purchases that you’ll be making, no matter what.
Spending smart money is essential for building the kind of life that you and your family want to live. With these savings and spending tips in mind, reframing the way you think about money and crafting a lifelong understanding of how to be a smart consumer can upend the way you approach the buying experience altogether. Get out there and start saving on all the essentials that you buy and the emergency expenses that have previously threatened to derail your finances.
