I remember looking at my bank account with a sinking feeling in my stomach and wondering how I was going to make it one more week until payday. It was my first year teaching. My first year on my own, far away from family, and completely in charge of my finances. When I accepted the job, I hadn’t realized that my first paycheck wouldn’t come until the end of September–meaning that I would be working for two months without payment.
One more week. Would I be able to make it one more week?
I did. And, soon I learned how to budget so that I was not always in the “one more week until payday crisis.” However, I did learn a few tricks from my time of just barely scraping by. So, if you need to save money for one week in order to make it until payday, here are some ideas for you!
10 Ways You Can Save Money This Week
1. Pack Your Lunch
The amount of money you can save by simply packing your lunch each day instead of buying is mind-blowing! If you are used to purchasing your lunch each day, try packing leftovers. Or, make a big pot of soup on Sunday and bring it to work each day. Yes, it might get monotonous, but we’re trying to save money here.
2. Eat Breakfast for Dinner
One of my favorite frugal dinners is actually breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, oatmeal, omelettes, French toast, and other breakfast standards make a tasty and cheap dinner. During the “wait until payday week,” I used to make loaded scrambled eggs (eggs with shredded cheese, leftover meat, or whatever veggies I could find in the fridge) quite frequently.
3. Stay Home
Another way to cut back on spending is to avoid the temptation. Stay home away from stores, restaurants, friends going out in order to help save money. You’ll also use less gas this way!
4. Drink Water
If you want to save money on groceries, try going a week drinking only water. You won’t have to buy milk, soda, juice, coffee, or alcohol. You might be surprised at how much less expensive your bill is! A water-only week will also cut out any visits to Starbucks or bars. Score!
5. Visit the Library
Looking for a bit of entertainment that won’t cost you anything? Head to the local library. Check out some books or movies, take a look at the list of events and courses offered, and maybe even pick up a book on budgeting while you’re there! Free entertainment and education rolled up in one.
6. Turn Off Your Phone
This tip may get a few of you up in arms, but hear me out. If you tend to shop online, then your phone is not your friend during a “wait until payday” week. Get rid of the temptation.
7. Use Up All Leftovers
There can be no such thing as food waste when you are trying to save money. Use up all leftovers. This could mean taking them into lunch the next day or transforming them. If you made chicken one night, cut up the leftovers and put them on a salad for the next night’s supper. Creativity is key here!
8. Combine Trips
When doing your errands this week, try to combine them. You’ll save on gas and time.
9. Say No
This is one of the hardest ones. Learning to say no to our wants and desires is not an easy or natural thing. Keep your goal in mind, though. Say no to a morning coffee run, an item of clothing you’d like, a dinner out that you can’t afford. If you have friends who like to go places, learn to say, “How about….” “How about coming over to my house for tea instead?” “How about going to that free outdoor concert in the park?” “How about a movie night at my place?” Say no to spending money but yes to spending time.
10. Have Creative Fun
This leads right in to the final tip: have creative fun. Not all fun has to cost money. I had a ton of fun my first two years of teaching when I was just barely scraping by. I went hiking with friends, watched my students play basketball and run cross-country, had dinner at colleagues houses, and read a whole bunch at home. I look back on that time not as years of want but as years of fullness and contentment.
Creativity, patience, and a little self-control will help you save money this week!
What tips would you add? What are practical ways that someone could save money this week?
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We had so many financial struggles like that when we were first married. Before my husband’s first paycheck came he had to have a root canal and all the paycheck was eaten up by dental bills. I love your tips, they are so useful not only when you are barely scraping by but they are great for stretching your dollars every day! I do admit I am horrible about drinking Coke. It’s so expensive and I know I could save so much by giving it up, but I don’t.