Five Mind Hacks To Save More And Spend Less
In uncertain economic times, we all want to be in the most prepared position possible. Today is not too late to start improving your financial future. Even if you have to trick yourself into doing it. For the 1000th published post on I’ve Paid For This Twice Already… , I’m sharing my favorite five mental money hacks all in one place.
- Every time you spend money frivolously, put the same amount towards your financial goal. Be it paying down debt, building an emergency fund or other savings, investing for the future - whatever it is, make it as important as those purchases you just “have to have”.
- Make it a habit. Move money every day at the same time. Maybe only a dollar. But for thirty days, every day move money from checking to savings, or to whatever the financial goal.
- Write it down. Writing has power. What is it you’re looking for? What do you want to accomplish? Make it concrete and put it in writing.
- Paint yourself a picture. Maybe you’re a visual person. Put a picture of your goal somewhere you can see it every day. Maybe it’s a zero debt balance. Maybe it is a spectacular retirement home. Maybe just a wad of cash. Whatever it is, picture it.
- Share your story with someone else. Talking about what you want and how to get there makes it real. Thinking through how to share it with others makes it a part of your life.
Thanks for being a part of my journey and I can’t wait until we go from the “debt elimination” phase to the “hoarding a wad of cash” phase!
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October 15th, 2008 at 9:38 am
#5 is my favourite, and it’s why I’ve been enjoying this PF community so much. It’s a hard thing to do, getting your finances in order, and there is nothing that helps more than having the encouragement and support of others who KNOW what you’re going through. Sharing it with others makes you accountable too, similar to the reasons why people join Weight Watchers, and it makes it easier when it comes to making difficult choices.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Congrats on 1,000 posts! That is amazing. I firmly believe in hack #3. Only by writing regularly about my finances have I truly been able to change some very bad habits.
I’m looking forward to reading your next 1,000 posts!
October 15th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Great tips! I love all of them. Especially #5!
October 15th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Congrats on the remarkable milestone!
October 15th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Writing it down has helped Craig & I so much.
We need to be able to see it in black & white, pick it up, and pick it up again.
Having it documented helps us to focus!
October 16th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Congrats on 1000 posts! That is truly a milestone. Thank you so much for a wonderful blog, it has blessed me in the time that I have been following your posts. I have not been very good at commenting, though I should do it more because I know it is important for us to know that what we do blesses others. So thanks again for your blog being such a blessing to me.
I do have a small request, would you please consider voting for my daughter’s photo? She is finalist #9 in the Sleeping Angel contest at 5minutesformom.com. The links are posted on my blog. We are not doing very well in the voting so I am trying to boost votes by asking bloggers that I follow to vote. We would appreciate it. Thanks and God Bless
October 17th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Great ideas. I think number five is a big one; it is one of the reasons I started to blog myself. If I put it out there so other people know then I feel like I am held accountable to get it done.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Writing down specific goals has easily been the most beneficial money hack that I’ve learned.