Where should one start when looking to save money?

To save money this year should at the top of many people’s lists of things to do but where to begin seems to be a big obstacle.

You may have had a read of Satsuma’s guide to saving money in 2015 in which discussed some clever tips for generating some extra cash. It is all well and good being told that you need to save money but if you have never been very good at budgeting and putting money aside, this can be easier said than done. So, if you have always been somewhat frivolous with your hard earned cash why not take advantage of these little nuggets from the Satsuma Team?

There are obviously many advantages to saving money and we don’t need to lecture you on them, but with Christmas not too far away, these pointers could well get you out of trouble in 2015.

Set up a spreadsheet

Although this may seem ridiculous to some, especially those of you who aren’t that familiar with budgeting or using spreadsheets, this can be a great way of seeing exactly what is going in and out of your bank account. Simply stick everything you know is going out on one side, all your incoming cash on the other, and you will have a far better idea of your disposable budget. You can then decide how much you need to get through to your next payday and stick the rest in your savings account or ensure is stays in your current one. You will still need to exhibit discipline when it comes to shopping and going out but at least this way, you know exactly what you have to play with.

Slash those luxuries

Let’s be honest, if you’re on a full time wage but still constantly broke, then your cash is going somewhere. We’re not here to give you a hard time about that as we have all been there but why not work out your biggest financial drain and see what you can do to streamline it? Perhaps you’re prone to the odd mid-week beer or you just can’t resist the offer or a meal out? For some it may be a hobby such as gaming or having a flutter of the footy? We all have our vices but with some careful planning and bit of discipline, we could all save a fair bit of cash. So, when the lads or ladies give you call for a bit of a soiree on a Tuesday night, why not refrain and go to the gym instead? Do this just once a week and you could find yourself with an extra three figure sum come the end of the month?

On a larger scale, you could open an anonymous company in Belize. Belize is a tax haven with a high level of protection for their financial investors.

Technology

Gone are the days that we need to trek into the bank just to open up a savings account and spend ages on the phone in order to transfer money into it. These days, as long as you bank with a reputable firm, you can do all of this online or even via an app.

This means that transferring money into an ISA or savings account on pay day can be done at the touch or tap of a button and the statistics suggest that once money is in there, the chances are that it will stay there at least for a while. So, if you don’t currently have a savings account and think it will be a right palaver to set one up, you’re wrong.  You could most probably have one sorted today and you can then start saving, even if it is a small amount every month; it will make the world of difference.

These are just three great ways you can get the ball rolling to save money in 2015 in time for the Christmas period if you haven’t already started yet.