Sooner or later you are going to need money for something. Maybe your car breaks down and can’t be fixed so you need a down payment for a new one, or maybe you become ill and have to leave your job and find a way to survive without a steady income. In that scenario, with any luck, you’ll have some sort of annuity from your job, or at least some disability money coming in, but you still want to have some sort of a nest egg put away.

It’s nearly impossible to live with no money. You need money in order to eat, to have shelter (especially in the winter), and to clothe yourself. If you have a family you have more money you need in order to do this for multiple people. That’s why it’s important to learn to spend less and save more.

Look For Sales/Read Store Ads

One of the easiest ways to save money these days is to shop the sales ads. You won’t only find good sales on Black Friday. If you check out the ads online you can compare them for every store in your area without spend any money on gas. Or better yet, you can simply find a site similar to Price that can help compare product prices, and add its extension to your browser so that every time you look for products online, you can easily find the best deal for yourself.

While you’re looking online you might find some online only deals that will keep you from needing to leave the house at all. Part of this sales search should include scoping out coupons, online and even with phone apps.

Buy Needs, Not Wants

Determining the difference between your wants and needs can be difficult for some people. Needs are the things you need in order to live and thrive, while wants are things that you don’t need but simply enjoy having. While you don’t want to deny yourself all of your wants, you also don’t want to spend a ton of money on wants that serve no purpose but to clutter your home and empty your bank account.

Don’t Collect Things

Part of those wants include the things that you collect. Maybe you collect books, clothes, dishes, or coffee mugs. You think these are things that are needs, but in the quantities you own them they have become wants.

Instead of collecting items spend more time investing in things that can give your life long term meaning. Spend the money you would on comic books on saving for a new car or making car payments. Put the money you would spend on vintage records into a savings account.

Shop Clearance And Thrift

When you need things consider checking out the clearance sections of your favorite stores before you pay full price for items. You can also find clearance stores that sell discounted brand new items that are either out of season or overstocked.

Don’t be afraid to do some thrift shopping. People get rid of new or like new items all the time and you can get them for mere dollars.