How To Save
Wondering Why your Wallet Feels Smaller Than Usual?
Not sure what to do to fix it?
1.8.20
The Holidays Can Damper Your Spirit
Did the holidays make you want to rip your hair out? Between the kids, the parent-in-laws, the white elephants, and the obligation to give your friends presents, too, no wonder your wallet feels lighter than usual. We want to help you feel stress-free about all things money.
According to USA Today, Americans spend on average $1050 on holiday gifts, goodies, travel, and decorations. That’s insane! No wonder why so many people become overwhelmed before December 25th. Some ways to cut down on that price include creating a shopping list, paying cash, making a budget, and utilizing out-of-the-box gift ideas.
Presents don’t necessarily need to be from department stores or expensive retailers. They can be self-made paintings, quilts, a family home video, a photo collage, and much more. Remember, the holidays are meant to celebrate those we love and care for; monetary exchanges are just an added bonus.
How Can I Save Money?
Whether you rent or buy a home, finance versus lease a car, cook at home or eat out, there are many factors to consider. The first step in this process is to monitor your spending. Doing this for two or three weeks presents evidence of how much you regularly spend. Are some things on that list really necessary? Can you pack your lunch instead of always going somewhere? The key is focusing on your set goal and tracking your spending. Is it more important to save or to indulge? Surprisingly, those little savings add up, so don’t give up!
A very popular savings tactic is the 50/30/20 rule. This rule was commercialized by Senator Elizabeth Warren, however it’s been around for quite some time. When you receive your paycheck, put 20% of it immediately into savings. Put 50% towards things like bills, clothing, food, and gas. The last 30% is used for celebration! Want to save it; want to spend it? That 30% is up to you!
Another great way to save is getting a side hustle. It’s 2020 now, time to push ourselves towards being better, more productive individuals. Do you love painting? Try selling your art at local vendor shows. How about cooking? Enter local cooking competitions for chances to win a large chunk of moolah. Things like Uber and DoorDash are also great because you can continue your daily routine, just with one or two extra steps and a few extra bucks.
What can All American do to help?
We want to help you save in more ways than one. Your home or business systems are just like your car – they need checkups and maintenance in order to properly function. On average, people don’t think about fixing their HVAC or plumbing until it breaks… don’t be these people. If you do this, not only will you be losing so much money, you’re also risking another failure after the system gets fixed the first time.
These reasons are why our Energy Savings Agreements are so important. An ESA is a regularly scheduled, in home checkup created to put your home and wallet at the forefront of importance. If your A/C or heat starts pooping out, many people don’t realize how big of an impact that makes on the comfort of their homes (especially with summer coming soon!). Talk to us to see how we can work with you to save. We offer financing for our services, too, which you can find here.
Ladies and gentlemen, the bottom line is that we just want to help you. Give these tips a try and see if they work, including giving us a call to learn more about Energy Savings.