Regardless of the advice given, or the plan followed, not everyone is going to get rich fast. In fact, not everyone is going to get rich. This is a self-evident truth considering the obvious and undeniable fact that most people alive on the planet are not wealthy. So it has been throughout history . So it will be for all our tomorrows.
Also a part of the unending cycle of life is the fact that the rich get richer. The poor get poorer. And the middle-class are more frustrated than ever. They are desperately afraid of dropping a level. No matter how hard they try, they can’t get to the next level. They are painfully aware of how precarious their position is, without the ability to do anything about it.
The more advanced patrons of the middle-class are studying books on economics, the market, and using advanced techniques of credit card hacking for free money. They will keep trying things until they find something that works for them.
But then there are the rest who have essentially given up. They’re convinced that they will be lucky to merely hang on to their middle-class status. We all find ourselves there sometimes. The key is to remind ourselves of the basics. While money doesn’t grow on trees, there are always simple savings that don’t involve major lifestyle changes. Here are a few that may have slipped your mind:
Bundle Everything
There is a good chance you have a TV, internet service, and a home phone. You may find keeping that home phone a bit galling as you likely don’t use it nearly as much as you once did. Unfortunately, there are enough times when you need it that you can’t quite make the move to do without it.
Even if you did, you might find that your bill is not much reduced. That is because packages that include services like Direct TV internet can be made into bundles that include all three for one low price. And it is often lower than if you omitted one of the services.
Bundles come in all forms. Whether they be entertainment bundles, technology bundles, food service bundles, or grocery bundles, buying related products together tends to reduce your overall bill.
A company would rather give you a deal on all the things you need if you buy from them, rather than risking you going to a competitor. Even your landscaper will give you a bundle price. So in a way, savings do grow on trees.
Compare Everything
Only the wealthy can afford to avoid comparison shopping. And those wealthy few who can avoid it are fools if they do. Refusal to comparison shop is less a function of money, and more a function of laziness.
If price is a major barrier for you right now, compare everything. That includes utilities. Even parts of the US are deregulated so that residents can select the provider that is best for them. Not only can you save a lot of money by comparison shopping, but you can get better service and higher quality. No lifestyle changes are required for you to compare and save.
Account for Everything
How much did you spend on that night out at the movie? Is it possible that $50 for two could have been spent on a rental and a box of microwave popcorn? It honestly doesn’t matter how you spend it. What matters is that you keep track of it.
Being temporarily broke is not as bad as being unexpectedly broke. You get into all kinds of financial trouble when it sneaks up on you. This can be avoided by just keeping track of spending.
It is also helpful if you can look at where it went at the end of the month. You might be surprised at how much you are spending at the coffee shop, or how much of your money goes to eating out versus how little goes to grocery shopping. Knowledge is power. In this case, it is the kind of power that can lead to simple savings.
Bundle everything. Compare everything. And account for every penny. While you are mastering the stock market, don’t forget the simple savings.