When my grandmother and my (late) grandfather bought their first home in the 60’s it didn’t have any running water. So they “simply” hauled water from their family and friend’s homes a couple times a week and saved their income like crazy till they could afford to drill their own well and hook up running water.
I am so inspired by that mindset of intentionality and paying for only what you can afford to pay for in cash.
Whether you’re living debt free or working towards that goal, here are some practical ways to reduce expenses and save more:
#5: Shop at Aldi.
Eating healthy and being kind to the earth can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be expensive. We are able to shop mostly organic and gluten free for nearly half of the cost of the average grocery bill (based on the size of our family)
#4: Be inspired by others.
Paying cash for a vehicle and saying “no” to expenses that don’t line up with your goals can sound radical. Find people who are also pursuing financial freedom and hang out with them/follow them on social, be inspired by them and learn from their choices. No one is going to be perfect but finding encouragement and inspiration in like-minded people goes a long way in staying on pace to financial freedom.
I highly recommend listening to the Dave Ramsey Show and participating in Financial Peace University.
#3: Save going out for coffee for social time.
Rarely do I treat myself to a cup of coffee out by myself. (My husband NEVER does so he’s definitely winning at this!) Instead, our daily coffee is made and enjoyed at home/work. When I get together with a friend or client that’s when I splurge on a fancy latte.
#2: Purchase your mobile phone upfront and choose a non traditional carrier.
We use Visible. It’s $25/month with free hotspot and unlimited data on Verizon towers. So many wins.
#1: Don’t choose debt in the first place.
That might sound pretty basic but not choosing debt in the first place is the easiest way to stay out of debt. Plus, when you don’t have debt to pay off you have more income to save.
These certainly aren’t all the ways to stay out of debt – or get out of debt. These are just some of our ways.
The Nontoxic Journal 