POLL- How Can I Save Money? How Much Do You Spend a Week?

[Sugar100]

Starting May I want make it my goal to Save as much as I can have more money in savings. I only have $800 saved so far but I got paid $900. I had use $200 to buy inventory as I sell online for work. All my sales from last month was for the rent $1k. Sometimes I have money free to pay for food. I spent $60 for food to cook all week & spend $30 more on drinks & shakes I needed. I live in a studio so bought $30 on hot player burner & pan to cook. I needed $100 pay for a Big banner for this business pop up event coming next Saturday that I signed up to attend. I realized I spent $200 on toiletries, makeup skincare stuff I ran out of , shampoo conditioner body wash napkins & bought few pieces of clothes. I regret buying that as that cud of been to save. I have $100 left over to spend for food next 2 weeks. So I was only able to save $300 instead of $500. I mostly buy toiletries form dollar store but still it added up with the makeup skin & clothes I bought. Any advice? I now can drive so no longer need spend taxi money so that’s big relief.

[razelove]

Sounds like you need to start hitting up food banks, and trash. Get your food from the food bank, get furniture and what not from the trash, sell it to flea markets or on FB marketplace for anything above fuel costs.

I had a deal when I was in Vegas to buy the ham from a convenience store that was close to expiring for cheap. I'd have my cheap ham, ramen noodles, mushrooms, and grow one thing of green onion I buy. Get some eggs, and make something that tastes decent, but has a lot of protein, carbs, and calories.

You're tightening your belt, so look at augmenting, though with inflation right now food banks are hit pretty hard. Depending on your region you may qualify for food stamps or section 8 which is worth looking into. Also medicaid, I use that one because of the massive amount of money I save as opposed to paying for insurance. Going to a crappier dentist is worth it there. Also the increased one time expenses are negligible compared to the monthly savings.

Anyway, your region is suffering, the economy is suffering, so I wouldn't be surprised if part of your budgeting is because online sales have dropped. Look for other sources of revenue instead of solely looking at how to cut down expenses.

[Sugar100]

What other incomes can I get?

[razelove]

You would know that better than I do. On my end with work I'm more about shady deals and/or academics. I can set up my own little house of cards, but even if I did know you, we don't have a vested interest in each other's future. You have skills I do not, I have skills you do not. For me to try to succeed in your world would be painful at best, and a stuttering failure at worst. Same goes the other way around.

Try a part time job that pays under the table. When taxes are high, like you're experiencing, the black market opens up. There's already a problem in New York with organized crime and simply cigarettes from other states. The profit margin is huge. I drove trucks around, and most of the work was destroying documents for other people, some of the work was moving things from point A to point B, but it paid a steady 125/day cash for about 3-5 hours of work.

Ask around, meet the people you see every day. Right now when you see an open job realize not many people are applying in stark contrast to a year ago. You have a shot even if you're unqualified, get experience and you're qualified in that career. You don't have to wait for opportunities, you can try to actively create them.

[Sugar100]

I get paid 60 or 100 or 40 just by waiting for customers to come pick up what they by. Wen two customers come in a day I make $100 . That’s it.

[Sugar100]

But only downside is I need put in money weekly to get more inventory.

[razelove]

Yeah, that little would work where I'm at because the cost of living is low, in NY I'd be living hand to mouth, if at all, as you are currently experiencing.

Just search for jobs that pay more, whether you're qualified or not, many areas need warm bodies right now. 14-20/hr isn't uncommon, or getting on a career path. That's going legit. If you stick with under the table pay you need to make more connections and be morally flexible.

I'd recommend from the tone of your previous posts going legit. You know, up until the point your new state tax code comes out... Also questioning how essential some things are. Like I'm working with old ass PCs with one internet connection mostly, I sell them when I don't feel like working on them anymore to another local company, I get them for free most times.

My "smart-phone" is a piece of crap, and I'm not changing that until I can't find batteries made for it anymore. Data is as low as it can be, mostly just texts and calling. You can dive through the trash for electronics, or simply ask for them as it costs money to dispose of e-waste. Get better at working on computers by simply fucking up free hardware until you get it right, then sell it.

I go with the asking route and get the chassis, MB, Ram, video cards and monitors some companies don't want to deal with. It's as simple as replacing at bad charger sometimes, others I have a pile of parts and realize I can't put them back together, so I sell the parts. That's the best I can recommend as legit income that costs nothing to get into. I also have a company I partner with to sell the parts to, one for refurbing and building custom PCs. Work those connections, don't just figure out what people can offer, but what they need.

[Jjpayne]

Id shop at the dollar tree first off. Go to good will or a thrift store for clothes as placing them in the washer and dryer after getting them there can make them fresh again. Cook ahead in advance placing meals in to go bags if you leave your house spending money on the go. Also make sure you make meals with variety so that you look forward to them rather than get bored and buy something unplanned for more money instead

[Siren777]

Cook at home instead of eating out or ordering in. Have a budget for everything that you would usually spend frivolously example extra shoes when you have 50 pairs - do you need it? Take the money and invest it or save it. Have a more practical approach when it comes to finances. If it's not a need then it's a want and wants pile up to unnecessary spending.

[NotTacocaT6969]

Buy only the cheapest versions of items you need.


No luxuries at all.

[Sugar100]

Everything I bought was cheap tho from dollar store or like Ross , at target I buy the stuff that’s $1

[Anonymous]

Buy in bulk it's cheaper from food to dishwash
Buy from cheaper stores old navy, ross, Walmart.
Have 2 separate debt cards I have a chine and chase. I save money in chime. I spend with chase.
Walk or bike
Get a roommate
Or Do van life it's much cheaper. 3 years ago I lived in van for 1 year and half. And I saved hella money. My rent was about 900. With food and lighting , gas, phone streaming service car insurance.
The rent in my area is about 1300-15001 bed room

[Sugar100]

I do but everything from Ross Walmart dollar store. Somehow it added up to $200 of what I spent.

[Opinion Owner]

What did you buy

[Sugar100]

2 rolls of napkins $2, body wash $15, face lotion I ran out of $10, shampoo $1, conditioner $3, q tips $2 , makeup removing wipes $3, ran out of eyeliner I use daily & makeup lotion $15, meal supplement shakes $12, anxiety med $12 , lube I ran out of $10 lol , ran out of zip lock bags $1, cups $1 , wash sponges $2 ,

[Sugar100]

One dress for next date with boyfriend $10, one blazer for work $5, one new top $6, one movie $7

[Sugar100]

Hair dye as hair was faded turning orange, $4

[Sugar100]

Toilet paper $1

[Sugar100]

I think before that one day I bought clothes that was on sale and spent $20 again or $30 but it was a cheap store everything $1.90, $3.99 on sale

[Joshua0213]

I spend like 100$ a month for bullets and new seeds for plants etc. Then like 50 more a month on like toilet paper, and similar things. I make way more than that so don't have to but I love living off the land

[Joshua0213]

Just only get essential things id say is the best way to save

[Joshua0213]

Your rent is 1000$? Wth? Must be in a city? Most houses round here are like 400 a month lol

[Sugar100]

Here no rent is 400. Everything is 1,300 or more. I’m in. A studio that’s big so it’s 1k, not even apartments here r 1k, 400 is like a shared tiny room with only a bed

[Agape93]

If it’s not essential, don’t get it. That includes make up.

[Sugar100]

Makeup is essential as I use it daily for work and take a lot of photos. I only use one mascara one eyeliner until it runs out. I don’t hav a lot makeup I only buy makeup 1x a year.

[Agape93]

It’s not essential. It’s something you want in order to look good at work and to take pics. It’s unnecessary and expensive. So do you want to save money, or look nice?

[Sugar100]

I have to take pics daily for work. I have an online store I model I need the makeup for work

[Agape93]

Ah ok gotcha then

[Sugar100]

So I feel not good as I cud of had that $200 in savings rather than 300 saved only out of $900 , what I shud do next time? Save whole check only spend $100 for food?

[TheFlak38]

Women drive 70-80% of all consumer purchasing decisions. Saving money is not a female skill. The same women then lecture us about the protection of the environment.