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Step 1
Develop habits for each day of the week. If you don't want to get into budget details of how much you can spend going to the movies or on shopping, at least make a rule that those things can only happen on certain days.
For example:
Monday-Thursday: bring your lunch from home
Friday: eat lunch out
Saturday Day: take care of home/car maintenance (buy an oil change, garden supplies, or new bath towels) Saturday Evening: get a babysitter and go out for dinner or a movie
Sunday Day: take care of one personal thing (hair cut, shoe shopping, or massage) then leave the rest of the day open for bonding time (BBQs, family birthday parties, a day at the zoo/beach/museum, or pizza and home-movie night) -
Step 2
Create a holiday calendar to create a schedule of personal budgeting, then buy in bulk or on sale. For the dozen 8 year olds inviting your child to birthday parties, buy a variety of small gifts that can be mixed and matched. Wait for a sale and then buy a little less than you think you'll need, that way nothing is wasted.
The moment you receive a graduation or wedding invitation, put the date on your calendar so you can budget for the gift and other expenses. If you repeat the same gift for these big occasions you will improve your ability to stick to a budget.
For Example
Graduations: My aunt gave us each a few bath towels, hangers, a laundry bag, and twenty dollars mad money. When a major department store closed a location, she bought their entire stock of nice towels at an 80% discount. -
Step 3
Pay all your bills at the same time each month. If you are paid twice a month then split your obligations between the two pay periods. When you don't have a bill paying routine, one or two bills are likely to slip through the cracks costing you late fees.
Step it up a notch by arranging auto debit for most of your bills. You can arrange online for the full balance or a set amount to be withdrawn on a set date each month. Also, many places offer a discount for customers who take advantage of auto-debit. -
Step 4
If you can, take a vacation at the same time each year. It's easier to find deals when you know a full year ahead the dates of your vacation. If you plan on airline transportation or staying in hotels, travel agents can be surprisingly inexpensive. If you give them a date and a budget, they can give you a few ideas for travel destinations.
If you love a destination enough to return each year, look into buying or sharing a vacation condo. A vacation condominium is a luxury rather than an investment especially in fast-changing travel trends. That being said, many places will manage and rent out the condo when you're not using it. There are plenty of condo exchange groups where you trade your destination with someone else so you don't have to return to the same place each year. This can offer savings on an otherwise pricey vacation, but keep in mind that there are limitations on dates. It is far cheaper than a hotel stay, but if you don't plan on using it every year then you might not see the savings. -
Step 5
Look for patterns and use them to your advantage. The obvious sale times are post-Thanksgiving's 'Black Friday', or Memorial Day sales. But many gas stations up their prices on a certain day of the week (Thursday mornings are popular) and lower them post weekend (Monday night/Tuesday morning).
Seasonal clothes seem to go on sale mid-season. Plan your purchases around the trends. For instance, shop for school supplies in May or June when stores reduce their stock for the summer.
