Many of us are now faced with the fact that we need to shrink a little in costs. Without further ado, I will tell you what measures we have taken in our family.
- We plan menus and purchases. I make a menu for the week and we go shopping with a list that we try not to go beyond.
- We participate in joint purchases. Just do not go to extremes - in joint purchases it sometimes seems that everything is so profitable - you start buying what you need and what you don’t need. After a rather long time of participation in the joint venture, for myself I draw a conclusion - I buy what is 90% suitable for me, since the return is bad here.
- We independently organize wholesale purchases together with friends and acquaintances. If you browse the sites of local purchases, you will notice that many wholesalers have a very small minimum ransom amount - maybe 5 or 10 thousand rubles. A product for such an amount can be collected by grouping with friends or relatives. So you can take wholesale food, cosmetic products and so on. A little advice - first order the supplier's products in the joint venture in a small amount in order to evaluate the quality, and then try to buy on your own.
- We are not afraid to try to do what we usually pay for on our own. I can give you an example: my husband and I have long wanted to update the closets in the apartment. I only accept custom cabinets so that the interior fittings are exactly what I need. If we calculate the applied cost of the wardrobe I need, we get a maximum of 25 thousand rubles, while ordering exactly the same wardrobe from specialists will cost 60 thousand rubles. I suggested to my husband to practice - to begin with, build a small locker on the balcony, and, if it works, then swing at the wardrobe. Everything worked out for us - albeit not perfect, but the shortcomings are usually noticeable only to those who know about them, but otherwise - it turned out to be a pretty decent wardrobe. Of course, you shouldn't go where it is obvious that specialists should work, for example, an electrician, but many homework on repairs can be done by yourself - and very often the result will be better than the work of not the most expensive specialists (based on my own experience).
- We exclude harmful products from the diet (artificial sweets, ice cream, semi-finished products, and all sorts of "snacks"). We do not drink alcohol. We do not smoke. Paying for the deterioration of your own health - isn't it stupid?
- We take care of ourselves at home. I learned how to do a gel polish manicure myself - it's very convenient for the lazy: you don't have to go anywhere, you can change the manicure at any time, if you are tired of the color, choose a non-Chinese brand of gel polish, which are often found in nail masters. I discovered the delights of cold paraffin therapy for hands and feet.
- Selling something unnecessary. Arrange a total decluttering of the house and sell unnecessary things.
- We are on a shopping diet. You have stocks of shampoos, masks, cosmetics - do not buy new ones until you finish all the ones you already have.
- We take care of our health, because treatment is very expensive! Switch to a balanced diet, engage in any physical activity, observe the work and rest regimen.
- Finding free alternatives to paid entertainment. To be honest, my husband and I have not gone to the cinema for a very long time. Initially, this was not associated with savings - I just much more like watching movies at home, in a comfortable environment, when no one makes inappropriate comments, does not rustle with packages of chips, and so on. When the crisis began, it affected us quite strongly, but due to the fact that we are actively spending time, we are not infringed by the fact that we do not often visit cafes, cinemas, events. It's not a bad idea to have a small picnic in nature instead of going to a cafe. Instead of going to the cinema in the evening, arrange a movie show at home. Make your own rolls or pizza. And so on, there are a lot of options.
I would like to add to all of the above that saving should not oppress you, you should not dwell on it. I suggest you just develop some rules for your family, and adhere to them without fanaticism. I wish you to enjoy life, regardless of the amount of money in your wallet!
