2019 will be a big year for me, as I’ll be moving from a developing country to Chicago; the third largest city in the United States and a big step up in terms of cost of living. For this reason, I’ll need to get serious about saving- especially since I’ll be paying for American health insurance.
For this reason, I’ve been researching some of the best ways to save money in 2019. Since these will work regardless of where you live, I figured I’d share them with you guys; so let me know what you think!
Tracking my Spending
I’m notorious for avoiding my online banking when I know I’ve been shopping up a storm. Unfortunately, this just means that when I do finally look, I usually end up feeling worried and anxious. For this reason, I’ve downloaded the Mint app to my phone. I’m using it to keep an eye on my incoming and outgoing expenses. Since I’m also trying to build up a credit rating in the United States, this lets me know how I’m going- including my credit utilization, payment history, and estimated credit score.
Paying off debt
My goal is to move to the states with zero debt. That means that I’ll need to get serious about paying off my credit cards over the next few months. While there are some great options if you’re in a pinch, including 24 Cash, credit cards, and other loans, the goal is to stay as debt-free as possible. For this reason, I’ll be decreasing my credit limit on some cards, so I can increase them when I’m in the United States.
Planning my Meals
I’m notorious for forgetting (or just not wanting) to cook, and then ordering takeout or eating out. Unfortunately, this is not only bad for my waistline but it’s bad for my wallet. That’s why one of my biggest goals in 2019 will be to plan my meals ahead- and meal prep as much as possible.
Work with a Budget
I don’t want to feel like I can never have fun just because I need to save. So I’ll be dedicating a certain percentage of my income towards entertainment, eating out, drinks with friends, and shopping. If I spend more than my budget allows one week, that will simply have to come out of next week’s allocation.
