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Why You Should Be Saving For The Next Pandemic Now

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Saving For The Next Pandemic

It’s hard to think about saving for the next pandemic when we are still in the thick of this one. And yet, experts say that there’s no time like the present to start preparing for the future. If you’re struggling with finances right now, then saving might feel like a challenge. But any little bit that you can set aside could help you down the line.

We Are Still In a Pandemic

Even though this article is about saving for the next pandemic, it’s important to acknowledge that we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. People are struggling. Many people are barely making ends meet. And even those who are doing okay are uncertain about the future since it’s unclear what will happen with both employment and the economy in the months and year or so to come.

Yes, it’s hard to think about saving for the next pandemic in the midst of this. But it’s also the perfect time. For one thing, the reality of the pandemic is on your mind right now. Let’s face it; when things improve, we will all be so excited about the opportunity to travel and host guests and go out to activities that we might let ourselves slip a little with spending. Right now, when we really understand the impact of this pandemic, our minds are primed to begin saving for the next one.

Plus, we’re already tightening our money belts. Since we’re in the swing of things with saving money, it’s natural to set aside some for the future.

When Will There Be Another Pandemic?

We can’t predict when there will be another pandemic. We don’t know what it will look like when it happens. But experts say that the likelihood of another one is extremely high.

The World Health Organization and United Nations General Assembly say:

“COVID-19 will not be the world’s last health emergency and there is an urgent need for sustainable health emergency preparedness to deal with the next one.”

And Harvard Business Review goes so far as to say:

“SARS in 2003, H1N1 in 2009, MERS in 2012, and now Covid-19. We don’t know when or where, but we know with 100% certainty that another deadly infection will strike.”

Why You Should Be Saving For The Next Pandemic Now

So, number one, you should start saving now because there’s an extremely high likelihood that there will be another pandemic. Second, you’re already in the mindset to really understand the difficulty of living in the pandemic. Therefore, you’re in a good position to make the changes and sacrifices necessary to save.

After all, despite all of the financial struggles of 2020, nearly one quarter of Americans managed to save money during the coronavirus pandemic. And nearly half of people are spending less than at the same time last year. The “new normal” is to save money. For one thing, you’re probably not traveling. Of course, cutting out travel saves a lot of money.

Moreover, experts recommend using your COVID-19 experience to review your savings plan. Many people kept the traditional 3-6 months of income in their emergency fund. However, in the face of the pandemic, that ran out. Therefore, you might want to consider saving 6+ months in your emergency fund for the next time.

Finally, you might be able to negotiate your bills at this time. COVID-19 impacted so many people that lenders and service providers have put plans in place to help reduce costs for their customers. If you can take advantage of those plans, then it could be a silver lining for saving money.

Tips on Saving For The Next Pandemic

Obviously, saving for the next pandemic isn’t easy. Heck, it’s hard to save money in the healthiest of times! However, it is possible to set aside money.

Check out our article on How to Maximize Savings During a Pandemic. Tips from that article include: stringent budgeting, getting very clear about needs and wants during a pandemic, and skipping dining out in favor of all meals at home. In other words, go back to the basics that you already know about living frugally. When we earn more, we sometimes splurge more, but you probably already know how to cut back. Now is the time to implement those good money habits.

Similarly, North American Savings Bank recommends five key tips to save for the next time this happens:

  1. Create an emergency fund.
  2. Avoid major expenses.
  3. Reduce your outstanding debt.
  4. Manage your expenses.
  5. But, keep your home office.

In fact, that last one is perhaps the only bit of advice that differs now from traditional plans to save a lot of money. Many people over the years have scaled down their housing to reduce costs. Tiny homes and other small spaces help people save on rents and mortgages. However, now that many people are home all of the time – working at home, homeschooling their kids – more space might be worth that extra cost. It’s important to find a way to balance your household expenses with the space that you need. And remember, real estate is an investment. You might want to read: Which Real Estate Investments Are Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Other than that, though, it’s really all about going back to the basics.  Lower your costs as much as you can. Set aside as much as possible in savings. Also, check out our article on 10 Unusual Ways to Make Money During a Pandemic. It might feel like it’s impossible to make extra money right now. However, that’s not true at all. You do have options. And of course, the more you can make, the more you can save.

Finally, review your investments. You can still make money investing during COVID-19. Here are some articles that might help:

Governments, the Economy, and the Next Pandemic

While this article is primarily about individuals saving for the next pandemic, it’s important to note that much should also be done at the state, regional, national, and international levels. Governments and private organizations can do a lot towards improving the situation for next time in terms of reducing both the health impact and the financial troubles. Spending money to prevent the next pandemic would not only save lives but would also save economic costs down the line.

For example, scientists suggest “preserving forests, clamping down on the illegal wildlife trade, and starting a broad system of surveillance to catch emerging diseases before they spread.” All of this can lead to preventing the next pandemic or seriously limiting its spread and impact. This makes sense on a financial level as well. The scientists estimate that these measures would cost between $22 and $31 billion per year. Obviously, that’s a lot of money. However, it’s a fraction of the estimated cost of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is $27 trillion in 2020. In other words, “The cost of preventing the next pandemic is 2% of the cost we’re paying for COVID-19.”

The Harvard Business Review says that the United States government should consider affordable health care options for all citizens as a means to prevent individual and collective financial troubles during the next pandemic.

Are you saving for the next pandemic now? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

 

Is ARCO Gas Bad For Your Car?

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is arco gas bad
ARCO gas is typically cheaper than gas at other gas stations. How can they offer lower prices than their competitors? Is ARCO gas bad for your car since it’s a lower price? Let’s take a look at why ARCO gas is cheaper than other brands. Moreover, let’s compare it to those brands to make sure that if you decide to go with ARCO gas, it won’t do any damage to your car in the long run.

Why Is ARCO Gas Cheaper Than Others?

ARCO has a reputation for offering considerably lower prices for its fuel than other gas stations. According to ARCO, consumers can average a savings of $0.05-$0.10 per gallon in comparison with other brands of gasoline.

It seems that with ARCO, these large price savings are due to many of its business practices. First of all, ARCO has no processing fees for credit cards because they do not accept them. This offers ARCO the savings of about $0.30 per credit card transaction fee which its competitors have to pay. In other words, your gas is cheaper because you pay cash.

Moreover, ARCO charges its customers a $0.45 fee per debit card transaction. So, if you don’t pay cash, then you pay more for your ARCO gas. If a customer is already paying a $0.45 debit card transaction fee, chances are the customer will in turn purchase more gas than they might if they were not paying the transaction fee. This allows ARCO to sell more gas per customer, thus granting them the ability to offer lower gas prices.

So, is ARCO gas bad? Since its the companies business practices that lower the gas cost, not the gas that they offer, there’s nothing to suggest that’s so.

Lower Prices Still Meet Minimum Gas Requirements

Since the inexpensive gas offered at ARCO comes at a significantly lower price, consumer often wonder whether or not it’s safe for their vehicles. The federal government has fairly strict guidelines on most things, and gasoline is no exception. Therefore, there are certain standards for all gasoline sold in the United States, such as octane levels, and the general characteristics that gasoline must possess. As a result, all gas sold in the United States is basically the same.

But Is There Better Gas?

Well, the basic minimum level of gas is the same across the board. However, you can pay more for premium gas. Some companies add extra detergents and additives above and beyond what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires. All gas must contain a certain amount of detergent additives. Of course, those things are also EPA approved. Many companies add even more to differentiate their brand for other gasoline. So the question becomes, is the branded gas from companies like Shell, 76, Exxon and Chevron better than ARCO gas?

Why ARCO Gas Is The Same Or Better Than Competitors

While the blend of detergents and additives is different for each company, ARCO gas is on par with other top gas brands in the United States. Is ARCO gas bad? No. In fact, it’s quite good.

ARCO offers “Top Tier” gasoline. Top Tier gas is the standard which is recommended by seven of the top automakers in the world. Importantly, it’s of a standard even higher than what the EPA requires.

Notably, ARCO didn’t always use Top Tier gas. In the past, they used a cheaper gas. People who believe that gas quality does impact how well your car runs used to say to avoid ARCO gas as a result. However, when ARCO began to offer Top Tier gas, those people changed their tune.



It’s Okay to Use Cheaper Gas

To further ease customers’ minds, Edmunds conducted a study questioning experts in the automotive field. According to those findings, consumers put their vehicles at no greater risk by putting “cheap” gas into them. Most vehicle owners will not notice any difference in performance by purchasing cheap gas. However, the best advice is to look at your car’s owner’s manual and follow the guidelines given about the best type of gasoline for your particular car. That said, the average car that you drive probably runs perfectly well on ARCO gas.

TIP: Gas Hack

Whether or not you are concerned that ARCO gas is bad compared to other gas brands, here’s a “gas hack” that you can try to save you money at the ARCO station. In many parts of the country you can tank up at the ARCO station, and also add quality fuel injector cleaner. Adding this fuel injector cleaner as recommended should address any quality concerns, while still allowing you to buy the cheaper ARCO gas.

Just add the injector cleaner when you go to the gas station and you should be good to go. Of course, you do pay for the fuel injector cleaner. But you’ll pay less per gallon of gas than if you buy another brand of gas. Plus, you’re doing something that is almost certainly likely to improve your gas quality. In contrast, choosing between one gas station brand or another doesn’t necessarily improve gas quality at all.

Consumers today are always looking for a bargain. As prices on most things continue to rise, it is good to know that consumers are not putting their vehicles in jeopardy by taking advantage of savings at the gas pump. If you’ve wondered whether this is bad gas just because it’s cheaper, the answer is a resounding no.

Find Cheap Gas Prices

If you want to find the cheapest gas prices near you, then you might want to download the Gas Buddy app. You can use it to search all nearby gas station prices. Moreover, you can filter to search by just certain gas brands. So, if you know that you want to use ARCO gas, then you can easily find the ARCO station closest to you. Since ARCO is often the cheapest option that uses Top Tier gas, it’s a safe bet.

Another cheap tool that you can use during travelling is Atlas VPN. VPN is one of the MUST HAVEs while traveling, for security reasons and pleasant stay.

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

 

What is the Price Match Guarantee at Walmart

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Price Match Guarantee at Walmart

A price match guarantee is a store’s promise. They promise that if you find an item they sell offered by another retailer at a lower price then they will match that low price. However, each store differs in their interpretation of this promise. Walmart already has some of the lowest prices in the nation. Nevertheless, you can sometimes save money if you know the details of the price match guarantee at Walmart.


What is a Price Match Guarantee?

A price match guarantee, without any limitations, is a store’s promise to give you the lowest price in the market on any particular item. They essentially say, “we believe we have the lowest price. However, if you find the identical item elsewhere at a lower price, then we will match that.”

This is a way that retailers solidify their reputation for offering low prices. They do it because:

  • They know that they already offer low prices and so will often already have the lowest price in the marketplace.
  • It looks good to customers who like low prices to advertise that they will always give the lowest price.
  • In many cases, when there’s actually a lower price out there in the marketplace, most customers don’t bother to take advantage of it anyway. So they get the credibility without having to actually pay the piper.
  • It increases brand loyalty. People want to shop where they believe they’ll find the lowest prices.

However, there are always exceptions, limitations, and rules to a price match guarantee.

What is the Price Match Guarantee at Walmart

Since there always are those exceptions, you have to look carefully at each store’s policies. The price match guarantee at Walmart (available on their website) has four key limitations:

1. Walmart Only Matches Prices on Exactly Identical Items

This is one of the most common price match guarantee limitations. After all, the entire concept is that they offer the lowest price on the same item in the marketplace. Therefore, it’s important that you check to make sure that your item is truly identical before you submit it for a price match guarantee at Walmart. Things to look for:

  • Is it the cheaper item the same brand as the one at Walmart?
  • Are you looking at the same size?
  • How many of the item is in a box or container?
  • Is there a model number? If so, then it must match exactly.
  • Did you find an item with a lower price at another retailer but it’s in a different color? Yes, even the color must be identical for it to qualify for the price match guarantee at Walmart.

2. The Item Must Be In Stock at Both Places

If you want to compare prices on an item that’s for sale online, then the item must be in stock at both places. In other words, Walmart must have the item in stock. Plus the other retailer must have the item in stock. If either store does not have the item in stock then it doesn’t qualify for the price match option.

Some stores offer “rain checks” for purchase of items that are not currently in stock. In other words, if you find the item cheaper elsewhere, but it’s not available at Walmart, you can secure the lower price when it becomes available. However, Walmart DOES NOT offer that option. If it’s not in stock in both stores, it doesn’t qualify.

3. Price Match Guarantee at Walmart is Limited to One Item Per Day

If you do a lot of shopping at Walmart then you might have a lot of items to try to get the lowest price on. If you’re a savvy shopper, then you might realize that you have multiple items that qualify for a price match guarantee at Walmart. However, you can’t take advantage of them all at once.

4. Only Certain Retail Prices Get Matched

This is the most important limitation on the price match guarantee at Walmart. You can’t just go to any online retailer in the world, find a cheaper price, and get a price match. In fact, you can only get the price match if you find a lower price at very specific online retailers.

Walmart will match a lower price if you find at one of these online stores:

  • Academy
  • Amazon
  • Auto Zone
  • BabiesRUs
  • Basspro
  • Bed, Bath, and Beyond
  • Best Buy
  • Cabelas
  • Chewy
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods
  • Dollar General
  • Family Dollar
  • Home Depot
  • JC Penney
  • Kmart
  • Kohl’s
  • Lowes
  • Michaels
  • Newegg
  • Office Depot.com
  • O’reilly Auto
  • Pep Boys.com
  • Petco
  • Petsmart
  • Sears
  • Staples
  • Target
  • Walgreens

In other words, Walmart is basically saying, “these are our direct competitors. Therefore, we want to make sure that you shop with us instead of them. As a result, we’ll match their lowest prices if you find something in stock on their sites that you can’t find at the same or lower price on the Walmart.com site.”

Additional Limitations on the Walmart Price Match Guarantee

In addition to those core rules, Walmart specifically outlines many instances in which people might expect to get their price match guarantee but actually will not qualify. Walmart does not offer price matching for:

  • If you’re shopping from Hawaii or Alaska; price match guarantee is only for continental United States Walmart shopping
  • When their own item is later discounted in price; you don’t get the difference back just because the price went down
  • Third-party and Marketplace seller prices
  • Damaged items, used items, or even items that have been refurbished
  • Various discounts (applied at checkout, percentage off, dollar off, bundles, rebates, coupons, etc.)
  • Similarly, items where the price requires a membership, a minimum quantity, or can’t be determined outside of extra charges such as shipping
  • Prices during Black Friday weekend; the price match guarantee at Walmart is effectively out of commission from Thanksgiving Day through the end of CyberMonday

As you can see, there are a lot of limitations on the store’s price match guarantee. You probably aren’t going to save a lot of money taking advantage of this offer. Nevertheless, if you’re online anyway, then you might as well search those sites listed above for a better price on any items in your Walmart.com cart before you check out.

How to Get the Walmart Price Match

If you think that you do qualify, then here’s what to do to request the price match guarantee at Walmart:

  • Contact Walmart Customer Care. Do this BEFORE you place your online order.
  • Give them the exact details of the lowest price offer at another online retailer. Make sure that you provide them with as much information as possible.
  • If they confirm that you do get the discount, they will provide information on how to obtain the lower price.

Can You Get Price Match In the Walmart Store?

Most of this information applies to shopping online at Walmart.com. However, you can take advantage of some price match guarantee deals at the Walmart store cash registers as well.

If you find a price at the store for an identical item that’s available for a lower price at either Walmart.com or Jet.com, then you can request the lower price at the register. Notify the cashier about the price difference before they ring up the item. Provide them with the details about the lower price. They will look it up and may have to consult a supervisor. If you qualify, you’ll get the lower price on the spot.

Save Money with VPN

Here is another way to save money apart from Walmart price match is using VPN. VPN is the only tool to secure users private data and avoid data leak or minor the risk to get malware or any other way of fraud. Great option of a VPN while saving money, as Atlas vpn is the cheapest on the market.

Read More:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

How Much Is A Stamp? Current Postage Rates 2020

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current postage rates 2020

There has been so much news about the United States Postal Service recently. However, in the midst of all that, the basics have been overlooked. For example, do you know current postage rates 2020?

If you’re about to send a letter, then that’s something that you need to know. Even if you have a bunch of stamps that you know are still good, you might need to know how much postage to use for alternative mail – such as a postcard or a heavier envelope.

Here, we’ve summed up all of the current postage rates 2020.


How Much Is A Stamp? Basic Current Postage Rates 2020.

First, we’ll look at the cost of stamps. If you’re sending a regular letter through the mail, then you’ll just need a regular first class stamp. But if you’re sending heavy mail, mail in unusual sizes, postcards, or international mail then there are different current postage rates for 2020 to take into consideration.

Cost of a First Class Stamp

A regular stamp is 55 cents.

When most people ask the question, “How much is a stamp?” they are usually wondering what the cost is of a first class stamp. After all, most people mail out basic letters. If you have a standard-sized, rectangular envelope, and you have only put a sheet or two of paper inside (up to one ounce in weight), then you’ll use a single stamp. The current postage rates in 2020 are 55 cents for these letters.

Additional Costs for Mailing Letters

It’s important to note that there are many things that can change the rate to mail your letter. For example, if you have a flat letter that is not the standard rectangular size, then you need to pay a different rate. The current postage rates in 2020 for square, oversized, or unusual letters are 70 cents if it’s one ounce or lighter in weight.

You also pay more for additional weight. The standard letter that takes a 55 cent stamp will cost more if it’s heavier.

  • At two ounces, you pay 70 cents.
  • At three ounces, you pay 85 cents.
  • At 3.5 ounces, you pay $1

Current Postage Rates 2020: Flat Envelopes

Additionally, you’ll pay more money for large flat envelopes. For example, if you stick your letter into a 9″ x 12″ yellow clasp envelope, you’ll pay more than if you fold it up and stick it into a standard sized envelope. 2020 postage rates for flat envelopes start at $1 for one ounce. They increase twenty cents per ounce up to $3.4o for a 13 ounce flat envelope.

How Much is A Postcard Stamp?

A postcard stamp is 35 cents.

It’s fun to send postcards to people. You might do this when you’re on vacation. However, it’s something that you can do to let people know that you’re thinking about them all throughout the year. And postcard stamps are less expensive than regular postage stamps. Therefore, if you send them often, you’ll save money by going this route.

Postcard stamps, assuming that you have a regular-sized postcard, are 35 cents. Note that they haven’t increased since 2015. Remember that if you have unusually large postcards, or postcards that are oddly shaped, then you might have to pay more than 35 cents.

How Much Is An International Stamp?

An international stamp is $1.20.

For those who need to send a letter out of the country, the postage for an international first class letter (up to 1 oz.) is $1.20. It is the same price to send a postcard. Therefore, when shipping short messages internationally, there is no cost savings to using a postcard instead of a regular letter.

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Current Postage Rates 2020: Other Common Prices

Of course, flat letters and postcards aren’t the only things that people send through the mail. If you plan to ship gifts for the holidays, then you’ll want to know about the mailing prices for packages. Anytime that you ship something in a thick envelope or a box, the postage rates differ from the basic stamp prices.

Flat Rate Postage Prices

Usually, your best rate option is to choose a flat rate mailing envelope or box. These are available for free at your local post office. You choose the size that you need, then you pay the rate for that size. It doesn’t matter what weight your mailing. Current postage rates in 2020 for flat rate mail include:

  • 12.5″ x 9.5″ flat rate envelope: $7.75
  • 8 11/16″ x 5 7/16″ x 1 3/4″ small flat rate box: $8.30
  • 14″ x 12″ x 3 1/2″ medium flat rate box: $15.05
  • 12 1/4″ x 12 1/4″ x 6″ large flat rate box: $21.10

Other Postage Prices

There are many other shipping options when you mail things through the post office. You can find all current postage rates in 2020 at the USPS website. A few other common prices include:

  • Express Mail (starts at $26.35) for when you need to ship something quickly
  • Global Express Guaranteed (starts at $67.80) for when you need to ship something internationally quickly
  • Media Mail (starts at $2.80) for when you’re only shipping books

How to Save Money on Stamps

Every penny that you save adds up. Therefore, living frugally means saving money even on the little things, like stamps. Here are some of the most common ways that people save money on stamps:

  • Use Stamps.com. Note that you have to pay for this service. Therefore, the savings is only worth it if you ship a lot of items. If you have a business that ships regularly, though, then this can help you reduce your postage costs. You’ll save five cents on every first class letter that you send, reducing the 2020 postage rate from 55 cents to 50 cents. You’ll save more on bigger shipping costs.
  • Buy stamps using rewards credit cards. If you have a cash back credit card, then you get a percentage back for every dollar that you spend. Therefore, you reduce your postage costs slightly by using that credit card to pay for stamps. Of course, you have to make sure to pay off the card on time so you don’t pay added interest.
  • Shop using a cashback site. Ebates is a popular choice but of course there are many of them out there. This will give you a little bit back on your stamps purchase.
  • Buy Forever Stamps on eBay. Forever Stamps are good at the current postage rates in 2020. Moreover, they’re still good as first class stamps even if rates go up in the future. You can purchase these at a discount on Ebay. Usually, you’ll buy at least one whole roll at a time.
  • Ship smart. Make sure that you always weigh your mail carefully. Only pay what you have to in postage. Moreover, double-check box dimensions to make sure that you aren’t charged for oversized shipping unnecessarily. And make use of those flat rate shipping options, especially for heavy items.

Save Money with VPN

Here is another way to save money apart from Stamps is using VPN. VPN is the only tool to secure users private data and avoid data leak or minor the risk to get malware or any other way of fraud. Great option of a VPN while saving money, as Atlas vpn is the cheapest on the market.

Read More:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

Use Fall Cleaning to Save Money

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fall cleaning to save money

A little bit of fall cleaning can do more than freshen up your home. When you tackle the right areas, it can actually save you money, too. If you want to make sure your fall cleaning benefits your budget, here’s what you need to do.

Clean Out Your Heating System

Cleaning your heating system is a must every year. First, it’s critical for safety. Built-up dust can burn, making it a fire hazard. This one step will really help you use fall cleaning to save money.

However, cleaning your heating system also ensures everything works more efficiently. It reduces system strain, which could lead to lower energy bills.

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Get Your Windows Sparkling

Dirt on your windows can reduce the amount of sunlight that gets into your house. If you have your window glass exposed, make sure the surface is clean. That way, you can enjoy as much natural heating as possible.

As you go through the cleaning process, take a look at any seals. If you see gaps or cracks, then address them while you’re working on your windows. By doing so, you reduce the number of drafts that could be letting warm air out and cold air in, making it easier to keep your home at the right temperature. Your heating system won’t have to work as hard, leading to a smaller power bill.

Tackle Your Fridge Condenser Coil

Build-up on your refrigerator’s condenser coil impacts how efficiently your fridge runs. While it can be a little cumbersome to shift your fridge so that you can reach the back, taking a moment to vacuum off the condenser coil every year is a good idea. It will work better and require less energy, reducing your power bill a tad.

Change Your Filters

If you haven’t changed your HVAC system filters recently, then your energy bills may be higher than they have to be. By cleaning or changing your filters, you make it easier for your HVAC system to do its job. As a result, your power bill goes down a bit more or doesn’t rise as much when you crank up the heat.

Find Items You Don’t Want

While clutter and overflowing closets don’t technically cost you money, it’s possible you’re missing out on a money-making opportunity. By going through every room and gathering items you don’t use, you could potentially sell them for a little bit of cash.

If you do your cleanup before the weather turns too cold, you may be able to sell the items by holding a garage sale. For higher value goods, you could try consignment shops or listing them individually online, using options like the Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, Craigslist, or something similar.

By selling your unneeded items, you can generate a bit of cash. Then, you can use it to handle home maintenance expenses or to boost your savings account.

Save Money with VPN

Here is another way to save money apart from Cleaning during Fall is using VPN. VPN is the only tool to secure users private data and avoid data leak or minor the risk to get malware or any other way of fraud. Great option of a VPN while saving money, as Atlas vpn is the cheapest on the market.

Do you have any other tips that can help someone use fall cleaning to save money? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

How to Teach Your Spender Spouse to Save

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Teach Your Spender Spouse to Save

You are a saver. Your spouse is a spender. The differences are creating havoc in your marriage. Can you teach your spender spouse to save?

Can You Change Someone Else?

Before we get into some tips to help you teach your spender spouse to save, we have to acknowledge something: you can’t truly change someone else. You can encourage change. You can ask for change. There are many things that you can do to prompt change. But, ultimately, the only person that you can change is yourself.

So, before you go about trying to teach your spender spouse to save, you need to get them on board. If they flat out have zero interest in saving money, then you have a bigger problem on your hands. Many couples lose their relationships to money battles. If you’re at a standstill, then you may need couples therapy to help you get through the battle.

Change Yourself First

Since you can’t change someone else, the most important thing is first to do what you can to change yourself. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all of a sudden you will stop saving and start spending. But it does mean that you take an honest look at yourself before you try to teach your spender spouse to save.

Some questions to ask yourself include:

    • What do saving and spending mean to me? There’s often an underlying emotional component. For example, if you understand that saving means security to you but spending means freedom to your spouse then you can come together to address the deeper issue.
    • Why is saving important to me? How can I clearly express this to my partner in a way that they’ll understand?
    • What about my partner’s spending is upsetting to me? How can I clearly, and fairly, express my concerns without blaming my partner?
    • Is there anything that I can do differently without any aid from my spouse to address my concerns?
    • What will I be willing to compromise about in order to take my spouse’s needs and desires into consideration?


Tips to Get Your Spouse on Board

Doing that inner work first will go a long way towards getting your spouse on board. Here are some additional tips:

  • Ask your spouse to set a meeting with you to talk about money. This should be a non-confrontational meeting scheduled when you both have time and energy to devote to it.
  • Use “I statements.” They may feel cheesy but they work. “You statements” blame the other person.
  • Even better, ask your spouse if you can discuss your financial goals as “we statements.” In other words, remember that you and your spouse are a team and money is the problem you’re working together to solve. You aren’t each other’s enemies.
  • Ask your spouse if they have some concerns about saving and spending that they would like to bring to the table. Be generous and listen closely to what they have to say.
  • Express why saving is important to you. Ask your spouse if they are willing to work on this with you.

Tips to Teach Your Spender Spouse to Save

If your spouse is even a little bit willing to make some changes, then yes, you can teach your spender spouse to save. Here are some good tips that can help you along the way:

Make it Convenient to Save

The more convenient something is for us, the more likely we are to do it. That’s just human nature. Some of the ways to make savings more convenient include:

  • Automate your savings. Make an agreement with your spouse to channel a specific amount of money into savings each month. Set it up to happen automatically.
  • Install money-saving apps on your spouse’s phone. For example, use an app that rounds up your purchases and deposits the extra into savings.
  • Ask your spouse if they would like you to handle certain shopping. For example, if your spouse always spends extra at the grocery store, would you both be willing to have you do the grocery shopping? It’s more convenient for them, since they don’t have to shop, and you get to control the grocery spending.
  • Track your spending each month. Use your bank statements and credit card bills to track spending for both of you. Make it easy for your spouse to see where the money goes each month. Don’t blame or shame; just make the information available.

Make a Trade or Compromise

Ask your spouse what they think about your shared finances. Find out how they feel about saving and spending. Then ask them what they wish was different. Find a way to trade them for what they want.

For example, you might discover that they don’t want to spend willy nilly on everything. However, they’re afraid that if they focus too much on saving then you’ll never have any fun together. Brainstorm some ways to guarantee that you’ll have that fun – date nights, travel plans, etc. Then make an agreement that if you set a budget for those then you’ll stick to that budget.

When you’re in two different places, see if you can come to a compromise.

Decide if an Allowance Works For You Both

Some couples agree that the saver will handle the finances and give the spender an allowance. Other couples agree that they each have a certain amount of allowance that they don’t have to discuss with each other before spending. See if an allowance option works for both of you. It can be problematic in some households but helpful in others. Note that it only works for the marriage if both of you think it’s the right plan.

Make it a Game

Finances don’t have to be boring. Make saving more fun for both of you by taking on some money-saving challenges together. You may find ways to compete with one another for savings if your spouse is motivated by competition. Or perhaps you can find challenges that will allow you to work together to meet a savings goal. When you meet your goals, enjoy a reward of your spouse’s choosing.

Use tools that Make you Save

There are a lot of tools that can make you and your spouse save and one of this is using VPN when travelling or doing private transactions online. VPN is the only tool to secure users private data and avoid data leak or minor the risk to get malware or any other way of fraud. Great option of a VPN while saving money, as Atlas vpn is the cheapest on the market.

Praise, Don’t Blame

Nobody wants to be shamed for their actions, especially by their spouse. We all prefer positive reinforcement. So, when you see your spouse making a choice that involves saving over spending, acknowledge it. You don’t have to make a big deal out of it. You certainly don’t want to be patronizing. But it’s nice to say, “I noticed that you saved in this way and I really appreciate that you heard how important that is to me and acted on it. I love you.”

Ask for Professional Help

Sometimes you can’t teach your spender spouse to save because the two of you just can’t get on the same communication page when it comes to money. It’s time to get help. Help could be in the form of:

  • A marriage counselor who works specifically with money issues
  • Financial planners that work with couples
  • An unbiased friend, mentor, or family member who can help you work through the challenges

What are some of the other ways that you can teach your spender spouse to save? Share what has (and hasn’t) worked for you in the comments. Or, if you’re the spender, give us your thoughts on this tricky topic!

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