GOPAY – 3 Smart Ways To Save Money

3 Smart Ways To Save Money

Money is hard to earn and even harder to keep especially in today’s economy. Eating less and cutting down insurance is no way to live, nor is taking personal loans a smart option with bank interest rates on the rise.

There are smarter ways to save money that do not involve starving or getting into debt.

Here are 3 of them for your benefit.

#1 Prep a Grocery Shopping List

You know how you have the tendency to go grocery shopping because you happened to be nearby and thought you just needed milk? Then you end up buying a bunch of things you didn’t need but seemed like really good deals that your inner aunty could not resist but to buy them?

That impulse buying habit is exactly what makes you spend more than you think you have. Things like confectioneries and comfort foods are both expensive and not very good for you, so you lose on two fronts by giving in to impulse buying.

Instead, prepare a grocery list of things you need to get for the week, and some of the comfort foods you want. Start by planning what you intend to cook across the week, and list down all the ingredients you need. Then check around the house if you need to replenish any household items running low.  Stick. To. The. List. Resist the urge to buy more than you have listed down.

It’s simple, but you’d realise how much money you were wasting on things you didn’t need.

#2 Commitments + Savings First

For our younger readers, commitments refer to the fixed expenses you incur from loans you’ve taken like on your car, house, student loans, etc. Most people consider their commitments and monthly living expenses first, then save whatever is left at the end of the month.

Nothing wrong with that approach, but you might find that it’s hard to save anything some months because expenses just seem to keep piling up somehow. Instead, try adjusting your approach to setting aside the money for your commitments and a fixed savings rate for yourself before planning your expenses.

Let’s say you earn RM5,000 per month and you want to save 15% of your income as a start. Then set aside the RM750 + your commitments first, then budget how you intend to spend the rest on your monthly expenses. This way, you’ll almost always keep to your savings plan unless something unforeseen happens like a visit to the doctor or your car breaks down.

#3 Maximise Cashback & Discounts

Smart shoppers know this trick – only buy the things you want on sale days if possible to save money while still having a lifestyle beyond just living paycheck to paycheck. It pays to do some research on brand sale days or hunt for coupons and discount vouchers on e-commerce platforms for the ultimate stack of savings on the same purchases you would otherwise make for way more at a retail store.

But for things like bills and parking – there are no discounts (unfortunate, we know). BUT you could earn cashback on your monthly bills and even some loan repayments when you pay using the GOPAY app. You already have to pay for those bills every month – so why not earn the cashback every month to use for your next bill cycle? It literally costs you nothing.