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Five Easy Ways to Save Money on a Tight Budget
Do you often find it challenging to stretch your paycheck to cover all your expenses? You’re definitely not alone. Many Americans are in the same boat, trying to make ends meet from one payday to the next. A recent Forbes report revealed that over a quarter of Americans have savings of less than $1,000. Other studies indicate that about half of U.S. households have saved up enough to cover three months’ worth of expenses, with less than 40 percent having enough for six months.
While it might seem challenging to save when there’s not much flexibility in your budget, there are practical ways to make it happen.
Identify where you are spending your money
Kickstart your journey into financial control by keeping tabs on all your spending for next 30 days and creating a budget. Every expense, no matter how small, should be recorded using any tracking method you prefer—a notebook, your smartphone, an online spreadsheet, or whatever suits you best. Sort your expenses into categories and prioritize the essential ones like mortage/rent, utilities, food, transportation, and healthcare. This simple act of tracking and budgeting is a significant step towards financial control and should be celebrated.
Once you have a clear picture of where your money is going, you’ll be able to identify areas where you can cut back. For example, finding ways to spend less on items like clothing, entertainment, or gym memberships can make a significant difference. By sticking to a budget, you’ll gain a better understanding of your spending habits and the confidence to find ways to save.
Entertainment—Look for low-cost or free ways to have fun
- Consider pausing your streaming service for a while and get cozy with your local library’s movie and video game collection.
- Dive into the world of podcasts and discover a treasure trove of free entertainment.
- Explore new hobbies or learn a new language without spending a dime!
- Check out our blog for even more wallet-friendly ideas to make the most of your summer.
Food—Try to spend no more than 11% of your take-home pay on food
- Try out generic store brands instead of name-brand items. Many generic versions can be up to 60% cheaper.
- Get savvy with coupons and download your grocery store’s app for extra deals. Who doesn’t love a good bargain, right?
- Buying fresh veggies and preparing them yourself—pre-cut veggies can be twice as expensive, so get your chopping skills ready!
- To reduce food waste, only buy what you know you can eat in a week or two. And if you need help planning your meals, there are some great free apps out there to give you a hand.
- Consider making meals at home instead of ordering from restaurants. Not only is it usually healthier, but it’s also lighter on your wallet.
Energy bills—Simple changes in your daily habits can result in substantial savings on energy bills
- Get creative with cooking: Try using an air fryer, slow cooker, or other small appliances instead of firing up the big oven every time.
- Max out that dishwasher: Wait until it’s full before running it with the heated dry setting turned off.
- Unplug and save: Don’t forget to unplug appliances and power strips when they’re not in use to steer clear of sneaky phantom loads.
- Light off, energy on: Remember to flick off the lights when you leave a room. It’s a quick and easy way to cut down on energy waste.
Credit Card Late Fees—Missing a payment due date comes with a heavy price
- Late fees on credit cards can really hit you hard, so make sure to set up automatic payments to at least cover the minimum amount due.
- Protect your credit score and peace of mind by using your card for emergencies only if you can’t pay off the full amount each month.
- If you have a high-interest credit card, consider switching to one with a lower rate. By the way, did you know that Mid Oregon offers zero balance transfer fee and low-rate credit cards? Worth checking out!
By making small changes and putting those savings to an emergency fund or dedicated savings account (Mid Oregon has a variety of options to choose from), you can reduce the stress of paying bills and even save up for fun things like vacations or special gifts.
Remember, a goal without a plan is just a wish. So, grab that pen and paper, give some money-saving tricks a shot, and hopefully, you’ll be high-fiving yourself by the end of the month. Whatever your needs, Mid Oregon’s experienced team is a great place to start discussing your money-saving opportunities.
Want to know more? Read additional Mid Oregon blog articles about goals, budgeting, and debt consolidation.
Beat the Heat, Not Your Budget—Tips to keep your summer spending in check
There’s nothing quite like the joys of summer! From sizzling barbeques to blissful camping trips, scenic road trips to those indulgent lazy days—it’s a season that brims with adventure and excitement.
But amidst the fun, the lure of spending a bit more while soaking up the summer fun can easily lead to overspending.
But worry not. We’ve got you covered with some smart tips to keep your summer spending in check.
Try a Staycation
This summer, trade in your costly vacation for an exciting adventure right in your own backyard. Unleash your inner tourist and rediscover the wonders of Central Oregon. Many of us haven’t fully explored this vibrant area where we work, live, and play.
Have you ever marveled at the wildlife and exhibits of the High Desert Museum or the geological wonders at the Lava Lands Visitor Center? How about a refreshing float on the Deschutes River or challenging yourself with a hike up the South Sisters? You could also enjoy a concert or two—many of which are free (check out our Calendar of Events). And let’s not forget our stunning parks, trail systems, and idyllic campgrounds? We’re fortunate to live in such a spectacular area—take advantage of what it has to offer.
Find inexpensive fun for the kids
Entertaining the kiddos during the summer break can be expensive. But fun activities that won’t break your budget do actually exist. If you’re looking to keep the kids occupied, head to the nearest discount store or garage sale and buy some low-cost toys and games. Check with the local recreation center and libraries, they can be a great resource for no-cost activities for kids of all ages. Or you could get together with other parents to plan special outings such as sports meetups or playdates at someone’s house. Kids can still have a great time socializing with their friends and learning new things without you breaking the bank to give them a fun summer.
Cool your air conditioning costs
Air conditioning is one of the biggest expenses over the summer months. Did you know you can save 10 percent a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just seven to 10 degrees higher for eight hours a day? You can also save by doing simple things like closing the blinds, using a fan, getting a programmable thermostat or cleaning your air vents. You should also look around doors and windows for gaps or cracks you could caulk in order to avoid letting cold air out and warm air into your home.
Leave the car in the garage
Take advantage of those longer days and sunny rays and switch to walking or riding your bike (check out the links above for amazing trail options). Making this change will save at the gas pump, and free up money for other things you want to do this summer.
Cash in your credit card rewards
Thanks to reward points, using a credit card to pay for summer fun can definitely be a bonus. For example, with Mid Oregon Everyday Rewards VISA you receive a point for every $1 and double points for gas and groceries: $1,000 gas/groceries = 2,000 points; $500 miscellaneous purchases = 500 points. Total of 2,500 points = $25 in prepaid gift cards or cash! Cha-ching.
By following these simple tips, hopefully you can make sure you don’t overspend during this season while still enjoying all the fun that summer has to offer. Remember, summer is about quality time together with family and friends—not just the receipts and souvenirs you collect along the way.
Keep Your Financial Accounts Cyber-Smart
cy·ber smart
noun
- Being aware of the motivations and tactics of those who would attack your computer security and adopting measures to protect yourself and the information systems you are responsible for.
Financial institutions and hacking go hand-in-hand these days and keeping your bank account and credit from being the next victim is more important than ever. The safest approach, although the least favorite, is assuming that if your data hasn’t yet been hacked that at some point it will be. Hacking banks and their account holders is the most direct cash infusion a hacker can get…and they know it.
According to Kaspersky Lab, attacks on ATMs alone hit an all-time high in 2017 with malware-as-a-service (MAAS) opportunities. With this service, even hacking “hacks” who have no cybercrime experience can watch an instructional “how to” video on how to target an ATM successfully. With all the relentless email phishing attacks and step-by-step advice on hacking, guarding our finances with common sense protection is something we all need to do. It all starts by being proactive with your accounts.
Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Password security
It’s time to put passion into passwords! Assuming your account will at some point be breached, there’s no reason to make it easier for hackers to break your passwords. Every account deserves a unique password that is eight characters or longer and is a combination of numbers, upper and lowercase letters, and symbols. Try to create a sequence with meaning to make it easier to remember, though not easy to guess or dictionary words. If necessary, write the passwords down. Remember not to leave your written passwords somewhere they are easily found by others.
Two-Factor Authentication
Always use two-factor authentication (2FA) or as also referred to, multi-factor authentication (MFA). In the wake of massive financial hacking, most banks and social media provide 2FA as a second security step and can be easily set-up with accounts. When logging into an account, the bank sends a security code to your phone. To complete the login process, the code is needed as the second verification. It’s a great and easily added security layer, with the idea being that even if a hacker cracks your password, unless they have your phone, they’ll never get the 2FA needed to login.
Keep tabs on your credit report
You can get your credit report from several sources including the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian). You can also take advantage of Mid Oregon’s free, secure option—My Credit Score located in Digital Banking. When you enroll you will receive access to your credit score, as well as key information from your credit report. You can also sign up for emails to alert you to changes to your credit report.
Switch to online statements
No more waiting for your monthly statements. With easy online access, keeping tabs on the financial comings-and-goings is an easy way to spot suspicious transactions. Should anything look questionable, it’s much more effective to alert your bank or provider immediately. Taking fast, proactive steps can prevent further damage to your account should it be breached. If you are still receiving paper statements in the mail, we encourage you to sign up for eStatements—everything is printable and your information is archived for 24 months. Sign into Digital Banking and make the secure switch today.
Phishing Scams
Of course, always be on the lookout for phishing scams. These are still common and frequent and are getting more difficult to detect all the time. If you are not expecting a link or attachment, regardless of the sender, just don’t click it.
ATM Skimming
With vacation season almost upon us, we will use more “new” ATMs than normal. When using ATMS, take a quick look to ensure there isn’t a skimming device attached to it. If there is, don’t use it and report it to the financial institution. Also, make sure you use ATMs in well-lit areas and where there is plenty of traffic. Hidden ones or those in dark areas are easier targets for ATM scammers.
Freezing Your Credit
Finally, don’t be afraid to freeze your credit. By law, the big three credit bureaus now must offer free credit freezing and un-freezing. Should you spot something suspicious with your credit, a quick freeze can prevent a whole lot of financial heartache by keeping hackers from doing further damage. Just remember that frozen credit prevents access to your reports for anyone, including you.
Are your debit and credit cards ready for travel?
If you are traveling, let your financial institution know where you are going and when (remember to set up your travel notifications in Digital Banking). Besides reducing the chance of having your legitimate purchase rejected, it can also help us know if someone has gotten your debit or credit card information.
Mid Oregon has a great resource in helping you protect yourself online. Visit our Stickley on Security resource in our Security and Fraud Center. There, you can read timely articles on a variety of digital security topics, including some videos. You can also sign up for news and alerts via email. Get the most up-to-date information to keep your financial accounts cyber smart.