I'm a single mom and have had my fair share of financial problems. Some days are just flat out a struggle -- especially a few years ago when I first moved to California. If you're not already a millionaire, southern California is a reallllyyyy difficult place to stay afloat, not to mention live in a respectable apartment. 

Currently, my goal is to save up money to purchase a house with cash. I've been looking at some of the mountain and desert communities outside of Los Angeles as well as other surrounding states like Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. I think a nice mountain or desert community suits me better than L.A. anyway, but that's beside the point.

ANYWAY... In order to acquire the money I'll need to purchase a house, I'll not only need to make more money, but also save more money. There are several things that have been working well for me, so I thought I'd share them here in case they help someone.

Stop Making Impulse Purchases

Sometimes we buy stuff...just because. Stop doing that! In case you're not sure, impulse purchases are things you choose to buy at the spur of the moment. It's always things you don't need. Learn to resist the urge to buy things you don't need, even if those things are inexpensive. Small inexpensive items add up quickly. Some examples: a Starbucks latte, a pack of gum, new socks that you bought because they were "so cute", and so on...

Stop (or Reduce) Eating at Restaurants

I used to eat out for breakfast every weekday morning before going to work. One time, I downloaded a bank statement from the previous month and added up all my weekday morning breakfasts. 

To my horror, it added up to over $200!!!

I started making my own steel cut oatmeal with ground flax seeds, almonds, blueberries or whatever I feel like putting in it. I had already been buying the oatmeal and the toppings for the weekend during my regular grocery trips, so I wasn't spending any extra money eating these meals from home. I have to re-buy these items more often since I eat them everyday, but it's nowhere near $200 per month.

And guess what? I not only saved that $200 per month, but I also lost weight and had more energy from eating something more nutritious. It's a win-win situation.

That is just one example of what happens when you reduce your eating out costs. You can adjust it for your situation obviously, but you get the idea. If you also stop eating out for lunch, you'll be saving big bucks over time.

Find Interests & Activities that are Free or Low Cost

No one wants to sit around bored during their free time, but that doesn't give your new frugal self permission to mindlessly spend on entertainment. Avoid high-priced theme parks, going out to bars, and things of that sort.

For example:

• If having drinks with friends is your thing, buy your alcohol of choice at the store and invite your friends over...wayyy cheaper than the bar!
• Go hiking
• Ride your bicycle
• Explore areas of your city of town by foot that you've never been to
• Take your dogs on longer walks
• Take a walk or meditate in the park
• Visit family or friends at their houses so you can talk face-to-face for once
• Photography (with your current camera or smart phone)
• Check out books from the library
• Listen to free audiobooks on Librivox or Open Culture
• Volunteer for a cause you support
• Go fishing
• See a movie at discount movie theatre. In my area, there is a theatre that sells tickets for $3 each for movies that have typically been out for a couple months or so. 
• Cook or bake something. Look up a recipe or watch a YouTube cooking video if you need help. Or better yet, look up an article from one of our awesome Steemers who are always posting mouth-watering photos with recipes. You know, someone like @kerrismiles or @kennyskitchen or @gringalicious 
• Use your free time to plan (write down) what you want to do with the money you're saving, why, and how. Keep the dream alive everyday with a journal!
• Cancel Netflix and cable -- and watch tv using the Kodi app instead
• Get spiritual. Not necessarily religious, but spiritual. If you open your heart and mind, you will see there is much more to the world than what you see on the surface. Suddenly, you will realize a life of substance isn't related to money and you won't want to spend more than necessary. Eckhart Tolle, the Dalai Lama, Neale Donald Walsch, and Abraham Hicks are my favorite spiritual teachers.

Sell the Things You Don't Need

Everyone has junk around the house they don't need. Instead of allowing it to sit there unused, sell it on Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, etc. This should get you a nice chunk of money and has another benefit as well: your house will look less cluttered. Donate what you can't or don't want to sell. I have a simple rule: if I haven't used it in a year, I have to get rid of it. The only exception to this might be holiday decorations, but even those I would minimize.

You can do it!!

So there you have it, a few simple tips to get you on your way to saving some money. Once you start saving, you will come up with additional ways you can save money. Eventually, it will come naturally to you and be more like a fun game. 

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