How to Save Money Without Selling Your Soul

The key to saving money has never been to clip coupons and look for sales. This might help, but the most important things are to a.) work more and b.) spend less. And as we all have discovered in some form or other, working more and spending less can easily take all of the joy out of life. The following tips are meant to help you move confidently towards your financial goals without selling your soul.

1.) Turn work into a vocation. To save money, many hours must be committed to the job of your choice. Working enough to save money can be a joyful experience if you understand how your job benefits others.

2.) Keep house. It is easier not to spend money if you know for sure what you already have. Make soup before letting food rot in the refrigerator, and bring your own lunch to work. Turn old clothes into rags before buying paper towels. Reuse everything that your creative mind can think of, and take pride in the home you make. Also, buy baking soda and vinegar in bulk. This combination can clean your tub, your dishes, and even your hair!

3.) Stand up for yourself. Don't let a nameless system rob your hard-earned money guilt-free. It is alright to calmly demand quality. Don't let the money you do spend be wasted on inferior products. Contact the company and ask for a refund. They will most likely be glad to know of their error, and they will usually send coupons or free samples in apology. Stay away from offers that sound too good to be true, and try not to spend money you have not already made.

4.) Keep your finances organized. Pay all bills on time or early to avoid fees. Count your savings as another bill, like rent or electricity. It is difficult to rationalize putting money aside for your own purposes when you are already in debt, but if you have student loans, for instance, or a mortgage, you wouldn't even begin to reach your savings goal for maybe a decade or more.

5.) Stay healthy. Medical debt might save your life, but it can bury you alive. So take care. Eat well. Whole grains and vegetables are very healthy and inexpensive. Instead of joining a gym, you could find an exercise video at a thrift shop or do something fun outside for free.

6.) Read more "How to..." articles. If you can do it yourself, you don't have to pay someone else to do it. So try changing your own oil, fixing your own faucet, etc. Learning practical new skills can be a very satisfying way to save money.

7.) Don't think about money. Think about what you are actually saving for, and don't continue to add to it like a wish list. True, sacrifices must be made to attain any goal, but they need not be painful. Instead of being sad that you are not going to the movies, cozy up to a free online film, or rediscover a board game. Instead of feeling embarrassed that you can't buy expensive gifts, remember that it really is the thought that counts. So write them a story or make a meaningful craft. Believe that you can make life very rich without spending a dime.

8.) "Make new friends and keep the old," as the song goes. "One is silver and the other's gold..." Money is a symbol for the things that people can do for each other. The more direct your exchanges are with your community, the less money you need. Friendship calls for a lot of unofficial bartering, a sharing of ideas and dreams, kids' clothes and garden produce, music and laughter. Other people are the key to success, to saving money without selling your soul. Caring for one another is literally the Golden Rule.