Chica’s Top 5 Tips for Saving Money — Right Now

Full disclosure, I suck at saving money.

I have never identified as "frugal." In fact, I have been called out a time or two for being a spender. I realize I don't have to make many sacrifices when it comes to money; I just have to think smarter.

This year has been a difficult year, to say the least, and I never imagined it would take a pandemic to help me be more aware when it comes to saving money. I am looking at every option now compared to just grabbing something off the shelf, and I wanted to share some of my new favorite tips with you:

1) Treat Yo Savings!

Every time you splurge on something and buy something for yourself, match it. So if you spent $10 on a treat at your favorite coffee shop, add $10 to your savings as well. That Treat Yo Self moment just cost you double, but didn't throw you off track.

2) Avoid Budget Busters at Checkout

So you have your grocery list, but you've strolled around the store and grabbed random items that you didn't plan for (and in reality it's probably junk food.) These are called budget busters. Avoid looking around at the checkout line. Stay focused; save money.

3) Treat Money as Time

You hear people say "time is money" I started to think of my money as time I spend in the office. If you make $10 an hour, and you're splurging on an item that costs $50. Think of that item actually costing you 5 hours of work. Is it worth it?

4) Assign One Day a Week as a No Spend Day

Maybe it's a perfect day to get everything done around the house. Maybe it's a day to be lazy and eat leftovers. Make one day a week be the day that you don't spend a dime.

5) Be Honest With Yourself: Is Your Phone Sucking Up All Your Money?

Cellphones are powerful things — not just because we rely on them to do just about everything for us all the time, but because if you're stuck with an expensive plan, that money is flying out of your account every month.

That's why I am so excited about Boost Mobile's new Shrink-It plan, which rewards you for paying on time month after month. Just watch your bill shrink from $45 to as low as $35 a month after you make six on-time payments. (Maximum discount is $10 a month.) Set yourself up for success by really thinking about whether your current phone plan is serving you and your goals.

(Legal details: Credits will continue unless service is interrupted and cannot be combined with other offers. Offers not available everywhere or for all phones. All prices, offers, fees, and features subject to change; other restrictions may apply. See boostmobile.com or store for details.)

Ready to save some money? I'll be broadcasting LIVE from 2-4 p.m. this Saturday at Boost Mobile, 9312 Mansfield Road in Shreveport. Stop in, say hi and get a great deal. Of course, you don't have to wait — sign up any time in the store and check them out online at boostmobile.com.