The last few months have been pretty good for our bank accounts. With no dinners out, spontaneous shopping sprees or copious takeaway coffees, a lot of us have benefited from a fuller wallet and for the first time in our lies, have been able to save something. Now things are starting to open up, our social lives are starting again – and so with it our cash begins to flow! In a post-COVID world, what’s the best way to save money and put your pennies towards what you really want in life? We spoke to Ellie, a twenty-something Londoner who loves talking about money. Founder of This Girl Talks Money, she shares insights, advice, motivation and knowledge to help millennial women to gain confidence and ownership of their own finances. Here’s her advice on how to save money...
Ellie: First things first, your salary most likely isn’t your limiting factor - your mindset and money management are. You can earn hundreds of thousands of pounds and still end the month with no money if you spend it all. Start by looking at how much you earn and how much you spend each month. Look at all your expenses and categorise them so you can see where you are overspending and where you can cut back. Once you have this picture, you’ll be able to identify areas of opportunity for saving more money.1. “I want to move out but I feel as if my salary isn’t anywhere near enough to save properly to move out. What should I do?”
Ellie: Set yourself a monthly budget so that you know where your money is going. A budget is simply a plan for your money, so that you don’t end up scrabbling around at the end of the month looking for cash to pay essential bills. Set up a separate bank account for your expenses and when you get paid, move enough across for the bills. Out of sight, out of mind, right? This way, you won’t be tempted to spend what you see in your account.2. “One of my biggest money struggles is worrying about bills at the end of the month. Will we have enough? How can I turn things around?”