The New Year is upon us, which means it’s time to start to saving money by adopting a Do-It-Yourself approach to life and work. Whether you’re looking to downsize and pack most of your belongings in a California or Missouri self storage unit or are deciding your own investment strategies for your stock portfolio, for most aspects of your life, saying “I’ll do it myself” will not only empower you in your decision-making, it will save you money. There are thousands of ways to get involved in the DIY lifestyle. For starters, try these tips on for size:
Do your own taxes. January is here, which means the tax season is upon us. These few months can be one of the worst times of the year if you have muddled finances, but that doesn’t mean you should spend hundreds of dollars hiring a tax service to file your forms for you. All it takes is a little discipline, patience, and fortitude and you can sit down and knock your taxes out in one night. Why spend your tax rebate upfront on advisor fees?
Make your own lunch. For the price of one or two trips to the bistro down the street from your office you could buy enough groceries to make lunch for all five days of the workweek. Plus, you’ll have more control over the ingredients and will spend less time out, giving yourself more time for other non-work tasks. All it takes is the motivation to make your own lunch the night before and you can save a lot money. Do you really need to hear the specials read to you?
Ride your bike to work. If you live close to work, why depend on your car when you can bike there and save money? Biking is becoming very popular among young professionals as an alternative to driving and public transportation, because in many cases, it’s quicker and more fun. Additionally, you’ll be getting daily exercise and will be reducing your carbon footprint on the Earth. This is a win-win situation.
Be your own doctor. No, this is not an endorsement of alternative medicine. Rather, being your own doctor is acknowledging that most of what goes into a doctor’s visit is him/her telling you to exercise more and eat right. Obviously, if you’ve had a headache for three months you should probably get that checked on. But for symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or back pain maybe you should try stretching your body out, going on a jog and eating a salad for lunch. Maybe cut out a few of those energy drinks too. Why go to a doctor when you know what the problem is?
Fire the maid. If you spend a hundred dollars a week paying someone to clean your house or room for you that adds up to $1200 a year. You may like the way the maid cleans the goop out from under the refrigerator or how he/she makes your bed and folds your clothing, but is it worth over a grand? Buy some eco-friendly cleaning supplies, turn on your favorite tunes and spend a few hours every Saturday cleaning the house yourself. Save money and spend some quality time with your floors.
DIY is a lifestyle that some people fully embrace. It’s not a religion or a political statement, but rather a personal approach to surviving in a tough world. Most active DIY-ers report feeling happier, more liberated, and more financially sound. Try out a few of these DIY tactics for dealing with daily life and finances and see if they help to relieve some stress. You could find yourself saving hundreds of dollars and getting in the best shape of your life.
