So many of us enjoy talking and dreaming about our goals, but achieving them is another issue. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities of what can happen when we accomplish new goals, but unfortunately, lots of us give up or don’t even get started. So in this article, I’m sharing 5 ways to achieve your goals: examples included. Remember that although achieving your goals is rarely easy, it’s totally worth it!

How to achieve your goals: 5 Key ways

These 5 ways to achieve your goals can apply to any part of life, including health, career, financial, and personal aspects. And in addition to strategies for financial goals and goal-setting , I’m also going to share some techniques for changing behavior or habits to help you make progress with your goals! Let’s get into it!

1. Set the right goals

The first of the 5 ways to achieve your goals is to focus on proper goal-setting. Too many of us set unreasonable goals, or we don’t have a plan for reaching them. Setting SMART goals is a top strategy for setting goals you can actually accomplish.

Use the SMART Goal method

In 1981, an article in Management Review coined the term S.M.A.R.T. goals. You’ve probably heard of them, and there have been a few variations of what the acronym should stand for. The guidelines are that your goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

Here is how to use the SMART goal method to take action to reach your goals:

Make your goals specific

First of all, it helps to set very specific goals. Rather than something vague like “I want to start living a healthy lifestyle,” you need specific goals regarding what aspect of health you’re focusing on.

For example, say what healthy action you’ll take each day, such as riding your bike to work or drinking a certain amount of water.

Make your goals measurable

The “M” in SMART stands for measurable. (Other versions might use “meaningful” or “motivating,” but I prefer “measurable” because that’s been one of the keys for me in reaching my most audacious goals. 

If your goals aren’t measurable, how will you know if you’ve achieved them? You could continue reaching for something more, forgetting to celebrate yourself and your accomplishments. 

One of happiness guru Gretchen Rubin’s “Secrets of adulthood” is “You manage what you measure.” She also calls this the strategy of monitoring. I’ve found this to be quite accurate—if I decide my goal is to write 1,000 words a day, it’s easy to know when I’ve reached that goal. 

A measurable goal comes with clear numbers. Phrases like how much, how many, or how often may be applicable.

Make your goals attainable

Next, when designing your goals, it’s important to keep them attainable. That just means it’s within reach! Remember to be realistic about where you are in life. 

The key is to pick goals that challenge you but not so much as to be impossible. You can always set gradually more advanced goals, such as yearly goals, as you progress.

However, if you focus too much on a goal that feels light-years away, you might give up before you even get started.

My advice would be that it’s great to dream big, but when it comes to setting your goals that you can actively work towards now, try not to shoot too far.

In other words, if you’re a new college graduate, it’s great to dream of being a CEO or starting a business from scratch one day.

But it could take a few years, so you might start smaller, perhaps aiming to get your first promotion within one year.

Professional development goals, health goals, interpersonal goals, and other types can all benefit from focusing on what’s attainable. This isn’t to discourage you from aiming high but to ensure you’re close enough to your current goals to stay motivated.

Make your goals relevant

A fourth step in setting the right goals is to be sure your goals are relevant. They need to speak to you and be important to you.

It can be too easy, especially for women, to compare ourselves to others and center our goals around others’ needs and wants. 

If you don’t have a strong desire to accomplish something, there will come a day when you decide it’s not worth the effort. Giving up is too easy as it is—don’t make it harder by picking things you don’t care about.

For example, when setting financial goals, you have to dig deep and figure out what you truly want. Of course, getting out of debt is good for everyone. But what’s your “why?” What would becoming debt-free do for other parts of your life?

The same goes for achieving early retirement.  Retiring at 40 isn’t necessarily the goal for everyone.

If you pursue early retirement, you need strong motivation. Make that goal relevant by figuring out what you’ll do when you’re retired.

Will you volunteer at a homeless shelter? Travel the globe? Write a book? Clarify your goals to fit your personality.

Make your goals time-bound

A final step in the SMART goals framework is to give a time limit on your goals. Doing this simply offers healthy boundaries so you know how much effort you need to put in and for how long. Getting 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity every day for 30 days may be one example. 

Setting goals on different timelines is useful when making time-bound goals. By setting mid-term goals, for example, you can tackle different levels of accomplishment than with short-term or long-term goals.

It also goes hand in hand with the “attainable” part of SMART goals. Setting goals with different timelines can help you hone in on what’s attainable in certain periods of time. Another way to look at this is by setting benchmarks—smaller steps along the road to your ultimate goal. 

Don’t set too many goals

When utilizing these 5 ways to achieve your goals, remember to limit the number of goals you have! Along with using SMART as a guideline to help you set goals, you’ll improve your chances of success by limiting the number of goals you set.

Have you ever written a to-do list as long as your arm? That kind of pressure can be overwhelming, so it’s good not to set too many goals at once.

If you aim to lose 30 pounds, buy a house to rent out, plan your cousin’s wedding, and write and publish a book all in the same three-month period, guess what? You probably won’t get it all done.

Of course, we all fill many different roles every day. But if you want to know what’s slowing you down, one possibility is overzealous goal setting. You get frustrated and can’t focus enough to accomplish those goals. 

Like Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps can break down financial goals, you can increase your odds of success by focusing on one or two big goals at a time.

Limiting how many objectives you focus on at a time can make it easier for you.

Focus on process goals instead of product goals

You can set the right goals by focusing more on “process” than “product.”

In other words, many of us might say, “I want to raise kids who become honest, hard-working adults.” That’s great—but it’s a product.

Could you break that down into “process” mini goals? Perhaps focus on their age now and the daily steps you could take to help them become the amazing adults you know they can be one day.

Process goals emphasize what you’re in control of right now. You can control your actions, but you can’t always control how your circumstances go. (For example, Don’t say you’ll lose 20 pounds. Instead, you can decide how much to exercise or set dietary preferences.) 

2. Keep track of your progress

Recording and tracking the progress we make toward our goals helps us get closer to achieving them. Often, we do better with things we write down, which is why it’s one of the top 5 ideas for achieving goals!

Write down your goals

Whether you write them in your private journal or on a sticky note you place above your desk, the act of writing down goals is useful. Writing them forces you to clarify your goals, and you can revisit them regularly to see how you’re doing.

When writing these goals, be sure to write them out in full. If possible, include all of the aspects of SMART goals.

State goals publicly

Many of us benefit from sharing our goals in public. It gives you some outer accountability. Even if the people you share it with won’t care, the very act of stating the goal to someone else can make it more real to you.

You could tell a group of friends about your fitness goals or discuss your financial goals with a family member.

Find an accountability partner

You might move closer to goals with an accountability partner. Maybe you pick one friend, and you text her every day to tell her your step count for the day. (Make sure she knows what your goal is!)

Share your goals on social media to achieve them more easily

Another strategy for achieving goals is to post them on your social media. You know you’ll get responses from friends or followers that might be encouraging. You don’t have to talk daily about these goals on Instagram, but posting your progress weekly or monthly could be helpful.

Monitor your progress

Monitoring your progress is essential when you’re setting goals. After all, if you don’t track what you’ve done, how will you know when you’ve achieved your goal?

This step is what we discussed earlier in the “measurable” part of SMART goal-setting.

Choose a method to monitor your progress and keep track of your efforts and the benchmarks as you pass them.

Monitoring your progress is important, whether saving for a family vacation, tracking spending through a budget, or keeping a list of all the money mindset books you read each year.

3. Stay focused on the goals you’ve set

Staying focused is next on our list of 5 ways to achieve your goals. A singular focus is important for any important goal or dream. Don’t let distractions or discouragement drive you away from achieving what you want to do. 

Keep learning through educational resources

Books, podcasts, newsletters, and other resources can help you stay focused. Anything that helps you learn more could propel you to persevere and achieve your goals.

If you really want to learn a musical instrument, you need to take lessons, practice, and think about that instrument—a lot. That education can help you maintain focus.

Make visual reminders as a way to achieve your goals

Having a goal means having a vision, right? You need to envision a different life, whether in terms of family, career, health, or something else. You might even want to try out vision board ideas.

Put visual reminders of your most important goals everywhere. You can stay motivated and focused when you see notes, artwork, or photographs that remind you of your goals.

Ask for help

Sometimes, we need others to remind us what we’re working for. Talk to your spouse about picking up extra slack with the kids, or ask a friend to remind you of your career goals when you get discouraged. 

For me, the goal of writing and publishing a novel meant I needed to find a critique group. Now, I trust the three fellow writers in my group to give me the feedback and encouragement I need. 

Talk to business mentors

When working towards a big career goal, a professional mentor can have a great impact. Talk to your business mentors when you start to veer off course. Ask them what strategies helped them reach the goals you’re hoping to achieve.

4. Create an environment for success

Environment plays a huge role in our success in building habits and achieving goals. Build your environment for success!

Make it easier to do tasks you want to do

James Clear, the author of the best-seller Atomic Habits, writes a lot about making your environment support your habits. Make it easier to change habits—there’s no prize for struggling. An example he gives is if you want to practice a musical instrument, place it in the middle of the living room.

For example, to save more money, automate your finances. Automation is awesome. It takes the decision out of your hands, so you only make that saving decision once, and it remains your daily routine until you cancel it.

Both of these examples make it easier for you to do something positive for yourself.

Make it harder to do things you want to avoid

The reverse is true: you can improve habits by making bad habits harder. Make them inconvenient or difficult, and you won’t do them as much. It can help you stay on the path to achieving your goals.

For instance, to save money, you can switch to an all-cash envelope system for a few months, and leave your credit cards at home. Not having credit cards with you makes spending inconvenient.

5. Plan for obstacles and failure

That’s right, I said you should plan for failure! We’re human, so we should expect some level of failure or major obstacles along the way. Here is how to use failure as a step to success so you won’t give up on yourself.

Decide how you’ll deal with setbacks

It’s almost guaranteed that your journey won’t be smooth sailing all the way.

Whether you’re hoping to achieve millionaire status, launch a business, find the best way to get out of debt, or any other goal, planning ahead for setbacks can help you succeed.

You can decide in advance what your response will be in certain situations.

For instance, if your goal is to make $500 fast and save it in a month, but you come up $200 short, don’t throw in the towel. Look at your budget and your earnings and make a game plan for how to save more next month. (Or, adjust the goal if necessary—there’s zero shame in that.)

What you don’t want to do is quit on yourself after your first setback. Mistakes and failures are part of life. 

Learn from failure

It is one of the hardest things to learn and one of the most valuable: failure is a great teacher. We all need to learn how to fail and deal with potential obstacles.

Failure is actually an important part of how you can become great. Thomas Edison famously said of his numerous attempts at inventions, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

By reframing the way you think about failure, you can start to see it as a tool you need to succeed. It’s a great way to achieve your goals, no matter how difficult they seem.

Expert tip: Don’t get discouraged

Goal-setting can be just as overwhelming as it is fun but you can break down your goals to be manageable. This means that whatever your goals are, you need to take the right path and one that works for you, to reach them. Get your life organized and focused so that you know the tasks to do to make step-by-step progress. 

Remember that the most worthwhile goals will likely include some frustration, but that doesn’t mean the end! You have to push through setbacks and trust the process, and you can achieve more than you think. 

Examples of ways to achieve your goals

As you consider some of the ways to implement your goals, take a look at these examples of 5 ways to achieve your goals from different areas of life. 

Lift weights three times a week for six months

Here’s an example of a fitness goal. It’s clear, measurable, and even time-bound. It focuses on your actions rather than an outcome you can’t control. 

Eat 9 fruit and vegetable servings daily

Another specific and measurable goal would be to eat nine fruits and vegetable servings every day. You can get more nitty-gritty if you like, but that’s a good general guideline to aim for if you don’t have enough produce in your diet. 

Send pitches to one potential client each weekday

If you’re building a business and need to find new clients, here’s a great goal for you. Decide to send a pitch to one new potential client every weekday (for a month or even indefinitely). It gets you in a habit that pushes you to grow your side hustle or full-time business.

Save $10,000 in one year

A financial goal like this one can help you reach other financial goals, like being able to buy a newer car. Figuring out how to save $10,000 in a year is something measurable and time-bound. Make it easier with an accountability buddy to stop you from making an impulse purchase when necessary.

Take your kids to the park twice a week 

Let’s shift gears to look at a family-oriented goal. If you have kids, might set the goal of taking your kids to a local playground twice a week. Again, it’s specific and reasonable (but if that’s not a reasonable goal, pick something that works for you). 

Work on your new side business for three hours weekly

If you’ve dreamed of starting your own business but can’t find the time, determine if there are a few hours when you could work on it. Don’t expect to make five figures immediately, but you can make real progress even with just three hours a week dedicated to your business. 

Read for 20 minutes a day

Here’s another goal that you might set to help you learn or relax. Making your goal attainable (20 minutes isn’t a huge amount of time) helps strengthen your commitment. Plus, you aren’t saying how many pages or books you’ll read because that can lead to frustration if you choose a difficult book. 

Spend a summer in Europe in five years

Maybe you’re like me and dream of spending long periods of time in Europe. I might put photos of the country I want to live in all over my home, computer, car, and phone. Making a vision board is a fun way to stay motivated as well. 

Pay off all credit card debt within two years

Many of us struggle with paying off credit card debt. Looking at what you owe and choosing a reasonable time period for paying it off can help you reach that milestone. 

Practice morning affirmations

Perhaps you’re dealing with a lack of self-confidence, and you’d like to improve that. A great way to improve self-talk is to try morning affirmations that remind you to believe in your abilities. 

What is stopping you from achieving your goals?

To determine what’s stopping you, start by thinking about the challenges you face every day. You might have trouble because of the following:

• People who doubt your potential
• Not enough hours in the day
• Low self-confidence (try these confidence building exercises!)
• Uncertainty on how to achieve your goals
• Financial limitations (read about breaking the cycle of poverty)

Millions of articles and thousands of self help books exist that can teach you the best ways to find success. You’ve likely heard a few of them, but if you’re serious about making progress for real, then try setting SMART goals and staying focused.

What is the first step towards achieving a goal?

Before you can achieve a goal, you need to identify your goal.

Personally, I know I won’t be able to figure out any of the next steps without first knowing what I want to achieve. And that opportunity to work towards a goal needs strong motivation. 

Thinking carefully about what you want to accomplish will help you determine the best ways. You don’t just miraculously save a huge down payment for a house without preparation. You need to identify that goal and then take steps to reach it.

Articles related to achieving your bgoals

If you found these step-by-step instructions for winning with your goals helpful, check out these other posts!

• How To Set Goals For A Small Business In Order To Grow
• 6 Reasons Why Failure Is The First Step To Success
• New Month New Goals: Ideas For Goals To Set Each Month
• How To Be Smart About Money: 5 Ways

Leverage these tips and examples of how to achieve your goals!

The great thing about goals is that they can always keep evolving as you do. After all, we never really stop learning, so why wouldn’t our goals change along the way? Implement just a few ways to achieve your goals, and you’ll be unstoppable.

So, what are you waiting for? Take charge of what you really want, set yourself up for success, and start progressing toward your goals today!

The post 5 Ways to Achieve Your Goals With Examples To Motivate You appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

When you don’t know exactly what you want, how will you know when you have it? That problem is precisely why it’s so important to gain an understanding of what you want in your life. Getting clarity to achieve your life’s goals is possible.

Sometimes, you can find yourself feeling lost in life, drifting along. Maybe you have some clue about what you want to achieve, or maybe you feel completely aimless.

It’s crucial to figure out what you want to focus on since that’s the first step towards achieving it one day. You may be searching for clarity in relationships, your career, your health, or any number of life aspects. 

If you’re unsure how to find clarity, consider the key tips in this article. But first, let’s discuss why having a clear purpose is so important.

Why getting clarity in your life is so important

“If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing.” Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings

While you might technically be able to shoot a crossbow while blindfolded and hit something, it’s hardly a recipe for safety. You could end up completely missing the mark.

Yet many of us approach our career goals, physical and mental wellness goals, relationship goals, and all other goals this way.

If you don’t have a clear target in mind, how will you aim to hit anything? As my ten-year-old begins learning archery, he’s finding out that a clear target is essential to success. Here are some of the reasons focus in your life is so important.

Clarity helps you know what you want

First of all, clarity often refers to a distinct vision of the future. If you just have a hazy picture in your mind of what you want to do in life, it can be next to impossible to end up in the right place.

Try to figure out some answers to the questions: What do I want to do? And who do I want to be?

Do you want to be a stay-at-home mother for a few years to soak up more time with your little ones? Or build a six-figure salary or business from scratch? Maybe you want to renovate a century-old farmhouse with nothing but YouTube and your bare hands.

Whatever your goals (obviously, you probably have many), deciding what you want is the first step toward achievement. It’s okay if you feel some confusion at first. Taking some time to identify your true passions and hopes is how you can find clarity.

It also helps you recognize what doesn’t matter 

It’s not only essential to know what you want but to know what you don’t want or what doesn’t matter. It’s all part of intentional living. 

When you find yourself drifting through your days without much to show for them, take some time to recognize what is and is not important. Think about the things you devote most of your time to—do they truly matter to you?

Oftentimes, we end up spending a lot of our time on things we don’t really care about. Maybe we sign up for too many committees at work or the kids’ school or we get pulled into a project that isn’t our passion.

While we can’t get out of all unpleasant tasks or things outside our comfort zone, we can be more mindful. Figure out what tasks are sucking your energy without any purpose, and try to delegate them or give them up completely.

6 Practical steps to achieve clarity

Essentially, getting clarity about who you are and what you truly want is about priorities. What matters most, and what can you let go of?

Since your time is limited, try these practical steps to bring understanding to your days and your life. This will also help you achieve your goals in life.

1. Create space to discover new ideas and goals

A great first step towards getting clarity is to simply make space for it. Sometimes, the most aimless times in our lives are when we get too busy to think or pause.

We all need some breathing room in our lives to help us discern what we’re getting right and what we can do better.

Try these tips to avoid going through the motions for weeks or months.

Instead, you can make time for getting clarity in your life.

Set aside regular time for reflection 

Maybe you’re the kind of person who’s always going full speed, and it’s hard to find focus that way. We all need to reflect on how things are going to figure out what needs to change.

You can try these ideas for “Wellness Wednesday,” like taking a rest day or turning off technology for a set period of time. Check out blogs and books that help you. 

If you’re a woman who thinks, “There’s no way I can just take a break,” then you need a break more than anyone!

Just start as small as you need to. Pick a regular weekly or daily time for reflection on your life and goals.

You may try meditation, but don’t be scared off by that term. Reflection for you may mean focusing on a particular goal or looking back on how each day or week went. 

There are probably a lot of little pockets of time in any given week when you could carve out a few minutes or an hour for reflection. Or if you’re craving major “me time,” make a plan for a lazy weekend to recharge and find focus.

Leverage journaling

Journaling can be an excellent tool when looking for clarity. Writing in a journal helps us to process what’s happening in the here and now, dream about the future, and reflect on the past. Journaling is a great form of self-care.

There are many benefits to journaling, like keeping track of your progress, increasing your confidence, and finding inspiration.

Once you’ve carved out a slice of time every day or every week, you may use journaling during that time. Whether you write long paragraphs, stick with short sentences, or use bullet journaling, get your thoughts down on paper.

If you’re unsure where to start, check out these 60 journal prompts for self discovery. I bet you’ll discover a ton about yourself if you’ve never had a journaling practice before, and that focus will help you achieve your goals.

Declutter to create physical space

In addition to creating mental space, you may also want to spend time clearing out physical space. If you need motivation to declutter, imagine how much the stuff in your home could add stress and confusion to your mind. 

Why not start by clearing away some things that aren’t serving you? Try emptying out one drawer or closet, discarding what’s unnecessary, and reorganizing with only the essentials. 

One of happiness guru Gretchen Rubin’s key tenets of happiness is that “Outer order contributes to inner calm.” Even if you don’t think clutter bothers you, you may be surprised to see how a cleaner home or office helps you.

2. Seek clarity through relationships

Relationships are a great resource for getting clarity. As important as your beliefs are, the people in your life can offer amazing insight into who you are.

Friends can help you see yourself more clearly 

In addition to spending time journaling and reflecting on your own, take some time to listen to your friends. Whether through a weekly Zoom call, an in-person lunch date, or even text messages throughout the week, friends can help with getting clarity.

Unfortunately, you may have been burned in the past by unsupportive friends. Those painful experiences may have led you to shut yourself off from true friends. Seek out the ones who can help you see who you are and determine your next life steps.

Whatever life circumstance you’re unclear on, dear friends can give advice. They can often see past your blind spots, those areas where you can’t see your talent as clearly as others.

Perhaps a friend will remind you of something you loved to do when you were younger. A relative could help you envision new possibilities for the future.

Don’t forget to set boundaries in your friendships. You’re still in the driver’s seat; you’re just asking friends to help you along.

Spend time with people who challenge you 

You can find focus by paying attention to who you’re spending time with. Maybe you have a trusted friend who doesn’t always tell you whatever you want to hear.

But her advice is always given with your best interests at heart. That’s the friend you want to keep close! She can definitely help you with how to find clarity in your life and choices.

Beware of toxic friends, though. When I say to seek out those who challenge you, I mean only people who love you and can give you insight into yourself.

Consider talking to a sister, old friend, grandmother, cousin, coworker, you name it. People who challenge you may push you out of what’s comfortable or easy. They can help you make a decision to take the risk—but not a foolish one.

A true friend can help you decide which risks are worth taking to better your life.

3. Getting clarity is easier with healthy habits

As you’re thinking through these steps, remember the healthy habits you’re in charge of building for yourself.

It can seem so simple, but we all neglect self-care and healthy behaviors at times. Healthy actions are foundational habits.

Get plenty of sleep 

One essential component of a healthy lifestyle—which impacts your focus and your life—is sleep. Developing a better sleep routine is perhaps the most important aspect of creating a self-care week (which you’ll hopefully follow with a lifetime of self-care).

Getting enough high-quality sleep can improve your attention and concentration, along with memory, the ability to solve problems, creativity, how we process emotions, and judgment, according to The Sleep Foundation.

Don’t all of those aspects also sound important to getting clarity in your life?

Too many of us are sleep-deprived. If you’re not sleeping enough, try giving yourself a regular bedtime and stick to it. Other good sleep hygiene habits include leaving your phone out of the bedroom and turning off screens an hour before bedtime.

Eat a healthy diet 

Eating a well-balanced diet is also crucial to being happier and more productive. You can find focus more often if you’re fueling your body with good things that help you function properly.

It’s not easy to follow an eating clean meal plan or even avoid overeating or eating in response to stress.

Try making a few small changes, like switching from soda or alcohol to water or adding a vegetable to each meal. I’m not yelling at you here—eating healthfully is a lifelong struggle for me, and each day’s choices make a difference. 

Every small decision to do something good for your body can help guide you to the next healthy choice.

Move more 

And, of course, in the trifecta of healthy habits, add “Move more!” to your list of things to do. Physical activity is a way to invest in yourself.

Exercise will help you strengthen physically, but it also has mental health benefits. Getting clarity may be easier if you make exercise a part of your day.

Exercise can help you with weight management, brain health, and anxiety reduction. If you’re unsure of what exercises are a good fit, try them out until you find some form of movement you love and will do regularly.

Perhaps you’ll love yoga, hiking in the woods, Zumba, softball, weight-lifting…you get the idea.

If I’m working from home, I sometimes pause to do a few push-ups or walk around my yard. That small break lets my mind wander from other tasks, and when I return, I’m more able to concentrate and solve problems.

Meditation can be a useful habit

If you’ve never tried meditation, you could give it a try. Take advantage of free apps like Calm or YouTube channels on meditation for quick and easy ways to get started.

I’ll admit that I’m a total newbie to meditation, but I try it occasionally to help me settle my mind. Plenty of people will tell you that when learning how to find clarity, it can be a great strategy. 

4. Focus on your priorities so you can accomplish what’s most important

Clarity is another way of defining your priorities. Figure out what matters the most to you, and chase hard after those things. Everything else is secondary.

You might determine that your family is your number-one priority (most people believe that). And, of course, you have to spend time on work, relationships, health, and other goals.

Define your goals and how long they’ll take

You can have long-term goals as well as mid term goals and short-term goals. Focus first on the overarching top goals, then break them down into manageable parts of life.

You might read goal-setting blogs to get some inspiration if you’re unsure how to set goals. First, try to keep your goals manageable and be sure they’re within your control. 

It’s best not to set goals like “Write a bestselling book” because whether your book sells isn’t something you can control. But goals like “Write 500 words per day” or “Join a writers’ group” are manageable and don’t rely on external factors. 

Don’t be afraid of big hairy audacious goals, either! Consider these major life objectives that you won’t reach in a few weeks or months but that can inspire you to buckle down and make progress. 

Determine why you want to achieve those goals

As you work on gaining clarity, you’ll need to think through your “why.” If a certain goal comes to mind, such as “Save $5,000 in 3 months,” think of concrete reasons why you want to do that. 

The reasoning behind this is simple. Achieving goals isn’t always easy, and gaining an understanding of why a goal matters to you will help you when the going gets tough. 

Get really specific about your why. What will you feel like when you accomplish this goal? How will it change your life or your family’s future? 

For example, if you are saving a down payment, envision the kind of house you’ll purchase one day. If you dream of taking a month off next summer, picture the fun activities you’ll be free to do during that time. 

You can keep your goals in mind by writing them down in a prominent place, learning how to create a vision board, or sharing them on social media. Along with the goal, include images or words about how achieving it will make life better. 

Say no to things that don’t serve your primary goals 

You’ll want to start saying “no” to some things. If an activity doesn’t help you reach your most precious goals, perhaps it’s time to give it up. 

Once you’ve focused on what matters, you’ll learn how to say no. You don’t have to do it all! Keep that in mind when a task could derail you from achieving your major goals. 

You may even need to say no to things that are good in theory but simply don’t serve you at this time.

For example, while I’m writing a novel (my lifelong goal), I have to say no to other activities that might be fun, like pottery classes. 

A financial example is that if you’re working to get out of debt, you’ll need to say no to a lot of spending. After working on your budget and debt, you can focus all your income where it needs to go—paying off debt. 

5. Don’t wait for perfect clarity before starting

“Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.”

That quote has been attributed to Voltaire and restated by many wise thinkers. It reminds me that it’s more important to start than to have everything figured out.

Beat procrastination for good

So many times, we procrastinate on getting things done because we fear we won’t do them perfectly. Maybe you’ve had that experience with a major life goal. You build it up as so important that you’re paralyzed and don’t start.

When you put off doing what matters most out of fear or anxiety that it won’t be perfect, you don’t go anywhere. Meanwhile, time passes, and suddenly, you notice you’re in the same position as a year or ten years before. Don’t wait forever!

Start with baby steps

A good strategy for finding out what you want is to start small. While reflection is important, sometimes you need to start with a baby step. 

For example, you might feel that what you really desire is to study for a new career. But if that career requires years of study and a ton of money, don’t let that discourage you from trying. Start with one class or internship, then see how it goes from there. 

There’s a lot to be said for improving by 1% daily. Know that mini goals can be beneficial, too, and sometimes you need to take one step before the next one becomes clear. 

6. Experiment and adjust your goals periodically

Going hand-in-hand with starting imperfectly is the plan that you’ll adjust your goals over time. You can learn how to create goals for today, start working on your goals, and find that those goals don’t exactly fit what you want.

That’s okay! Life is an experiment, and you get to try things, fail (or change your mind), and try again. The important thing is to stay consistent in reaching for your goals.

Learn and change a little every day

Every day in your life, you can grow and change a little bit. You might use these tips to inspire change in your life. Use your experiences, continue to evaluate your life and find clarity for the present moment, and make adjustments as you go.

It’s not easy, but this can open your eyes to when it’s time for a change. Certain phases of your life will require more focus on your career, while others may be more focused on family. Life doesn’t stay the same year after year, and you won’t either. 

Changing your goals isn’t a failure

You need to realize that after making progress, your goals may shift over time. It’s important to accept this as a part of the process. 

I’ve read a few blogs about people who tried traveling full time, maybe in an RV or overseas. Sometimes, they loved it, but others found they were ready to return home after a few months. Those people didn’t fail, though!

There’s nothing wrong with taking a big leap and discovering the outcome wasn’t what you’d hoped. You’ll learn to live consciously and make adjustments.

Expert tip: Take the time you need to find direction

If you find yourself flailing or struggling to reach meaningful goals, it’s worth it to spend time getting clarity in life. Most of us face periods of confusion, when we either pursue too many goals at once or we feel aimless without a goal. By using these tips for better overall health and satisfaction, you’ll find yourself gaining focus in all areas of life.

Your life is too important to coast without specific objectives at the top of your mind, so use clarity to make your life plan. Remind yourself that you bring unique gifts to this world, and by understanding how to use those gifts, you can more quickly make your impact on the world. 

What does it mean to seek clarity?

If you’re unsure of how or why to seek clarity, think of it as finding a focus in life. Whether you feel lost in general or only in a specific area, you can figure out what you really want. 

You may look to inspirational blogs or self-help books for women to help you with your ambitions. Other ways to find focus include talking to loved ones, clearing out clutter from your home, or trying something completely new. 

It’s an ongoing process of self-discovery. It helps ensure that you aren’t simply coasting through life, which could lead to regret down the line. 

How do you find inner clarity?

There’s no one right answer for how to find inner clarity. Perhaps you’re seeking to focus on what you’re most gifted to do for a career. Or you’re unsure whether it’s time to move on from a painful relationship. 

Finding inner clarity requires you to dig deep and look inward. If you want more direction in your life, you must sit and think for a bit. Whether this means you simply sit down somewhere with a journal or try walking in the woods, get quiet. 

No one else can really tell you what you need or want. So don’t be afraid to be alone with your thoughts and figure out your goals. 

How can I get clarity fast?

Not to be a downer, but there may not be a quick solution for clarity. Of course, it would be great if you tried meditation once, and within the first five minutes, you experienced a lightning bolt of clarity. 

However, there’s a good chance that finding focus won’t happen fast. Just be open to whatever comes to your mind, and be willing to change as you learn and grow.  

One good way to focus fast is to create physical space. Clear your desk, for example, before you sit down for goal-setting. The absence of random papers could help you focus your mind. 

As you gain guidance on what you really want, you can also start trying the best manifestation methods to help you get there. 

Articles related to getting direction for your life

If you found this information about gaining direction for your life interesting, check out these other great posts!

• How To Find Your Why!
• Less Is Better! 7 Reasons Why Less Is More
• How Intentional Living Can Change Your Life
• 15 Practical Steps To Make Today A Good Day

You can live with clarity and purpose!

Finally, don’t be afraid to pursue what you really love.

That’s likely one of the hardest parts of achieving clarity: realizing what you want but then finding the courage to go after it. You may not struggle with confusion, but the belief that you deserve what you want. 

Remember to listen to yourself as you go through each day, and you’ll find the focus to keep working toward achieving your goals.

If you decide on financial goals to pursue, you can try out our free online finance courses.

The post 6 Steps For Getting Clarity To Achieve Your Life’s Goals! appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

Even when you’ve got a lot of things right, you might reach a point when getting your financial situation under control seems impossible. If you’re really struggling financially and aren’t sure which problem to tackle or how, budget counseling can help.

Budget counseling can teach you how to budget and budgeting methods. Plus how to protect your credit scores and other key financial strategies. But you may be curious if it is right for you, and if it is, you may wonder, “Where can I find budget counseling near me?”

So, let’s dive in and see exactly what budget counseling is. Plus how it works and how to get the help you need.

What is budget counseling?

Budget counseling is when you meet with someone who can help you improve your finances. Many budget counselors work for nonprofit organizations, so you may be able to get assistance at no cost.

Even if there’s a cost involved in working with a budget counselor or consumer credit counseling, that doesn’t mean you should rule it out. When you’re drowning in large amounts of debt or chronic struggles with money management, working with a trained counselor is likely worth a small investment.

Types of guidance you can get from budget counseling

Let’s talk about some of the types of help a budget counselor might be able to offer you. That way, you can decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Help with managing your money

Money management is one of the key ways you could benefit from budget counseling. A trained counselor can guide you through steps to help you manage your money, such as evaluating what you need to improve.

Money management includes things like setting up a budget or a better budget, monitoring your credit, and planning ahead with sinking funds for big expenses.

As an example of large expenses, you may need to save and get a loan from a mortgage lender for home ownership, or you may want to purchase a car. These goals are easier to achieve with good money management.

Help with creating a budget

Money management is a rather broad goal. One key skill your counseling sessions can help you develop is budgeting! You could learn about different budgeting methods, like the 30-30-30-10 budget or the cash envelope system. 

Budgeting is just knowing how much you have coming in and how you’ll spend or save it. You might do best with a strict plan for how every cent is used, as with the zero based budget. Or you may need a looser strategy that gives you just a few categories, like the 70-20-10 budget.

Either way, budgeting can help you manage all of your expense categories. Things like utilities, groceries, and medical bills, as well as saving for the future.

Working closely with a budget counselor could help open your eyes to your money story and the way you relate to money. They can also guide you through budget challenges, such as the process of creating and sticking to a budget.

Credit score monitoring

Unfortunately, keeping tabs on your credit score and credit report is something too many of us neglect in our money journeys. We think that everything will be fine as long as we pay our bills.

However, you need to monitor your credit score because it is so key in determining whether you can get financing from creditors. You could be unable to rent an apartment or buy a car at a decent interest rate if your credit score has dropped significantly.

Consider talking to a counselor if you’re unsure of how to keep track of your credit scores. It’s actually pretty simple to check your credit score regularly through a free credit report. A budget counseling expert can help you take steps to raise your score if it’s down.

Guidance in paying down debt

Another important aspect of budget counseling is often learning how to attack your debt and reduce it. A credit counseling organization and a certified credit counselor are usually well-trained in how to help people out of debt.

Often, unsecured debts and high interest rates can be one of the most painful parts of your money story. The idea of lots of debt can weigh you down, bring you feelings of shame, and make you feel hopeless.

Talking to a budget counselor can help you deal with debt stress. In addition you can figure out a game plan for dealing with credit card debt or loans.

According to Bankrate, more than half of adults in the U.S. find money stressful. Talking to a budget or debt counselor can help you find your way beyond debt and help you get rid of that extra monthly payment.

Identity theft protection

Although identity theft is one of those things you probably don’t expect will happen to you, it’s a real risk. Budget counseling could provide assistance if your identity has been stolen, which is a horrible situation to have to sort out.

With cyberattacks and fraudulent activity on the rise, we’ve all got to be vigilant.

In fact, according to Experian, about 1 in 20 (5%) of Americans are affected by identity theft each year.

Budget counselors can help you figure out the best way to prevent identity theft and fraud, as well as help you if you’ve already been a victim. They can talk with you about whether you should freeze your credit and other preventive steps.

Dealing with predatory lenders

We’re all aware there are some shady players out there, and the world of finance and lending is no exception. Sadly, many lenders have predatory practices—they may be deceptive or coercive and convince borrowers to take on loans that could ruin them.

When going through budget counseling, your counselor can help you learn to spot red flags of predatory lenders. (Watch out for payday loan traps, for example!) You can find out ways to deal with or report a lender that’s breaking the law.

Expert tip: Leverage budgeting tips from counseling to improve your finances

In addition to seeking out professional help with your finances, it’s a good ideas to take extra steps on your own to learn more about your money.

Read books, listen to podcasts or YouTube, go to finance workshops, and learn more about any financial topics you might be struggling with.

Having more information about budgeting, interest rates, investing, and credit cards is a great way to get your money back under control. So even if it takes some time, learn as much as you can.

How much budget counseling costs

As you’ve read about the benefits of budget counseling, you’re likely wondering one key question: how much will it cost? The good news is that you can find places that offer free counseling and information.

For instance, you can try our completely free financial courses right here at Clever Girl Finance to gather more financial knowledge.

In addition to our courses, here are some other options to check out as well:

For-profit counseling

In spite of the fact that budget counseling or debt counseling may imply you don’t have any savings or a lot of excess cash, some organizations do charge for their services. These are for-profit counseling agencies.

Even if an agency is for-profit, its fees may be quite reasonable. Ask upfront before selecting a budget counselor if they charge and how much. And you’ll want to look for free options first in order to focus on getting your financial house in order.

Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission reports that credit counseling agencies should, at a minimum, give free information about their services. (If they charge even for basic information, run the other direction!)

Non-profit counseling

Plenty of non-profit budget counseling agencies exist, so you’ll want to examine your options in that arena first. Of course, your first step is simply gathering information. If you find there are several organizations in your area, read over their websites or call to request info.

Some places that may offer free counseling include your local consumer protection agency, credit unions or banks, universities, housing authorities, and military bases.

One warning: the term non-profit may not mean the agency’s services are totally free. So even if an agency is labeled as a non-profit, you still have to do a little more homework to find out if they charge for debt or budget counseling sessions.

Where to find a budget counseling service

You may be wondering, “Where do I find budget counseling near me?”

First off, you’ll want to try locating a counseling service that is free of charge. However, in some cases, you may need to sign up for a Debt Management Program (DMP), which will usually have a cost.

The good news is there are several reputable sites where you can find a budget counseling service that can help you get back on track with your finances! 

If you know anyone who has gone through this process, you might also ask them for referrals and recommendations.

Financial Counseling Association of America

The Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) is an organization with financial counselors available to help you. You can get basic budget counseling at their various agencies as well as debt management plans.

The FCAA is a non-profit organization. You can find resources like articles on specific types of financial assistance, housing assistance, where to find bankruptcy counseling information, and more on their website, fcaa.org.

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

Another reputable nonprofit option is the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. They can help connect you to a member agency that will offer debt relief solutions.

The NFCC does charge a monthly fee for services related to the debt management program, which helps you pay your debts.

However, even a one-time counseling session of 30-60 minutes can help you come up with action steps to improve your financial health.

Questions to ask to help you choose the right counseling service

When you’re wondering, “Where is budget counseling near me?”, it’s a good idea to look into several different agencies or types of counseling. What you choose will depend on how severe your needs are, along with other factors.

Any decision about going through budget counseling requires you to ask a few key questions. You can look online for these answers, of course, or try calling or emailing a representative at a few agencies.

Here are some questions to get you started.

What services are available?

Naturally, you’ll want to find out what types of services an agency offers. If they specialize only in debt management and you’re looking for more basic budgeting guidance, you can look elsewhere.

How can I access budget counseling (online, by phone, or in person)?

You’ll likely figure out the answer to this question with your initial investigation. Try your preferred method of contact first, and then you can ask what types of counseling they provide.

What free information is available?

Whenever you’re talking to a representative or reading online resources, you can find out about free resources. Most reputable counseling organizations will provide information at no charge. If they charge you even to give out information on their services, that’s a bad sign.

Is there a formal contract to sign?

Ask any budget counseling agency you’re considering about contracts. What level of counseling is offered, how many sessions are there, and are you obligated to sign any recurring contract with fees?

How are your budget counselors trained or certified?

Knowing what kind of training the counselors at agencies go through, or if they are accredited or not, will help you make an informed decision. Plus, it will give you peace of mind knowing you have a financial expert who is able to help you make the right financial moves.

What makes a financial counselor and a financial advisor different?

The basic difference between a financial advisor and a financial counselor is what they focus on teaching you and helping you with. A financial counselor will focus on helping you build great money habits through budgeting, debt repayment, etc.

On the other hand, a financial advisor tends to focus more long-term on investing and retirement planning. They run scenarios that show you how much you need to invest and provide guidance based on your long term goals.

In a nutshell, a financial counselor can teach you the basics about money, and a financial advisor can help you plan far into the future.

Does budget counseling affect your credit score?

Your credit score is not directly affected by budget counseling. However, when you choose to take action with any debt you have because of the counseling, you may see a change in your credit score.

For example, closing credit card accounts may negatively impact your credit score temporarily. But this can all be worth it in the long run if you are trying to clear up any debts you have and become financially free.

And remember that the opposite is also true, by creating a plan with your counselor to repay debts, you can positively impact your credit score, as well.

Articles related to counseling and budgeting

If you liked learning more about where to get help with your finances, check out these articles next!

• What To Know About How Financial Counseling Works
• How Consumer Credit Counseling Works
• Are Credit Repair Companies Legit?
• How To Budget: The 4 Best Budgeting Methods To Try

Consider budget counseling to get your finances in order!

You may think you’re a lost cause when it comes to finances. Please, don’t believe that for a moment.

You can take control of your money by starting a new life for your finances, and budget counseling just might be the tool you need to make that happen. Leverage the tips in this article to create a plan and seek out the support you need.

The post What Is Budget Counseling And How Does It Work? appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

If you don’t feel like you truly have a strong handle on your finances, one possible cause for that is using a budgeting method that doesn’t work. While not everyone needs a to-the-penny balanced budget, some type of budgeting strategy or template is really important if you want to know where your money is going month after month.

The 70-20-10 budget is one of numerous budgeting frameworks out there, and it just might be the tool you’re looking for.

If you’ve attempted to make a budget in the past and “failed” due to budget challenges, maybe it’s time to rethink your plan. You can succeed in budgeting—you just need the right way to do it for you.

What is the 70-20-10 budget?

The 70-20-10 rule is excellent for someone who doesn’t want to watch every cent of spending across thirty-five different categories. It’s a pared-down, simplified version of budgeting.

If you’ve ever looked at a sample budget and thought, “This is just too complicated,” then perhaps this budget will be a good compromise. Maybe you’re someone who wants to know how to manage your money, but you don’t want to be bogged down by micro-management.

The 70-20-10 budget refers to the percentage of your take-home pay that you devote to each of three major categories: spending, saving, and giving. That’s it.

(If you’d like an even more streamlined budget plan, you could check out the 80/20 budget and apply it to your budget instead.)

If you choose this budget, you would allocate 70% of your monthly income to spending, 20% to saving, and 10% to giving. (Debt payoff may be included in or replace the “giving” percentage if that applies to you.)

Let’s break down how this budget could work for your life.

70% of your income is for spending

With this rule, you will live on 70% of your income. More accurately, 70% of your take-home pay, or net income after taxes, not pre-tax income.

So you need to fit all of your necessities in this category, along with any luxuries that cost money.

Once you know your weekly or monthly income, you can do the simple math of calculating how much 70% would be. That’s the figure you need to keep all of your life’s expenses under.

Types of expenses to include in the 70-20-10 budget

Anything you spend money on goes under this category. All budgeting apps and strategies address this, of course.

Here’s a starter list of the most common expenses to include with the 70-20-10 rule:

• Rent/mortgage
• Car expenses and payments
• Insurance premiums
• Utilities (electricity, water, garbage removal)
• Fuel/Transportation
• Groceries
• Child care
• Dining out
• Clothing
• Entertainment
• Student loan payments (minimums)
• Other debt payments (minimums)
• Gifts (unless you keep this exclusively for the 10% Giving category)
• Travel
• Subscriptions or memberships
• Hobbies

Feel free to add any other discretionary spending categories you wish.

Fixed vs. variable expenses

One way to break down your spending category is to look at your fixed and variable expenses.

Fixed expenses

Your fixed expenses are the ones that have a set amount to pay every month. These are the “easy” expenses to calculate because their cost doesn’t change when living month to month. 

You usually can count on your mortgage or rent staying the same every month, for example, unless your landlord has to raise the rent occasionally.)

Examples of fixed expenses include:

• Rent or mortgage payment
• Car payments or car loan
• Insurance premiums
• Membership fees (to professional organizations, gyms, etc.)
• Subscriptions (magazines, trade publications, etc.)
• Child care (this is a fairly fixed amount, though you might add more for an extra babysitting night here and there)
• Utilities (usually variable, but can be fixed if your utility company offers a program that estimates your average monthly cost so you pay a more regular amount)

Variable expenses

Variable expenses are those that can fluctuate depending on circumstances. You may spend more on dining out during the holidays, for example, even if you’re doing Christmas on a budget.

Your utility bills may decrease during more temperate seasons of the year and go up during extreme cold or heat. Variations may be due to your spending choices but sometimes are due to factors outside your control.

Examples of variable expenses include:

• Groceries
• Fuel/Transportation
• Dining out
• Utilities
• Entertainment
• Clothing
• Gifts
• Travel

The key to remember for all of your expenses is to keep the total at or below 70% of your total take-home pay in any given month. If you have any extra leftover, you can decide whether to spend it as fun money or send it to pad your savings or giving category.

20% of your income for saving

The second category is much smaller but no less important than your spending. With this budget, you plan to save 20% of your total income.

It is a great goal to set. American households do seem to prioritize some savings on average, but saving more is never a bad idea.

Although starting with saving 10% of your income as part of the 10% rule is better than nothing, increasing that amount to 20% gives you that much more wiggle room.

Of course, one of the major hurdles many people face in saving money is that they may not know how to save money when their income is low. It’s really tough to save when you’re living paycheck to paycheck.

So don’t beat yourself up if you haven’t been able to put any money aside in the past few years.

However, everyone should aim to save a decent portion of their income. We all need an emergency fund, and to save more long-term (think: retirement). Consider some of these ways to save.

Include an emergency fund as part of your 70-20-10 budget

Although there aren’t many hard-and-fast personal finance “rules,” having an emergency fund is always essential. You need to start with an emergency fund before any other savings. Your emergency fund is that sum of money that you can draw from in case of, well, emergencies.

Having to have your car towed after a breakdown on the highway would be one example. Calling a plumber to fix that leaky faucet, paying for a sudden medical co-pay, or buying a plane ticket to a beloved family member’s funeral may all be emergency situations.

In addition to emergency cash to cover you when one or two unexpected costs come up, you need to build what some call a “full” emergency fund.

For example, you might begin with a small fund of $500 or $1,000 as a first milestone. That’ll provide a bit of peace of mind.

But what if you’re concerned about losing your job? Or both you and your spouse get laid off? You might need money to cover your bills for weeks or months.

A more robust emergency fund is usually 3-6 months’ worth of basic living expenses.

When calculating how much you’d need for 3 or 6 months’ worth of expenses, your budget will come in handy. For this, you want to stick to a bare bones budget: mortgage/rent, transportation to work or job interviews, groceries, and any other non-negotiable expenses.

A note: be sure to keep your emergency fund in an easily accessible account. (Don’t put it into a retirement account where you won’t be able to get the money out for years.) A high-yield savings account is a good option for your basic emergency fund.

Sinking funds (for future expenses)

A different type of savings account to consider in your 70-20-10 budget are what we call sinking funds. These are for the various larger expenses that can crop up from time to time. You don’t always need $50 a month, but you might have to cover an expense of $500 six months from now.

It’s usually not a wise idea to funnel all of your sinking funds into your regular emergency fund, either. That might make it too easy to spend it on the wrong things. You can set up different types of bank accounts at the same bank for different types of sinking funds.

Then, simply set up automatic deposits into each one. Over time, whether it’s $5 a month, $50 a month, or even hundreds a month, that sinking fund will grow. The goal is to have enough money to cover costs you can reasonably expect but can’t always calculate exactly in advance.

Sinking fund examples

• House sinking fund (for regular repairs and updates to your home and appliances)
• Car sinking fund (save for the next car you’ll buy as well as for future auto repairs)
• Self-employment tax sinking fund (freelancers and self-employed people must pay quarterly taxes on their own)
• Wedding sinking fund (for hosting a wedding or the costs of attending future weddings)
• Gift sinking funds (you might save all year for sustainable Christmas gifts, for example)
• Kids’ activity sinking funds (save year-round for those summer camps and club fees, as well as experience gifts for kids)

Sinking funds may seem like a lot to handle after filling up your emergency fund, but they’re worth the effort. They’ll make it less likely you’ll dip into your emergency fund because you’ve prepared for these types of expenses. Plus, the expenses that happen “every so often” won’t come as such a surprise.

Retirement savings

Within the 70-20-10 budget, you can also put some of your 20% into retirement funds. Once you’ve set up your emergency fund and a few sinking funds, get to work on retirement.

Retirement is a huge goal to prepare for, but the sooner you can start learning tips for retirement planning, the better off you’ll be. Time is one of the most powerful tools in retirement savings. You want to give your investments time to grow through compound interest and stock market returns.

401(k)

The 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) are some of the most common retirement accounts. These are excellent retirement savings tools, but you must have the option of one through your employer.

401(k)s offer the opportunity to save for retirement before taxes. The money goes directly from your paycheck into an investment account, reducing your taxable income. Some employers even offer 401k matching for your contributions, which is basically free money!

Keep in mind that these accounts are tax-deferred, not tax-free. So you save on taxable income now, but when you retire and begin withdrawing the money, you’ll pay taxes then.

In addition, there are 401k alternatives, and we’ll talk about some of the best in the next section.

IRA and Roth IRA

Along with a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan, many people in the U.S. can save in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). There are traditional IRAs, in which you can save yearly for tax-deductible contributions.

Roth IRAs are another option, which works similarly. The difference between traditional and Roth IRAs is that the Roth IRA is taxed upon contribution, but you can withdraw the money tax-free once you retire.

Other types of IRAs exist, including the SEP-IRA, for those of us who are self-employed.

For Roth and traditional IRAs, the government limits how much you can contribute per year. In 2024, the maximum is $7,000, or if you’re 50 or older, you can contribute up to $8,000, according to the IRS.

College savings for kids

Another major savings “bucket” to keep in mind when starting a family is that you may want to start a college account for your children. Remember that paying for college is generally not mandatory for parents, but as a parent, you probably want to help your kids out if you can.

After covering all of your expenses and other essential savings (and don’t neglect retirement), you can move on to college savings. Help your kids get a great education and also learn how to avoid student loans.

As with any type of savings, when it comes to college planning, the earlier you begin, the better. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t save anything if your child is already in high school, but starting when they’re younger is best.

Custodial accounts and 529 plans are two of the best options for parents of kids who may someday attend college.

Custodial accounts

One strategy parents can use for college savings is a custodial account. It’s an investment account that a parent or other adult can start on behalf of a child in their life. The child will take over the account at a certain age—usually either 18 or 21.

You should read all the details of a custodial account before opening one for your child. There may be gift taxes involved, and the child may also need to pay taxes on earnings eventually. But one great thing about custodial accounts is that they don’t need to be used only for college.

A custodial account can be great if you want to keep options open for your child.

In case they decide to pursue an alternate path like the military or opening their own business right after high school, this might be more useful than a 529 plan.

529 plans

A 529 plan is often considered the top investment vehicle for parents to help send their kids to college. If you’re a parent, you can open a 529 account for your child very early and let the funds grow until they’re ready to hit the campus.

There are great tax advantages to 529 plans. The earnings in the account are federal income tax-free as long as you only withdraw the money for eligible educational expenses.

The longer your money is invested, the better the returns you can earn on your money, meaning your savings will stretch farther.

So, a part of your 70-20-10 budget can involve saving for your kid’s college education. Remember, in this budget, you’re contributing from the 20% bucket to the college fund. You might only use 5% of your income here, but stick to that 20% maximum.

Stock investments

Investing in the stock market is another avenue for you to start building wealth. It’s best to focus on other steps first, such as your emergency fund and investing in an employer-sponsored retirement account. But investing on your own in the stock market is another option if you’re at that point.

You can try your hand at more stock investing by signing up with a robo-advisor, which picks your bundle of stocks to buy based on the information you give them. You can check out the best stock research websites to invest money in the stock market.

Another means of getting some money into the stock market is with index funds. Investing with index funds is a way of investing in a basket of stocks or bonds that are meant to perform similarly to the overall stock market.

In other words, you invest in the fund to hold a piece of multiple companies, hoping to earn good returns on your money because you have a variety of companies’ stock.

As you prepare to dive deeper into the work of stock market investing, check out these investment terms you should understand!

Real estate investments

If investing in real estate sounds intimidating, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Although real estate investing for beginners can include buying a property to rent out for income, people can now invest in real estate in smaller ways.

Real estate appeals to some investors because, unlike the stock market, real estate is a tangible asset. It’s an actual piece of property that will theoretically always have some value.

As you begin with real estate, you might put some of your saved money into a real estate investment trust or REIT. It’s quite similar to investing in the stock market but in companies specifically working in real estate. The process for you as an investor is much like that of buying index funds, which is easier than buying a property and becoming a landlord.

Crowdfunding is another easy way to dip your toes into real estate syndication investments with your 70-20-10 budget.

Of course, you may be ready to pursue buying physical real estate, which can be a good option as well. Be sure to do plenty of research, as it’s not a truly passive form of income and not for everybody.

However, owning property can be a lucrative way to start wealth accumulation over time.

10% of your income is for debt payoff or giving

In the 70-20-10 budget, the final 10% of your money is earmarked for extra debt payoff. Or you may choose to use this 10% for giving. It may mean donations to charity or gifts to loved ones for weddings, graduations, and the like.

Debt payoff

Depending on your finances, you could include debt repayments within this 10% category.

However, this doesn’t mean you can only spend less than 10% of your income on debt. You might remember that student loans and other debts were included in the 70% expenses category.

Your student loans and other debts are obligations, so you want to include the minimum required payments in your spending.

In addition, if the minimum payments aren’t getting you out of debt fast enough, you can send extra money to speed up that process.

You can choose how to calculate this final 10% of your income. If you are facing a lot of debt, you could focus on how to pay off credit cards fast rather than giving. In particular, if your debt comes with a high interest rate, it’s a good idea to pay it off quickly.

If you’ve carried a lot of debt, you probably have experienced some levels of debt stress. Figuring out the right game plan for you with the 70 20 10 rule can help you get on the path to living debt free.

Debt snowball method

One popular method for debt payoff is known as the “debt snowball worksheet.” Popularized by many a personal finance influencer, the debt snowball means you pay off your debts in order, from smallest to largest.

The magic of the debt snowball is that you start with the smallest of all your debts, no matter what the interest rate is. That may mean paying off a $75 parking ticket first. That may be small, but that gives you a feeling of accomplishment.

The snowball is all about emotional wins. When you have a large amount of debt, it can feel suffocating. You might think you’ll never break free. But each time you pay off a debt, you can be proud of yourself, gain motivation for saving money, and face the next debt.

It takes time, but those little wins can fuel your drive to keep going as the debts grow larger.

Debt avalanche method

Some people praise the debt avalanche vs snowball method of debt payoff. It’s similar to the debt snowball, except that it focuses on the interest rate of each debt versus the amount of each debt.

Your interest rate on a debt is how much you’re being charged by the lender to borrow their money. The higher the interest rate, the more you’ll pay overall.

With the debt avalanche, you want to look at all of your debts and check the interest rate on each one. Then, focus any extra money you can on paying off the highest-interest debt first. For many people, this is credit card debt.

With the debt avalanche, you should end up paying less overall.

However, you might grow discouraged if it takes a long time to pay off your highest-interest debt. Which debt reduction strategy to use can depend on your personality and what method will help you to succeed.

Keep in mind, when using the 70-20-10 budget, your minimum debt payments come out of your spending category. The extra 10% category for debt involves extra payments to get out of debt quickly.

Giving or sharing

A part of your final 10% category can go towards giving to something meaningful to you. It can be a formal type of giving, with regular monthly amounts to the same organization, or you might like to vary your giving monthly.

Religious tithing or giving

Many people make giving to their house of worship a priority. Some religious traditions call this a “tithe” (which simply means a tenth of your money). But whether you give a full 10% to one church or religious organization is really up to you.

Donating to charitable causes

Another part of your giving may be in the form of donations to charities or nonprofit organizations.

You can choose one with a mission that resonates with you, whether that’s helping victims of domestic violence, digging wells in Kenya, feeding the hungry in your hometown, or one of the hundreds of other causes.

Advantages

So, what are the main benefits of using this budget to learn how to manage your money? Let’s discuss some of the primary reasons you might like this budgeting method.

The 70-20-10 budget is simple to use

The 70-20-10 budget is pretty simple to understand and use. Keeping only three basic categories can make budgeting feel less like a chore and more doable, especially if you hate budgets.

Spending, saving, and giving are generally the three main categories people talk about when discussing why personal finance is important. Sure, there are plenty of ways to divide up those areas, but starting from those broad sections might make budgeting feel manageable to you.

Less restrictive than other budgets

A budget like this might work for you because it can feel less restrictive than other budgets. Other budgeting tools or programs may require you to make thirty different categories for your money and keep track of every single penny you spend.

This budget gives you a general framework that can help you with organized finances. But it gives you a lot of freedom within the framework. Spending 70% of your income, you can divide up the spending categories any way you like.

Disadvantages

As with most things, the 70-20-10 budget might not work for everyone. Here are a couple of negative aspects of this kind of budget strategy.

Some prefer a more detailed budget

You may have read the above section and thought the 70-20-10 budget is just too simple for you. You may prefer breaking down all of your income and spending in a much more detailed and specific manner.

If you think your personality fits better with stricter, detailed planning, then try a more complex budgeting template. The goal here is to create better budgeting with your money, not to fit yourself into a mold that isn’t right for you.

Not everyone can live on 70% of their income

Now, here’s a tough truth about finance: for some of us, 70% of our income isn’t enough to live on. If your income isn’t at a level that allows you to pay the bills at 70%, then this budgeting rule won’t work.

You could also try to adjust this plan slightly if income is tight. Perhaps an 80-10-10 budget would be a good alternative (spend 80%, save 10%, give 10%).

The 70-20-10 budget can be good for many people, but when you’re struggling with bills piling up, you likely won’t be able to save 20% or give 10%. And that’s okay.

70 20 10 Budget example

Knowing how this budget works and understanding the pros and cons is great. But maybe you want to see what this budget looks like in a real-life scenario. Here’s an example:

Let’s say your income is $5,000 a month after taxes. By this rule, $3,500, 70% of your income, would be for all expenses. Then 20%, or $1,000, is for saving. Last, $500, or 10%, is for giving or debt payoff.

So your budget might look something like this:

Essentials: $3,500

• Housing cost $1700
• Utilities $200
• Insurance $200
• Transportation and car payment $500
• Groceries $600
• Subscriptions $50
• Minimum debt payments $200
• Fun money $50

Saving: $1,000

• Emergency fund $300
• IRA $300
• Saving for child’s college $200
• Sinking fund for travel $200

Giving: $500

• Giving to religious organizations $250
• Giving to a charity $250

You can use whatever budget categories make the most sense for your income and lifestyle. But this example gives you an idea of what this rule might look like.

Expert tip: Calculate your income before setting up your 70-20-10 budget

A good first step to take before breaking down all of your spending, saving, and giving? Figure out how much money you make in after-tax income. You can look at pay stubs if you’re not sure of the precise amount.

If you’re practicing budgeting for couples, be sure to factor in a spouse or partner’s income if you share the household income and expenses. If your income is variable—for example, if you take on freelance gigs or work in an unpredictable field—make your best estimate for an average monthly income. You might err on the low side of that income range just to be on the safe side.

How is the 70-20-10 rule similar to 70-10-10-10 rule?

The 70-10-10-10 rule for money is very similar to the the 70-20-10 rule. But 70% of your income is for expenses, and the other three 10 percents (10-10-10) are for various categories, including giving, investing, and saving. You may choose to focus on different things in each of your 10% categories, including an emergency fund, retirement accounts, etc.

So, as you can see, this rule is very similar to the 70-20-10 rule. It’s just that the way you break up the percentage numbers is slightly different.

Articles related to budgeting methods

If you learned more about percentage budgeting from this article, read these next!

• How To Use Budget Categories
• Sinking Funds: Why You Need Them. How To Set Up Yours!
• 21 Sinking Fund Categories to Consider In Your Budget
• The 50-30-20 Rule: How It Works + A 50 30 20 Budget Template
• 10% Rule: Is Saving 10% Enough?

Give the 70-20-10 budget a try!

By now, you probably have a good idea of whether you like this 70-20-10 budget. It’s a fairly simple and straightforward method of budgeting. Consider the type of budgets you may have tried in the past, and think about your financial goals and examples of financial goals as you decide.

Going through your current financial situation can help you to create a financial planning process. Your money is too important to leave up to chance, so give it a shot and try some new budgeting ideas.

You might also find a different approach to managing your money. There are several other different budget rule ideas to try out, including the following:

• 80/20 budget
• 60-30-10 rule
• 60-20-20 rule
• 50-30-20 budget
• 30-30-30-10 budget

Learn how to create a budget that’s best for you with our completely free budgeting course! Remember that budgets are personal, and even if it takes some time to find the right one, it will be worth it when your finances are in good shape and you feel more in control of your money.

The post What Is The 70-20-10 Budget? appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

The words “frugal” and “thrifty” come loaded with quite a bit of baggage. A lot of people have strong feelings for or against those terms, but both can offer a lot to improve your lifestyle. Have you ever thought about what being frugal and thrifty really means and how they might differ? Let’s discuss this in more detail!

If you look up both frugal and thrifty in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, you’ll find that they’re pretty close in meaning. Their definitions are as follows:

Frugal: Characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources.

Thrifty: Given to or marked by economy and good management.

So you can see that “economy”, or “being economical” is a primary focus of being frugal and thrifty. Both frugal people and thrifty people don’t like to spend money if it’s not necessary. 

However, for a lot of people, we tend to associate certain behaviors with being frugal and thrifty. You might believe frugality is living stingy or that someone who’s thrifty would never splurge on something just for fun. 

As an overall framework for comparing the two personalities, let’s say that “frugal” is more about getting the best value or deal for your money, while “thrifty” involves utilizing what you have.

That said, there’s a lot more to it, but that’s a good place to start. 

What does being frugal vs. being thrifty mean?

While thrifty and frugal aren’t terribly different (both have the goal of saving money), frugal and thrifty people may go about saving money in different ways.

Being frugal

For a lot of people, the art of being frugal means developing a mindset. To me, the word “frugal” has no negative connotations — in fact, it actually brings freedom from guilt because it means I’m mindfully deciding how to spend my money. 

Being frugal means determining what matters the most to you and being willing to spend more money to receive the most value. However, the flip side is that you try to minimize your spending on things that don’t matter. 

Living a frugal lifestyle doesn’t have to mean you never spend any money! You can be a frugal person on a $30,000 income or a six-figure salary. Being frugal largely comes down to how you prioritize spending. 

Being thrifty

I like to think of being thrifty as the ability and desire to make the most of what you already own. You might be someone who is crafty and can find creative uses for old items. Maybe you’ve learned how to stop buying clothes by shopping your closet first rather than hitting Amazon. 

When it comes to being frugal and thrifty, people often believe “thrifty” is closer to “stingy” or “cheap.” But being thrifty is really just another way of being frugal. 

Examples of being frugal and thrifty

One one hand we’re examining frugality from the lens of prioritizing yourself and your spending and sometimes paying more for a better value. On the other hand we are examining thrifty as “using what you have” before buying more.

That said, let’s take a look at some examples of how to live frugal and thrifty because, you can absolutely do both!

5 Ways to be more frugal with your finances

When it comes to being more frugal with your finances to make the most of your time and money, here are some key ideas:

1. Create a budget to prioritize spending

One of my favorite examples of living frugally is creating a budget by paycheck to follow. Budgets get a negative reputation at times, but they don’t have to be restrictive. 

When you use a budget, you’re telling your money where to go each and every month. A frugal person wants to know how much money they’re making and how much they’re spending on each category. Budgets work well for being frugal and thrifty.

Whether you focus on the advantages of zero based budgeting, the 50-30-20 rule, or another budgeting tactic, the key is awareness and focus. A frugal person can analyze their budget at the end of each month and decide where to cut expenses and where to dial up their spending. 

The fantastic thing about a budget is that it can give you permission to spend your money on what you love. As you meet your financial obligations, like paying your bills (including knowing the best way to get out of debt), you may also find you have room in the budget for luxuries. 

2. Do your research to get the best value

Here’s another common trait associated with frugal people: they tend to do a bit of research before buying. If you’re living frugally, you probably consider bigger expenses by doing price comparisons, checking multiple retailers, and reading customer reviews. 

When you’re being frugal, you don’t want to just spend money willy-nilly. You look up product reviews to find out whether that new treadmill will last for years or sputter to a halt in six months. You don’t want to start overspending, but you’re okay with paying more for a high-quality item instead of a junky one that will break instantly. 

Being frugal and thrifty may be fairly similar, but when I think of a frugal person, I think of someone who spends more sometimes. And that’s perfectly okay!

3. Know what matters to you and when to spend on it

Another characteristic associated with being frugal is an awareness of your priorities. Frugal people know when spending more money will yield a better experience, but they also know when to go the cheapest route. 

As financial educator Ramit Sethi explains in his I Will Teach You To Be Rich materials, you can turn up your spending in some areas while reducing spending in other areas. This usually has to fit within your budget, of course, but the beauty of it is that you are in control. You get to say what matters and what doesn’t. 

For example, if clothes don’t matter much to you, don’t bother spending more on designer brands. If you like to travel, then pour more of your budget into your next trip instead of on something that won’t bring you joy. 

If you’re living frugally, you may find you’re not sacrificing your needs and wants. Instead of a lack of contentment, you’ll find joy by refusing to spend money on what you don’t want.

4. Focus on the value of time as well as money

A key difference between being frugal and thrifty regarding time and money is that frugal people often value their time even more than their money. 

Living in frugal way centers on money, but frugal people can also recognize when spending money might be worth it to recapture time. This is the magic of outsourcing. It’s not free, but it can be worth much more than the expense for the time you get back. 

I’m not saying you should hire someone to handle all domestic skills from cooking to laundry, but if there’s one that’s taking up too much time, think it over. Could you use your time in a better way? Is it worth spending some cash?

Outsourcing is also a great tactic if you’re setting goals for a small business. You’ll need time to devote to building and growing it, so you might hire a virtual assistant to handle some of the administrative load. Or pay for childcare, especially if you’re creating a side hustle outside of your full-time job. 

5. Look at the long-term

Being frugal could mean you think more about the long-term consequences of your money choices. Not that a thrifty person doesn’t, but sometimes people adopt a frugal lifestyle in service of a larger goal. 

For example, people can choose to live more frugally in order to invest for an early retirement. That level of frugality may not continue after retirement, but it can help them get there. 

A frugal mindset could also mean spending money in order to reach higher earning potential (i.e., getting a degree for a better career). It’s not always the cheapest option today that holds the greatest long-term benefits.

6 Tips to be more thrifty with your finances

Now let’s get into how to maximize the use of the things you already have and spend your dollars in a way that allows you to repeat repurposing what you own!

1. Reuse items as much as possible

One of the first things that comes to my mind for thriftiness is reusing everything you can. When you’re living thrifty, you aim not to throw things away without trying to use them again. 

Those Depression-era values come to mind again: people learned to use up what they had, reuse items like clothing over and over, and not buy unless absolutely necessary. Although some items have their limits, it’s a great tactic to try. 

Next time you’re thinking of replacing an older item with a newer model, consider how necessary it is. Could you keep using your old blender for another year? Wear the same dress to multiple weddings? Save food packaging for other uses? 

Not only is reusing easier on your wallet, but it’s also much gentler on the planet. Reusing whatever you can helps you with how to live sustainably instead of being wasteful. 

2. Repurpose what you already own

A skill that goes hand-in-hand with reusing is the art of repurposing. A big part of being thrifty is using what you have, and often if something has outgrown its initial purpose, you can find a new purpose. 

For example, the blog SixDollarFamily suggests ways of repurposing old clothes you no longer wear. You might:

• Create reusable fabric softener sheets
• Turn them into cleaning rags
• Make an upcycled scarf
• Cut jeans into a DIY dog rope toy

Even if you don’t think you’re a creative person, the possibilities for repurposing are a lot of fun. Just search online for ways to repurpose whatever you have, and the internet will reward you with oodles of suggestions. 

3. Secondhand shop

I definitely associate secondhand shopping with thriftiness. After all, we don’t call them thrift stores for nothing! 

Whether you see this as being frugal or thrifty, shopping at thrift stores is a way to live a luxurious lifestyle on a budget.

Although you want to avoid overbuying just because items are cheaper, overall, it’s less expensive to buy secondhand than retail. 

You can get a ton of things at a bargain and give items a new life. Whether you love purchasing a pre-owned designer handbag, picking up kids’ sports equipment secondhand, or always buying used vehicles, these are all great examples of thriftiness. 

The flip side of secondhand shopping: it could lead you to find the best items to resell for extra cash! Some thrifty folks shop at consignment stores, where not only can they buy things for less, but they can also sell their own items. 

4. Enjoy the thrill of a deal

One of the hallmarks of thrifty people is that they tend to love a great deal. You might enjoy perusing the best coupon websites, checking out the dollar aisle at your favorite store, or visiting garage sales on the weekend. 

Getting something for less than its original value is always exciting. The thing thrifty people may want to watch out for is being blinded by the so-called discount. If you’re buying things only because the tag says they’re 50% off, not because you need them, that could be a problem. 

I love saving money, but I do catch myself sometimes, about to fork over my money for a “great deal” that I don’t even want.

A good example of how to be thrifty and smart is to use coupon websites but avoid buying items you wouldn’t normally buy. Be sure you’re getting good value. 

5. Maximize your budget

As a thrifty person, you work to maximize your budget, whether in terms of the cheapest grocery list, housing, entertainment, or other costs. This may involve figuring out what you can do without and then shopping mindfully. 

When being thrifty, you’re aware of your income and your expenses. That enables you to make wise choices about how to spend any extra money after bills are paid. 

6. Spend time to save money

Thriftiness often means taking time to clip coupons, repurpose your old things, and handle all of your home and work tasks yourself. For thrifty people on a bare bones budget, cost may be the most important factor. 

Being thrifty might look like putting a lot of time in to save as much money as possible. This can be great if you enjoy all of those tasks, but it can get tedious in the long term. 

Expert tip: Being frugal or thrifty means nurturing a good money mindset

Although many people consider being frugal and thrifty to be two sides of the same coin, one term or the other might bring up feelings of embarrassment or a cycle of shame. 

If you have a money mindset that thinks of frugal or thrifty as “stingy” or unable to spend money at all, it’s time to rethink that perspective.

Both frugality and thriftiness are positive qualities that can help you reach your financial goals. 

How can you use being frugal or thrifty to reach your financial goals?

Knowing how to be frugal or thrifty is good, but knowing how to use this knowledge for your finances is great. Here are some ideas to help you get started:

Define which method you prefer: Being frugal or being thrifty

There’s not a very clear difference between someone who is frugal and someone who is thrifty, to be honest. Depending on how you interpret the terms, you might prefer one over the other. 

I’ve focused on “frugal” as being about setting priorities for your money and a willingness to spend more for better value. Then “thrifty” is maximizing what you already have and perhaps spending as little as possible. 

Decide if being frugal or thrifty aligns with your personality better. Maybe you’ll even adopt both. Neither “frugal” nor “thrifty” is inherently better since both philosophies could guide you to your own financial goals. 

Know why you want to save money and make it a habit

When you’re figuring out how to apply ideas of frugality and thriftiness to your finances, you should consider your reasoning.

Why do you want to be frugal or thrifty? Is it born of a financial need or a desire to “win” the game of finances? Are you aiming for an aggressive savings plan? 

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and therefore have to be thrifty or frugal to survive, that’s useful to know. Understanding why you are behaving a certain way with your money can make all the difference.

In addition, once you understand why you are being frugal or thrifty, make sure that you make it part of your daily life. Forming frugal and thrifty habits like repurposing items or being conscious of your spending can help you make real changes.

Are thrifty and frugal the same thing?

Frugal and thrifty can be very similar things. But for many people, thrifty means using up what you have, while frugal means spending money to get the best.

In other words, a thrifty person may avoid spending money unless it’s a clear “deal,” always wanting to save. But a frugal person often is thought to consider life priorities when spending money and may be willing to pay more for the best (or longest-lasting) value.

How can you be frugal and thrifty?

There are plenty of ways you can be frugal and thrifty every day, but you should focus on how to save and get the most value from your money.

You might make a budget each month and stick to your maximum spending for each category. Or maybe you’ll start walking to work to save on gas. Being frugal and thrifty might mean going on a shopping ban for a while and repurposing items in the meantime. 

However you choose to be frugal and thrifty, be sure it matches your financial goals. Remember that sometimes being frugal means forgoing fun things temporarily in order to save for short term savings goals. 

What is a thrifty person like?

When I picture a thrifty person in my mind, it’s someone much like my grandparents, who gained frugal living tips from the Great Depression. My paternal grandmother, for example, always saved wrapping paper to fold up nicely (for reuse) after opening holiday gifts—so thrifty!

In general, a thrifty person might be someone who hates to waste anything. When it comes to spending decisions, the bottom line is often the most important factor. 

In this way, being thrifty might mean having a scarcity mindset. If you view the world as having limited funds, you might be afraid to spend money. But thriftiness also has a lot of positive qualities.

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If you liked learning about the differences between frugal and thrifty finances, you should check out these articles next!

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• The 29 Best Frugal Living Blogs
• 15 Extreme Frugal Living Ideas And Frugal Hacks!
• Frugal Vs Cheap: Why Frugal Is Better!

Being frugal and thrifty are both good ways to save money!

Being frugal and thrifty may be pretty similar terms to a lot of us, and that’s okay. In current society, some people have negative feelings about both types of people, especially if they interfere with or judge other people’s money habits. 

Being frugal is an admirable trait, though—and so is being thrifty! You can make the most of the items you already have and avoid lifestyle inflation while also managing your money well to be able to spend on what matters most.

Next time anyone uses either “frugal” or “thrifty” in a negative way, you can share the positives that come from a money-conscious type of lifestyle!

The post How To Be Frugal And Thrifty: Differences And Why It Matters appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

In times when the price of food seems out of control, it can be tough to buy all of the groceries you need. If you’re finding the price of groceries hard to handle, you need to go shopping with a strategy. Think ahead about what to buy at the grocery store to maximize your budget. Let’s get into some great ideas!

Prepare and make a list of what to buy at the grocery store

Instead of getting to the checkout line and discovering you don’t have the money to cover what’s in your cart, use these planning tips for the supermarket. A bit of time and preparation can ensure you make the most of your funds. 

One way to prepare is to make a grocery list. The most list-averse person may still want to start the habit of making grocery lists. With inflation making overall food costs higher with each passing year, everyone could stand to save on their meals. 

In addition, there are other ways to prepare for grocery shopping, including using tools like apps and making a meal plan. Here’s how to get ready for a grocery shopping trip.

Create meal plans to help make your grocery list

You can use budget meal planning to build your grocery list and spend more intentionally. There are even free online meal planners to follow, or you can just brainstorm your household’s top meals each week. 

When I’m meal planning, I like to be efficient. So I check my pantry, fridge, and freezer first to see what I have to use up. Then I look at grocery store sale flyers to help me pick items that are on sale. 

Focus on staples good for multiple dishes

As you make your meal plan and grocery list, think about the staple items—ingredients you can use more than once.

For example, Shape magazine suggests staples like peanut butter, frozen produce, and canned beans to keep in the house all the time. 

Pasta, rice, oats, flour, and similar items can form the base of many dishes. What you deem a staple depends on your family’s diet, too, so think of the most common meals you eat. Then, make a grocery list that utilizes similar ingredients. 

Focusing on food staples can also save you time!

For example, if you’re using ground beef for your famous tacos one night, you might cook extra meat at the same time to use in a casserole the next night.

Use tools to simplify grocery shopping

Don’t be afraid to try a new app or tool that can simplify your grocery shopping on a budget. When you need to know what to buy at the grocery store, technology can help!

Check out supermarket websites

Your supermarket’s website is a free tool that can help you make the cheapest grocery list. Many grocery stores like Kroger, Meijer, and Walmart enable online shopping, which is useful in a ton of ways. 

Shopping online helps you to stick to your list since you’re not wasting time strolling around the store and seeing surprise items. It allows you to pick up groceries conveniently (or have them delivered). Plus, you can save your “favorites” online for quick and easy shopping. 

Use grocery shopping apps

When you need to know what to buy at the grocery store, grocery shopping apps can save a lot of hassle. Using an app like Ibotta or even Mealime could help you save money and time at the supermarket. 

Some apps help you locate the best coupons, or you might price-compare different stores. Some apps provide you with discounts to specific retailers.

Think about what you need the most and search for the best free grocery apps (and also the best coupon websites). 

Time your grocery shopping carefully

Remember how key timing can be in saving money.

In addition to knowing what to buy at the grocery store, you need to know when to go. 

This can be as simple as visiting the store on their sale days. You can also probably save money by not shopping when you’re hungry, which could lead to more costly impulse spending. 

How to find the best foods to buy at the grocery store

When it comes to grocery shopping for the best food on a budget—maybe even a bare bones budget—a few basic habits can save you tons of money and time. Here are some general guidelines to save money and still eat well. 

1. Start with generic or store brands

If I had a mantra for grocery shopping, it would be to try store brands or generics first. With so many generic options available on supermarket shelves, why not try these versions that can cost significantly less? 

According to CNET, store brands could save you about 40% on average versus name brands. Some won’t save you quite that much, but the bottom line is that you’re almost guaranteed to save money on store brands. 

Yes, some store brands don’t taste exactly the same as their name-brand counterparts, but chances are you can get fairly close. Give them a try, and you might be pleasantly surprised!

2. Shop at multiple stores to get the best deals on all food

If you have the time, try multiple stores so you can take advantage of each store’s best prices. This is when it’s handy to look at those paper mailers announcing weekly sales. You can buy your meats at one place while you stock up on nonperishable snacks at a different store. 

If store-hopping isn’t possible, you can just stick to the store where you normally find the best grocery prices. Discount retailers like Aldi can save you money on pretty much everything, meaning you don’t need to coupon-clip or drive to different supermarkets. 

3. Avoid prepared foods

Here’s another cardinal rule: you’ll almost always save money buying raw ingredients instead of ready-to-eat foods, and it’s sometimes a healthier option. Sometimes it’s unavoidable to get something from your grocer’s prepared foods section, but whenever possible, steer clear. 

You can probably chop your own vegetables and assemble your own one-pot meals rather than buying stuff already in various states of readiness. Even if you’re thinking, “I hate cooking!” that doesn’t mean you can’t save some cash by doing simple food prep yourself. 

Stock up monthly or bi-weekly on these groceries to maximize your budget

Think about how often you need to replenish certain grocery items. Here are a few that you can likely buy on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Use this monthly meal planner for additional guidance.

Frozen foods

Frozen foods are good to stock up on, perhaps every two weeks or even once a month. Of course, you’ll need freezer space to store frozen vegetables, meat, and other items, but if you can, buy those less frequently to save money per unit.

Plus, you can make some of the cheapest meals with lots of these ingredients. 

Boxed pantry staples

Those items you buy in a bag or box that go in the pantry? If you’re able to, buy enough for at least two weeks at a time so you have them ready. Cereals, baking staples like flour, and uncooked beans or pasta will last a long time. 

Plus, you can save money by cooking easy meals at home instead of ordering takeout. 

Canned foods

Much like boxed foods, you can buy canned foods on a monthly or bi-weekly basis. Of course, this is tough to do if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, but in the long run, it can save you money. 

Buy these foods weekly for your meal plan

In your plans for what to buy at the grocery store, these are the foods you’ll most likely need to pick up at least once a week. 

Fresh fruits and vegetables

Of course, fresh produce is something that you’ll want to buy more frequently.

Whether you go to your farmer’s market or the supermarket, be ready to buy what your family eats each week. 

Some fruits and vegetables are cheaper than others and still healthy, such as bananas, apples, and potatoes.

Dairy or dairy substitutes

For those who love cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products (that’s me!), you’ll need to pick these up fairly often. Include your favorite dairy items in your weekly shopping list to ensure things don’t go bad.  

Eggs and meat

Similar to dairy products, eggs and meat might land on your list of items to replenish weekly. This is especially true if you prefer to cook everything fresh. Eggs and meat, as well as other refrigerated items, can be a weekly purchase. 

But remember that meats can also be a great ingredient to pick up on sale and freeze extra portions for later use, especially if you’re trying to make frugal meals for families! 

Keep certain ingredients on your “as-needed” list

Besides your monthly and weekly grocery needs, there are bound to be a few surprise grocery items that pop up in between trips. Meal planning and making a list don’t have to mean you get rid of those last-minute trips altogether. 

Other items like olive oil or salad dressing might only run out occasionally, so try to set aside a little money when you budget by paycheck for miscellaneous groceries.

Snack foods and soft drinks might also fall into the category of things you buy only when and if you can spare the money. 

Basic list of what to buy at the grocery store

As a starting point to help ensure you won’t miss any essential ingredients, you can use this general list. Tweak it to suit your family’s favorites, and add whatever you need to this basic grocery list.

• Dried beans/lentils
• Pasta and rice
• Bread, tortillas, baked goods
• Milk
• Eggs
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Meat and seafood
• Cereal or oatmeal
• Soup
• Canned beans 
• Canned vegetables
• Frozen fruits and vegetables
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Tea or coffee
• Oils like olive or canola
• Condiments like ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce
• Peanut butter
• Nuts and seeds
• Treats

Of course, your list will depend on your dietary needs and preferences, but this should give you a solid base of groceries.

Expert tip: Always plan your meals ahead

Even if supermarket prices have been a source of financial strain, you can use planning and shopping strategies to save money. Paying attention to what to buy at the grocery store will help you maximize your budget without sacrificing more than you can handle. 

I find that a lot of what it comes down to is planning ahead. By planning most meals and sticking to a frugal grocery list, I can stretch my grocery budget as far as possible.
Being savvy about when and where we shop, as well as buying store brands, will also help.

What groceries do people buy the most?

Staple items seem to be the groceries people buy the most. According to Instacart, the number-one grocery item purchased in the U.S. and Canada for eleven years with Instacart has been bananas.

Other top American grocery purchases, per How Stuff Works, are bread, packaged meats, peanut butter and jelly, eggs, and milk. 

What foods should be on your grocery list?

When it comes to deciding what foods should be on your grocery list, try to buy items that will help you fill your hunger, first and foremost. Here’s a quick basic list:

• Bread
• Cereal
• Meat
• Seafood
• Pasta
• Rice
• Frozen foods
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Produce
• Canned goods
• Snacks

Pick from the items that suit your diet and start from there. 

How do I make a grocery list for one person?

If I need to make a grocery list for one person, I only need to consider my own diet and favorite meals, and I can end up with money leftover in my budget. Meal planning is important no matter what, though.

Decide whether you’ll buy only what you need for the week or stock up and keep items in the freezer or pantry until needed. If you don’t have a lot of space to store extra groceries, another possibility may be to go shopping with a buddy and split bulk items.

Articles related to what to buy at the grocery store

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• 18 Frugal Grocery Shopping Tips
• 20 Smart Tips For Grocery Shopping On A Budget
• 35 Delicious Frugal Meals For Every Food Category
• 25 Of The Best Cheapest Meals

Understanding what to buy at the grocery store will help you make the most of your budget!

Hitting the grocery store aisles doesn’t have to be a routine you dread.

In fact, you can make a few basic plans for what to buy that will maximize your budget.

When things are tight due to a sudden job loss or inflation, great supermarket strategies can help you stretch your money further and also help you learn how to stop worrying about money. As a bonus, living below your means with grocery shopping can help you achieve financial success!

The post What To Buy At The Grocery Store To Maximize Your Budget  appeared first on Clever Girl Finance.

As prices go up for basic groceries, cheap breakfast ideas may become more and more of a necessity. Most of us don’t want to give up a healthy breakfast due to cost. And if you never miss breakfast, you might need some easy cheap breakfast ideas to shake up your routine. Not to worry, we have breakfast ideas that are both cost-efficient and nutritious. 

Table of contents

• Why breakfast can be beneficial
• Cheap breakfast ideas to make ahead of time
• Ideas to make in the morning
• Ideas with no prep required
• Expert tip
• What are 3 healthy breakfast options?
• Is breakfast the cheapest meal?
• What are some low-fat breakfast ideas?
• Is it OK not to eat breakfast?
• Articles related to meal planning
• Cheap breakfast ideas can improve your life and your finances!

Why breakfast can be beneficial

While I’m a major breakfast fan, I know not everyone is big on a morning meal. But there are solid reasons for eating breakfast daily for a healthy lifestyle.

Breakfast gives you energy for your day

As the Cleveland Clinic notes, many of us need breakfast each morning to fuel us for the day. Breakfast doesn’t have to take place immediately upon waking up. Try to eat something within the first hour or two to refill your energy reserves.

Whether you prefer to work out first and then take in your morning nutrients, most of us need breakfast for energy. Starting the morning can be a struggle if you haven’t eaten a good breakfast.

Breakfast, which includes a fair amount of protein, gives you the nutrients you need to live your life. Even a frugal breakfast can help you to focus on your mental tasks, manage all your physical work and exercise, and improve your mood.

Cheap breakfast ideas can prevent overeating and overspending

Not only does eating breakfast help you to get an energy boost, but it can also help prevent you from getting overly hungry. Some people get “hangry”( a mixture of hungry and angry) if they fight their hunger too long.

Thus it’s important to eat something so you curb your hunger. Even if it’s a small meal, eating breakfast can prevent you from becoming overly hungry. 

Hunger can impact your mood, weaken you, and lead to overspending. Imagine skipping breakfast, and mid-morning, you start to feel your stomach rumble and groan from hunger pains.

In desperation, you buy a breakfast meal from a vending machine. Or you spend even more money ordering more food at lunchtime.

You can avoid these expensive temptations by creating a meal plan centered around a good breakfast. As a result, you’ll feel more energetic and able to make it through until lunch. (Plus, you’re more likely to eat your budget-friendly cold lunch if you pack one!)

Cheap breakfast ideas to make ahead of time

So now that you’re convinced to try breakfast, you may need some ideas. After all, boxed or bagged cereals may be tasty, but they’re not the most nutritious or friendly to the wallet.

These cheap breakfast ideas require a small amount of planning but little time and effort overall. Remember that even if you are trying to live cheaply, you can still eat a great breakfast!

1. Muffins and quick breads

If you’re like me, you adore muffins and quick breads for an easy (and cheap) breakfast.

Of course, stores and bakeries sell ready-made baked bread items like muffins, scones, and breads. But if you have the time, you’ll save money by baking these foods yourself.

I like baking a double batch of banana or pumpkin bread with extra muffins or slices to freeze.

You can bake your favorite flavor of muffins or quick breads on the weekends when time is more leisurely, then freeze in portions for busy weekday mornings. Homemade choices are also terrific because you can adjust ingredients to fit your dietary needs.

2. Quiche and other baked egg dishes

Quiche sounds fancy, but it’s not that difficult to make from scratch. Use basic products like eggs and a crust, and add whatever toppings and flavors you prefer.

Premade crusts are also an option, letting you have a “semi-homemade” quiche. You can make a crustless quiche if you’re gluten-free or just watching your carbs. Try this Spend With Pennies easy quiche recipe for a great base.

Add whatever meat you like—ham, sausage, bacon, ground turkey, etc. Cheese is delicious and easy to add.

A quiche is a super-customizable cheap breakfast recipe you can make any time and be a simple addition to your morning routine. Throw in all the vegetables you can to increase the nutritional value and feel your best!

3. Pancakes or waffles

Although pancakes and waffles traditionally come topped with maple syrup, there are other ways to enjoy them. 

On the go, a couple of pre-cooked pancakes can make a great sandwich with your choice of filling—peanut or almond butter for a protein punch.

Pancakes are fast and easy to make, and they freeze well—Ditto for waffles (no need to purchase the yellow-boxed brand from your store).

Making a double batch of your favorite waffle or pancake batter is a good way to save time and money. The dishes and mess are the same, and you get bonus food to freeze or refrigerate for another day.

Even if you buy a pre-made pancake mix, you won’t spend much money on these. You can increase the nutritional value by adding a scoop of your go-to protein powder, ground flaxseed, or other healthy additions.

4. Breakfast sandwiches are cheap breakfast ideas for you

Breakfast sandwiches are easy cheap breakfast ideas that are easily transported with aluminum foil. If you fry or scramble a few eggs, cook some turkey bacon or sausage, and add them to your choice of bread, you’ve got a delicious egg sandwich. Pinch of Yum offers some useful breakfast sandwich recipes.  

By pre-cooking the eggs and meat and assembling the sandwiches in advance, you can have breakfast on the go.

Layer them (with cheese, if you like) on English muffins, bagels, homemade bread, or whatever you want. Then wrap them up in freezer-safe packaging for a quick weekday meal.

Whether you’ve prepared your breakfast sammie over the weekend or the morning you’ll eat it, you can wrap it in foil. It’ll stay warm for quite some time, enabling you to munch on it during or after the morning commute.

5. Pita bread with hummus

A simple and tasty Meditterian cuisine, pita bread is a flatbread that can be enjoyed with hummus or used as a breakfast sandwich.

You can take this cheap breakfast on the go by putting it in a container so you enjoy this savory meal in your car or at your desk at work.

Pita bread and hummus can be picked up at your local grocery store, or you can follow the recipe from Your Veg Recipe and make it from scratch. In many ways this is the ideal breakfast for the ideal day. 

6. Breakfast burritos

Although a breakfast burrito is not much different from a breakfast sandwich, it can come with more fun ingredients. For instance, black beans sauteed with onion and bell pepper can make for a more delightful meal.

In addition, you can add your favorite seasoning or spoon on some salsa (though that might make it messy for true on-the-go dining). Once Upon A Chef’s recipe has fun ingredients such as avocado and cilantro.

Not only are burritos tasty they are a way to get a high-protein meal into your system. 

7. Hard-boiled eggs

Next up on the cheapest breakfast ideas is the humble hard-boiled egg. I love these—they’re extremely portable, and you can make them with older eggs. They’re great all by themselves or added to toast or other breakfast foods.

The convenient aspect of hard-boiled eggs is that you can use them in various meals. Family Fresh Meals has over ten recipe ideas that incorporate hard-boiled eggs.

8. Breakfast bento boxes

Do you follow any lifestyle influencers that are fans of bento boxes? You might find some fun and cheap breakfast ideas in the bento box.

These are compartmentalized containers where you can put different foods. It’s like a grown-up Lunchable for breakfast.

These boxes are customizable to your diet. Many people like a range of items that satisfy the need for protein and other nutrients. You can stick to clean eating ingredients as well! Here are several suggestions for things to include:

• Nuts such as almonds or cashews
• Greek yogurt
• Cheese slices or cubes
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Mini-muffins
• Crackers
• Fresh fruit: grapes, orange slices, berries, etc.
• Granola
• Small pancakes or waffles

If you need more ideas, The College Nutritionist offers great bento box breakfast combinations on their website. 

Note, if you assemble them too far in advance, the ingredients won’t stay super fresh. So make what you can before eating, or keep certain items separate.

8. Overnight oats

Overnight oats are only for some. They are a hard no for me, but many people swear by overnight oats because you can prep them the night before, and your oats will be ready to eat first thing in the morning.

Old-fashioned oats will work best for this. Check out this Cookie & Kate recipe for how to do it, or just Google “overnight oats” to find many flavor suggestions.

If you oppose cold oatmeal, you can warm up your oats before consuming them. 

9. Smoothies, smoothies, and more smoothies!

It’s no surprise that smoothies are such a popular breakfast item these days. They’re easy to make, have hundreds of flavor combinations, and you can disguise healthy ingredients behind your favorites to get more nutrients.

Smoothies are how I learned to love spinach—I needed the fruit to cover up the spinach, but now I love spinach in everything!

You can make smoothies with any milk, dairy, or water. There are also whey protein powders, vegan protein mixes, and superfood smoothie mixes. Experiment to find your favorites.

To simplify your morning routine,  you can pre-blend your smoothies and store them in freezer-safe to-go containers. Some people freeze their nutrient-packed smoothies in ice trays to thaw as little or as much as they want.

Experiment to discover how long your smoothies need to thaw to be drinkable and delicious. One way is to freeze a bunch at once but move one at a time to the fridge at night to give ample thawing time.

Try out smoothie ingredient packs

Another of the best cheap breakfast ideas is to assemble your smoothie ingredients ahead of time.

Choose your items—often fruits and leafy greens—and portion them into individual freezer bags. Then, in the morning, grab the smoothie packs, add them to your Vitamix (or any blender) with your choice of liquid or yogurt, and blend away.

Going this route, you still have to get out your blender and spend a minute or so using it. But they’re still a quick breakfast on the go! Check out these ideas from The Kitchn.

A healthy smoothie breakfast is a great start if you’re determined to create your ideal day. Smoothies make you more likely to eat a healthy breakfast during hectic mornings. Plus, blending it just before consuming your smoothie will be extra fresh.

10.  Omelettes

As far as quick breakfast ideas, omelets make the list. Besides being a quick meal, you can make several omelets ahead of time and keep them refrigerated throughout the week. When you’re ready to consume, pop the omelet in the microwave, and you are good to go. 

They are a great way to get your protein, and when you add vegetables such as mushrooms, spinach, onions, and tomatoes, you can also get a good dose of vitamins. 

Cheap breakfast ideas to make in the morning

Next up, we’ve got some cheap breakfast ideas that you’ll prepare on the day of consumption. These may seem quite obvious, but I include them to remind you how quick and simple these stand-bys can be.

11. Fresh oatmeal

Yes, we’re back to oatmeal! Oatmeal is one of the incredibly easy cheap breakfast ideas. If you compare the cost per serving to a cold breakfast cereal, oatmeal is the clear winner for a frugal lifestyle.

Whether steel-cut or rolled, oats are a great food to fill you up for a busy day of working, working out, parenting, volunteering, and whatever else. For the most convenient preparation, you can buy individual oatmeal packets. Simply warm them up with water or milk, and they’re ready to eat.

I love old-fashioned oats, cooked the slow way on the stove. They usually take about five minutes to cook, which you may not have to spare in the morning.

However, you can also cook oats in the microwave. They don’t have to be the pre-portioned packets either. Scoop out half a cup of oats and a cup of water into a microwave-safe dish and cook for a hot breakfast.

If you’re looking for other ways to make oatmeal a little more exciting, Cooking Classy shares eight different ways to prepare oatmeal. 

While oatmeal isn’t the most convenient breakfast to eat while driving or on public transit, they are easily prepared. Cooking and eating time could easily be under ten minutes.

12. Quick scrambled or sunny-side-up eggs

Whatever your favorite way to eat eggs, they can be a great cheap breakfast idea. I love to scramble eggs whenever I can’t think of anything else to eat. They cook in almost no time, and they’re very filling.

Eggs are super versatile. Whether it’s a fried egg, scramble, or sunny side up, they always come out tasty. 

Add ketchup or hot sauce for a more daring version of scrambled eggs. If those toppings are appetizing, myrecipes.com has 25 suggestions on spicing up your scrambled eggs. 

Although eggs used to get a bad rap, now they’re known as a healthy food for most of us. They’re a great source of protein, vitamin D, and essential amino acids

13. Granola over yogurt or fruit

If you buy store-made granola or prepare your own at home, granola is a delicious and (somewhat) cheap breakfast idea. Of course, adding rare foods may increase the cost a bit. However, it’s still a relatively inexpensive and filling breakfast or snack.

The Busy Baker and others offer online granola recipes. Still, your basic ingredients are likely oats, honey, oil, nuts, or seeds. Bake up a batch to munch on all week long.

Many granolas are tasty on their own, and you can also toss them into your yogurt or enjoy them with fruit.

14. Toast (The ultimate cheap breakfast!)

Don’t laugh—I’m including toast in this roundup of cheap breakfast foods. For those mornings when you have a busy brain, toast is an effortless and inexpensive way to get healthy nutrients into your morning.

Even if you’re gluten-free, you might find a great GF brand of bread. Otherwise, try a brand with whole grains or seeds, like Dave’s Killer Bread, for the most nutrient-dense toast. Toasting a few slices of bread, English muffins, or bagels in the morning is quick.

Toast is great for a variety of toppings as well. Consider peanut butter and bananas with cinnamon, almond butter, jam or preserves, cream cheese, and avocado (and don’t let anyone mock you for avocado toast!).

Insanely Good Recipes has over 30 different toppings you can add to your toasts to keep you from getting bored. Plus, it’s easy-peasy to make and eat a toasty breakfast to start your day.

15. A quick bacon or breakfast sausage fry

While breakfast meats are not always cheap, you can get a deal on them if you shop in bulk or use coupons or coupon websites to buy them on sale. Bacon and sausage come in various varieties, such as turkey, maple, and hardwood smoked.

So if you are a meat-eater, you will find a variety you like. Plus, you can have it with toast or eggs for a quick and filling morning meal!

If you buy meat in bulk, you’ll have plenty of meals to make if you follow the recipes from Smokehouse.com.

16. Sausage cheddar puffs

You can make this delicious and easy-to-make breakfast item if you have some leftover sausage. Taste of Home’s recipe only requires four ingredients sausage, cheddar cheese, biscuit mixture, and water; you can have a tasty meal in 25 mins.

Combine all the ingredients until moist, then form your mixture into little balls. Place the formed balls on a cooking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes. 

The results are a tasty meal.  

17.  Upside-down bacon pancake

Punchfork’s upside-down bacon pancake is a savory and sweet breakfast meal that can be prepared in minutes. 

Start by cooking the bacon first. Once the bacon is cooked, add the pancake mixture on top. Once the mixture is evenly spread, you can place the oven-safe skillet into the oven for about  18-20 minutes. 

When the pancake is thoroughly cooked, take it out of the oven, let it cool, and enjoy

18. Hash browns

Potatoes are an inexpensive, versatile breakfast, lunch, and dinner food. For your morning meal, you can use this starch food to make hash browns by following Simple Recipes’ instructions with only a few ingredients that are all pantry staples.

Once you rinse and wash your potatoes, you’ll shred them and then bind the shreds into little patties using egg and flour. When your patties are made, cook them in a frying pan for five minutes. Make sure you cook both sides until golden brown.

You can use onions and a pinch of cayenne pepper for added flavor.

Cheap breakfast ideas with no prep required

Last but not least, here are five tried-and-true cheap breakfast ideas. These require literally zero preparation. If you hate cooking or don’t have the time, try these to save money. You can keep them in your fridge or pantry and grab them on your way out the door.

20. Fresh whole fruits are great cheap breakfast ideas

We can’t talk about breakfast without including fruit. It’s relatively cheap (even from a farmer’s market) and requires nothing other than occasionally a little slicing before you eat.

Fresh fruit in season will be the most beneficial and tasty, but many of us can also get out-of-season fruits. When you’re in a hurry, all you need to do is peel a banana or take a bite from an apple for a tasty breakfast in seconds.

No matter how busy, fresh fruit is a cheap breakfast idea anyone can enjoy! Certain fruits require some prep (obviously, a watermelon needs to be cut up before enjoying). Once your fruit is chopped up, throw it in a bowl or take it in a Ziploc bag or Tupperware. 

To ensure you’re creating a fruit bowl with the correct mixture of fruits, check out Tastes Better From Scratch’s recipe.

21. Almonds, cashews, or other nuts and seeds

For many of us, nuts are a fantastic on-the-go snack or cheap breakfast idea. They aren’t as cheap as oats or white bread, but they pack a lot of nutrients.

You can try making your trail mix by combining nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. The Healthy Maven has a recipe on her blog to help you get started. 

I love having a bag of almonds on my desk to munch on whenever I need a pick-me-up, and they can also be a part of a quick breakfast.

22. Dry cereal varieties

Don’t forget that when you’re especially short on time, you might pack a little snack baggie of cereal for a cheap breakfast option. You can eat it on the run and gain energy to tackle your day.

And while breakfast cereals don’t have the best reputation, they can be helpful in a pinch. To even out the health scale, try eating grains low in sugar and high in protein. A Sweet Pea Chef lists 10 of the healthiest dry cereals on her blog. 

Frosted Mini Wheats saved me on many a long day of teaching when I had only to grab a few dry bites of cereal between classes.

23. Homemade granola bars make a cheap breakfast

While store-bought granola bars can be fine, you can also make your own to save money. For a cheap breakfast, find a great recipe from The Minimalist Baker for homemade protein/granola bars.

Because you can add your own flavors and special ingredients, such as pepitas, sunflower seeds, raisins, walnuts, granola bars are a customizable breakfast snack. 

Prepare a batch over the weekend, then you can grab them on the go during the week. 

24. Yogurt or cottage cheese

Dairy, yogurt, and cottage cheese are good breakfast ideas for a busy day. Greek yogurt also has a higher protein concentration, helping keep you full all morning.

Many people also love cottage cheese and add fruit to give it a unique flavor. These are quick and healthy food choices for a cheap breakfast; again, zero prep is required.

If you have extra time in the morning, you can follow Eating Bird Food’s recipes for creating yogurt bowls. 

Expert tip

When it comes to preparing a healthy breakfast when you’re on the go, planning your breakfast ahead of time is key. Before the start of the week, do meal prep and plan out which breakfast meals you have time for on a particular day. It’s also helpful to do your grocery shopping based on what you want to prepare for breakfast.

What are 3 healthy breakfast options?

When it comes to healthy breakfast options, eggs can be prepared quickly with little to no preparation and provide a great source of protein.

In addition, oatmeal is a great source of fiber; it’s simple to make and leaves you feeling full. Lastly, smoothies are a great healthy option because you combine fruits, vegetables, and protein powder to get the nutrients you need. 

Is breakfast the cheapest meal?

Breakfast is usually the cheapest meal because it requires less ingredients than lunch or dinner. And the ingredients for breakfast like eggs, bread, milk etc can be much cheaper than ingredients for lunch or dinner staples like meats, fish, grains etc.

What are some low-fat breakfast ideas?

If you’re looking for low-fast breakfast ideas or want to consume fewer calories, oatmeal is a great low-fat breakfast. You can also try cooking egg whites with whole-grain toast. If you’re looking to avoid carbs, fat-free Greek yogurt is also a great option.

Is it OK not to eat breakfast?

There is no perfect answer to the question of skipping or having breakfast. It comes down to what a healthy lifestyle means for you. If you find yourself hungry and tired in the morning, then breakfast might be beneficial. However, if you feel energized and content in the morning, you can probably skip breakfast. 

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• 8 Tasty Frugal Meal Plans To Try!
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• 24 Great Frugal Meals For Families

Cheap breakfast ideas can improve your life and your finances!

Most of these cheap breakfast ideas are easy to prepare. You can use these budget-friendly breakfast ideas to help you create a cheap grocery list each week.

Some of the easy breakfast ideas require planning, while others can be grabbed on your way to work. It might be something to consider if you’ve never been a breakfast person. You could enjoy higher energy levels and increased focus without spending much of your overall food budget.

For more tips about saving money, check out the other great articles at Clever Girl Finance, or try one of our free financial courses.

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