6 Money Saving Tips for Couples on a Budget

Saving money can be tough for anyone in today’s challenging economy. If you happen to be in a loving relationship, the good news is that at least you don’t have to tackle the stress of saving alone.

Saving money as a couple can be complicated, but as long as you know how to communicate with your partner, and compromise to help each other achieve your goals, you may find that you reach your financial targets much faster as a pair. To help you save up for the important things you need as a couple, whether it’s a child, a new house, or a vacation, we’ve put together this list of useful quick tips.

1. Get Creative with Your Dates

Although it’s fun to buy a new outfit and go to classy restaurants once a week, expensive dates can quickly dig into your savings budget. Remember, though there’s nothing wrong with putting money aside for an extravagant experience occasionally, you’ll accomplish a lot more if you learn to have fun on a budget too.

Think about some more inexpensive date ideas that you can try instead. For instance, making your significant other a special dinner and finding a movie to watch together on Netflix can cost you next to nothing.

2. Share the Bills

You should never move in with a boyfriend or girlfriend just because you want to save a little extra cash. However, if you think the time for you and your partner is right, then it may be a good idea to think about sharing the bills in a single household.

Consider your options carefully and think about whether your relationship is at the right stage to consider your own place yet. If you think you can live together, paying for rent and utilities becomes much easier when you have two incomes to support your needs.

3. Always Look for New Ways to Save

Whether you’re shopping for groceries or insurance, there are plenty of ways that you can improve your chances of a discount in today’s digital world. For instance, you might be able to download an app for your smartphone that lets you know when your favorite stores are setting up for a sale. Alternatively, you can look into joining loyalty schemes with your supermarket to save a little extra cash.

Don’t make any purchases until you’ve double-checked that you’re definitely getting the best deal for your cash. Sometimes, this might mean putting a purchase off until you’ve had time to go home and do some extra research.

4. Compare Your Options

One of the best ways people can save money today, whether it’s on their food bills or their utility expenses, is to compare the different deals available online. Comparison websites are everywhere, and they provide you with all the tools you need to check whether you’re getting the best offer on your broadband, cable channels, and even your loans.

Most people don’t realize this but comparing your loans online before you sign up for anything can save you a lot of money in the long-term. After all, the lower the APR on your loan, the less you have to pay in interest over course of your repayment schedule.

5. Get Rid of Everything You Don’t Really Need

A lot of people assume that living on a budget means giving up the things that they enjoy most in the world. While it’s true that you’ll need to learn how to compromise if you’re going to find enough cash to save for something like a vacation or a wedding, that doesn’t mean giving up everything that you consider to be fun.

Start by looking for things you can remove from your budget that you’re not going to miss. For instance, are you paying for line rental when you only ever use your cell to make calls? If so, get rid of the subscription, as quickly as you can. The same rule applies to gym memberships you paid for at the beginning of the year and forgot to use.

6. Make a Plan and Discuss it Frequently

Finally, when you’re saving money as a couple, rather than as an individual, one of the most crucial things you can do is make sure that you and your partner are on the same page. Work together on figuring out which goals you want to accomplish first. For instance, are you more interested in getting married as soon as possible, or do you want to put a deposit on a house first?

Once you’ve got your goal, track your progress, so you have a better chance of keeping each other motivated when the going gets tough.