We all want to be smart with our finances, but when it actually comes to implementing that desire, we find it nearly impossible. 

You might vow to yourself that you’ll never spend money on fast fashion anymore or stop eating those In-and-Out animal fries after college every day (they are not as good for you as you think). 

But then your favorite Etsy shop might launch a new scented candle that you have to have, and your friends might invite you for a night out on the Wednesday you started your be-smart-with-money plan, and suddenly, all your vows take a dive off the cliff.

The thing is, depriving yourself of what you love can be as difficult as rolling a boulder uphill, so even a one-time relaxation can have rippling effects that can blow your scheme to save money out of the water. 

So, if saving money is that hard, how can you even be successful at it?

Let’s find out. 

Oftentimes, we all start our money-saving scheme by creating massive changes in our lifestyles. We deprive ourselves of the food we want, start living like a mushroom in the darkness, and give up Netflix and Hulu. 

But that’s not a productive way to start becoming smarter with your finances. You should start small and then go big. You don’t need to ban anything; just make small changes and see the big changes come towards you on their own.

Here are 5 punchy tips that can help you jumpstart your journey towards financial smartness:

1. Create a Budget

Not again, you may be thinking. 

The thing is, there is a reason why people preach budgeting to be a corner tenet of the House of Financial Freedom. It not only helps you track how much you earn but also how much you spend — which is what always keeps your finances in a straightjacket. 

For example, if you don’t know how much you spend every month on utilities, groceries, toiletries, rent, and Netflix, then you won’t know where you can start saving or reducing your expenditures. 

So, if you find yourself broke at the end of a month, do yourself a favor and start tracking your spending. 

2. Invest Your Money

Ever heard of the stock market, angel investing, creating equity, giving high-interest loans, or keeping your money in savings accounts? 

We’re sure you have (otherwise, were you living under a rock?).

Investing is one of the best ways to become smarter with your money, as it leaves you with no liquid cash to throw around. 

For example, if you have a hole in your wallet and always find yourself the proud owner of a new Squishmallow or Sneki Snek every month, and you invest your money in a savings account that’ll mature in half a decade, then not only will you stop bleeding money but also save some storage space. 

You can also invest in the stock market (start small) or become an angel investor for a new start-up. However, this option is waylaid with lava pits, so choose your poison wisely.

3. Stop Spending, Start Saving

We know you love that deal on the new Samsung S8 Ultra tablet. Yes, Razor has a criminally fluffy plushy. Yeah, the deal on Neiman Marcus is mind-blowing.

But you don’t have to succumb to your inner spendthrift demon and buy them. Ask yourself: do you need to spend paper on a new tablet when your old one is barely a year old? Do you absolutely need that new little black dress when the previous ones are hiding in the back of your closet? Do you have to buy Arcane? Do you even have the time to play it?

Remember, financial smartness starts with saving, and spending is not saving. So, if you want to start saving money, spend less, and save more. 

4. Pay Back Your Credit Card Interest Quickly

Credit cards are a godsend if you’re a family of five and buy truck-loads of groceries per week. They also provide boons in the form of pay-back schemes that can help you balance your monthly expenditures without going bankrupt. 

But credit cards are also interesting mountains, especially if you’re a little laid back with your purchases and fall in love with everything you come across in a market. 

So, if you use credit cards, and we actively advocate that you should, then pay back your interest as soon as you can to stop it from cutting into your monthly expenditures and making you bleed money like an open wound. 

5. Automate Your Finance-Related Everything

Automation may be a gimmick of the 4th Industrial Revolution, but it’s the process that has single-handedly catapulted into this age of space missions and efficient payroll system (making accurate paystubs is not a joke, mind you).

Simply said, automation is better at doing things than we are. Not only is it faster, but it is also cheaper, more efficient, and predictable — which you can’t say about human beings. 

So, to save some cash and make smart decisions, try to shift to online banking, start tracking your net income and net spending by keeping a monthly balance sheet, and buy groceries online. This will allow you to track your spending, determine how much you need to cut back, and establish a plan to do that. 

A New Horizon

A new limited edition Squishmallow may be the cutest thing ever, but it isn’t that cute when you’re eating ramen while sitting in a ramshackle chair that you pawned from outside your apartment. 

So, if you want to start making some smart financial decisions (because you hate eating ramen every day), then try one (or all) of the tips above — we guarantee you’ll make some progress towards the House of Financial Freedom.