There are numerous ways to save your money practically and you don't need anything to the program before you start saving money. At the same time, there are also different reasons why you haven't been able to save money. You always tell yourself that you will save money once you reach your goal - a specific milestone, or once you get the raise you're after, but something always comes up. Just like your phone fell and needs repair, your pipes suddenly burst out, your school have hasnexpected activity that you need to spend some money on, and other unexpected events like that.

Saving money needs the S&S method, which stands for Self-discipline and Strategy to achieve expectable changes to your budget. I created this method so it would be easy for others to remember. However, there's the main culprit that hinders you from saving money, and it's your debt.

So to start saving money smoothly, first, you need to:

GET RID OF YOUR DEBT

When it comes to saving money, your monthly debt is always a big problem. It's like a theft that robs your income and your extra cash in your pocket. The best way to eliminate your debt is to apply a debt reduction strategy.

The first thing you will need is:

• List down all your debts and order them from smallest to largest.

• Continue making minimum payments on all debts but the smallest.

• Find extra money anywhere you can. Try finding a side job, making garage sale, or tightening your budget by giving up your coffee, cigarettes, or make-up budgets.

• Put all your extra cash in paying the smallest debt. Eliminate your vices.

• When the smallest debt is paid, roll the payment over to the next.

• Repeat until you are debt-free.

Once you are free from debt, you can start saving money easily. If possible, avoid borrowing money again, unless it's really for an emergencUnderstandably, hat many don't have that big salary to put all things into place. But as I've said, it needs a good Strategy and Self-discipline to save money effectively. If there's a will, there will always be away.

WHAT IS S&S METHOD?

S for Self-discipline and another S for Strategy.

In saving money, Self-discipline is the most important factor that you need to build up and the key to increasing the possibilities of growing one's saving. You're always thinking of "I need to reward myself for working hard", "the reason why I work is to get money so I can buy all things that I want", "there's nothing wrong to spoil my self by spending the fruit of my labor", and so on.

In this world, there will be no positive changes if there's no self-discipline. There will be no progress if you're being selfish. There will be no achievement if there's no determination to change. Why not manage your money wisely?

If you have that Self-discipline, you will know how to prioritize your needs, you will know how to delay gratification, you will know how to save money effectively. And only with self-discipline that people come to realize that they have the freedom to do the right thing over doing what their mind is dictating.

Setting Strategy will help you save money easier and effectively. Through using these strategies, you will understand better the importance of saving money and how to avoid falling into debt.

Here are the lists of Strategies you may want to consider:

1. CHANGE YOUR MONEY MINDSET

Money mindset is your own beliefs and perception of money. Your money mindset creates that perception of how you feel about debt, how you handle situations like giving money to others or your feeling towards people who make more or less money than you or your confidence to risk money into an investment, and more.

The beliefs of people who have a negative money mindset are often like this:
• I have the freedom to spend my money
• I don't need to share my money with others
• My friend has a bigger salary than me
• I don't want to invest because it's too risky
• I will start saving when I reached the age of 30
• I don't think I can achieve my financial goals

Your money mindset is created through the experiences you had in life. Just, for example, you had a hard life when growing up. Your family doesn't have enough money to buy everything you want, so when you grow up and start earning money, you spend it unwisely. How your parents talk about money when you were young greatly influenced your mindset towards money now.

To change this mindset, you should know yourself first before knowing your money.

• It is also helpful if you will consider sharing the blessings you received by giving it to others who are in need.

• Do not compare your money to others as it will only stress you out. Instead, think about how to make it grow positively.

• You can spend some money on yourself but you should know the limit. You always have the choice not to purchase your wants.

• Don't be afraid to invest, just always remember that do not put all your money into a basket, invest what you can afford to lose.

• Some books about financial strategies are out on the market. Try to read books that will influence your mind positively.

• Do not wait to reach a certain milestone, save while you are still young and you will indeed have a brighter future.

• You need to believe that success is possible. Stick to your good habits then all your perspectives will change positively, only if you have that determination to change.

Now that you have been able to get rid of your debt and change your money mindset, it's time to make money management.

2. MONEY MANAGEMENT

Through money management, you will learn how to spend your money wisely. Take the priorities first and stop that vices and hauling unnecessary stuff.

• Know your priorities and what your money is spending on.

Listing down your monthly budget and all expenses is the first thing to do. Make sure to include your basic expenses like:
1. Food
2. Utilities
3. Shelter
4. Transportation

To save money without cutting down the budget for your necessities, take these considerations:

• Avoid eating in restaurants and buying take-outs. As much as possible, cook food for your lunch at work.

• Save electricity by turning off unnecessary lights, avoid movie bingeing, do not charge all your gadgets at the same time. Make use of a fan instead of an aircon.

• Save water by using a shower instead of soaking your body in a bathtub full of water. Save used water from washing clothes and reuse it in cleaning rags, mops, or use in carwashing.

• Cut off your subscriptions and cable ties. Ask yourself if which one is more important, your future or watching Netflix?

• Exercise by walking to near intended places instead of riding a taxi or any kind of transportation.

• Stop your vices: hauling make-up, beauty products, cigarettes, coffee, playing online games, bar hopping, and more.

If you stick to your budget monthly and know your priorities, it will help you stay out of debt.

• Save your extra money wisely

A friend told me this simple way to save your extra money in your pocket and let it grow by itself. For example, you have an extra 5,000 in your pocket, you might consider saving and dividing it into like this:
• 2,000 to your cryptocurrency wallet
• 2,000 to buy stock market
• 1,000 to your bank account or piggy bank

By doing this, you will eliminate the temptations of spending it on unimportant things.

• Do not save too much on your pocket

Sometimes, when you have a good amount of money in your pocket, you tend to go out with your friends, buy unnecessary things, spend money on your vices, and when the time comes that you need money so badly, you have nothing to pull out from your pocket and that's because you don't have self-discipline in budgeting your money wisely. You're extravagant in spending your money on your vices and wants without considering your priorities. Do not wait until it's too late. Spend your money wisely. Know how to save and invest your extra money.

• Know what you're buying and resist temptations

In most cases, shopping without a goal is the main reason why many can't be able to save money. To avoid spending on unnecessary stuff, you need to:

• Make a list of items you need to buy before going to the supermarket or mall. This will avoid you from filling up your baskets with unnecessary things.

• Going shopping on a hungry stomach is also the reason why people tend to spend money on foods that aren't on the list. A hungry stomach can't resist the aroma of yummy foods at the malls. So before going out, fill your tummy with food.

• Another temptation when walking at the supermarket or mall is the prize tags with the word "SALE" on them. Before temptation takes over your mind, think first if that item is worth buying. If your bag, shoes, clothes are still fine and presentable, then why buy a new one? If that item on sale isn't on your list, then resist the temptation of buying it.

Practice self-discipline once you walk through your door and resist yourself from an irresistible flashy sales rack.

• Cancel your credit card to avoid having debt

As I have mentioned above, debt steals your income. You need to walk away from debt and to get overspending under control, as much as possible, cancel your credit card. Finance and loan companies offer you financial security, but in reality, it isn't real. It will only make you stuck on paying the loan or credit card together with big interest. A credit card enables you to spend money you don't even have and will only give you a huge amount of debt. And debt robs your income and owns you until it's gone.

So make your decision as early as possible. Cancel your credit card, swear off your debt, and live a free-debt life.

BOTTOMLINE:

We are living in this world full of temptations and borrowed things. In reality, saving money is easier to be said than done. However, if you are serious about saving money and getting rid of debt, you need to set that goal. Challenge yourself to reach that goal.

• Change your money mindset

• Manage your money wisely

• Swear-off your debt

• Stop overspending your money

• Know your priorities

• Stop worrying about money

• And have self-discipline

The only key to control overspending and falling into debt is to apply a better perception and money habits in your daily life. Live a free-debt life and save for a better future.

Written by: @Jane