SLYOU Magazine Issue 1 | Page 23

2 Avoid Eating Out Realistically, for some, a savory meal at a deluxe resort is worth missing a mortgage payment, while for others culinary duties and subsequent chomping is a mundane but compulsory chore. Irrespective of how you perceive it, the fact remains: eating is a must! There many ways to inventively minimize your food expenses and majority of the time eating out is more costly than cooking at home. Do you still dislike cooking? Well, guess what? Cooking at home literally pays the bill. My advice: explore easy and quick recipes which can influence your decisions of constantly eating out. You may also choose to buy packaged pre- made meals from the frozen food aisle of your local supermarket. Alternatively, the option of buying non-perishable items in bulk and using them throughout the month before running low on supplies is also a sustainable practice. The purchasing of items such as peas, canned fruits and vegetables, flour and grains can help you increase your savings overtime. 3. Consider the Use of a Budgeting Device I am sure that many of us can relate to not applying any type of planning to our personal finances. Comparatively, like organizations without plans, individuals also fail financially and it is for this reason budget planning is essential. While some of you may get bored by just the thought of it, we cannot contest the fact that such a critical task is the thin line between living comfortably or breaking your friend’s piggybank to purchase movie tickets once a month. Nevertheless, like any project, setting goals and tracking them can essentially make budgeting exciting. The drawling fulfillment of watching your savings grow will definitely offset the agony of minimizing silly expenses. these deals, you can save tons of cash on groceries, entertainment or even airline tickets. Now that the cat is out of the bag, you can start living comfortably while managing your money with a touch of creativity. The results: a magical alleviation of financial stress and tons of perpetual fun. 4. Do Not Exhaust your Budget Sticking to a budget can be challenging notwithstanding the mental and emotional toll of feeling the need to carefully assess each and every purchase made. It doesn’t matter whether you’re used to having a large disposable income or you’re more acquainted with limited spending power. Budget exhaustion can strike anyone who endeavors to be careful about limiting unnecessary purchases. It is essential to diagnose budget exhaustion from the get-go. If you experience symptoms of monotony or sickening feelings towards penny pinching, you’re at risk for budget exhaustion. Do not succumb to temptation - be innovative, reward yourself in a smart way. Explore the use of coupons, discount codes and loyalty or reward points in your purchasing decisions. Ideally, by shopping for bargains and planning leisure activities around Manendra George-Roberts is a marketing professional, freelance writer and content developer who has experience in creating original content for websites, newsletters, press releases, advertising and marketing publications. Roberts is a graduate of Monroe College where she attained a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) in Management and a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she completed a Masters Degree in Business Management and Marketing with Distinction. She is currently pursuing an Associate Degree in Graphic Design. HEALTH TIPS Do not skip breakfast. Studies show that eating a really good proper breakfast is one of the most positive things you can do when trying to lose weight. Breakfast skippers tend to gain weight. A good breakfast should include fresh fruit or fruit juice, a high-fibre breakfast cereal, wholewheat toast, and a boiled egg. www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019 SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle 21