Getting better at how you spend your money is not only an essential part of budgeting, but it can also help you afford all the things you love without having to break the bank over them. That’s why we’re going to take a look at the methods that just about everyone can use to get a lot more for a lot less.

Be a ravenous coupon hunter

For most people, coupons and deals are something that they only encounter once in a blue moon, and often with coupons they don’t have much opportunity to use. However, there are sites that you can use to track all sorts of different coupons and deals. Besides checking them regularly just to see what you can save on, it’s always a good idea to check deals sites when you know what you want to buy next. Whether that’s clothing, electronics, or otherwise. The chances are, there’s always a better deal waiting out there somewhere. Just make sure you do your research and find out the average retail price so you’re not getting tricked into savings that aren’t really saving you much money after all.

Don’t be afraid of a haggle

You’re not going to get much joy if you try and negotiate a price in a supermarket line. But you can get a lot more by negotiating with your service providers instead. Once a year, you should set aside a whole day to sit down and ring every one of your providers. From your mobile data plan provider to your car insurance provider. It pays to be nice, rather than a jerk when haggling. But it pays a lot more when you research ‘online only’ or ‘new customer’ deals your providers offer. If you’re insistent, there’s a good chance you can make use of those same deals.

Picture by Republica

Get credit clever

Plenty of people use credit cards for a lot of their day-to-day spending. So long as you’re responsible and you’re always able to stay on top of repayments, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, reward card providers can make it a smart choice. Do some shopping around, comparing reward cards like Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred, and see what kind of points they can offer those who use their card regularly. Those points can be equated with real cash when it comes to giving you spending power. You might even get more points if you’re going to use them on certain things like travel.

Resell what you don’t need

If you really want more from your purchases, then you need to know when something you were once enthusiastic about is only taking up space. In most cases, you won’t get anything near what you initially paid. But with the right online buy-and-sell sites, you can still make a pretty penny from things you don’t need anymore.

Savvier spending is going to help you maintain the lifestyle you want all without worrying about how it’s going to affect your finances. So, don’t feel like being frugal means you have to be miserable. Start using the tips above and enjoy your money a little more.