A big struggle for many people going on more pilgrimages is not having the cash monies to support such trips. I get it! Most of the time, pilgrimages are expensive often costing thousands of dollars especially if done as a packaged deal involving a week or more somewhere far like Europe or the Holy Land.
My goal for this site is to help others go on more pilgrimages–for less money! And less time!
If a big pilgrimage to Israel or Europe is in the works for you, saving money in whatever ways you can will help with the costs. Even if a big pilgrimage isn’t in your radar, finding ways to save money will help you achieve your financial goals so that you have more bandwidth to go on more pilgrimages or other travels.
Luckily, it’s a new year! Time for a fresh start! I know you probably have some new year’s resolutions that you’re pursuing, so hopefully “saving money” is one of them! Or if not, maybe you can squeeze it in between “lose weight” and “stop being an angry old man/woman”. By the way–if you came up with some new year’s resolutions, check out my post on setting goals, which is a better way to handle resolutions.
To help you come up with some ideas on how to save money, I’ve come up with a list of 5 simple ideas. Read on to check it out!
5 easy ideas you can save money in 2019:
1. Cut the cord
Maybe I’m too millennial or something, but it seems like most older families I know still have cable TV. I know that’s how we’ve all received our entertainment and news since before fast Internet came along.
Most cable TV packages seem to start at $50 a month and go up from there depending on how many channels you receive.
Do you really watch all those channels?
I recommend just sticking to the popular streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime, or some combination of those. Sure, your show/movie content is much more limited, but you’d be paying a fraction of the cost you were paying for cable TV. If you need local channels, get yourself a digital antenna for cheap at a local store or online. If you’re an avid sports fan, sometimes the streaming services livestreams games, but otherwise you can go to a friend’s house or a local sports bar to watch games.
For me, I’m only subscribed to Netflix’s standard plan. I only pay ~$11/month. I also have access to Amazon Prime’s selection of videos as part of my Prime membership, and that comes out to ~$9.50/month. Between those two services, I have more than enough TV and movies to watch (binge?).
2. Call and negotiate your utilities
Besides attempting to reduce the amount of electricity, water, and gas you consume, the other way to reduce those costs is to reduce your rates. Give your electric and gas companies (if applicable) a call and see about getting a lower rate. You have nothing to lose by calling. And if they don’t seem willing to give a cheaper rate, mention you’re going to cancel and go with a company that gives a better rate (if you’re not stuck in a co-op situation and have freedom to choose your utility companies).
Another service you can call is your telecommunications/Internet provider.
Especially with electric and Internet providers, sometimes they run specials. Call them to see if they have any specials running that can be applied to you.
I know for me, I frequently receive flyers/circulars in the mail from my Internet provider about specials and bundle deals. At the end of 2017, they actually sent me personal letters inviting me to upgrade to fiber optic service. I called them at the beginning of 2018, and they were able to give me faster Internet and cut my monthly price by $10. Niiiice.
3. Eat out less
Since I’m always out and about, I tend to hit up fast food and restaurants especially at work. I estimate that such meals tend to average $10 a meal, which definitely adds up over time!
Going to the grocery store armed with coupons or the grocery’s flyer has become an acquired skill for me. I try to buy meats that are on sale or buy things in bulk in order to bring the unit cost down.
With groceries, I’ve been leveling up my cooking skills. Learning how to cook simple, easy meals means that I can lower my per meal cost to $5 or less. If I’m not traveling frequently, I like to batch prepare meals on the weekend for the upcoming week. The slow cooker is my BFF kitchen appliance for batch preparing.
If you’re going to eat fast food or at a restaurant, see if you can satiate your hunger with food a la carte. In other words, don’t go for the combos. Just buy the sandwich. Just ask for a water cup. Forget the fries!
4. Get rid of one luxury membership/subscription
Examine things that you pay into like memberships and subscriptions. These things could be gyms, online services, country clubs, magazines, courses, etc.
Decide which one you could without and don’t renew it.
For me in 2019, I’m going to see if I can survive without Amazon Prime since I’ll be having to renew it here soon. I determined that with so many stores opening up close to me, I can easily go somewhere to pick up what I need. Also, I rarely buy anything from Amazon that really/actually needs to be shipped to me quickly. Besides, since I live near an Amazon air hub and warehouses, even non-Prime deliveries can arrive relatively quickly.
5. Buy used/refurbished
At the beginning of 2018, I hit up Goodwill and thrift stores a lot in order to support a side income experiment as a reseller on Amazon. I realized that it’s possible to find decent (or even new!) items at such places for a small fraction of retail price.
If it doesn’t weird you out, clothes can be pretty cheap at thrift stores. As are books, toys, knick knacks, and some kitchen stuff.
For 2019, I’ll be looking at upgrading electronics. My Macbook Pro laptop from 2012 is starting to have battery issues. As much as possible, I will only buy refurbished Apple products since doing it that way saves several hundred dollars (for a laptop, anyway). Apple’s refurbished products undergo even stricter quality checks than their new stuff. This 2012 Macbook Pro is refurbished! And my 2018 iPad Pro is too!
Of course, the real way to save money is…if it ain’t broke, don’t buy a new one! (or used (or refurbished)).
What to do with all the money you saved?
You can open up another savings account, and automatically transfer the amount you’re saving from the ideas above into the account. Or if you’re more cash-centric, you can start a new piggy bank or envelope and put your savings into it.
The account, at the bank or at home, can be your fund for pilgrimages and travel!
Or you can direct these new savings to pay off higher priority debts like credit cards and loans.
Ways to save are all around you!
I offer these 5 simple ideas to save money in 2019 because they’re ones I implement. I’m sure if you spent a few minutes brainstorming, you can probably come up with other simple ways to save. The opportunities are there!
Save more money–go on more pilgrimages!
Question for you–do you have any money-saving ideas?
Featured photo by maitree rimthong from Pexels
JR is a full-time engineer working in the aerospace industry. Apart from having such a fly job, he flies unto the arms of Our Lady and the Church pursuing his faith and a relationship with Christ. Over the past several years, faith and flying via pilgrimages became a thing. When he’s not being fly, JR hangs out with family, friends, his chihuahua, and with thoughts of the next trip.