Budget Like a Bo$$: Shopping Hacks that Help You Save for What You REALLY Want In Life
- Chasidy Delgado
- Mar 3, 2019
- 7 min read
If you could save $3600 a year or more, would you? Keep reading if you want to learn how!:
In the midst of tax season, this month is about refocusing our budgets and taking a hard look on our finances: It’s not an easy topic because it can be difficult to manage, but doing so will be so rewarding!
A lot of people have asked me how I am able to travel the world so often, and one of my best tips is to be intentional & consistent when it comes to saving money. Living in the SF bay area (aka the most expensive city in the US) can add up, therefore, I aim to live on a college budget and try my best to live way below my means so that when the opportunities come, I can’t say no just because I don't have the means (Call it a mild case of FOMO?).
(Disclaimer: This doesn't work for everybody, so adjust these tips according to your lifestyle & goals. These are just things that are helping me to reach mine. In this way, I'm attacking my student loan debt right now, & at the end of the day, I know these methods are temporary & I can be more flexible with spending once I am debt-free.)
Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize!!!
Now, before anything else, make a list of your priorities & what's important.
Then, STICK TO IT & spend accordingly. When you can see it in front of you, you're more likely to say no to temporary things (like a $300 5-course meal!) because you have your eyes on the REAL prize!
For example, these are my list of priorities in order from GREATEST to LEAST:
Family & Friends
Experiences
Tools for Business & Side Hustles
Travel
Food
Clothes
Entertainment (Movies, Theme Parks, Etc.)
Luxury Upgrades & Beauty Care outside of the house
For me, I value time and experiences and moments with people over expensive food, fancy clothes, and luxurious lifestyles. Therefore, it’s important to be disciplined in order to experience the things you really want in life.
In the words of retired Navy SEAL, Jocko Willink:
"Freedom is what everyone wants — to be able to act and live with freedom. But the only way to get to a place of freedom is through discipline. If you want financial freedom, you have to have financial discipline."
Now, On to the Shopping Hacks!
This is how I budget, shop, & try (KEY WORD! LOL) to stay healthy while always being on the go. I've also included recommendations to maximize your budget with the lowest price points I have found.
Note: Also, keep in mind this is how I shop for a single person. If you have a family or other people you need to include, adjust accordingly.
Costco
I buy a lot of non-perishables & food that I know will last a long time in my freezer and my cabinet here & you can get some of the best prices per unit. Everything you get here comes in bulk, but they will last a while!
TIP:
One way to get around the membership is to pay someone (a Costco member) to buy you a gift card. Because I only go to Costco about once a month or so, I find that having a membership isn’t really necessary. So, I usually buy $100 gift cards off of my roommates/family.
Recommendations:
Meat:
Salmon
King Crab
Frozen Chicken Breast
Ribs
Large Rotisserie Chicken ($5)
Items for Potlucks
Frozen:
Indian Food Selection
Taquitos
Non-perishables:
Energy Bars (Pack of 100 for $10) (TIP: Buy these for when you are really hungry and don’t have the time to grab a meal.)
Noodles/Ramen
Pack of Bottled Water - for the car ! (48 for ~$5)
Activities:
Discounted Local Movie Tickets
Discounted Universal Studios Tickets
Discounted Great America Tickets + Free Parking Sometimes
Get the best deal for a 24 hour gym membership here! (As low as $15/month, but you do have to pay it all up front)
Gas (see bottom)
Trader Joe’s
This is my go-to grocery store as I am always here on a weekly basis. They have a lot of variety and their portions are perfect! Also, I buy all my perishables here since they expire faster and the portions are smaller (enough for 1-2 people so they don’t go to waste).
My Recommendations:
Bread & Pasta
Fruits & Veggies
Yogurt
Sausages and Meatballs
Salads & Wraps (for work lunches)
Dog Food (Wet & Dry)
Drinks
TIP
Their Asian Selection is amazing here! For when you’re craving some asian food, but don’t want to eat out, check out:
Orange Chicken - Both the Vegan & Regular version are bomb!
Chicken Chow Mein
Naan Bread
Thai Eggplant Basil (literally tastes just like the restaurant in my opinion!)
Chinese Chicken Dumplings
Safeway
Usually, I go here for $5 Fridays!
My Recommendations:
Boneless Wings
Sushi to-go (for when you don't have time to go to the restaurant)
Dollar Tree
I save this for all gift and household supplies bc everything’s $1! Pay less on the things you don't necessarily care about & it'll add up in the long run without you even paying attention!😁
My Recommendations:
Rubber Gloves
Brooms
Garbage bags
Foil
Ziplock Bags
Toilet Paper
Cotton Balls
Cotton Swabs
Paper Plates (Pack of 40)
Soap
Crest 3D White Toothpaste
Tissue Paper
Planner stickers
Balloons
Pack of 10 Pens (for work)
99 Cents Store
My Recommendations:
Nu-Pore Make Up Remover Wipes: I swear by these because they surprised me so much as it worked so well and leaves my skin feeling soft! (NOT SPONSORED btw!)
Fruits & Veggies: Just keep in mind to check the food expiration dates
Daiso (Japanese Dollar Store)
Almost everything’s $1.50
Go here for all of your decorating, stationary, and gifting needs (Also, their planner accessories!!!) You can’t go wrong with the presentation of some of their gift wrap items & it makes it look like you spent a killing on a person’s gift!
My Recommendations:
Work Ties
Hair Clips
Lashes
Greeting Cards
Gift Bags and Boxes
Knick Knacks to add to your gifts
Washi Tape
Planner stickers
Asian Snacks/Food
Japanese Curry (for work lunches)
Christmas Decorations
Portable Grocery Bags (Tip: grab them here & stuff them in your purse or car and avoid paying the bag fee in CA!)
Whole Foods
This place is known for being pretty expensive, BUT their HOT BAR is worth it if you need some healthy food on the go & you want to avoid the restaurant. The going rate here in SF IS $9.99/lb so choose wisely!
Here's some of what you can find:
Pizza
Wraps
Fish
Chicken
Roasted Vegetables
Mac & Cheese
Soup
Indian food
Tips
Grab the smallest container (super important!!) and pack in the meat & veggies (& maybe a little bit of carbs or cook rice at home). By using this method, I tend to spend no more than $5-7 on a meal & I didn't have to spend time cooking!(:
On Sundays they have a little bit more variety. I've even seen RIBS in their hotbar!
Going out to eat?
Restaurant.com
They have tons of gift certificates that will save you money! Subscribe to their mailing list and they will send you promo codes every now and then. For example, one of their deals is $4 for $25. However, keep in mind, there is a usually a minimum spend before you can redeem.
Delivery Promos from Postmates, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Eat 24. Sometimes, you can find free delivery promos every so often, and if you just want to try them out, here are some of mine:
Yelp: "Hot & New" & "Offering a Deal" Filters
Here in SF, there's always a new restaurant popping up. Sometimes, I find that during their soft openings, they offer a deal or a coupon in order to reel more guests into their premises.
Fun Fact: I once found a BOMB sushi place through this method. Everything was fresh, the drinks were just right, and their coupon came in handy! You never know what you'll discover with those two features, & to this day, it's still my favorite place to go to!
Use the app and find tons of places where you can get cash-back on your credit card! It usually ranges anywhere from 10-30% back! There are also deals where you can buy gift certificates for less than the voucher value (i.e. $10 for $20 deals)
Call in & Order To-Go
This is one of my favorite ways to get food lately especially on a Friday night after work. No waiting in line outside in the cold or being cramped up in small restaurants. You just go in, swipe your card, and walk out with some mouth-watering dishes! Also, when ordering to-go, tipping is optional (but recommended!)
Portion Control > Diets:
It's no hidden fact that the U.S. sized meals in just about every restaurant serves well over one serving. In fact, most of the time it's about 2-3 servings!
Tip: Order a bunch of food & put them into smaller to-go containers. In this way, you avoid overeating, yet you do not have to miss out on the good stuff! Of course, find a place that gives you generous portions. For example, I'll split up a $15 meal and turn it into three $5 lunches. Eat what you can, but you eat just right!
Transportation & Parking
Apps to use when you're in a time crunch: Park Me, ParkWhiz, & SF Park all help me to find the best parking garages/street parking availability with the lowest rates
Tip: If you want to avoid paying $25-30 at parking garages, find street parking (with a far walking distance) & then catch an Uber Pool, Lime bike/scooter, or the Muni (subway) to your venue. You roll up at the front door & you spend less than $8 round trip. (This only works if you plan well in advance to get there early/not crunching for time)
Bonus
Ink: Inkfarm.com
You can usually find a free shipping promo and their prices can be half the prices of what you find in retail!
Gas: This one’s tricky, but here are the best spots to get gas in the Bay Area northern peninsula:
Arco on Delaware Street (San Mateo)
Costco (use your Costco membership or gift card!)
TIP: If you don't live in the area, you can also use the GasBuddy app or GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas near you!
MY SECRET TO FINDING THE REAL DEALS:
KrazyCouponLady.com - Literally, my go-to as she does all the couponing and calculating for me. (This is a godsend if you hate math like me LOL)
Groupon.com
LivingSocial.com
SFFunCheap.com: Find tons of free things to do in SF - fo FREEEE.
RetailMeNot & Honey: I always check here for promo codes if I'm shopping online
I usually make a rule where I eat from home m-f & on the weekends, I can eat out once/be a little bit more flexible. I usually aim to keep my overall spending at $300-$400 for groceries/credit card bill every month. Most of the time, I go over due to other necessary/unexpected expenses, but the way I see it: at least it gives me a guideline for not going over the top with my card.
One last thing:
Remember that saving $20 a day can go a long way.
$20/day x 30 days = $600/month
$600/month x 12 months = $7,200/year!
Even $10 (aka eliminating your cup of coffee) can help, too!:
$10/day x 30 = $300/month
$300/month x 12 months = $3,600/year!
Those are both enough to help you pay off debt, help out your family, or book a round trip ticket to Asia or Hawaii & still have plenty for activities!
Just something to think about!
Comment below if this helped you!!
& Happy Saving!:)
Resources:
Outfit Details
Glasses: Firmoo
Top: My mom's closet HAHA
Joggers: Charlotte Russe
Shoes: Charlotte Russe
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