SAVING: Four ways of saving to take the getaway you deserve this Easter

In a few days we will once again experience an atypical Easter, very conditioned by the pandemic and which, most likely, will not allow us to go where we would like to go. This means that our options for disconnection will be greatly reduced. In spite of everything, holidays are still days off, which is why we would like to give you a few tips on personal economy so that you can get a proper getaway after so many months of work and pandemic fatigue, even if it is close to home.

• Control your expenses

Let’s start with the most obvious and, at the same time, the one that we least take into account. To know how much we can afford to spend or how far we can travel, we need to know how much we have first. How much money is spent monthly on basic needs such as mortgages, rents or bills? What about leisure? How much money do you spend on new clothes or going out to dinner at that restaurant you like so much? Are these recurring expenses? Can they be cut back?

There is a savings rule that can help us put our money in order, economists call it the 50/30/20 rule. It proposes dividing our expenses in order to be able to cover all our needs and save money. Specifically, 50% of our income would go towards basic needs, 30% towards our leisure time and 20% towards the future, i.e. saving for those plans or trips we want to make in the future. Organising our money will allow us to have a clearer idea of our possibilities and from here, work towards achieving them. We recommend opening a bank account to keep only the money you save so that you are not tempted to spend it.

• Planning as a central strategy

This point is key to achieving savings, and planning must be very present in order to avoid an imbalance in our individual economy. Aspects as basic as writing down a weekly menu that allows us to buy only what we need and avoid last-minute purchases that are often compulsive and unnecessary. With good planning, lower prices can also be achieved when looking for travel options.

You have to define the destination and search different websites for the best deals; in fact, there are already applications that provide this service. Although it can be tedious, perseverance means that in the end you will get the best deal and avoid the usual last-minute price hikes. An advanced reservation is a saving and also a positive reinforcement that helps us to work with motivation.

• Earning extra money through simple actions

Because of the confinement and health restrictions, many households have most likely already experienced considerable savings in their economy. However, there are still small things we can start doing to give our savings a boost. If we look at our electricity or water bills, we can consider cutting back here. For example, try cutting down on water consumption when we take a shower or take advantage of natural light when doing work around the house to reduce electricity use. The changes will be small, but in the long run they will mean significant savings and, at the same time, they help the environment.

On the other hand, if you look around your home, you are sure to find objects that are no longer in use, such as clothes, furniture or toys. The second-hand market is thriving and there are already dozens of mobile applications that allow us to earn money through the sale of items we have stored at home. With a little skill and competitive prices, you can save some money while gaining space at home.

• Set a goal and do not lose hope if you fail to achieve it.

Where do you want to go, and what are you most excited about? Having a goal is the perfect tool to encourage you to make small efforts. Set a figure for the amount of money you want to save each month; it doesn’t have to be a large amount, with small efforts you can save a considerable amount of money. At the end of the day, the most important thing is consistency.

Unfortunately, we have to bear in mind that we are going through a global pandemic and that it is likely that we will not be able to go where we would like to go, or even that bookings will be cancelled due to health restrictions. Instead of getting angry and squandering the few days of holidays we have, we should reinvent ourselves and look for other destinations closer to home. It may be a good time to explore places close to home that help us to disconnect, such as hiking trails, cultural heritage or other charming places that you had never thought of visiting before due to lack of time. At the end of the day, you don’t have to go far from home to find places that provide mental relaxation.