3 Simple Ways to Budget Right & Shop Smart in 2019

Holiday celebrations are all about excess: shopping, eating, drinking, spending… and the list goes on. If your wallet’s feeling the aftermath this January, chances are, you’re not alone. Getting “money smart” is one of the top resolutions we make every year, and today I’m sharing some of my tips to budgeting and smart shopping with the help of Regions Next Step that your bank account will thank you for!

1. EAT IN. Food is one of our most common expenses, and if you have a penchant for eating out and popping into drive-throughs, you’ll be surprised just how much money you’re spending on unhealthy food every week. Swap your fine-dining habits for grocery shopping and cooking at home. You’ll save a ton of money… and you’re likely to eat more healthily too when you know what ingredients you’re putting into your food. Win-win! Check out some of these grocery budgeting tips to get a head start on saving!
2. SKIP VIRAL TRENDS. Remember Michelle Obama’s glittery Balenciaga boots that broke the internet? Yep, those $4,000 babies sold out shortly after she wore them on her book tour. I loved those boots, but let’s be honest — they’re super trendy and I don’t NEED them in my closet… and I can’t guarantee that everyone else who bought them needed them either. While I love a designer piece or two, I always make sure that when I’m spending money on my clothes and accessories, I’m buying classic pieces that I can re-wear instead of viral trends that are only wearable for a month or two. Maybe we can re-address this point when I get Michelle Obama money, ha!
3. GET REALISTIC. We all want to be millionaires, but let’s be honest — unless you hit a lucky jackpot, building wealth takes a lot of actual planning as you figure out how to maximize what you already have coming in. Every dollar counts! By using budget calculators, you can find out your actual spending, build a budget and determine just how much you should be saving to hit your financial goals.

Have any new budgeting tips you’re determined to try this year? If so, comment below and join me in starting the New Year on the right foot! Visit Regions Next Step for more financial tools and educational resources for setting yourself up for financial success in 2019.

This post is sponsored by Regions Bank, member FDIC. All thoughts are my own.