Saving money in the USA is such a challenge, especially in the bigger metropolitan areas! Suddenly you start to meet people and a lot of plans start being made – going for lunch, dining out, grabbing drinks after work…there are a million fancy venues you want to visit and so many cities you want to travel to…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Well, if you want to do all these things, you should know how, where and when to cut corners on others. Here some tips that are sure to help you with saving money in the USA:
- Use a piggy bank: at the end of each day, empty out your pockets and put away all those coins in a piggy bank. But not the kind you have to break as this change is what you will use for small things like the laundromat or to pay for a delivery.
- Research the cheapest supermarket around and do the groceries at least weekly (never ever go hungry) and be realistic, you don’t want to have to throw away expired food.
- Use the public transport as much as you can, or walk if possible. The second is good for your health and the first one is good for falling in love with the city you are in and all the weird people you will meet in it. Just avoid taxis, ok?
- Cook at home, and try to bring your food to work. Apart from being healthier, it is less expensive than eating out daily.
- Control your long hot showers to pay less on your bills. That goes for all energy and water consumption.
- Go running or look for free activities. There are many and you won’t need to spend your money on a gym subscription.
- Recycle your clothes. You are in a new country, nobody knows that 5-year-old cozy sweater of yours. At some point, you can sell your stuff online for some bucks.
- Use Wifi when possible and really think about whether you need to pay for mobile data if you have Wifi at work and at home and your commute isn’t that long.
- Look for second-hand stuff. In cosmopolitan cities, people move in and out so fast so you can find amazing furniture, kitchen utilities and basically everything very cheap.
- Go shopping during Sales season, if you can control yourself until then… 🙂
- Go to the USA through the most affordable professional exchange program with us: You can register for our Job+ 1 Visa Program and we’ll help you find the perfect opportunity that matches your profile!
