Unique ways to save money in 2017

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visa. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today, I am going to share some ideas to help you save money next year. These are some of my very favorite tips!

1. Don’t buy what you don’t need.
Try this for two weeks and see how much you save! Every time you want to spend money, just take that money and put it into a jar. Example: If you were going to buy a soda from a restaurant, when you get home, put that $2.00 into a jar. Add it up at the end of two weeks.

2. Put away a few dollars a week.
Every week, try saving dollars equal to the number of weeks, until you put away 52 dollars in the 52nd week. You can print out a chart like the one below and tape it to a jar.

3. Have money taken right out of your paycheck and moved to a separate account.
Do this before you even get a chance to look at it. You can’t spend it if you don’t have it, right?

4. Set a budget.
You can find free budgeting apps online or you can create your own budget with a pencil and notebook. Either way – try to stick to it! Give yourself a budget for groceries, bills, entertainment, etc.

5. Meal plan.
Not only will meal planning help you save money on your groceries but it will cut the cost of the money you spend on eating at restaurants. Eating more at home can really help you save money in the New Year. This also goes for anyone who purchases lunch at work. Start to pack your lunch each day to cut back on how much money you spend on a weekly basis.

6. Get an FSA.
Open Enrollment for your 2017 benefits at work is coming up shortly, and you should look at the options in order to save on your healthcare next year.

As part of these benefits, your employer might offer a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that allows you to contribute a portion of your salary pre-tax to pay for eligible healthcare expenses. Some employers may also offer the option to carryover up to $500 of unused funds in your FSA at the end of the plan year.

7. Get an HSA.
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is also a tax-advantaged savings account that lets you set aside money to cover expected and unexpected medical expenses throughout your lifetime. If your employer doesn’t offer an HSA – you can get it on your own!

8. Use a Visa Healthcare card to access your FSA or HSA funds.
Your FSA or HSA will probably come with a Visa Healthcare card, which you can use to conveniently pay for eligible healthcare expenses including:

• Copays/deductibles
• Prescriptions
• Dentist: cleanings, orthodontia, dentures
• Exams: physicals, dermatologist
• Vision care: exams, new glasses, LASIK
• Medical equipment: blood pressure monitor, thermometers
• Chiropractor or acupuncturist
• Hearing exams and aids
• Smoking cessation programs

9. Take care of yourself!
I have learned that by taking care of myself, I will save money down the road. The same goes for our family. We visit a chiropractor regularly – our kids go because they have all had ear infections and we found that it made a huge difference. Plus, we are able to conveniently access funds in our FSA and pay our chiropractor using a Visa Healthcare card, so that is a bonus! We eat healthy and exercise. These things, combined, keep our family healthy.

10. Pay yourself first!
Every month or year, be sure to put money into your savings, and also in your FSA or HSA, so you are taking care of yourself before you spend your money.

This infographic was so helpful, I wanted to share it with you:
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IT