Guest Blog Post: Cut Your Personal Costs and Build Your Business

September 03, 2015

by admin

425px-Let's_Pull_Together_and_Cut_Costs_-_NARA_-_534247 This post contains sponsored links from Nationwide. As a startup, it’s unlikely that you’ll start out with a lot of capital. In fact, before you can convince others to invest in you (read: bank loans and venture capital), you have to start with what’s known as seed capital – money that you, your friends, and your family are willing to invest in the business. Therefore, your business greatly depends on your ability to invest in yourself. In an effort to do that, it could be very beneficial to decrease your personal expenditures. Here are a few tips for cutting personal costs to build your business.

Shop Around

There are certain expenses, such as housing and insurance, that you likely cannot avoid. However, there are ways that you can limit your spending in such areas. Only live in a space you can actually afford. Visit your local insurance agent to get quotes on affordable insurance. Keep in mind the things that you need and make sure that your needs will be provided for. You should also look out for excess or additional services that you will not utilize, and get rid of as many of those as possible so that you are not paying for services that you will not use. Once you have secured a policy, be sure to constantly monitor your rates and any adjustments to your plan. Also, take some time to browse your options around your renewal period to ensure that you are maintaining the best policy for you.

Determine Needs vs. Wants

As with any decision in life, there are several considerations that must be made. Some of those things will be needs while others will be wants. It is important that you keep the two in perspective, especially when you are trying to save money. Make sure that you secure the things you need, but limit the things that you want. If you thrive off of reward systems, then utilize your wants as incentives to reach your goals. For example, you need to eat but you may want to try out a new restaurant. Come up with different ways to save money in your grocery shopping, such as clipping coupons, and once you have saved a certain amount of money, you can treat yourself to a meal at that restaurant. You can apply that same reward system in a number of other scenarios.

Ask For Discounts and Deals

There is a saying that goes, “A closed mouth does not get fed.” That saying rings true in many aspects of life, but it is especially relevant when it comes to securing certain deals and discounts. For instance, there are a number of different insurance discounts that you could qualify for, however some agents may not come right out and tell you. Therefore, you would need to ask about the possible discounts to learn what they are and how you may qualify. The same can ring true for various personal and business expenses. Be sure to do your research and ask all the questions you can to ensure that you are securing the best deals for you and for your business.