Sometimes making sure your money gets spent on the right stuff and saved for when you need it is difficult, but I've got some tips to help you budget your money and save more!

1. Extra Money Jar
If you have a little bit extra money from your paycheck, get a jar and slip the money in, and at the end of the year, take all the money that you've put in out, and you'll have some extra money. If you put in $20 a month, you're going to end up with $240 at the end of the year. Sometimes it's a struggle to not spend every little bit because you do need to support yourself with food, but if that $20 would be going towards something like clothes or entertainment, just put it away in the jar. It'll help a lot in the end.

2. Keep track of how much you spend and when you spend it.
Keep your receipts or take a picture of them with your phone. At the end of the month, add it all up. See how much you spend within a week and within the whole month, and what you're spending it on. If you don't find yourself struggling to buy everything that you do, then you don't need to do this, but if you've only got a little bit left after all the spending try to see what you are spending your money on that you don't need to be spending your money on. Subtract that money from the total you've spent and see how much you could be saving if you don't buy unnecessary things.

3. Don't buy the expensive stuff just for the brand name.
Save your money by getting the same thing for cheaper, just from a different brand. A lot of people don't do this because they think the food will not taste as good, or the clothes will not be as good of quality. It's almost the same thing. Instead of spending $50 on a skirt, get a dupe for $7 online. Even if it's not as good of quality, it's so much cheaper. Don't spend $6 for a specific milk brand just because you like the taste. The other milk is going to taste almost the same, but it's cheaper. Everyone wants to enjoy what they get for their money, but you'll enjoy it almost as much if you don't always get the brand names. You'll also enjoy how much money you will save.

4. DIY some things instead of buying.
A lot of things are a lot cheaper if you just buy the supplies and DIY them. It's not always going to look the same and may not actually be better than the real thing, but it's so much cheaper. It's also really fun, especially if you do it with your friends. Instead of buying that little quote for your wall, get some paint and a canvas and do it yourself. It's so much cheaper. Want that t-shirt of your favorite band, but it's so much money? Get some iron ons and a t-shirt and make it yourself!

5. Don't be afraid to buy used things.
Used things aren't always bad. If you want that new MacBook, but it's so expensive directly from Apple and $500 cheaper for a used one on Ebay, get it! A lot of people would be afraid of used things being broken, but they aren't always broken just because they're used. What you're gonna get buying directly is a big dent in your credit card bill, and what you're getting from getting a used product is the same thing as getting it directly just cheaper, and maybe with a different box.

Now you know some tips and tricks to save some of your money, hopefully you will find yourself saving a lot more. Thanks for reading!