24 tips to save

For decades, the same thing has been said: women tend to make impulse purchases and save less, to squander on avocado-toast and cappuccinos with friends.

Now we know that this is not quite the case, that it is not that women are more spendthrift, but they are victims of much more structural problems. The wage gap, for example, is not yet in place, despite the recent law and in any case in the world it is still a problem: the National Women’s Law Center estimates that these inequalities cost American women more than $ 400,000 over the course of their careers. it is calculated that women earn a total of 80 cents for every dollar earned by a white man. And for black women, the number is 61 cents. For Hispanic women, it’s 53 cents.

So the problem is not the cappuccinos at the bar.

So what should a woman do who wants to save and spend more intelligently? We asked some of the smartest women we know to share their best money saving tips, something that made a significant difference to them when it came to their financial well-being. They are small tricks, nothing revolutionary, but still they are tips that can prove to be more useful than you think.

Do not click on «Buy now»

“I’m a regular online shopper, so my best money-saving trick was to download a Chrome extension to catalog all the things I was tempted to buy – I use Karma – to keep them in one place. Then a few weeks later I can double check to see if I have really I need the thing I was going to buy, and the answer is usually no. ‘ Dana Schwartz, author and host of the Noble Blood podcast

Listen to yours friends

“When I got my first real salary after college, I immediately heard a voice in my head – that of Jack Geller, Monica’s father, of Friends – who asked me: where does 10% of your salary go? So for the next 15 years I followed this advice: I always saved 10% of my salary, which allowed me to accumulate money to be able to buy an apartment and a car. In short, I am grateful to have grown up with Friends ». Liz, mom of a four-year-old who hopes to learn life lessons from sitcoms

Move and then pay

«I had a friend who started paying for herself for the kilometers she ran and so I decided to do the same. Every 10 days I check my steps app and pay myself $ 1 for every thousand steps. Then I transfer them from a checking account to a small savings account reserved for travel. ‘ Iva-Marie Palmer, autrice di Gimme Everything You Got.

Don’t have a head-on approach in the sand

“If you have an invoice to pay, be responsive, don’t ignore it. Pay or find a payment plan. And don’t rule out the possibility of renegotiating ». Lucy, producer.

Get unemployment if you are entitled to it

“Once, a coach told me never to be ashamed of getting unemployed: if you get fired, that money is yours, you earned it. It’s incredible, but many people are ashamed, which further disadvantages those who are already marginalized ». Christina Rocks, author of the Recommendations newsletter.

Having goals and sharing them

“Budget, budget, budget. Make a budget and then tell a trusted person – lawyer, best friend, colleague, spouse – so that you have a witness, which will make you more accountable. It’s easy to let go of your resolve when you have no one to answer to and, before you know it, you’re already spending more than you budgeted for. Sometimes even the threat of someone yelling at you is enough to get you to act right. ‘ Phoebe Robinson, comedian, author, actor.

Don’t lend money you can’t afford to lose

“The most important lesson I learned about money came from my father. He wasn’t very good with money – my mom managed her books and house finances – but ever since I was little she told me that when it comes to friends and family, money is always a gift and never a loan. and that you only have to give what you can afford to never get back ” Nora McInerny, author, entrepreneur, and host of the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking.

Start with small steps

“Important thing: you need to know where your money is going. Track your expenses for a month. Don’t judge yourself. Don’t change your habits. Once you know what’s most important to you, you can figure out what to cut. Don’t think of saving as a diet, but as a way to stay fit and healthy ». Stephanie Ruhle, host of MSNBC Live With Stephanie Ruhle and NBC News senior business correspondent.

Get ready for the worst case scenario

“Don’t be afraid to lower your budget, girl. Let’s call it the “noodle budget”, the budget needed if you were to eat only noodles. Now, identify the minimum amount of money you need monthly to survive – that’s your financial baseline. If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that sometimes we have to change quickly and reduce our expenses when we suddenly experience financial difficulties. If you settle on the “noodle budget” you can deal with everything ” Tiffany «The Budgetnista», financial educator and author of Get Good With Money

Pay only for what you use

«Take stock of your subscriptions. Make sure you are aware of anything that automatically goes out of your account. ‘ Candace Parker, mom, businesswoman, activist, two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated WNBA players of all time.

Find your “web of whispers”

“Talking about money will help you get more. It was by sharing my rates with people in my industry that made me realize that I could – and should – ask very Moreover. I felt uncomfortable at first (actually I still feel a little uncomfortable), but I realized that being underpaid was much worse. Also, by being the first to raise the issue, you are not just helping yourself; you’re also showing the other person that it’s okay. ‘ ClaireWasserman, founder of Ladies Get Paid, a global community that promotes the professional and financial advancement of women.

Take an elementary school approach

“My relationship with money changed when I started teaching my daughter how to manage her pocket money. Each week, I encouraged her to split her money into one jar for spending, one for savings, and one for sharing. And suddenly it occurred to me that I should have done the same! So now this is how I deal with every salary, bonus and birthday present – even if I use bank accounts and not jars. Since I started, I have been able to contribute more regularly to the charities and organizations I support and have increased my savings! ”. LizTurrigiano is the co-founder of Esemblybaby, a sustainable nappy system.

Save, no matter how little

“It is easy to think that you can only save if there is an excess of money available. Actually the paycheck I got from my first job didn’t cover much more than rent and groceries, but I was determined to constantly put some money into a separate savings account. I started with $ 20 a month, and as my salary increased over time, so did the amount I set aside for savings. Having a certain amount of money labeled as savings creates a psychological barrier to spending and creates a financial buffer for emergency situations ». MelodySerafino is the co-founder of N. 29 Communications and co-host of the Enough podcast

If you need help, ask for it

“If you are not good with money, ask for help from someone who is, a friend, mentor or professional who can help you with some advice. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask for help. We all have different skills in life. Some of us are good cooks or good at styling; others are good at managing money and investing. We can share tips and skills. We didn’t learn these skills in school, so it’s normal not to have the knowledge ” EstelleBailey-Babenzien, co-founder of di Noah

Take a hands-off approach

“The Digit app was an excellent and easy way to save money”, CarolineMoss, author and host of the podcast Gee Thanks, Just Bought It!

Try high-tech monitoring

“Download a money management app, like Mint, so you can see exactly where your money is going. Tip: keep your budget app next to Instagram on your phone, so you can easily remember to open it every day ». Alexavon Tobel, founder of Inspired Capital and author of Financially Fearless and Financially Forward

Don’t be afraid to ask questions

“Never forget it’s okay to ask questions. This is how we all learn, and improving financial literacy is a lifelong mission. ” CarlyZakin e Danielle Weisberg, co-founders and co-CEOs of TheSkimm who launched SkimmU, a series of free virtual courses designed to help women take control of their finances

Make a prenup

“If you’re getting married, think about a prenup” Christina Stembel, founder and CEO of Farmgirl Flowers

Ask for the increase!

“Women are much less likely to push for the compensation they deserve and this is a fundamental step in achieving true economic equality”, Mandana Dayani, co-founder of I’m an Elector

Plan a week of meals

“If you plan the menu for the whole week, this will allow you to spend less and waste less food” Catherine mccord, co-founder of A Potato and founder of Weelicious

Don’t buy what you can borrow

“When it comes to my wardrobe, I like to invest in a few premium classics, like a nice coat, a silk shirt, or boots that I’ll wear forever. (Seriously, I have 10-year-old pieces that are still in rotation) . To keep things fresh, I’ll be incorporating pieces from Rent the Runway. This wardrobe strategy has not only saved me thousands of dollars over the years, but is also more sustainable. “-GraceLee, co-founder and CEO of Birdy Grey

Make an appointment with your finances

“I have recurring time scheduled on my calendar to review personal finances, check bank accounts and statements, validate expenses, etc. I never take my finger off the pulse of business and my personal finances” -EllenBennett, founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett and author of the upcoming Dreams First, Details Later

Don’t spend what you don’t have

“The credit card is like a sexy cocktail. Having one in your hand makes you feel confident, beautiful, even invincible. But one too many can lead you – and your credit – to ruin! Remember that the next month you have to pay ” Vanessa Dew, co-founder and CSO of Salute-Ade

Know your worth and get paid for it

“I don’t know why before it seemed inelegant to give monetary value to my work. But then I realized that it was an important thing to do: to be able to “weigh” the value of my time and my skills. More than important, fundamental ». Samin Nosrat, cook, teacher, and author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

* Mattie Kahn is the cultural director of Glamor Usa.