Does living in a major city mean you have to spend big? Not all the time. There are plenty of things you can do to save extra cash. Often, saving means you must make a few compromises or tough decisions. It’s not all that bad though; you can still enjoy everything the city has to offer.

Take advantage of the free spots

Many major cities tend to be expensive. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them on a budget. Cities like Sydney and Melbourne are perfect examples of locations where you can enjoy the delights of the city without spending. There are plenty of great locations where you can drop a blanket, open a bottle of wine and enjoy yourself on a budget. North Bondi Beach, Centennial Park and Mrs Macquaries Chair are all picturesque locations that are free in Sydney. You don’t need to spend big!

BYO Coffee

Coffee is a small expense, but it adds up over time. Getting yourself a coffee machine, a favourite cup and you will save big. Getting a reusable cup means yours also doing your part for the environment!

Live below your means

Just because you can afford a great apartment in a beautiful area, does not always mean you should take it. similarly, just because you can afford to eat at the most delightful restaurant, doesn’t mean you should. Many people live above their means. You should be doing the exact opposite. You don’t need to live in a dump or eat cans of food, just go without the luxuries all the time. Find a good middle ground. This is a great way to pad your savings account. This leads us to our next point.

A place you can afford

What is the most critical factor for you when it comes to an apartment? Is it the location, size, features or something else? When you’re trying to save, you need to make a compromise. This means you can only pick one thing that’s most important about your new home and go for it.

You don’t want to be spending most of your income on rent. This will make your life very difficult. So, pick one thing about the new home that you can’t go without. For example, you live in a better area, but a worse house. Or, you live in a great house but have multiple housemates. You need to make sacrifices.

Parking Spots

If you own a car, you have experienced this dilemma, no parking. Well, a major city doesn’t make things easy when it comes to parking. Chances are, you don’t have a parking spot at your home, so what do you do? One option is driving around looking for a dream parking spot. Alternatively, you can plan and rent cheap parking spots off other people through Parkhound. This is a great way to get more affordable parking at a location near you.

Subscription television

You don’t need it. You are also going to be better off without it. Basic tv channels and the internet is more than enough. Cable television can end up costing you a huge amount over a single year. With products like Apple V, you can make a one-off payment and get the same great service. If you want something like Netflix, split it up between everyone living in your home, that way, it’s a few dollars a week.

Saving money is all about a mindset and attitude. We can all do it, we just need to stay focused and have goals.