Conserving cash is possible while you’re employed so that you can add paycheck money to your 401(k) or 403(b). This requires compromise on what you choose to spend money on.

Years ago I read that it’s OK to bring lunches to your job from home only 3x per week not every day. This is practical as it can be hard to bring lunches 5x per week for years and years.

In my life I know that eating the same lunches every single day causes a person to get bored of the food after years of that lunch being the sole option.

In here I’ll take a departure in a coming blog entry to give recipes for lunches you can take to your job.

Other ways to conserve cash so that you can transfer the payments to a retirement account.:

To Save Money

• Choose-Your-Own cable channels.

In New York City Spectrum and other cable providers nationwide offer a lower monthly fee if you pay for only fifteen channels that you can choose linked to your favorites. Does any of us really require 100 channels?

• Use coupon codes to buy from retailers like Macy’s on the internet.

You shouldn’t have to pay full price unless the item doesn’t go on sale.

• Use a floor standing fan instead of an air conditioner.

This will lower your electricity costs. Unless of course your energy supplier jacks up their fee.

• Rent an apartment in a walkable neighborhood.

With everything nearby you won’t have to use a car and buy costly gas.

• Investigate whether your city or town has a reduced fare transit option for individuals with disabilities.

In New York City you can interview for Access-a-Ride. If you’re eligible you can take a private car or van for the cost of the cheaper regular bus or subway fare. Or simply get a half fare discount for the bus or train.

In New York City too the Fair Fares program gives a half-fare payment option to individuals on a low income even without a disability.

• Buy and use only one dinnerware set.

Get white dishes as they’ll go with any table décor. Or get plates in a color you’ll enjoy and limit this to one set.

• Take out a Costo membership.

The market even sells quality eyeglasses at a cheaper cost. The frames are attractive too.

• Find out when your area’s senior citizen discounts kick in.

This might be as early as sixty years old. Non-matriculated college courses might be on offer cheaper too.

• See where you live if you can get a student discount.

In New York City certain museums offer free admission for college students.

• Go to museums in your city that might offer “pay what you can” or a reduced price for others.

At the Brooklyn Museum in New York City individuals with disabilities can pay a lower admission fee. Their caregivers get in free.

• Cut out processed food and other “products” with unnatural ingredients.

You’ll save money on future medical costs by eating healthy today.

• Give handmade gifts.

If you’re crafty or culinary inclined, knit a scarf or bake a batch of cookies.

• Freecycle items with other neighbors.

Create a free exchange of goods that everyone can use instead of donating them to charity.

• Host a clothing swap with friends.

Make it a fashion show with everyone trying on each other’s castaways. Each person picks a new outfit.

• See if you’re eligible for free or low-cost cell phone service.

For victims of domestic violence or individuals on a low income you might be able to get a cell phone at no cost or a minor monthly fee.

• Attend events at a public library for fun.

Programs are offered for free unless at an author talk the writer is selling copies of their book.

• Frequent a food pantry or attend a communal church supper.

In Brooklyn, NY one church hosts a monthly dinner where walk-ins can dine for free. No interrogation of income level.

• Get your haircut at a beauty school.

If you’re game for this a student will cut your hair for a cheaper cost. They might even color your hair too.

• Buy produce in season.

See if your local farmer’s market offers a discount for individuals collecting SNAP or food stamp benefits. In New York City you can get health bucks at the Grow NYC markets and use your benefits to buy produce.

• Refrain from buying in bulk.

Get food or other items in bulk only if you’re confident, you’ll use them before the expiration date.

• Stop buying magazines.

See if your local public library system has online databases. There you might be able to type in your library card barcode and pin number. Use this if they have Flipster to read scores of magazines for free on your device or computer.

• Use an aluminum water bottle to take with you.

Refrain from buying single-use plastic bottles.

• Use a water filter device for your kitchen faucet.

Instead of buying and using bottled water spring for the one-time cost of a water filter. This might require a regular outlay of money to replace the filters in a counter-top model. So this would be for a person who can afford the outlay for this. Still cheaper than buying water bottles in bulk every week.

• Volunteer at festivals. Often event volunteers get free admission.
• Automate savings.

With direct deposit to a savings account out of your paycheck. This will make it easier and convenient to save.

• Set a short-term goal to save money for at first.

Chances are “saving money just to save money” won’t motivate you to squirrel away the cash. Link your first attempt to a concrete goal—like attending a summer concert if you start budgeting for it in January.

• Add to an emergency fund at the same time.

Instead of auto-saving $100 or whatever amount is too restrictive. Start out by adding $25 to your emergency fund and $25 to your “have fun” account.

• Shut the lights.

If you’re not in one of your rooms shut the light in that room.

• Set up a home gym.

Instead of paying for what could be a costly monthly fee for a gym membership.

You can start out with two-pound dumbbells if that’s all you can lift. After that try for sets of five-pound, eight pound, and ten-pound dumbbells. Add ten pound and fifteen-pound kettlebells. A ten-pound body bar can be good. And a resistance band with a lower weight can be adequate just starting out too.

You can watch YouTube videos to see how to do exercises and their correct form. In my health and fitness blog I have a Home Gym Routines category. You can click on this to view upper and lower body exercises.

• Keep a grateful journal.

This will require a small ongoing cost.

You can write in it two or three times a week. It doesn’t have to be every day. List why you’re thankful for whatever happened. Not just record the events. Just know that it’s okay to itemize ordinary things. They don’t have to be spectacular accomplishments.

• Write in a life journal.

Should you not afford a therapist at $150 per session? Record your thoughts and feelings in spiral-bound notebooks along with your goals, dreams, and needs.