Why can’t I save money regularly? How to save money from salary? How to build savings habits?
We always ask ourselves these questions, do a little internet check for motivation — YouTube videos, articles, and podcasts maybe — crib about rising prices, and then go back to complaining about not being able to save enough. That’s the standard loop for most of us.
But people touched by the minimalism magic wand know that saving money or achieving financial discipline isn’t about not buying more or owing less. Instead, it is about making intentional choices that align with your priorities. And to be able to save more money isn’t an impossible dream.
Saving money often feels challenging, especially when our pay check seems to disappear as soon as it arrives—EMI, rent, bills, etc. The key to turning this around lies in adopting a minimalist approach to our finances. Yes, when we become mindful, saving money despite making purchases or having EMIs is possible.
Here are five simple yet powerful minimalism habits that will teach us how to save money from salary while living a purposeful life.
1. Track every expense
Knowing where your money goes is the first step to saving it. Spend a month documenting every expense, from your morning coffee to monthly subscriptions. As boring as it may sound, once you know where your money is going on a regular basis, you will be surprised how much it can actually help you save more.
We often indulge in things that aren’t necessary or even aligned with our personality. Tracking them and cutting them down will significantly lessen our financial load. Achieving financial discipline isn’t about deprivation; instead, we should focus only on our needs and priorities.
If you want to know how to save money from salary, begin by tracking your expenses and identifying areas to cut back. This simple yet effective minimalistic approach will simplify your financial habits and help you build a conscious savings habit.
Why it works:
This habit brings clarity and helps you identify loopholes. When you see those numbers, you will naturally think twice before making impulse purchases.
2. Embrace the “One-In, One-Out” rule
Perhaps you have heard of this often, but do you practise it? Let go of something else whenever you bring something new into your life— clothing, gadgets, or home décor.
Minimalism teaches us to be mindful of our purchases and value quality over quantity. It teaches us to invest in durable, high-quality items instead of cheap alternatives that wear out quickly. And through it, we also learn to let go of things that are unnecessary or no longer serve us a purpose. Therefore, every time we buy something new, we must let go of what it replaced.
Understanding how to save money from salary involves making intentional spending choices that align with your priorities. It doesn’t matter what your earning bracket is; everyone must be conscious of their earning and savings.
Why it works:
This habit will force you to evaluate whether the new item will truly add value to your life. It is an excellent minimalistic approach to curb mindless spending and prevent clutter, saving you money in the process.
3. Practice meal planning
Ask yourself and answer this honestly: When was the last time you ordered food?
For most people, the answer lies within the last 7 days. The sad truth is that while most of us complain about not being able to save more, we end up spending a lot on ordering food or groceries. However, one of the simplest and most realistic tips on ‘how to save money from salary’ is to limit dining out or ordering in as it drains significantly on our salary.
Meal planning in advance is one such way, and it helps in numerous ways. Apart from saving you the fatigue of deciding what to eat every time, it helps save a lot of money on mindless purchases. Planning what you want to eat and sticking to the grocery list helps prevent unnecessary shopping and save time and energy, too.
Thanks to 10-minute delivery apps, we end up spending frequently on a lot of things. The result? A hole in our wallet and eating habits. Instead, sticking to our plan and cooking at home will help us achieve mindful eating and financial habits.
Why it works:
Eating at home has so many advantages. Apart from being kind to our body and helping us be healthy, eating at home saves a great deal on our expenses.
Here are some quick tips for meal prepping at home:
- Plan your menu: Decide your meals for the week in advance to avoid last-minute decisions and reduce food waste.
- Cook in batches: Prepare versatile items, such as roasted vegetables, grilled chicken or panner, or a gravy base with onions and tomato that can be used in multiple dishes.
- Freeze the extra: Cook meals in bulk and freeze portions for easy reheating on busy days.
- Invest in quality containers: Use airtight, portion-sized containers to keep your meals fresh and easy to grab and go.
- Prep ingredients ahead: Wash, chop, and portion out ingredients like fruits, veggies, and proteins to save time during the week.
4. Set “fun money” limits
Minimalism inspires you to be mindful and conscious in your decisions and habits, but it doesn’t ask for deprivation or not indulging at all. The mantra behind minimalism is that one should enjoy life and be intentional about it.
Enjoying life doesn’t mean spending recklessly. Instead, allocating a specific portion of our salary for non-essential fun expenses, like dining out or entertainment, will help us have fun without burdening us financially.
Practicing minimalism is a powerful way to master how to save money from salary while simplifying our lives.
Why it works:
This approach lets us enjoy guilt-free spending while keeping the rest of our money safe for savings or investments.
“Save when you don’t need it, and it’ll be there for you when you do.”
― Frank Sonnenberg
5. Automate savings
Yes, you read that right. While most of us automate our monthly payments, automating savings can also significantly boost our savings.
A simple strategy for how to save money from salary is automating our savings each month. All we need to do is set up a system to automatically transfer a portion of our salary to a savings account as soon as we get paid. There is no rocket science behind it, and this simple yet powerful minimalism habit will help us be more mindful of finances.
Read this blog to learn how to achieve financial discipline with minimalism.
Why it works:
You won’t spend money you don’t see. Automating your savings ensures you are consistently setting aside money for your future without relying on willpower.
Bonus habit
Adopt a “24-hour rule” for non-essential purchases. If you see something you want, wait a day (or even a week) before buying it. Often, the excitement of buying something fades when you give it time. Practising minimalism, especially in our habits towards finances, helps us avoid impulsive purchases that we might regret later.
Final thoughts
Start small. Pick one or two habits to work on this month, and watch how they transform not just your bank account but also your mindset.
Saving money isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about making room for the things that genuinely enrich our lives.
Whether planning on how to save money from salary or saving in general, a mindful approach to money is the best way to spend less recklessly and more intentionally. Minimalism helps us focus on what truly matters—our goals, dreams, and peace of mind. By incorporating these habits into our lives, we will find it easier to save money while enjoying the freedom that comes with living simply.
This blog was written by Ayesha Mollah, a professional blogger who has embraced minimalism since 2023 and is on the path toward understanding and accepting the greater meanings of life.
Update: She is now slowly attaining clarity and developing a more meaningful purpose in her life.
