X5’s “Bundle” Specialist Gives Five Tips on How to Optimize Your Spend

First – create an income and expense spreadsheet. It is important to analyze and assess your financial situation, which shows the current situation, emphasizes Afanasiev. It may turn out that expenses exceed earnings, but this was not noticed, since a credit card was used. Or, conversely, you can see that it will be easy to set aside 20 thousand rubles if you refuse impulse purchases. To keep records:

• choose a convenient way: a notepad, a diary, a template on the Internet, an Excel spreadsheet, special applications on your phone or something that you personally invented;

• do it systematically: record all financial receipts to understand how much you have;

• Approach the process creatively: it shouldn’t be boring when you fill in the numbers automatically, but enjoyable. Therefore, you may want to work on your budget and improve it.

You can also get free financial education courses. After studying the material, many understand how to optimize daily spending and analyze household expenses. In March, the X5 and Netology Paket service launched a free course on financial education. The duration of the course is 10 hours, the format is video lectures, articles, practical tasks and quizzes.

The expert also recommends do not create publicity: In most cases, a colorful image creates a false impression. Try to ignore marketing gimmicks, especially if the slogans and promises don’t match your needs and values. For this:

• When choosing a product, be guided only by common sense. The purpose of advertising is to attract more customers and increase the number of sales. If something seems suspicious to be true, it probably is.

• before buying something, check customer reviews and the reputation of the brand;

• ask yourself how necessary a thing is. You may make up your mind on emotions, and you can do without a second smart speaker. Even if it’s on sale at a deep discount.

set priorities and Buy only what you need. Think about why you’re saving: to create a financial air pocket, to spend a vacation at an expensive resort, or to pay off your mortgage faster. In order not to waste money, you can follow these recommendations:

• don’t go shopping without a purpose. This also applies to online shopping: out of boredom or in a bad mood, you can buy a huge number of useless things;

• make a shopping list. For example, you need a new laptop because you work on it, and a pair of running shoes that you wear every day. Keep the list in sight – it is easier to refrain from unnecessary purchases;

• Dismantle home cabinets, shelves and balcony. You will surely find a lot of forgotten elements of the desired functionality.

Even a small step is already a step, so motivate and support you. It is better to save 2000 rubles a month than nothing at all. Financial control shouldn’t bother you. The idea is to make life more orderly and peaceful. Try the following:

• create multiple savings accounts in the banking app. For example, for vacations, tuition fees, loan repayments, and a trip abroad. Even if you replenish virtual envelopes with small amounts, it will be possible to watch your finances grow and your goals approach;

• distract yourself and focus on tasks that do not require big expenses: exercise at home, run in the park, find delicious new recipes to learn cooking, immerse yourself in psychology, learn a foreign language with online resources.

According to Afanasiev, these recommendations will help get rid of the habit of buying unnecessary things, but at the same time continue to enjoy life. He also stressed that it is important to note even the insignificant amounts that have not been spent, but set aside.

Anton Afanasiev emphasized that the financial situation after following the recommendations listed above could improve quite quickly: in a few months or a year.