Five Money Moves to Make Before the End of the Month

1. Automate Your Savings - “Pay Yourself First”

The easiest way to save money? Make it automatic. I’ve set up a transfer that moves a small chunk of my income into savings the moment I get paid. It feels invisible but over time, it stacks up in a way that surprises me. Studies show people who automate their savings are far more likely to hit their financial goals than those who rely on willpower alone.

2. Do a Mini Expense Audit for the Month

This is one I personally learned from my roommate. She had this habit of writing down every expense (even a $2 coffee) and at first, I thought it was overkill. But then I tried it for a week. I saved receipts from groceries, coffees, and even streaming services. At the end, I categorized everything and was honestly shocked at how much was slipping away on autopilot spending.

It wasn’t about guilt but rather awareness. Once you see where your money is actually going, it becomes a lot easier to cut out the waste and redirect funds toward goals that matter.

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3. Use the 1 Percent Rule to Curb Impulse Purchases

This is such a simple hack, but it works. The rule is: if something costs more than 1% of your annual income, you pause before buying. For me, that’s about $500. So if I see a shiny new gadget, I give myself 24 hours before making the purchase.

Nine times out of ten, the urge passes. That pause has saved me from so many unnecessary splurges.

4. Use the Debt Snowball Method If You Carry Credit Card Balances

Now, full transparency: I don’t take advice from Wikipedia on most things, but this method? Pure gold. The Debt Snowball is about paying off the smallest debts first, then rolling those payments into the bigger ones.

I used it myself when I had a lingering $300 debt. It wasn’t a huge amount, but knocking it out first gave me a mental win that kept me motivated. There’s just something about crossing a debt completely off your list that keeps you pushing forward.

5. Choose One “Crash Save” Week

I came across this idea while researching for this very article and I’m excited to test it myself. The concept is simple: pick one week where you only spend on true essentials. No extras, no takeout, no random shopping.

At the end of the week, you count what you saved and use it as a reward or put it straight into savings. It’s like a quick financial detox. And honestly, I think I’ll come out of it with more gratitude for what I already have.

Final Thought

Money change doesn’t have to wait for the new year or the next big raise. Small, quick wins before the month closes can set you up for confidence and momentum.

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