$1,000 in 30 days

If your life depended on it, could you save $1,000 this month?  Like your child/nephew was in the hospital and they were going to pull the plug, even though they were very much alive, would you figure out how to save that $1,000 to save them?  Definitely yes.  Well, it's not that dire, but lets do it anyways:

1. Subscriptions:
• Bank/Credit Card Accounts: Log into your profile(s) and look for subscriptions:
• Cancel: 
• Tech based: Microsoft Office (google docs is a free decent program if you don't use MSO very often), Adobe, Consumer Reports, etc.  Look at the list of things your local library offers for free that you can use instead of the occasional subscriptions (our local library offers consumer reports, rosetta stone etc. online for free)
• Suspend:
• Food Subscriptions like Blue Apron and HelloFresh.  You can live without these for 1 month, you did a few years ago.
• Gym Memberships: if you no longer go, cancel it (I realize if you are stuck in a contract this won't happen - lesson learned then?).  Or suspend it for a month without payment (you did it in quarantine, you can do it again for a month).  If it is online, suspend it for a month.  You can do it by yourself for 30 days.
• Cable: if you are on the dwindling list of people subscribed to cable, suspend it for a few months and see if you can live off of your streaming services.
• Eating out: this is just for a month.  You can do it, then go back to regular scheduled programming.  I mean your nephew needs this money to live.
• Streaming Services: Netflix, Hulu, AmazonPrimeVideo. ESPN, HBOMAX, Disney+ etc: these add up, especially if you have all of the above.  Youtube and your local library can keep you entertained for a month.  Even better, if you pay one year at a time, they will give you a discount.  Boom, more money for you.
• Online Gaming: just for a month.  I promise you or you/child/husband will still be alive at the end of the month if you suspend this - it's just 30 days.
• Magazines/Newspaper: if you pay monthly, suspend your subscription for a month.  These can also be cheaper buying yearly.
• Box Subscriptions: (BarkBox, Kiwico, JustFab, etc.) if it's a monthly paid item, suspend it!
• Email: You know those "Dollar sections" of stores that sell little knick knacks at right at the front of the store?  I always get suckered into buying one pair of cutsie socks (that's actually quite expensive for some really horrible socks for $1.00).  Same with those emails, they sucker you into buying those "60% off clearance" - I just opened one of those and looked at it, and went to the site - ugh...slight detour, I'm currently unsubscribing to the Children's Place emails.  Unsubscribe to all shopping subscriptions, and continue to do it when you make purchases - you know they will send them again!  
• Food - I am still subscribed to a chocolate company's email list.  Oh man, so yummy, and yes, I did buy when I didn't need to thanks to a "good deal" in one of their emails.
• Restaurants - even if they have great deals - you will guaranteed eat out more because you are have given permission for these companies to personally advertise to you!  
• Shopping - these companies follow what you buy and what you look at on their site.  If you searched for those earrings on their website, they will come back and ask if you wanted them, and guess what 50% of the time you will!  Again, you are letting them personally advertise to you.  Unsubscribe and delete!
• Other - museums, old electronic subscriptions, old memberships - unsubscribe from them all - you will not be the one to fall into their trap! 
2. Apps: So many companies allow you to shop and "save" through their apps.  You are allowing them to follow you, and advertise directly to your phone or tablet.  They'll entice you to buy those cozy socks you so wanted for your cold feet this morning.  DONT GIVE IN!  We LOVE instant gratification, the companies know it, so they keep you satisfied, but poor.
• Amazon - I deleted this reluctantly a few months ago, and I have spent much less $$ on things I didn't really need.  By the time it takes you to sign in, find the item you want, you'll usually decide you don't really need it.  Or better yet, you don't feel like signing in, so you'll buy it later.  What about the updates on your shipment you ask?  Does it really matter, I ask?  They guarantee it will get there, and if you are super worried, look it up online, you can find the same info you can on the app.
• Target/Walmart/Grocery Apps - You can do everything you do online that you can in an app.  What about the money saving coupons and deals in their app?  It saves me so much money  I can guarantee you'll spend more money because you will buy more things - spend the $1.00 more on the item in order to not spend $5.00 on average more through the app (cause you'll buy those other "good deals" too).
• Other apps - games - unless you pay for it, more ads, youtube
3. Grocery Store: Go through your pantry and empty out all that stuff you left for the mice - you're going to eat it instead this month.  
• Buy online:  most Kroger stores (Ralphs, Smiths etc.) and Walmart will let you pick up your stuff for free if you spend over $35.  This is not only a huge time saver, but allows you to not splurge buy (hello treats next to the check out line).
• Necessities: Only buy milk, bread, eggs, produce, meat and sauce (to put on your loads of pasta and rice you've been harboring in your pantry).
• Coffee and creamer:  No more Starbucks this month.  You need EVERY penny.  If you don't have a coffee maker/french press at home, it'll be cheaper to buy one then to 
• Splurge Food: skip over the candy, chocolate, crackers, cookies, cereals, sodas, and alcohol.  These are all extra -- don't worry they'll be back and you can sleep with them if you'd like - I'm sure they'd make a nice pillow.
4. Entertainment: You did this when in quarantine in 2020, so lets remember what you did for a month.  (as of right now most of these things are closed/restricted anyways, so...)
• Movie theater: Go to your local library and see what DVD's they have to offer that you haven't seen.  There are some weird movies to be found there, and they are free to borrow!  Many libraries also offer a FREE streaming movie service called Overdrive. while you're there get an audio book or two to keep you company.
• Going out with friends: Have you heard of TicTok?  Ya, lets do that again!  Home karaoke is also a new favorite!  Video and board games are also fun, just try to get those friends to keep it home, and beg them to bring snacks with since all you have is rice and eggs.
5. Taxes: fill this calculator from Nerdwallet to make sure you your withholding is correct.  This will reduce your tax return, but will put more money in your wallet each pay period.
6. Other:
• Gifts and presents: keep it to a minimum if it is a must buy.  Don't want to show up empty handed, but also don't want a crappy gift.
• Hair, Nails, Aesthetics: postpone till next month, or at least one week later.  This will give you a tiny bit extra to throw in a savings.
• Clothing: unless you only have one pair of shoes and you lost one of the two, wait a month.
• Cleaning supplies: for body and home (different supplies of course), if you have to buy, do it in small quantities - not the Costco or Sam's purchasing time right now.

Pull this extra money out of your bank account in cash or move it to it's nice new home in your bank account EVERY WEEK, until you have reached $1,000.  I have some people that need to put this in a whole different bank account so they're not tempted to touch it - great plan - then it really is emergency money.  This money is never to be invested, or put in a CD, or any other risky location.  If you are unable to open a bank account (a minor, or undocumented without an ITIN), get a really special envelope and stuff the cash somewhere safe - I personally really like in-between the mattress.  I do not suggest carrying this with you unless you worry about it being safe between the mattress.

According to CNBC, 41% of Americans could not cover a $1,000 emergency.  Well now you can.  Any other tips of ways to save $1,000?  Find me @road2more and let me know how you have saved $1,000.