Hi! I’m Josh Elledge, the Chief Executive Angel of SavingsAngel.com and welcome to the SavingsAngel show! I’m podcasting to you on a warm, breezy day in Orlando, Florida.

I am an extremely busy consumer expert, money-saving advocate, syndicated newspaper columnist, and the guy that turns digital entrepreneurs into media celebrities with UpMyInfluence.com. I love what I do and can’t wait to get going on today’s episode.

In order to help you save more, earn more and live more abundantly on today’s show I’ll be covering:

• Budget Conscious Challenges To Boost Your Savings
• Save Big on Home and Auto Insurance with Gabi
• Ways to Spice Up Spring In Your Home

LINKS FROM THE PODCAST:

gabi.com/savingsangel 

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Budget Conscious Challenges To Boost Your Savings

Happy Spring, everyone! Yes, it’s that time of year. There’s warmer weather, flowers are in bloom, and it’s time for spring cleaning. In the spirit of new beginnings and ‘cleaning’ this March, let’s look at some ways to challenge yourself and boost your savings this Spring season in 2021.

Don’t Eat Out

Yes, I said it. No take-out. This means drive-throughs, pizza delivery, Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Postmates… everything. Don’t spend anything on food you didn’t purchase and plan to cook with at the grocery store. All the money (which can be a shocking amount once you realize how much you’ve been spending on take-out) you normally spend on fast food can be put right into savings.

Take a Social Media Break

Social media platforms inundate you with ads with the intention of getting you to click on those ads and spend your money. You may consider taking a break from social media, or only log on during your weekend. This will help to cull needless, impulsive online spending as the result of manipulative advertising practices.

Dedicate More to Savings

Increase however much you’ve been putting away into your savings account, even if it’s only by $20 a week. Make a dedicated effort to increase how much you’re saving and try to increase that set amount as often as you can. If you haven’t been saving much recently, start doing so. Setting up an emergency fund or just putting away a few dollars when you can will really help you out on a rainy day or when you need to make big decisions later on down the road.

Set a Stricter Grocery Budget

Not all of us follow a strict, regimented budget. Especially when we grocery shop, we tend to grab things that are “off the list” and buy more than we need. Set a realistic amount to spend each week on groceries, and only buy what you planned for and put on your shopping list. Anything extra you purchase should fit within your weekly budget, or it goes back on the shelf.

Shop Competitively for Better Prices

Not all of us shop as critically as we should. Convenience within our busy lives is an important commodity. However, we should balance convenience with practicality. Don’t spend more than you need to for the items you can save on. Check online for the best deals before buying them. Shop with coupons and grocery apps, and check weekly ads for sales and deals. Rededicate yourself to shopping more frugally, and make an effort to be a conscious, savvy shopper.

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Save Big on Home and Auto Insurance with Gabi

Alright, SavingsAngel friends, let’s talk about another creative but effective way to save money. We all have to shell out money for insurance premiums every month, right? Let’s be honest, these are far and away some of the largest expenses you have to account for in your budget every month.

But what if I told you that you could save an average of nine hundred and sixty-one dollars a year on your home and auto insurance premiums? Yeah, I’m not kidding. That’s what Gabi can do for you. Gabi takes the pain out of shopping for insurance by giving you an honest, apples-to-apples comparison of your current coverage. It compares your current coverage to competitive rates from the top 40 insurance providers in the nation. It only takes a few minutes to link up your current insurance on Gabi’s website and start comparing.

I’ll be honest, I used Gabi myself this year to ‘clean house’ and try to save some extra dollars each month. I switched my car insurance coverage and saved over 65 dollars a month on my premium, thanks to Gabi.

Like I said before, Gabi customers save an average of nine hundred and sixty-one dollars annually. That’s totally worth the few minutes it will take you to check them out and see how you can save on your home and auto insurance. And the best part is that if they can’t find you a better rate, you can rest easy knowing you’ve got the best rate out there for what you need covered. No matter what, your wallet and budget will thank you for using Gabi. Plus, Gabi will NEVER sell your information, so no robocalls or spam to your inbox.

You’re probably overpaying on car and home insurance.  See how much Gabi can save you.  It’s totally free to check and there’s no obligation.  Go to gabi.com/savingsangel to see how you can save. 

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Ways to Spice Up Spring In Your Home

With “spring forward” having just passed, it means that we’ve lost an hour of sleep and spring is about to start. While losing that hour isn't always exciting, spring sure is. It's time for warmer weather, the blooming of flowers and trees, spring cleaning, and Easter egg hunts. With the spirit of the season in mind, here are a few ways to spice up spring this month.

Plant a Garden

I've talked about gardens and fresh, home-grown produce before. It's amazing and I absolutely recommend trying it. You don't even need a big yard to plant an impressive variety of herbs and such, you just need a patio or a bit of outdoor space to work with.

Make sure to acquire a planter box or suitable pots if you aren't planting directly into a flower bed, and get good soil and seeds. Then, plant the seeds, water them regularly, and watch them grow in the spring sunlight. It will take a few weeks to see very impressive results, but I promise when you bite into your own home-grown garden produce, you'll agree it was well worth the effort.

Do a Spring Deep Clean

You've heard of “spring cleaning” and that's exactly what I mean. Don't just tidy up; really dedicate yourself to getting rid of what you don't need anymore. Go through your belongings for potential donations or trash and delegate those items accordingly. I promise there's plenty of items you haven't looked at or thought of in years buried in your attic or basement that can likely be gotten rid of.

Not only go through your things, but reorganize and rearrange, too. Spring is a time for new orientations and organization, so move some furniture around in the living room and see what you think. Maybe you can get a couple of new pieces of furniture so you can spruce things up a bit.

Make sure to truly deep clean, too. Dust even the most remote corners of your home. Spring is also a time for pollen and allergens to fill the air, so if you suffer from allergies, plan ahead and be ready to keep your home clean and dusted. Air purifiers situated in the main parts of your home will also help to reduce allergens immensely.

Decorate For The Occasion

Get a little festive with the spring season on the horizon. Change your decor colors to pastels and shades of green, yellow, and pink. If your allergies permit, perhaps take a few pruned flowers from your garden and situate them in a vase in your home. If visitors ask, you can proudly share that they came from your very own spring garden.

Not only will planting your own flowers and produce, and decorating with what you have help you save money and live more abundantly, it will also give you a sense of pride and renewal. Happy Spring, SavingsAngel friends!