Few words inspire less joy than “budget,” but as inflation rates rise and salaries remain stagnant many among us are looking for ways to save.
There’s no one-size-fits-all-wallet solution to frugality. Rather, the key to financial stability and fat paper stacks lies in understanding your spending habits, nonnegotiable expenses and long-term goals, all qualifiers that can be found in the archetypes of the zodiac.
Jason Higgs from coupon mecca Bountii is on hand and billfold, sharing his suggestions for saving through the signs. Because Venus rules over wealth and worth and indicates our relationship to money, make sure and read for your sun, Venus, and rising signs.
If you’re fixing to cut your grocery bill, see the Post’s list of tips and tricks, here. For hobbies that keep you flush, read our list of activities that operate as a payday.
The Envelope Trick
The zodiac’s resident fire starters; Aries, Leo and Sagittarius tend to live on the edge and spend like their pubic hair is aflame and it’s their last day on earth. When cash doesn’t feel real it’s easier to burn; that’s why Higgs recommends a strategy that incorporates physical currency.
Enter the Envelope Trick:
“First, take out the spending money you want for the week in cash. Then, put the cash in separate envelopes for each thing you want to spend money on: groceries, bills, shopping, fun money, etc. Once the cash runs out, stop spending money. Any money left over is put into your savings.”
Second-Hand Shopping
Earth signs; Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are drawn to the material and the pleasurable. Sensitive to quality and tactility, none among them wants to lower their standards in the interest of saving.
To honor the bougie on a budget, Higgs suggests earth signs consider shopping secondhand to save. He points out, “Secondhand doesn’t mean sacrificing quality; many vintage items, like clothes or furniture, are often of better make and crafted from superior materials compared to modern fast fashion products.”
Taurus loves anything that makes them look rich, regardless of the price point and collecting covetable one-of-a-pieces suits the superiority complex of the Capricorn. The hunt for the good stuff will be especially gratifying for Virgos who love to find hidden treasures in unexpected places, be people or designer outerwear.
Money Date
The zodiac’s air signs; Gemini, Libra and Aquarius tend to experience financial fluctuations that mimic their airy nature, money breezes in and blows right back out again. To maintain consistency and avoid ruin, Higgs recommends air signs schedule a monthly “money date” to review their finances.
As air signs are prone to boredom, avoidance and procrastination, Higgs suggests this money date include a decadent meal, a banger soundtrack and some real-deal reckoning. “Reflect on your monthly spending. Identify areas for improvement and celebrate your successes. Treat it as a day (or evening) of self-care rather than a chore. This way, while life may still have ups and downs, your finances can remain steady.”
The Shopping Cart Trick
Water signs; Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are ruled by their emotional natures and they often shop and spend from a place of feeling rather than needing.
To help these sensitive and spend-happy creatures, Higgs nominates the “Shopping Cart Trick.”
“When shopping online. Instead of immediately making a purchase, water signs should add items to their online shopping cart and then step away for a designated period, such as twenty-four hours. This cooling-off period gives them time to reconsider their purchases with a clearer mind. Often, they may find that they no longer feel the same emotional urge to buy the items and can remove them from the cart, saving money in the process.”
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. To book a birth chart reading, contact her via her website.
