How BF and I save more than $3000 per month – Top 5 saving tips for couples

Many of my male friends have made comments about them spending more money after getting a girlfriend. It seems like love and money has an inverse relationship. It is not uncommon to see more and more people choosing to be single, and it may not necessarily be a bad thing, if your main focus is to accumulate as much wealth as you can. Being a couple means having to go out dating, dining at nicer restaurants, buying gifts for one another on monthsaries and anniversaries. It may impede you in reaching your financial goals earlier if your partner does not want the same eventually.

Well, I’m here to tell you that not all relationships are like that. Not for BF and I, at least.

I have blogged about my monthly cash flow statement previously. I wasn’t kidding about the part where I say I spend $500 per month for my daily expenses. This $500 is inclusive of my food expenses mainly, and most of my meals are together with BF. You might be thinking that we do not meet as often as other couples but the actual fact is that we meet every night for dinner if we do not have any plans. Weekends included!

I know how much I save per month, and there was once where we also calculated his monthly savings. Turns out our combined savings amount to more than $3000 per month. He earns slightly more than me so not too much difference in our take home pay. The slightly more “unforeseen” expenses come when there are special occasions like birthdays and weddings. But on the average, saving $3000 per month is definitely not a feat.

With this, I’m going to give you 5 tips on how you can save money while still being attached.

1) Date a gamer (or play games together!)

When I met BF, he told me that he has a big interest in playing games. I didn’t really understand the extent of his gaming passion until he told me that he needed to stay up late (like until 2am) to fight some alliance war in War and Order. -_-“!? I was like, okay, since he likes playing games so much, I should just try to pick up gaming too. So I went to download a few games from his recommendations and I have recently developed an addiction for Hearthstone! 😀

Ever since this started, we started going out lesser and sometimes, we stay at home the entire weekend and game together. So this tip is easy – just date a gamer! The lesser you go out, the less chance of spending more money. :p

2) Go window shopping

On the days when we do go out, we just jalan jalan (walk around) malls that are nearby. Note when I say “window“, because usually after our walks, our hands remain empty handed, like how we enter the malls. The only things that we would normally buy are finger snacks and the occasional guilty pleasure of bubble tea. :p

3) Go for the “Netflix and chill” experience

Ditch the pricey $13 movie tickets and binge watch dramas and movies at home. You get to be comfortable and intimate on the couch with each other, and you can even make your own popcorn too! Some shows that we watch range from light-hearted sitcoms like Modern Family and Big Bang Theory to the intense thrillers like Game of Thrones and Westworld.

4) Learn how to cook together

Dining is costly, you say? For two pax, it is easy for a decent meal at a restaurant to cost $30 to $50. Why not opt for some couple time at home and learn how to cook simple dishes together? Watch some YouTube to gain some inspiration. Even Maggie Mee can also taste good with a few additional ingredients. You can also be more aware and health conscious of what you put into your bodies.

5) Exercise together 

This activity can be free or at minimal cost. Jogging has always been an ad-hoc exercise for us due to its convenience. Keep a spare set of sports attire at each of your places and you’re good to go! Other exercises like hitting the public gym or swimming can have fees as low as $2.50 and $1 per entry respectively. Plus, you get to shave off any fats that you might have gained together through Point 4! 😀

Apart from the above, there are some other things that we do that helps us to build a stronger relationship. We go budget travelling together every once a year. We seldom buy gifts for one another and keep the frequency to once a year for birthdays. There are occasional surprises but flowers are a big no no as we both find it impractical and overrated. We choose to buy more usable items like say electronics or apparels.

When you are in a relationship, I have learned that it is always beneficial to talk about how both of you would want to keep your finances in check together. Working together towards the same goal in mind can be fulfilling and enriching for both the relationship and financial health in the long run.

What about you? How do you and your GF/spouse save money together? Leave your experiences in the comments below, I would love to know!

Stay in love and financially healthy! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Miss Niao xoxo