No one said getting your first foot on the property ladder was going to be easy.

Tough lenders, stratospheric property prices, and comparatively low salaries have always been the case and first-time buyers, in every generation, have always had to give up some luxuries.

If you’re trying to set aside hard earned cash to purchase your own property, you’re surely thinking of cutting back on some of life’s everyday luxuries. Wondering how to save up without scrimping?

Check out these 7 indulgences you can do without.

An extra bedroom

Tackle one of the biggest expenses heads on – rent. If you’re currently renting a two bed, consider moving into a one bedroom apartment until you stow away enough cash for your down payment. You may also want to look at moving to a cheaper part of town, as long as it doesn’t increase your commuting costs.

A second car

If you have two monthly car payments, selling one car can save you quite a bit of money.

Fine dining

It might be a great way to get out of the house but dining out in a nice restaurant can be an expensive treat. If you tend to eat out a lot, this can add up. Try investing in a good cookbook instead and cooking meals from scratch. It will be good for your budget and your waistline.

Eating lunch out

If you love buying your lunch from a deli or a café, then consider taking your own packed lunch to work. Brown bagging cuts your weekly lunch cost by 80% and makes it easy to stay away from grabbing a pizza or a greasy cheeseburger. Not only will you be saving money, you’ll also be eating healthy.

Subscription TV

Cut the cord.

Get a dose of the video entertainment you want without paying a massive cable bill. Watch your favorite shows for free online 24/7 on your computer or smartphone. Surf the Internet for websites that offer high quality, free streaming movies.

Gym membership

You can get the same benefits from things lying around your house that you can from the equipment at the gym. Think: jumping jacks, squats, side planks, running in parks and mobile workout apps. Go ahead and cancel that pricey membership.

Books and magazines

If you love reading, join a local library and rent books instead of buying them. Enjoy cheap magazine subscriptions by shopping around online instead of picking them up from supermarket stands.

Of course, cutting out all of your little luxuries is unlikely to work, just like diets that fail in the long term. Allow yourself some luxury every now and then to make saving both fun and effective.

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