10 Ways to Save Money by Spending More

There is a fine line between miser and smart spender. As your accounts grow in size and decimal places, there are several key purchases that may increase your quality of life — and even save you some cash in the process!

Here are 10 thrifty ideas for smart ways to spend more without feeling guilty: A range of experts shared advice for items that savvy investors should buy in order to climb the ladder and accumulate wealth, while also increasing day-to-day enjoyment.

Hire Some Help

Time is money. If your hourly income is more than what you would pay for someone else to clean the house, walk the dog or mow the lawn, then hiring some help makes financial sense.

Jennifer Litwin, an author and consumer reporter, added that grocery delivery can be a big-time saver. Litwin listed “avoiding the new long self-check-out lines; getting fruits and vegetables that are well-wrapped and packed; and shopping from the comfort of your own home while still being able to take advantage of sales” among the service’s advantages.

The time saved from outsourcing some of your daily chores can be used to relax after a long day at work, log in some extra face time at the office, or brainstorm new investing ideas.

Dress for Success

Sloppy outfits are not exactly an express ticket to the C-Suite. While Silicon Valley is known for its casual environment, rocking the hoodie in a typical business landscape may elicit some unwanted attention — even if you’re the CEO of a wildly successful startup. Fanya Chandler, Nordstrom’s national stylist director, advises investing in core pieces.

This means men can splurge on a high-quality suit, while women can spend a little more on a dress, skirt or jacket. Blouses are a spot where women can scale back a little, she said.

Loren Bendele, CEO and co-founder of Savings.com, suggested investing in handbags, well-made jeans and staple children’s clothing. “The most expensive item you’ll buy is the one you never wear,” he cautioned.

Table for Two, Please

If you’ve found The One (or narrowed it down to one, for now), don’t forget about date night.

While anniversaries are often associated with splurging, Bendele said surprising your plus-one with tickets or going out to dinner could be a way to build lasting memories.

“Date nights don’t necessarily have to be expensive either,” he said. “Picnics on the beach, breakfast in bed and candlelight dinners at home are always big events.”

Research from the National Survey of Families and Households provides further evidence for the importance of some alone time.

“Indeed, the predicted probability of divorce for those who rarely had couple time was 21 percent for both wives and husbands, but only 14 percent for wives and 10 percent for husbands who reported having couple time almost every day,” wrote researchers from the University of Virginia’s National Marriage Project.

Turning to the Financial Pros

Depending on the extent of your burgeoning financial empire, adding a trusted financial adviser to the payroll may be a good idea. Experts have years of experience they can draw on to grow your portfolio so you can concentrate on your own career. But be sure to keep tabs on your accounts and ask questions to make sure that their investing values and philosophies match your own.

Is Your Business Card Rolodex Ready?

“That’s bone. And the lettering is something called Silian Rail,” boasts Patrick Bateman in “American Psycho,” in which he exhibits some serious business card envy.

For this tip though, skip the corporate competitiveness and concentrate on the basics. Entreprenuer.com suggests sticking to the standard business card size of 3.5 inches by 2 inches, keeping cards simple and including relevant contact information, like company name, phone number, email address and website address.

Critical information should be relegated to the front since business cards often spend the rest of their days in card holders that obscure the backs.

While many companies will provide employees with cards, this suggestion is especially useful for people trying to expand freelance or side businesses.