Are you a saver or a spender?

Most people will readily admit to being one or the other—and will typically label their spouse accordingly as well.

Sometimes folks fall somewhere in between being a conscientious saver and a big spender by only spending on specific items—maybe they collect something specific, such as model trains, sports cards or designer handbags.

National Savings Day is on Oct. 12 and it’s got us thinking about saving and spending habits.

Capital One founded National Savings Day “to empower people to feel more confident about their relationship with money by educating them on how saving money can be a simple, straightforward experience that fits more naturally into their lives and existing behaviors.”

Few would argue that saving money is a great thing, but it takes discipline and focus. Whether you save $10 or $100 a month, those savings add up over time.

Capital One suggests ways to save money:

1. Use an app. Some banks include a built-in app that will track each purchase made with your debit or credit card. Each purchase is placed into a category and you can see where most of your money goes.
2. Write it all down. Track every purchase in a notebook. You can include your monthly bills, groceries, and gas. Don’t forget your miscellaneous purchases.
3. Use cash. Divide your income into expense categories. Label envelopes with each expense and place the appropriate (estimated for certain expenses) amount of cash into each envelope. When the money’s gone from the envelope, it’s gone. It’s a great way to learn where you’ve been overspending.
4. Create a budget on a spreadsheet. Similar to the envelopes, you track your income and spending in a debit/credit spreadsheet. Each column is assigned a spending category. Don’t forget to create a savings column.

Here at Gateway Gallery Auction, we believe auctions are a great way of saving!

1. Buy furniture at auction. Need a new bedroom or dining suite? You can find great deals on antique and modern furniture. Most furniture is solid wood and made to last!
2. Shop appliances. Whether small kitchen appliances such as toasters and mixers or a washer/dryer or refrigerator or an extra freezer for the garage, you can often get great deals on gently-used appliances.
3. Find the things you need. Maybe you broke a butter dish or favorite casserole dish. Those items can be hard to find in a local store, but you can often find them at auction.
4. Prepare for guests. The grandkids are coming. Do you have enough books, puzzles, toys to keep them busy? What about cribs/beds? Or maybe you’re hosting a dinner for a growing family. Do you have enough dining room chairs? Find it all at auction.
5. Prepare for the holidays. Looking to decorate for Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas? You can often find nice holiday décor at auction.
6. Don’t rule out a new ride. Many auctions sell cars, trucks, tractors and campers, too!
7. You can also earn money by consigning items at auction! Most auctions handle estates, small amounts of items, vehicles and even real estate.

And remember, not only can you save money on things you need, but you can also save the planet by keeping gently-used items out of the landfill! #NationalSavingsDay