Would you love to know 50 ways to save money? It’s easier than you’d think.
Here are some general tips on how to be frugal, ways to save money in your household, with your kids, and when feeding your family.
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50 Ways To Save Money: Learn How To Be Frugal
Being frugal has taken a bad rap over the years. Being frugal isn’t being cheap… it means that you know the value of a dollar, and want to make your money work for you!
1.Make a goal chart, and as you save the amount of money or pay off debts, mark them off and reward yourself. For example, you can’t get that camera you’ve been wanting until your car is paid off. The expense of the camera is minor compared to the interest you’ll save by paying off debts early!
2.We do the “packets budgeting system”. In order to do this, we withdraw all spending money at the beginning of each month. We then pay for everything with that cash. When it’s gone, there is no more till the next month. This budgeting method works for us, find one that works for you!
3.Wait for a minimum of 24 hours before purchasing any pricey item. If you still want it, see if you can find something comparable used, first.
4.If something breaks, try to fix it or do without before going out and purchasing a replacement. Try not to hire someone to fix things, rather swap services (see Craigslist).
5.To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. And stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a lot less with this system.
6.Surround yourself with frugal-minded people. If you don’t have any friends who are willing to make a frugal journey with you, try looking online. Borrow a great frugal book, or browse the websites One Income Dollar or the Prudent Homemaker. Both are great inspirational blogs. We found it’s easier to save when we’re not surrounded by spend-happy folks.
50 Ways To Save Money: Find Creative Ways To Save Your Cash!
For as many ways as there are to spend money, there are just as many ways to save!
Grocery Savings:
1.Use a price sheet so that you can know if a sale is really a bargain. If it’s not, see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
2.Buy meat that is on Manager Special (expiring that day or shortly after). Cook that day and eat/freeze.
3.Mix ground beef with an egg and several handfuls of quick oats (makes the meat go farther). Use in meatballs, meat loaf, etc. An added bonus is that oats are healthier than breadcrumbs!
4.Bake your own bread. Let the yeast sit in sugar water until it smells fermented, and use half the yeast (the most expensive ingredient in bread). Artisan bread is the cheapest to make per loaf.
5.If you are big milk drinkers, buy whole milk, and a box of dry milk, and make your own mock-2% milk by mixing half whole, half non-fat dry reconstituted milk. By doing thins, you will have two gallons for a fraction of the cost!
6.Go meatless 1-2 nights a week. You can substitute dry beans. They are VERY cheap, filling, and healthy.
7.Meal plan and coordinate so that leftovers can be utilized fully, yet keeping variety. (Ex: Tacos day one, use left over taco meat day 2 for stuffed peppers).
8.Try to stretch as much time between shopping trips. The fewer times you go shopping, the fewer chances you have to impulse buy.
9.ONLY shop from a list. If it is not on the list DO NOT BUY IT. It’s best to make a check-off inventory list of all things you might need, and highlight what you’re out or low on.
10.Eat something small before you go. It’s harder to resist the temptation to overbuy when you have an empty tummy.
11.Keep your change (dollar bills and coins). Use this as your fun fund.
12.Buy generic. Many times this is considerably less than the alternative, even if you have coupons.
13.Use coupons if you prefer something name brand, and only if you buy that item regularly. Also, ask if your grocery shop has double days .
14.Rather than buy a newspaper for the coupons, go to your library. Usually they do not mind allowing you to clip the coupons you need, and your kids can attend story time at the same time! Or you can go to this site for free coupon resources and print the coupons you need online! You can even find organic coupons! If you are new to couponing, then this book is a helpful start.
50 Ways To Save Money: The Art Of Saving
Saving money is just like any habit. Once you learn how to do it, and incorporate it into your lifestyle, it becomes completely natural! Here are some tips to get you started.
Household Saving Secrets:
1.Wash your dishes by hand I have a hard time with this one. I know it saves water and energy, but I love the convenience of my dishwasher!
2.Wash clothes in warm water, and only if you have a full load. Dry your clothes on the line, and if you don’t like the crunchy feel, stick them in the dryer for 5 min with a wet rag after they’ve hung out to mostly dry.
3.Wash your clothes inside out so they will look nicer longer, and only wash if something is truly dirty.
4.If you like fabric softener, put some on a towel, and throw it in with the dryer. A quarter size spill on the towel can do about 3 loads. This is a great way to save softener! Also, to make your detergent go farther, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the load, and use half the detergent. Baking soda is a soap booster, and it’s cheaper than Arm & Hammer.
5.In the winter, use your dryer and stove during the early evening to help heat your home. In the summer, use them in the very early morning (or not at all) to help keep your home cool.
6.Cook all your meals for a 2-week period (esp. in the summer), so that your oven only has to do the work one time for multiple meals. Keep meals in the freezer and reheat with the microwave. This uses less energy, and you save time. Also, having home-cooked freezer meals cuts down on the tendency to order takeout when you’re having an exceptionally busy day. It is possible to do this with a refrigerator’s freezer.
7.In the summer take a cold bath or use a cool wash rag to help you feel cool before bed. Keep the thermostat as high as possible or the A/C off if possible. Each degree change can save up to 3% on your energy costs!
8.Place a mirror in a room that tends to be dark. The mirror will refract the light around the room. One light bulb has the power of two with this trick!
9.Unplug your toaster, shaver, cell phone charger, TV, and other small appliances, when not in use. Small amounts of electricity are still being used even if they are off, but plugged in.
10.Use Craigslist to purchase used items (furniture, etc.), use freecycle, or go to garage sales.
11.Buy paint from the “oops counter” at Home Depot or Lowes. Also, if the color of your walls allows, add a faux finish over the existing color. This uses a lot less paint, and allows you to spruce up more rooms at a fraction of the cost.
12.Turn off either your cell phone or house phone. You don’t need both. If possible, become a single-phone family. For long distance, calling cards are great! You can usually find cards with under 2 cents a min. Pay-as-you-go cell phone plans are great, if you are not a big phone user.
13.Make your own household cleaners. Vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, borax, and bleach are all really cheap. You can make any household cleaner from laundry detergent to the equivalents of Windex and Comet from mixtures of those ingredients. Be careful mixing chemicals though, please. Do your research beforehand, and if you have any questions, talk to the companies directly, first.
14.Check your insurance. We were able to save $600 a year when we switched companies. We combined our house and auto onto the same plan, and added $500 to our deductible.
50 Ways To Save Money: Pinch A Penny, It’s Fun!
Pinching Pennies on Personal Costs:
1.Get a hair cut kit and cut your hubby’s hair. I have been cutting my husband’s hair for over 20 years, which has saved us, conservatively, $5000. Cut your kid’s hair! For yourself, if you don’t trust your husband or friend to cut your hair (I don’t!), longer hairstyles do not need to be maintained as frequently as shorter ones.
2.Buy used clothes for your kids. They grow out of them so fast, new is not worth it. Used clothing usually looks just as good!
3.Limit the number of toys your children are able to have in the house. This will lower the clutter, increase the value of the toys you currently own, increase your children’s creativity as they learn to play with less, and also will decrease spending on toys.
4.Try home remedies before doctor visits. Those co-pays can add up, and its amazing how a humidifier, Vitamin C , some good old rest will make the bugs go away! Obviously, you know your body better than anyone though. If you need a doctor, go!
5.Make gifts for holidays and birthdays. Often these mean more than presents purchased at the store, as they show you put time and effort in.
6.Make your own personal hygiene products (or do without!). Kimberly has a great blog documenting her withdrawal from her addiction to shampooing.
7.Cloth diaper your kiddos. If you use this cloth diapering method, your whole stash can cost less than a hundred dollars, and can potentially be handed down to future kiddos. Clothdia pering also encourages early potty-training!
8.Make your own baby food by pureeing what the rest of the family is eating, or you can use dehydrated and powdered veggies if you like the convenience of those pricey jars.
50 Ways To Save Money: Money Tips
Saving on Entertainment:
1.Eat out rarely if ever! If you do eat out, only drink water. Also, check your newspapers for discounts and grand openings; you can usually get more for your buck then.
2.Invite people over to your home rather than meeting them at a restaurant. You’ll have more time to chat, and if you plan your meal well, you’ll save a bundle, too!
3.Get movies for your Friday night from the library or Netflix. They are free, or a small monthly charge much less than cable/satellite. Amazon has many movies to stream for a dollar.
4.Make your own homemade microwave popcorn bags with this idea from To Simply Inspire! They taste better, are cheaper, and healthier!
5.Either eliminate or combine any of the following: Internet, television, long-distance, and cell phones. We found that a calling card saves us tons on what would have been a long distance phone bill, and we get the TV shows we want through online streaming for free!
6.Set up a baby-sitting swap with a friend who has children. You’ll save money, and know that someone experienced is watching your kids.
7.Find dates that are more events than just going out to eat. These can sometimes save your budget, and are usually more memorable.
8.See if you are near a Bass Pro shop or Cabella’s. We take our kids there instead of the zoo. It’s free to walk around, and the stuffed animals don’t move, so you actually get to see them! Call ahead of time and be there for the fish feeding.
MORE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY
We hope these tips help you and your family save money this year! We have a few more ideas on how to be frugal:
- Save Money on Free Educational Apps for Kids
- How to Be Frugal on Vacation
- Teach Kids about Frugal Living
HOW DO YOU SAVE MONEY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR?
COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR TIPS!
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