When Mary and I were in college, we went through a difficult period of one year during which we lived off of chicken and rice. Why? Because Mary had a nearby farmer acquaintance who was selling chickens.
Years passed during which we were unable to consume chicken, but Mary’s resourcefulness enabled us to put food on the table even in hard times.
We have some easy tips if you’re trying to save money. Though it doesn’t have to last forever, this strategy can benefit your finances greatly in the near run.
Why Would You Want to Look for Easy Tips to Save Money?
There are several reasons why you might be looking for money-saving advice. Perhaps you are living off of your savings while you hunt for a new job because you lost your employment. Alternatively, you could wish to pay off other debt, like credit card debt, at last.
Living within your means can even be a smart strategy to increase your emergency or retirement savings. You may even discover that some of these suggestions simplify your life in addition to saving you money.
It is not a reason for shame if you have experienced hardship. In actuality, the US Census Bureau estimates that over 37 million individuals in the country live in poverty. But even in hard times, maybe these tips to save money can enable you to make small savings.
15 Ideas to Help You Save Money
Are you prepared to start making financial cuts and put some of our money-saving tips to use? You can attempt a few or all 15. One thing is certain: with these tips, you will quickly increase your savings if money is tight!
1. Prepare Your Deodorant and Toothpaste
It may surprise you to learn that creating your own toiletries doesn’t require a lot of fancy components. Making your own deodorant and toothpaste is quite simple. A few other ingredients—baking soda, coconut oil, and essential oil—are all you need.
Additionally, it might be healthier for you, particularly if your skin and gums are sensitive. Not to mention the advantages for the environment. The Zero Waste Collective has recipes for deodorant and toothpaste, in addition to other do-it-yourself skincare suggestions.
2. Adopt a Vegetarian Diet
Meat costs a lot. in particular, red meat. Giving up meat and switching to a vegetarian diet is an easy way to save money at grocery stores.
There is no need to sacrifice flavor—there are lots of tasty vegetarian meals.
Remember that eating a vegetarian diet can be expensive, especially if you’re buying off-season or using specialty foods. Additionally, you must make sure that meals like chickpeas and nuts provide you with adequate protein.
Cutting meat, however, might be advantageous if you have a really tight budget!
3. Switch Off the Air Conditioning
Cutting the air conditioning is another extreme way to save money. I am aware that this may seem excessive. But did you know that in some other regions of the world, air conditioning isn’t as common?
It also makes sense. A/C uses a lot of energy and can significantly increase your electricity costs.
You can at least boost the temperature a little bit over average, even though it might not make sense to switch off the air conditioning everywhere in the United States. Alternatively, contemplate using a hand fan or traditional cold water clothing.
4. Reduce the Temperature
Lowering the heating is one of the easy tips to save money that is comparable to the previous suggestion. Similar to air conditioning, heating uses a lot of energy, and depending on the system you have, your bill may be extremely high.
Another option to keep your home warmer is to attempt to insulate your apartment or house. Install plastic sheeting on your windows, and use an old pair of jeans or pants and rice to create a draft blocker for your doors. To reduce the amount of effort your heating system has to put into heating each area, keep the doors closed.
5. Sew Up Your Garments and Darn Socks
Darning socks is a really calming hobby of mine that I took up as a way to be more sustainable. Usually, I use Netflix to watch while I mend socks. The best part is that darning has kept me from having to buy new socks for almost four years.
You can repair holes in your sweaters using the same darning technique. This keeps your clothes in better shape and lasts longer, in addition to improving their appearance. You can both save money and pick up a new skill!
6. Prepare Your Own Cleaning Products
Like with toiletries, cleaning doesn’t require an abundance of pricey items. Lemon, white vinegar, and baking soda are the best cleaning agents.
Actually, there are so many uses for baking soda around the house that I always try to keep a few packets on hand.
Simply combine one part water with one part white vinegar, squeeze in a lemon, and let steep for a week. After that, just place it in a spray bottle, and you’re set to go!
It can clean almost anything. For dirtier stains, you can add a little baking soda and this way you can save money.
7. Put Food in the Freezer
Your freezer is your best friend when you’re on a tight budget because it can store almost everything. To ensure that nothing goes to waste, you can freeze leftovers, old bananas for use in bread or shakes, and fresh herbs sautéed in olive oil.
Recycle Track Systems estimates that 60 million tons of food are thrown away annually in the United States. Not only does freezing food save you money, but it also prevents food waste from ending up in landfills. Just remember to keep an eye on what you have and consume it before it goes bad!
8. Purchase in Bulk
Although purchasing in bulk initially may seem illogical, doing so can result in long-term financial savings. The only drawback to these money-saving tips is that purchasing in bulk may require a larger initial payment.
Purchasing a large quantity of frequently used household commodities, such as toilet paper, and pantry essentials, like rice and pasta, might result in lower overall costs. By including your bulk spending in your budget ahead of time, you can improve your budgeting skills.
9. Make Use of Coupons
If you are on a very tight budget, coupons and coupon websites are still useful resources for saving money. These days, you can discover coupon codes online, so if you’re purchasing online, just perform a simple Google search.
Additionally, you can keep an eye out for discounts and only purchase necessities—like new clothing or electronics—during certain times. Couponing may at first seem like a lot of work, but it quickly becomes a habit that helps you save money easily.
10. Go to Networking Functions To Get Free Food
Attending networking events and opening ceremonies was one of my most extreme money-saving strategies while in college. Why? For the free food.
That was usually my dinner back then. Additionally, I was able to network and get to know some fascinating people.
11. Give Up Using Paper Towels
Paper towels are not only quite expensive, but they also have a negative environmental impact. I always feel like I need to use more paper towels, the more of them I have. Using towels or even rags is a truly fantastic and affordable alternative.
In order to prolong the life of tattered clothing, you can even start upcycling or reusing it by chopping it up into rags. If you want to try easy saving, giving up paper towels is a great idea!
12. Preserve Restaurant Napkins
Another easy, low-effort approach to saving a lot of money is to get extra napkins from restaurants! I have a couple of spares in my purse and always ask for extras. You can’t predict when you’ll require them.
And if you can obtain paper napkins for free (well, less the cost of the meal), why pay for them?
13. Seek Out the Sale Area Whenever Possible
I wait until the sales season to shop in the sales department whenever I need a new jacket or pair of jeans. I usually head toward the back of the store and never even bother to glance toward the front.
You’ll locate what you need and save a ton of money while you’re doing it, even though you might have to do some digging. This is a much easier method to save money and discover gifts for holidays or birthdays!
14. Let Someone Use an Extra Room in Your House
Airbnb is a great way to generate additional cash if you have a spare room in your home. The website features a calculator that makes it simple to determine how much renting can earn you each week.
But bear in mind that other expenses, such as cleaning, can arise. You also need to be comfortable having guests stay in your home for a few days or weeks.
15. Pay Attention to How You Use Energy
Examine the electronics and appliances in your house to see what is plugged in and using electricity. To save energy, make a conscious effort to only plug in appliances when they are in use.
Certain appliances, including the toaster, coffee maker, and phone charger, require occasional plug-ins. Of course, some appliances—like your refrigerator—need to be plugged in all the time, but try to conserve!
Lastly, if you are experimenting with money-saving strategies, set a deadline for yourself and remind yourself that the work will pay off sooner than you thought.
Which other easy tips to save money do you know? Comment below, and also remember to share these 15 tips with friends and family.
