Many of the ways I save money are of course being used by others, and have probably been published all over the web. This list is meant to motivate and give some real world examples. It’s the how not the what :)
My frugality…
1. Only shop for groceries once a week; I plan out all meals for the upcoming week and usually have a ‘theme’ so that I can use ingredients more than once. For example: this week I’m making pizza, lasagna, chicken parmesan and rotisserie chicken. Shopping once a week forces me to think through my menu and then, of course, I only buy what’s on the list. Also, if I forget something or decide I need something that I didn’t buy…I suck it up. Making multiple trips to the store means that there are more chances to make impulse buys. How hard is it to go to the grocery store and ONLY get the one thing you forgot? Almost impossible. (My weekly grocery budget? $50 for a household of 2….and I LOVE to cook)
2. Use your cell phone just for making calls and occasionally texting, and don’t have a home phone. Everyone has cell phones these days that can do anything and everything, mine can’t. I don’t waste the money on monthly data fees or the cost of a new -fancy- phone. All that I need to do can be done from my laptop. (My cell phone bill is only $55/month compared to my boyfriend’s $150). Note: not having a home phone is much more feasible for people who are single or without children. If I had a family I would probably invest in a home phone, for emergency purposes. You need a number to give out to schools etc.
3. Wait for gift cards. I know this one might sound hard, but everyone occasionally gets gift cards for birthdays and other holidays. I generally use mine for useful things that I’ve been needing. I just spent the last of a Macy’s gift card on kitchen items. (I bought a pie pan, peeler, muffin tin). I do, sometimes, spend them on things that might be less ‘needed’ like clothing. But I keep a mental log of things I need, whether it be new shoes, kitchen items, things for our house etc. and when I get a card I use it for those things and therefore don’t have to spend my money.
4. Always price shop, never impulse buy. If there are things you need to purchase, make sure you do your research first. Libraries are always the cheapest (free, duh) way to get books but sometimes I like to actually keep books for reference. I wait until there are a few I need and I find the cheapest ones on Amazon that come with free shipping. I just recently ordered 3 books for $25 when at a book store they would've cost between $15-20 each. Plus, waiting for things makes them all the more special and you might surprise yourself and realize there are some things you just don’t need.
5. Eat at home or pack a lunch! I don’t leave the house without a snack in my purse. I’ve even convinced my boyfriend to keep granola bars or nuts (like almonds) in his car. Those meals away from home are so expensive. You have to put it into context…Let’s say you spend $5 at a fast food joint once a week. That $5 could buy a box of cereal and a gallon of milk to make your breakfast for each day of the week. And those quickie meals add up to approximately $20/month or over $1000/year. Think of what $1000 could buy instead?
6. Make your own coffee. I used to be obsessed with Starbucks and I would stop almost every morning. I was planning a trip to Europe with a friend and had everything taken care of, except I needed some spending money. So I decided to cut back, the first thing to go? Starbucks! I spend about $5 on a mocha and pastry 7 days a week. Just stopping that and making coffee at home I saved about $400 over three months. I haven’t gone back to my Starbucks habit and it’s been 2.5 years.
7. Cancel those magazine subscriptions. You can read all the same stuff online. I get my fill of bad celebrity gossip by reading People.com and you can get work-out tips from Self.com. I also read Real Simple online for organizing ideas and recipes. On that note, don’t buy cookbooks! I get all my recipes from Allrecipes.com, there are millions and they’ve been reviewed so you know which one is a hit and which isn’t. Magazine subscriptions might be a minute part of your spending but you can put that $15-30 dollar subscription to better use, and you’re saving paper at the same time.
8. Cut out entertainment expenses. I used to love going to the movies, but that got to be expensive. The solution to this is to either cut it out or find a compromise. You could limit yourself to only going once a month, you could wait for the movies to come out on DVD and then order them through Netflix. If you do choose to go to the movies try not to give in to all the food and drinks. I always like to carry a big purse with a baggie of homemade popcorn, a water bottle and maybe some candy. You’ll eat much less and it won’t cost you an arm & a leg (even if it is breaking the rules). Also make sure to ask for student or military discounts (if those apply) they may not be advertised but most places give them out. Those few dollars saved will take care of the candy bar you bought at the grocery store. Or consider going to a matinee, might not be the ‘date night’ you thought of but it is cheaper, and probably less crowded.
9. Get creative in the kitchen. I like to experiment in cooking and baking. Even if you’re not the best cook, you can easily create yummy dishes that cost loads less than eating out. I recently made a flourless chocolate cake that was to die for! The only out-of-the-ordinary item I had to buy was baking chocolate, which was only $1.42. That cake after a yummy dinner with a good, semi-cheap, bottle of wine and who needs to go out?
10. Have date night at home. Remember, we don’t have kids so this is much easier. But I like to have at-home dates. We both get a little gussied up, set the table, turn off all distractions, plate everything and crack open some wine. Sometimes I even have some appetizers like cheese and crackers set out while I finish making dinner so we can chat and munch. The way to make this really work and feel like a date is to go all out, not matter how cheesy you feel, like wearing high-heels even when you normally don’t wear shoes at home -that sort of thing.
11. Buy cheap, whenever possible. Does the expensive salon brand shampoo really make your hair better? Probably not. Whenever I’m comfortable with it, I buy the cheapest. Like shampoo and conditioner, I’ve found (it takes research by trial and error) that I can buy the $1.50 Suave and be just as happy. Some things can’t be substituted, but that’s personal preference.
12. Use homemade cleaning supplies. I hate the smell of chemical cleaning supplies which is mostly why I started using household items. If I wanted to use something that didn’t smell I was looking at some pretty expensive eco-friendly cleaners. Vinegar and water works well and I also use baking soda for the tough grease or stuck on grime (like on my stove-top)
13. Don’t give in to junk food. We all spend so much money on soda, candy, cookies, chips and all that junk. Cutting this out isn’t only good for your health, but good for your pocket. All those things add unnecessary costs to your grocery bill. Take the time to make cookies or treats at home. You’ll save money and you won’t be consuming all that processed food.
14. Cut out bank fees. There are so many companies out there competing for you business, why should you be paying fees? Find a bank with accounts that work for you, not against you. If you have a military connection, I’d suggest USAA. They cover all ATM and other fees, plus you can do all your banking online.
15. Always wait for a sale. This goes along with price comparing, but I never buy anything full price. Need new jeans? Make sure you find a coupon or wait for a sale to buy them. If you have to wait, then you’ll surely avoid an impulse buy, if you do end up needed something…then you’ll pay less for it!
16. Last one: DON’T SPEND MONEY. I know that sounds silly, but seriously. I became frugal out of necessity but now will forever watch what I spend. Some people don’t have this advantage, so try to create it. Challenge yourself to not spend anything for a period of time. Start off slowly, maybe a week. Of course you can’t avoid groceries or a bill that happens the fall during that period. But cut off all other spending. It turns out to be kind of fun. If you make it the whole week then try something longer. You’ll find that not spending isn’t really as hard as it seems.
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