Every New Year I take a look at this list I created years ago… 50 Ways to save money. Including general tips, ways to save money in your household, with your kids, and when feeding your family. So many of them I slip away from as the year goes on! Want to join me in pinching some pennies? Do you have a frugal tip? I’d love to hear about it!
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General:
- Make a goal chart and as you save the amount of money or pay off debts, mark them off and reward yourself. (Ex: we can’t get that camera until our car is paid off). The expense of the camera is minor compared to the interest I’ll save by paying off debts early.
- We do the “packets” budgeting system. All spending money we take out at the beginning of each month. We then pay for everything with that cash, when it is gone there is no more till the next month. This budgeting method works for us, find one that works for you!
- Wait for a minimum of 24 hours before purchasing any pricey item. Oh, and see if you can find something comparable used first!
- 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 craig’s list).
- 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.
- Surround yourself with “frugal-minded” folk. If you don’t have any friends who are willing to make a frugal journey with you try looking online, maybe get a great frugal book, or browse the websites One Income Dollar or the Prudent Housewife. Both great inspirational blogs. We found it is easier to save when we’re not surrounded by spend-happy folks.
Grocery:
- Use a price sheet so that you can know if a “sale” is really a bargain or if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
- Buy meat that is on Manager Special (expiring that day or shortly after). Cook that day and eat/freeze.
- Mix ground beef with an egg and several handfuls of quick oats (makes the meat go farther). Use in meatballs, meat loaf, etc.
- Bake your own bread – let the yeast sit in sugar water till it smells fermented and use half the yeast (the most expensive ingredient in bread). Artisan bread is the cheapest to make per loaf.
- 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. You have two gallons for a fraction of the cost.
- Go meatless 1-2 nights a week. You can substitute dry beans. They are VERY cheap and filling.
- 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)
- Try to stretch as much time between shopping trips. The fewer times you go shopping, the fewer chances you have to “impulse buy”.
- ONLY shop from a list. If it is not on the list DO NOT BUY IT. It is best to make a check off inventory list of all things you could need and highlight what you’re out or low on.
- Eat something small before you go. It is harder to resist the temptation to over buy when you have an empty tummy.
- Keep your change (dollar bills and coins) use this as your “fun fund”
- Buy generic – many times this is considerably less than the alternative even if you have coupons.
- 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”.
- 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 grocery coupons and print the coupons you need online!
Household:
- Wash your dishes by hand… I have a hard time with this one, I know it saves water/energy, but I love the convenience of my dishwasher!
- Wash clothes in warm water and only if you have a full load to do. 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.
- Wash your clothes inside out so they will look nicer longer… and only wash if something is truly dirty.
- 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 – 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 is cheaper than Arm&Hammer.
- 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.
- 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 re-heat with the microwave – uses less energy, and you save time. Also, having home-cooked freezer meals cut down on the tendency to order take-out when you’re having an exceptionally busy day. It is possible to do this with a refrigerator’s freezer.
- In the summer take a cold bath/wash rag to help you feel cool before bed, and keep the thermostat as high as possible or the A/C off if possible (we live in TX – its not possible). Each degree change can save up to 3% on your energy costs!
- In a room that has a tendency to be dark, put a mirror near the light to refract the light around the room. One light bulb has the power of two with this trick!
- Unplug items (toaster, shaver, cell phone charger, TV) when not in use. Small amounts of electricity are still being used even if they are off, but plugged in.
- Use Craig’s List to purchase used items (furniture, etc.) or freecycle or go to garage sales. We’ve even gotten a number of items from the curb on trash day!
- 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.
- Cut 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.
- Make your own household cleaners. Vinegar, baking soda, Hydrogen peroxide, borax & bleach are all really cheap and you can make any and every household cleaner from laundry detergent to the equivalents of Windex and Comet from mixtures of those ingredients.
- Check your insurance. We were able to save $600 a year when we switched companies, combined our house and auto onto the same plan, and added $500 to our deductible.
- Get a programmable thermostat for your household heat and water heater. You can turn the temps down an hour or two after you go to bed, or during the warmer times of the day, or the times when you typically don’t use your hot water. No reason to heat what is not being used!
Personal:
- Get a buzzer and cut your hubby’s hair… if possible, have a friend cut your’s… Also, longer hairstyles do not need to be maintained as frequently as shorter ones.
- Buy clothes for your kids used – they grow out of them so fast new is not worth it! And used usually look just as good!
- 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.
- Try home remedies before Doctor visits. Those co-pays can add up and its amazing how a humidifier, Vitamin C & some good ole’ rest will make the bugs go away!
- Make gifts for holidays and birthdays, often these mean more than ones purchased at the store as they show you put time and effort into the recipient.
- Make your own personal hygiene products (or do without). Kimberly has a great blog documenting her withdrawl from her addiction to shampooing.
- 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. Cloth diapering also encourages early potty-training!
- 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.
Entertainment:
- 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.
- 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, will save a bundle too!
- Get movies for your Friday night from the library rather than Blockbuster or netflix. They are usually free! Also check out Hulu. They have a number of TV shows online for free! Amazon has many movies to stream for a dollar.
- Either eliminate or see if you can combine any of the following: Internet, Television, Long-Distance, 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.
- 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.
- Find dates that are more events than just “going out to eat”. These can sometimes save your budget and are usually more memorable.
- 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.
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Thanks to Amagill for the “money” photo!
What a great list! I love reading things like this.
Thanks for all the tips
.-= Deborah´s last blog ..Vegetarian Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce =-.
Great tips!
Lots of great tips. Some I already do, and some I could do.
.-= Ticia´s last blog ..Science Sunday: Experiencing REAL snow =-.
Great post. I love the list. I have been trying to implement many of these tips…and you have given me more to try too. Love the new design too!
.-= Holly L´s last blog ..Smackdown 2009…Jules vs. Christmas =-.
I was thinking about doing a post similar to this but you have put mine to shame! Great tips thanks!! Like your new look!!
.-= Brandie´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday~Daddy Daughter Time =-.
If you have ideas, we can add them to the list with a link to your site! I love learning more ways to be a tightwad – lol.
Don’t use Saran Wrap, etc, to cover leftovers, just place a plate right side up or inverted over them.
LOVE THE NEW LAYOUT! It is so wasy to read. I loved this post. We are in constant need of money saving tips, I enjoyed reading them!
I just wanted to say again that i love your blog and that I’ve shared an award with you.
http://craftychicmommy.blogspot.com/2009/12/my-first-blog-award.html
.-= Linds´s last blog ..MY FIRST BLOG AWARD =-.
What a great list! Thanks for the tips and for linking up today!
A woman after my own heart! It seems we have a lot in common. The great thing about being frugal is that even though people look at you funny because they think you’re super tight (lol) you end up having sooo much more than the average joe. Love your tips, I can relate.
.-= Chavah´s last blog ..My Last Blog Post Of The Year =-.
Great tips!!
.-= Monique´s last blog ..Interested in Link Trading? =-.
No wonder I’m broke! Thanks for the great tips. I’m sure I’ll use a few of them, like sitting to a shopping list. But I could never buy used clothing for my kids….there’s just something about new clothing that makes u feel so good!
oops, I’m a newbie!
.-= Tammy´s last blog ..You are a what? =-.
I wish we had a store like this in Canada!!4478/*
.-= Tammy´s last blog ..Shhhhhh! =-.
You have some great ideas. Oats with the meat is a new one to me. Our family enjoys a trip to Bass Pro shop. Last time we went they had classes and activities for the kids.
I came across this article (which I think is great) by accident. It is great to know that even thought my family thinks I am crazy there are other people out there doing the same thing. We just started making our own laundry soap and my kids itchy skin has diappered. Saved money on laundry soap and expensive skin lotions. Thanks for even more tips.
Thank you for linking to my site!
My husband cuts my hair for me. I was nervous at first, but he does a great job! Sometimes he cuts the children’s hair, but usually I do, and I cut his, too!
We’ve visited the Bass Pro Shop, too! We don’t have a good zoo here. At the Bass Pro shop, you can walk right up to the lions, a giraffe, and some moose (among other animals). It’s really neat! We’ve never made it at the time for the fish feeding, but that would be fun.
If at all possible, have one debit card. My husband and I work off of one. I just never activated mine. It has worked well for us and helps keep my impulse buying in tact. It is a easier to keep up with all the debits if there is just one of us at a time using it. I believe it helps keep our budget in tact and we save more money this way.
Great post! One of my favorite frugal tips is to shop at thrift and consignment stores. You can find wonderful bargains! Also, take your kids’ outgrown things to sell on consignment.
Holly
<a href="http://www.frugal-living-now.com/clothing-consignment-stores.html
.-= Holly´s last blog ..Mar 11, Leftover Taco Shells =-.
“Eat something small before you go. It is harder to resist the temptation to over buy when you have an empty tummy.”
What a great list! I love the tip I quoted. And if you take your kids with you, be sure they are fed as well There is nothing like a hungry child whining in the grocery store for all the things they want to get/eat. Everyone has to snack before food shopping.
I love these ideas……we use many of these frugal ideas and I even found a few more to try. I don’t know if I could get away with cutting my husbands hair….but the rest look great.
I am with Tammy – “No wonder I’m broke”. Ha-ha.
Given the current economic environment, these sorts of things are more important than ever. One thing that has really struck me is how I feel about “having to do” some of these things. I felt that I was on top of the world, secure, financially free, and would never have to worry about anything again. What a difference a few years makes. Once I got past the ego deal, I found that many of the things I used to do were really quite wasteful, and I am finding an improved closeness with family and friends over time as I eat at home more often, for instance. Thanks for the list.
What a great go-to about saving money! I am happy to share this with my Twitter followers and would love if you would link up with me for my Follow me Friday’s! You have a great blog!
Love numbers 37, 39 & 48! You have several awesome tips, something most of us need to do is step back & take a look at our finances! Thanks for the reminders!
Thanks for the mention of my site-going to start reading through this great list!
love the list…much needed in this economy!!
Wow! What an amazing list!!! I would love it if you’d link this up to my blog carnival Family Time Tuesday.
Janice
Everyone is looking to save money! This was one of the most clicked ideas shared on my mommy solution meme party last week. Thank you so much for the excellent suggestions for saving on your bottom line.
You can see your feature here: http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2011/10/the-mommy-club-share-your-resources-and-solutions-13/
Great ideas. Already doing many of these- and I save a bundle by cutting my son’s hair (just bought clippers). More ideas: make your lunch (pack lunch for work), if you make spaghetti sauce or chili make a big batch and freeze the extra. Turning the lights off around the house. I did get rid of my gym membership- you can walk for free around the neighborhood or @ the mall (if you live in colder weather). Shop thrift stores- repurpose furniture (a fresh coat of paint does wonders). Make your own coffee @ home, all that gourmet coffee adds up. Cut up old towels- you can use them as washcloths or rags to clean the house. Swap kids clothes with other moms @ school. Wash your own car. Make your own ice cream- cheaper and easy. Grow your own food- if you have a yard, if not you can garden in containers. Canning your harvest. Swap canning with others for differerent assortment of canned food. Buy plain oatmeal instead of flavored packets (more expensive) and healthier. Buy heads of lettuce and clean and cut it yourself and put in large ziplock bag-the pre-packaged bags are more expensive and you get less. Swap books/DVD’s with friends/family. Look for online coupon codes before you place that order. Look for free concerts in the park, picnic, take a hike, go to the beach.
Some restaurants have kids eat free nights. Clean out your garage/closets and have a garage sale. Go to the matinee show- it’s cheaper and less crowded.
Washing your dishes by hand does not save water or money unless your dishwasher is over 25 years old. Google it.
I second this! Dishwashers save TONS of water compared to doing dished by hand. Counterintuitive but true.
…and, you can put iron skillets in the DW, may come out a bit rusty, just wipe with a drip of oil.
Totally agree! Newer dishwashers are more efficient than hand washing.
Thanks J. Smith for pointing this out! So many people are wrong when it comes to this issue.
Totally…my husband didn’t believe me and started doing them by hand and our bill shot up. I guess the only way would be to use one gallon of water for ALL the dishes…but that is gross! Haha
Fantastic list! Also, not only do cloth diapers save money, so do cloth pads…plus, they save the environment!
Just found your post on Pinterest. Great tips. We use a lot of these tips, especially the entertaining at home tip. When did people get away from that? It’s homier, more comfortable, slower and probably healthier as well as cheaper. We have young children and invite friends over with children and they play outside if the weather is good, running around the farm, playing with the animals, building forts and generally having a good time.
I could add to barter for goods and services. It works for us! And gardening. We grow a lot of produce in the summer and freeze what we can. I make huge batches of marinara sauce for the freezer to get us through the winter, as well as when I cook up hamburger for the freezer (I buy from a local farmer for $.99/lb) I use our garden produce to bulk it up and make it tasty. I use the food processor to chop onion and garlic, grate carrots and zuchini and cook it all up together and drain off the fat. I package this in freezer bags and pull it out whenever I need ground beef for pasta sauces, etc. Sometimes I will spit the large batches of this and cook some as taco meat with taco seasoning, some as sloppy joes and some as chili. I put everything in the freezer bags, lay them flat on a baking sheet to freeze them flat and voila – many meals nearly made, just requiring a small amount of assembly and everything fits flat in the freezer. Plus my kids never notice the extra veg in the hamburger mix!
Great tips! Just a comment regarding not wanting to buy used clothing, I call this selective squeamishness. Some won’t wear something that someone has previously worn yet they’ll stay at a hotel where hundreds of people have slept in the sheets. I just think it’s funny.
For those of you who don’t have a clothesline outside to dry, try this. Dry clothing long enough to get it nice and steamy then shake it out and place on hanger (I use the shower rod) and allow to dry. Eliminates ironing and your clothes look great and have no static since you don’t dry them completely.
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this but it’s really important. It DOES NOT save money or water to wash your dishes by hand. The dishwasher is a lot more efficient at cleaning dishes and using water than you. Just make sure to fill it up all the way and only run it when it’s full. Generally services are much more energy efficient than doing them yourself.
One thing: DO NOT BUY BEDDING, MATTRESSES or bedroom furniture from second hand stores or take them off the side of the street. We are having an EPIDEMIC of bed bugs in the US and I promise you, you will not save money if you have to pay an exterminator. It takes weeks of treatments, during which you will be living out of plastic bags, etc. It is horrible. My best friend got a bedroom set off Craig’s list- a very fancy one indeed for $450 which was a bargain. She has spent over ONE THOUSAND dollars in fumigation. You cannot get rid of the little buggers on your own. Bedbugs don’t just live in mattresses, they crawl into the spaces between the wood in the bedframes and bed side stands and lay their eggs. For that matter, they are in many hotels – even good ones, all over the US so check bedbugwatch.com before you go stay anywhere. And put your luggage in the bathroom and check for the bugs before you do anything else.
Love your list, but have something to add. When I buy my kids clothes, I buy new and get better prices than at consignment/thrift. I have gotten everything from dress clothes, tshirts, and pants for my boys to dresses, shoes, and accessories for my daughter by knowing when to shop. I follow clearance sales at retailers and never pay more than $3 for a shirt and $4 for pants (sometimes even less). My kids wear Children’s Place, Crazy 8 and Target clothes. I already have shirts for my 9yo son for next year: all were $3 on clearance at Target. Whenever I’ve gone to consignment/thrift stores, they want $5-6 for shirts from the same retailers. I wouldn’t mind buying used, but with three boys, it’s great to buy new for the oldest and let the next two wear it instead of buying something used (at a higher price) and having it wear out too soon.
Also, find a friend and do clothing swaps. I haven’t bought a single thing for my daughter in this size: it was all given to me from a friend. Score!
Totally agree…outlets for Children’s Place or Online have way good deals frequently and they look better and are better prices that consignment! I get new shirts for 1-2 dollars frequently!
I’d change #22 to be wash in COLD water as much as possible.
I think you’re spot on about surrounding yourself with like-minded folks. We have a VERY consumer-happy culture, and most of the people I know couldn’t even fathom the idea of not stopping for fast food or $5 coffee drinks daily (or more), and “going out” or “having fun” always involves restaurants, cafes, bars, shopping, etc.
My family is on a one-person income since in this economy, even my graduate degree isn’t getting me any opportunities that would still earn us money after childcare. It’s just not feasible for us to be spending constantly on all this superfluous “stuff.” I’ve learned to make my own household cleaners, soaps and detergents (WAY cheaper, eco-friendly, and just as effective if not more), significantly reduced our paper goods trash & consumption by using reusable and washable rags, dusters, etc., I bake & cook (and can and freeze) at home, and have learned a plethora of ways to entertain (and mentally stimulate) my 3 year old at home just by recycling common household trash (cardboard cereal boxes, egg cartons, milk jugs, etc) into kid friendly crafting, as well as replaced commercial tempura paints, water colors, clays and play doughs with homemade versions–all safe, non-toxic, and cheap, plus she gets to “help” me cook these up.
The “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” mantra is useful for more than just being planet-conscious–it was an inherent way of life for our homesteading predecessors– just go ask your grandparents!
Thought this was great and helpful! I even spotlighted it on http://www.bleditor.com. Keep up the work!
#3, waiting for 24 hours before I buy something, is pretty crucial for me. Actually, it’s best for me to wait at least three days.
These are great, doable tips. We do most of the tips from the Entertainment section. This week a friend is watching our children so we can go to my husband’s office party, then I am returning the favor the next night for their office party. It saves big bucks! I think doing half or more of these tips *could* allow someone who wanted to to go from two incomes to one – or pay down debt, if possible.
Interesting article about just how much money you’re saving when you use the dishwasher vs. handwash:
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2011/1110/Dishwashers-vs.-hand-washing-Which-is-cheaper
LOVE all the tips. We don’t eat out anymore, but Im always looking for other ways to save on groceries and other house hold items. I am most definitely going to start making my own cleaners and detergent. That’s a great way to cut back. Also I think that I can start buying in bulk on some items. Great money saver!! Thanks again for the tips!
Didn’t have a chance to read through all of the comments so hopefully this hasn’t already been shared. I make my own laundry detergent and it saves a TON of money. I can make about 320 loads worth of detergent for about $2.00 (a little more than a half cent per load). That is almost a year’s worth of detergent for us; we wash about one load every day. I use the Duggar Family recipe at http://www.duggarfamily.com/content/duggar_recipes/30455/homemade_liquid_laundry_soap_front_or_top_load_machine_best_value
Only wish that I had tried it earlier
This is one of the most depressing things I’ve ever read! There are some great ideas in here, but others fill me with dread. Not washing clothes? Taking your kids to see taxidermy? Sketchy meat that’s about to go bad? Count me out… Also, using your dishwasher usually is more efficient than washing dishes by hand.
I agree with Jodi too…some of them are a little too extreme for me…pretty much the ones she mentioned…meat scares me anyway, and questionably meat that will expire any second makes me more freaked out. And I would rather buy a cheap year pass for $80 dollars here that can be used on the zoo, botanical gardens, and aquarium for our entire family then take them to see stuffed animals…but there are still good things mentioned…but a lot of them actually don’t save that much money. We tried all the light, electricity related ones and NOTHING changed in our bills
I agree with the taxidermy thing! I’m sorry, but stuffed animals that have been hunted and mounted are absolutely not the same as living animals. Take your kids to the zoo and educate them about the environment and other species. Most zoos have free or reduced admission days. I think the list was great, but this particular entry is very odd.
Great post…!
RE: Cloth Diapering….We use Mother-Ease diapers and love them. They are adjustable from newborn all the way to potty training and are very absorbent.
Paper napkins are often not all used when eating out, I discretely put these in my purse and use them in place of paper towels. Sometimes a pack of wipes dries out, use them to wipe up spills. If using wipes to clean hands in the car, secondly run them over the dash, door handle, steering wheel, etc before disposing. Don’t refuse personal sized condiments when they are offered, someone in your family may want them or add them to a dish you are creating. Teach these frugal tips to your kids and grandkids!
I heard from some friends who did a research project that washing dishes by hand usually uses MORE water than your dishwasher…unless you have an incredibly old one or it’s not working properly. BUT…..Thanks for all the other awesome tips!!! I’m definitely going to be incorporating some of these.
I have to agree but disagree with the cloth diapers a little. Yes, they totally save money but I don’t know how you can diaper you kid for under $100. Maybe if you find everything used…However, I love using cloth diapers and cloth training pants for my kiddos and even if they cost $500 they would still be cheaper than disposable diapers and pull-ups!
Just a comment about going to the library to clip coupons… DON’T! I work in a library and we DO mind when people clip from our newspapers and magazines. In fact we check the magazines before and after each person checks out and if you clip the coupons or recipes etc we often make you pay for the item. So please don’t do that.
Come to St. Louis! Our zoo and museums are free!