There are all kinds of different reasons to cut back on spending. It could just be that money is tight, or that you’re saving up for a nice vacation or a big purchase. Whatever the reason, at some point we all find ourselves looking for ways to save a few bucks. Over the past couple of years, I have really been focusing on beefing up my savings account. So today, I want to talk about a few options that have worked for me to save some money!
General Homestead Savings
1. Re-Purpose
There are a lot of things that you can reuse around the house. For example, t-shirts can easily become rags and rugs (might have to do a post on this later on), lots of items can be upgraded to become charming decor, and you can even use old books as shelves.
2. Hang your Laundry
Dryers are one of the biggest energy-users in the home which racks up the utility bill. Hanging your laundry to dry on a clothesline is a really simple way to save money every month and it also leaves your clothes smelling fresh and clean. Even in winter, you can hang your clothes on an indoor drying rack to save a few bucks.
3. Visit Thrift Stores/Dollar Stores/Garage Sales
Personally, I like to thrift and find garage sales. There are crazy awesome deals on clothes and supplies for the house! With dollar store supplies, you might have to give up a little bit of quality, but there are usually some pretty sweet deals.
More Extreme Measures
1. Get Rid of Non-Necessities
My mom doesn’t have cable, internet, a landline, or a smartphone and she is surviving in the world just fine. I know not everyone could operate like that, but if you can it is a really simple way to add savings up.
2. Save Gas
While gasoline is definitely more affordable than it has been in the past, it still can add up quickly. You might consider car-pooling to destinations if possible, and by trying to map out your routes to better conserve fuel or limiting trips to the store.
3. Make Your Own EVERYTHING
It is possible to make, instead of buy, all kinds of stuff- from dishwasher soap, to candles, to carpet cleaner, and all the way to homemade bleach. The ingredients for these are usually cheap (a lot can be purchased from the dollar store) and able to be used in multiple things! I am going to try to start doing more DIY posts for items around the house.
Reminders
1. Eat In
I am confident that you are all pretty good about this, so I won’t go into much detail. Just a reminder that packing lunch, meal planning, and cooking from scratch is an easy way to save a few bucks in your day-to-day life! And, this makes eating out a special occasion for you and your family.
When approaching the end of the month, try to make dishes with what you have left in your kitchen instead of hitting the grocery store for supplemental ingredients. Check out this chart for some substitutions for common ingredients. Also, sites such as myfridgefood.com allow you to input what ingredients you do have, and generates ideas for recipes you can make.
2. Healthy (and inexpensive) Hobbies
Having friends over for board games and rental movies can be a lot more cost-effective than meeting them out somewhere. I personally believe that a lot of spending comes from boredom, so I recommend taking up walking or reading as hobbies. I personally love to garage sale shop for books—typically they are less than $1 and there are some great finds!
This is really just an overview with tips on saving money around the house—the possibilities are endless. I would love to hear ways that you all save money in your home! Share with me in the comments below and lets get a nice list going 🙂
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