When money is tight, it forces us to get creative with our spending. From reducing bills to finding discounts, there are many ways that you can save money with just a few adjustments. Here we’ll discuss eight money-saving tricks that can help you make ends meet.
1. Bottom of The Jar Recipes
Need to stretch your grocery budget? Start with your fridge! You won’t want to throw out any jars or bottles that are nearing the end. Instead, try some bottom-of-the-jar recipes so that no food is wasted.
2. Utilize Free Public Services
Only broke people know how to take the best advantage of free public services in their community. Instead of buying new books, visit your public library. Ditch the gym membership and instead find an outdoor park that has free equipment. There are so many expenses that you can cut just by researching what’s available in your community.
3. Buy Secondhand
Many people don’t have the luxury of shopping for full-price items. You can find just about anything secondhand. Visit your local thrift store, utilize Facebook Marketplace, or use sites like eBay to find what you need. Pre-loved items can have a lot of life left and cost only a fraction of their original retail price. Plus, it’s a more sustainable way to shop.
4. Negotiate Bills
Anything can be negotiated, even rent, utility bills, phone, cable, and internet services, and so much more. Get used to asking providers if they can offer you any discounts. This can really add up and save you money.
5. Cut Your Own Hair
Salons and barbers can be very expensive. You can save hundreds of dollars by learning to cut your own hair. If you’re afraid to cut it yourself, you can save money by going to a cosmetology school. Students will often charge much less for their services.
6. Batch Errands to Save Gas
To save money on gas, plan out a day when you do all your errands. Make sure that you are traveling the least amount of miles and choose stores that are close together. To save even more on gas, avoid highways if possible. You can also use tools like GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas near you.
7. Use Discount Apps
Broke people have to find the best deals to save money. You’ll want to use Cashback apps like Rakuten and discount apps like Ibotta and RetailMeNot. Make sure that you are also using manufacturer coupons and store coupons, which are usually found on the store’s app. For example, CVS, Publix, Walgreens, and Walmart usually have weekly coupons that can save you a lot of money.
8. Watch Usage
If you want to save more money on bills, you’ll want to cut back on your water, electricity, and gas usage. Try unplugging things and turning the lights off when not in use. You’ll also want to use your washer, dryer, and dishwasher less. In addition, you’ll want to set your thermostat lower or higher, depending on the season. You can always layer clothes in the winter and open windows in the summer.
How do you save money when money is tight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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