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Are you constantly feeling the pinch of a tight budget yet unsure where to turn for solutions?
Saving money does not need to always involve drastic changes – minor decisions can have a surprisingly major impact on your finances.
We’ll explore thrifty tactics that can help you make small adjustments in everyday life, which will quickly add up and result in significant savings!
Whether you’re looking to save for a rainy day or put away extra funds towards something special, there is an abundance of opportunities hidden along the way, let’s find out how together!
Table of Contents
1. Being Financially Responsible
Many people confess they don’t incorporate small bits of frugality into their lives. To them, it’s all about the big picture.
From never getting a traffic ticket to never paying interest on loans to not incurring any credit card debt, many people take financial responsibility to the extreme — and their wallets thank them.
2. Take Your Lunch To Work
There’s no need to buy your lunch every day.
Bringing in leftovers from home or prepping meals for the week ahead will save you plenty of money and time.
Plus, it’s more nutritious and satisfying than takeout.
3. Foregoing the Dryer
Although modern appliances are more energy-efficient than previous generations, the classic clothes dryer is still very energy-hungry.
So to save on ever-increasing energy costs, a small handful of people admit to air-drying their clothes after pulling them out of the washing machine. It’s a smart way to save a few dollars.
4. Using Reusable Water Bottles
Buying plastic water bottles isn’t only a waste of money, but it’s also bad for the environment.
While some people argue that the quality of water is better, it should be a requirement to read the label. Many brands out there list the source of the water you are drinking as municipal water.
In other words, you are paying to drink tap water.
5. Showering At the Gym
Instead of showering at home, many people explain it’s far more convenient and efficient to shower at the gym.
It makes sense; many people go to the gym and shower daily, so why not kill two birds with one stone and shower after a workout?
6. Taking Toilet Paper From Public Restrooms
There’s a thin line between being delightfully frugal and straight-up being a thief, but one person straddles the bar effortlessly.
“I don’t do this anymore, but I used to steal toilet paper from public restrooms,” one man admits. Sure you don’t, pal.
7. Refusing To Turn on Air Conditioning
If you can bear the heat, there is plenty of money to be saved by refusing to turn on your air conditioning until you can’t take it anymore.
One particularly frugal woman confesses she uses her cat as her barometer: When Fluffy gets agitated, she knows it’s time to turn on the air conditioning! To some, that’s borderline cruel to the poor kitty, but hey, no judgments here.
8. Sharing Passwords
Only recently have streaming companies started cracking down on password sharing.
All savvy people know that account sharing is possible for many services, from television to movies to music — and everything in between. Who hasn’t used their friends Netflix password at least 500 times?
9. Home Haircutting
As far as recurring costs are concerned, haircuts are one of the most expensive.
The burden of regularly-scheduled haircuts multiple times a year is eased by learning how to cut your own hair. Countless people admit they picked up this skill during the pandemic; some even cut their pet’s hair!
10. Dumpster Diving
Hey, no judgment here; one man reveals he hasn’t bought a light bulb for over a decade! “My hobby is recycling scrap metal and dumpster diving,” he says.
“I have not had to buy light bulbs in over ten years because I find them still attached to the lamps and ceiling fans I pick up for scrap.”
If you know where to look, you can score a lot of great items people throw out that have plenty of life left.
11. Cooking With an Instant Pot
Sometimes, the best way to be frugal is to combine it with healthy eating habits. “The thing that has saved me the most money in the past five years has been the instant pot, hands down,” professes one frugal woman.
“Mostly because dried beans in an instant pot are so darn delicious, easy, and cheap. But making your own broth, soup, and cheap meat in the instant pot was just a game-changer for me.”
12. Pay Cash for Small Purchases
Using cash for small purchases such as coffee, snacks, and meals out can help you to stay within your budget.
It’s also a great way of tracking how much money you’re spending each month.
Moreover, when people use cash instead of credit cards, they tend to spend less since it’s harder to part with physical money.
13. Create a Budget You Can Stick With
Creating a budget is the cornerstone of any successful money-saving effort.
When you set up a sound budget, you’ll be able to track your expenses more effectively and ensure that no money is wasted.
You should also try to track your spending on an ongoing basis so that you can continue making adjustments as necessary.
14. Take Extra Time to Save Extra Money
When it comes to groceries, you should always shop around for the best deals.
Compare prices at different stores and compare online grocery delivery services to find the ones that offer the most savings.
You may also be able to take advantage of certain sales or discounts that are offered exclusively by certain stores.
Be sure to keep an eye out for such deals and take advantage of them whenever possible.
And this tip doesn’t end at the grocery store.
The more you can shop around and compare prices, the more money you will save.
