When I was a child, my grandparents taught me valuable lessons about how to live frugally.
Some of the most valuable information that they shared with me was about money. How to save money, how to make money, how to build my credit, and other money-related topics that would impact my future.
Back during my younger days, those conversations didn’t mean much to me, but now they mean the world.
As an adult, I’ve come to the realization that saving money is easier said than done. Plus, saving money can be even harder when you live paycheck to paycheck.
Luckily, we live in an era where technology has seemingly made saving money a little easier. There are tons of apps like Ebates, that’ll help you save cash and even give you cash back!
I love these apps, and I highly recommend that you try them if you haven’t already. I’ve had a lot of success with them, but I’m trying to do some SERIOUS saving!
Some things are better the old fashioned way.
Saving money is one of them.
If you want to get down to the nitty-gritty of saving money, try these old school saving tips.
1 – cut coupons
My mother and I used to sit at the kitchen table and clip coupons.
Coupons are still the holy grail for saving money on household products, and I still use them to this day.
Check out coupons.com for the best coupons on all of your household needs.
2- piggy bank
I had a piggy bank when I was six or seven years old. Of course, it would look extremely weird for me to have an actual piggy bank in my room, so I’ll just stick with a mason jar bank.
3- Save your coins
Save all of your spare change. My grandmother used to say, “take care of the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” Saving cents will definitely help you accumulate a nice amount of savings.
4- turn the lights off
Make it a habit to turn the lights off when you leave the room. I can’t remember how many times I got yelled at by my parents for leaving the lights on unnecessarily. Now, I understand that they were just trying to train me on how to live frugally by conserving energy.
5- shop with a grocery list
As you wander down the grocery store aisles, you mindlessly fill your grocery cart with things that you don’t need. Before you know it, you’ve spent a couple hundred dollars on food that’ll just go to waste. Shopping with a list helps you concentrate on buying the things that they need.
6- buy generics
I’ve always preferred getting the generic over the name brand. It’s so much cheaper to buy generics and they’re just as good as the name brand.
7- cook at home
Eating out every night adds up. Save money by cooking at home. You don’t have to cook every night; you can meal prep on the weekend. Meal prepping is when you prepare multiple meals to get you through the week.
8- preserve food
Save your leftovers! Invest in some good plastic containers to store your leftovers in, and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
9- rewear your jeans
Unless your jeans are obviously dirty, try to avoid washing your jeans after every wear. Washing your denim less frequently will help them last for years.
10- wash laundry in cold water
Cold water cycles use less energy than hot water cycles. Plus, cold water is gentle on delicate fabrics. Keep your clothes from getting ruined and save more energy by washing clothes in cold water!
11- let your clothes dry on a drying rack
Back when I was growing up, we hung our clothes on a clothesline in the backyard. You can still do that today, or you can let your clothes dry on a clothing rack like this one inside your home. Another option is to hang your clothes over the shower rod in your bathroom. Letting your clothes air dry around the house will save you more money than running the dryer.
12- Make your own gifts
When it comes to giving presents, it’s the thought that counts. Handmade gifts are thoughtful and heartfelt. This holiday season, take the time to make DIY handmade gifts for your friends and family. Not only will you save money, you’ll put a smile on everyone’s face.
13- Drink water
Drinking water in the place of sugar-loaded sodas and juices will keep you hydrated and save you money. Eliminate buying bottled water, and invest in a quality water filter container.
14- use your credit card wisely
Rule number one is to never spend more than you can afford to pay back. Secondly, pay your full credit card balance off way before the due date.
15- cut the cable
Cable is a huge waste of money considering the fact that everything is on the internet nowadays. If you want to watch your favorite shows without a cable subscription, purchase a Roku box and a Hulu subscription for as low as $7.99 a month.
16- stay in the house for the weekend
Don’t get me wrong – we all deserve to have a fun night out on the town. But, going out every weekend can really be expensive. Save a little money this weekend by staying in the comfort of your home. If you don’t want to stay at home, search social media for free social activities to partake in.
17- shop at thrift stores
I always think of shopping at thrift stores as searching for gold. If you take your time to search through each rack, you’ll discover some amazing items for dirt cheap prices!
18- stay organized
You can lose so many valuables by being disorganized. We all know that organizing is easier said than done, but it’ll help you keep up with everything that you have.
19- an apple a day
Getting sick is costly these days. A trip to the doctors office can create a high bill, and the cost of prescription drugs are constantly rising. To keep from getting sick, Maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and stay clean. Wash your hands often and cover your mouth when sneezing to prevent the spread of germs.
20- cut the bad habits
Old habits are hard to break. But, when it comes to saving money, cutting the cord on these bad habits might be easier than you thought. Once you kick your smoking habit to the curb, you’ll never have to worry about wasting money cigarettes again.
Getting money wise and learning how to live frugally will take time. Start your journey to financial freedom by implementing these tips into your life today!