A Cheapskate’s Guide to Saving Money
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Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it can be a lot of fun! If you’re looking for ways to save money, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will discuss some easy tips that will help you get started on your journey to becoming a cheapskate. Read on to get our guide to saving money.
Believe it or not, there are a lot of ways to save money without making any major sacrifices.
It doesn’t matter if your intent to save money is for paying off debt or to tuck money into your savings accounts and retirement investments – the following tips will work for you to trim what you spend.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started!
Begin with a Budget
First and foremost, you need to create a budget. This is the key to successful money management. A budget will help you keep track of your spending and make sure that you are always aware of how much money you have available. It’s also important to be mindful of your credit score. A high credit score can save you a lot of money in the long run, so be sure to stay on top of it.
Printable Budget Set: Let’s make sure to cover my FREE Printable Binder set to help you track your spending, create a budget and so much more. You might want to print this NOW before reading any further. This Savings Tracker will help keep you organized!
Check out this article to get started: Top 7 Questions to Ask When Creating a Family Budget
Pinch Pennies
If you’ve heard the saying, “a penny saved is a penny earned,” you know it’s true. The good news is that saving your pennies isn’t as difficult as you might think.
Check out these ways to pinch pennies and save money:
Save money at Aldi
One of the best ways to save money is to shop at Aldi. This grocery store offers quality products at a fraction of the price you would pay elsewhere.
Here are our Aldi shopping tips: Tips for Saving Money at Aldi
Save money on baby essentials
If you have a baby, there are a lot of ways to save money on the essentials. For example, you can buy diapers in bulk or sign up for a subscription service that will deliver them right to your door.
How to Save Money On Baby Essentials is a good place to get started.
Save money on books
If you’re a bookworm, there are plenty of ways to save money on books. One option is to sign up for a subscription service like Kindle Unlimited or Scribd. This will give you access to thousands of books for a fraction of the price.
We actually wrote about how to get FREE books: How to Get Free Books Without Going to the Library
Save money camping
Camping is a great way to save money on travel. Not only is camping cheaper than staying in a hotel, but you can also save money on food by cooking your own meals.
Check out our guide to saving money on camping: How to Save Money Camping
We also love this list we found on budget camping supplies: Dollar Tree Camping Supplies Complete A to Z List
Save money on your car
There are a lot of ways to save money on your car, including downsizing, buying used, and driving less.
You can save a lot of time and gas money with a little bit of planning. There’s no need to drive back and forth crisscrossing the town. A few minutes spent planning your errands ensures that you get them done in the most efficient way.
18 Simple Ways To Save Money On Your Car is a good place to start.
Save money on your car expenses
With the current prices and lack of inventory of new cars, this is pretty important. You need to keep what you have running and do it on the cheap.
Check out this article: How to Save Money on Car Expenses
Save money on your car insurance
One of the easiest ways to save money on your car is to shop around for the best deal on car insurance. Rates can vary by hundreds of dollars, so it’s important to compare rates and find the policy that fits your needs.
We have the Top 5 Ways to Save Money on Auto Insurance for you!
Save money on cell phones
One of the best ways to save money on your cell phone is to switch providers. There are a lot of great deals out there, so it’s worth taking the time to compare rates.
You can also save money by switching to a prepaid plan or BYOD (bring your own device) plan.
Here are a few more tips: 8 Ways To Save On Cellular Phone Service
Save money on clothes
One of the best ways to save money on clothes is to shop at consignment stores or thrift shops. You can also save money by shopping online or buying clothing during sales.
Another option is to swap clothes with friends and family members. This is a great way to get a new wardrobe without spending a lot of money.
The Best Ways to Save Money On Clothes has a few more tips too.
Save money at Costco
If you’re a Costco shopper, you know that it’s a great place to save money. You can save money on groceries, clothes, and even furniture.
Here are our tips for saving money at Costco: How to Get the Best Deals at Costco
Save money on craft supplies
If you’re a crafter, there are a lot of ways to save money on supplies. One option is to shop at discount stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. You can also buy supplies online or during sales.
We wrote about this here: Where to Find Cheap DIY Craft Supplies
Save money by DIY
It can be expensive to pay a professional to fix things for you. A little time with a guy from Home Depot or time watching YouTube videos and you can easily do anything from pairing your house to resealing your driveway.
Save money during holidays
The holidays can be an expensive time of year. However, there are a lot of ways to save money by shopping smartly.
One option is to shop online and take advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. You can also buy gifts early or make your own gifts.
Finally, don’t forget about holiday traditions that don’t cost a lot of money, like caroling or baking cookies.
We like this article about this here: How To Save Money During the Holidays
Save money eating out
One of the easiest ways to save money on eating out is to order a la carte instead of getting the full meal. You can also save money by sharing a meal or ordering food to go.
Skip the expensive drinks and go for water, even try holding off on dessert.
Most restaurants have apps for deals and discounts and even days where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Check out How To Eat Out And Save Money
Save money eating at home
Eating out can be expensive, especially if you do it often. Instead, try cooking at home. This is a great way to save money and eat healthier too!
The average person spends over $2000 per year eating out at restaurants. Packing your own lunch is also a lot healthier than eating fast food and tends to be a great way to use leftovers.
Save money envelope method
One popular way to save money is the envelope method. This involves setting aside a certain amount of money each month for specific expenses, like groceries, entertainment, or clothes.
This can be a great way to stay on budget and avoid overspending.
We wrote about this here: Why Using the Envelope System Makes Sense
Save money envelopes
We actually have a FREE download for you — you can get it here.
Save money on extracurricular activities for kids
One of the best ways to save money on extracurricular activities for your kids is to sign up for a membership. Many organizations offer discounted rates for members.
You can also save money by trying out smaller options of a course before signing a large contract. Your local parks and recreation guides are great for testing something like karate for 4 weeks instead of buying a 12-month contract and being stuck after 4 weeks when Jr no longer likes it.
Asking for the “gift of activity” from grandparents is a great idea also – they can offer memberships to children’s museums, etc instead of another expensive and crappy toy.
We wrote about this here: How To Save On Extra Curricular Activities For Kids
Save money on furniture
You may not want to buy someone’s old mattress, but there are some furniture items that are just fine to purchase secondhand. A lot of times you can get a good piece of used furniture, and the quality is better than some of the brand-new pieces you can find in furniture stores today.
For example, it would be fine to buy any type of wooden furniture, such as china cabinets, hutches, and dining room sets.
You can pick up used furniture at garage sales, thrift stores, or estate sales and probably get it for pennies on the dollar. It is beyond easy to customize it with either chalk paint or a simple refinishing job. Even just changing out the hardware can make a huge difference.
Another option is to buy furniture that is already distressed. This way, you don’t have to do any of the work yourself and it will still look like a million bucks.
Save money grocery shopping
Our guide to saving money needs to talk about this topic! One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to meal plan. This involves coming up with a list of meals for the week and then shopping for only those items.
Of course, there is the obvious coupon clipping, shopping the weekly sales specials, and even working the stockpile system.
You can also save money by cooking simple, inexpensive recipes and avoiding processed foods. Another option is to join a food co-op or order from a local farm.
We wrote about this here: How to Save Money Grocery Shopping and How to Build Your Stockpile within Your Budget
Save money on gas
One of the best ways to save money on gas is to shop around for the best prices. You can use a website or app like GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas in your area.
You can also save money by carpooling, walking, biking, or taking public transportation instead of driving.
We wrote about this here: Tips for Saving Money on Gas
Save money gas apps
If you’re looking for a way to save money on your monthly gas bill, you should definitely check out some of the best gas apps. These apps will help you find the cheapest gas in your area and even let you know when prices are about to go up or down.
Some of our favorites include GasBuddy, Waze, and Gas Guru.
Save money homesteading
One way to save money on your monthly expenses is to homestead. This involves growing your own food, raising your own livestock, and using natural methods for home maintenance and repairs.
Backyard chickens are once again becoming a thing and so is turning that backyard into a garden for seasonal fresh produce that you can preserve by canning or dehydrating.
You can also save money by making your own household products like laundry detergent, dish soap, and toothpaste.
We write about this on our sites Bug Out WIth Dannelle and Try To Garden. Our new site Raising Chickens for Dummies will help those looking to start a backyard flock.
Save money on Halloween decor
If you’re looking for a way to save money on your Halloween decor, you should definitely check out our post on the best ways to do it.
We shared some tips and tricks that will help you save money while still having a spook-tacular Halloween party.
Best Places to Find Affordable Halloween Decor
Save money at Kohls
It seems like there is always a sale going on at Kohls’s! In fact, they have a whole section of their website devoted to it.
You can save money on everything from clothing and accessories to home decor and appliances. Plus, Kohl’s often offers store-wide discounts that can help you save even more!
We wrote about this here: Insider Tips to get the BEST deals at Kohl’s
Save money on laundry
One way to save money on your monthly laundry expenses is to use a clothesline. This will help you save on both electricity and water.
Another option is to wash your clothes in cold water. You can also avoid using the dryer by hanging them up to dry.
Check out our other tips here: Laundry Tips: Saving Money and Keeping Clothes Clean
Save money losing weight
If you’re looking to save money on your monthly expenses, one of the best things you can do is lose weight. This will help you reduce your health care costs, as well as your grocery and clothing bills.
There are a number of ways to lose weight without spending a lot of money. You can try dieting, exercising, or using a weight loss supplement.
There is no need to buy an expensive gym membership with the TONS of YouTube workout videos available for free.
Save money on makeup
One way to save money on makeup is to buy it in bulk. You can also find great deals at drugstores and discount stores like Walmart or Target.
NEVER buy used makeup. There are a number of websites where you can find gently used cosmetics for a fraction of the price…but you are setting yourself up for health risks.
We wrote about this here: 7 Ways To Save On Makeup
Save money on personal grooming
One way to save money on your monthly personal grooming expenses is to use a hair-cutting guide. This will help you cut your own hair without having to go to the salon.
Another option is to buy generic brands of shampoo, conditioner, and other personal care products. You can also make your own beauty products at home using natural ingredients.
5 Ways to Save Money on Personal Grooming is a good place to start.
Save money on your phone
Most of us have cell phones these days, and we rarely leave home without them. If your cell phone is by your side at all times, there’s very little reason to pay for both a cell phone and a landline.
I don’t know about you, but I found that most of my landline calls were telemarketers. Talk about a waste of time and money! If you have a cell phone, there’s no need for a landline. Cancel it and save yourself some money each month.
Check out 8 Ways To Save On Cellular Phone Service
Save money on prescriptions
One way to save money on your monthly prescription expenses is to ask your doctor if there are any generic alternatives available.
Another option is to order your prescriptions from a discount pharmacy like Walmart or Target. You can also ask your pharmacist for tips on how to save money on medication.
Even Kroger has an annual discount program where you pay a small annual fee and get a ton of beyond bargain prices on hundreds of prescriptions.
Save money printable
There are tons of finance fixing printables out there – we rounded up a few of our favorites and you can see them here: 12 Free Finance Fixing Printables You Need
Save money on school shopping
Most people don’t realize that the best deals are usually in July – way ahead of the normal school season. Between mail-in rebates, weekly in-ad coupons, and bonus offers, you can pick up the needed items for a fraction of the full retail price.
Be sure to check out our article on this: How to Rock Back-to-School Time as a Parent
Save money with receipts
One way to save money on your monthly expenses is to keep track of your receipts and use them to claim tax deductions.
You can also use receipts to help you track your spending and find areas where you can cut back.
There are also several apps where you can scan the receipts and earn rewards for hitting certain levels.
10 Ways to Save Money with Receipts is a good place to start.
Save money while traveling
Traveling can be expensive, but there are a few ways to save money while on the road.
One option is to bring your own food and drinks with you. You can also find great deals on hotels by booking them through websites like Expedia or Travelocity.
Another option is to use public transportation instead of renting a car.
You can read more here: Nine Ways to Save Money on Food and Drink When Traveling and 14 Ways to Save Money on Your Accommodation
Save money on utilities
One way to save money on your monthly utilities is to use a programmable thermostat. This will help you save energy (and money) by programming the thermostat to cool or heat your home at certain times of the day.
Another option is to bundle your services. For example, you can get cable, internet, and phone service from the same provider and save money on each individual service.
Finally, be sure to comparison shop for your energy providers. There are several websites where you can compare rates and find the best deal for your home.
We wrote more about this here: How to Save Money on Electric Bill and Other Utilities
Save money at Walmart
One way to save money at Walmart is to take advantage of their price match policy. This means that if you find a lower price for an item at another store, Walmart will match it.
You can also save money by using their in-ad coupons, which are available every week.
Save money on a Wedding
One obvious way to save money on your wedding is to have a smaller ceremony and reception. Be sure to negotiate with vendors – many of them will give you a discount if you agree to pay in cash.
We have a ton of tips for you here: 7 Tips For Keeping Your Wedding Budget Small
It all adds up
Following these tips will help save you some money without causing too much pain. No one expects you to go to extremes when it comes to pinching pennies, but a few easy lifestyle changes can result in thousands of dollars in savings.
How To Save Money Subconsciously: Do you find at the end of the month you’ve spent money you didn’t realize you had spent? This happens to everyone at one point or another. These tips will help you do the opposite. Instead of spending, you’ll be able to save easily.
40 Ways To Save Money: This is actually a FREE Printable that gives you a list of simple things you can do to save!
Finally, be sure to make a habit of saving your money. One of the best ways to do this is to open a savings account and set up a regular automatic transfer. This will help you ensure that you always have some money saved up for emergencies or unexpected expenses. And who knows? You may even find yourself with enough money saved up to take a vacation!
Other articles you may find interesting in you like our guide to saving money:
- 50+ Side Hustles for Moms: Stay-at-home Moms Looking to Earn Money
- Are Spare Change Investment Apps Worth Your Time and Money?
- 20 Great Apps to Make Money From Your Phone
- 1000 Recipes For Meal Planning
