Danish
With the cost of living soaring and incomes lagging behind, many are finding it tough to make ends meet. In such situations, you have to look for alternatives, or even work on your habits in order to make sure you are spending less and bringing your budget within what you can actually take care of of. Of course, unless the governments do something for us, this is what we have to resort to.
With the cost of living soaring and incomes lagging behind, many are finding it tough to make ends meet. A recent survey by Forbes Advisor in 2023 found that a staggering 70% of Americans are either living paycheck to paycheck (40%) or struggling to cover their basic expenses with their income (29%).
Seeking solutions to these challenges, a Reddit asked how others were managing to thrive despite financial pressures. This call for tips sparked a lively discussion, with users sharing their surprisingly effective money-saving strategies and habits. If you’re looking to stretch your dollars further and navigate tight financial situations, you’re not alone.
Scroll down below for some best saving habits that you can adopt to relax your financial stress. Enjoy!
1. The other name for ziplock bags is “reusable bags”.
Reusing normal ziploc bags. My parents did it all the time growing up in the 80s and 90s. Not sure why people think they’re single use. They are durable enough to use many times over with enough care.
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2. And the contrasting colors look good as well.
This is one from a long time ago, but thrift store plates that don’t match. They tend to be less heavy, and they all do the same thing a little different than the other which is good depending on the kind of food you’re having.
And if one plate breaks, you don’t care.
The idea of maintaining a ‘four piece set’ when a plate breaks seems just another thing to manage, that really does not matter.
3. Bar soaps are better than fancy body washes.
Bar soap. I quit buying fancy body washes etc and just went back to basic bar soap. Way cheaper, less garbage, simpler, works just as well if not better.
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4. I think I know the reason why I am so broke. I eat too much fast food.
Not eating fast food at all. As weird as it is to say, I am glad they upped the prices.
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5. New branded clothes are so freaking expensive. Secondhand clothes of the same brand serve the same purpose and are much cheaper.
Buying clothes secondhand only. 3 years in and frankly I no longer see the point of ever paying retail prices for new clothes. I thrift about once a week and over time have easily found everything I need. Bonus: it’s helped with my mindset in sort of training myself out of immediacy/instant gratification and into longer term planning and patience.
I will buy shoes new as needed, however.
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6. Cook multiple meals at once and store them in the freeze for later use.
Buying an upright freezer made it easier to prep meals in bulk at much lower cost thus saving not only money but also time. Why cook rice 9 times for 9 meals when I could do it once and portion it out and freeze in the time it takes to cook it for 2? Why do bolognese sauce for 8 portions when I could do 40 in the same time plus another 10 minutes for portioning? Even my skeptical husband has admitted it was highly worth it.
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7. Not only do cigarettes burn your lungs but they also burn your wallet.
Quitting smoking. It came, of course, with better health benefits. But the initial greatest impact was my wallet. Smokers are literally burning up their dollars.
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8. The old ones give good mileage as well.
Getting rid of my new high trim vehicle to drive a 2008. Getting rid of the loan and warranty saves me 12k a year. I’m so happy to be driving this piece of s**t that’s good on gas with no car payment. I do not envy anyone with a brand new car anymore. Especially the high trim models. I’d rather save the money for the apocalypse.
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9. There is so much left in there that we have no idea about.
Cutting the tops off tube containers like face wash, lotion, etc. and scooping out the rest of what is left has been a big money saver! You’ll be amazed at how much is still left once it stops squeezing out. To keep the product from drying out, slide the cut piece down onto the area where you made the cut.
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10. They go on for years without any wear and tear. You have to replace the pads every 6 to 8 months.
We have a Swiffer mop, but we haven’t bought the pads for years. My husband knits reusable pads out of cheap cotton yarn that last for several years, and we just use regular floor cleaner in a bucket to mop.
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11. If you want to save on those heavy-duty power bills, this is the way to go about it.
Adding insulation to my attic and air sealing my house. Yeah, it certainly helped out power bill, but the increase in comfort is much appreciated as well.
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12. Eating out can be so heavy on the budget. Learn how to cook.
Learning how to cook.
Status-Soup-2974:
I second this. Used to eat out 2-3 times a day, then moved to a more expensive city and was forced to start eating at home. Now I prefer having my own home-cooked meals over fast food.
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13. Not only do menstrual cups help you save money, but they have many health benefits as well.
Menstrual cup – been using the same silicone one for more than 6 years. So much prefer to tampons for many reasons besides saving cash.
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14. It takes away your money and then you. A big no to that.
Giving up alcohol. I quit last year after going through my budget at the end of 2022 and realizing the insane amount I spent going out. I still go out with my friends, but I drink club sodas instead now- which normally bartenders don’t even charge me for or are free refills. Went from spending $500+ /month on alcohol to maybe $30 on flavored seltzers. Huge huge win, and I am not only better off financially, but mentally and physically also.
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15. A reusable water bottle is the best human invention.
Getting a reusable water bottle!!! Keeps me hydrated & saves me a few dollars when I’m out and about.
Wow, these are some great tips. After going through these, I really don’t understand so many of the things that we do instead of using these alternatives like using a bar soap instead of those expensive body washes is such a great alternative. Reusable products are something I feel like should be made standard everywhere by putting a ban on single-use items. Not only are you spreading waste around the planet, you are also denting your wallet heavily by using single-use items.
These tips are great and during these tough economic times, I am bound to use many of them from now on. How are you guys enjoying it so far?
16. Making vs buying will always be more cost-efficient.
Bought a bread machine from Goodwill for $15. We used to buy bread that was $3 a loaf, but now making our own bread costs us pennies.
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17. You often end up finding secondhand products in great shape at such low prices.
Furniture, appliances, home decor: find them gently used on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or EBay. Exceptions for certain personal items like mattresses.
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18. It lowers your expenditure on gas and improves your health at the same time.
I stopped driving to run small errands. I walk instead.
I really enjoy the walks through my neighborhood. I stop at the store to pick up whatever I need, or run into the bank.
I cut my gas cost in half. And I get the exercise.
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19. That is actually a good amount of money you can save every month by not drinking soft drinks or coffee outside.
This year I stopped getting coffee and drinks outside. This saves me about $125-$150 per month. I’m unexpectedly not even missing it and I’m planning to throw this money into my retirement account.
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20. Cycling allows you to reach your destination in the cheapest possible way and stay in great shape. Double benefit!
Cycling ! Super cheap mean of transportation (basically just maintenance and even that is super cheap), good for your health, makes you smile. Can’t believe there aren’t more people doing it, it truly feels like a cheat code. It’s my main way to go from A to B. I’ll buy a cargo bike for sure.
21. Give the food away to a needy person if you don’t want to eat it. Don’t let it rot.
Eliminating waste. It feels good to use up food before it goes bad. Prior to getting serious, we would throw out so much food waste as it spoiled.
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22. Don’t do unnecessary shopping for clothes. Explore your closet, you will find ample to wear for the next two years.
Did a no spend year on clothes. It was way easier and more enjoyable than expected. I made myself “shop” my own closet and discovered so many cool pieces I’d forgotten about. Other than to replace essential things that get worn out/fall apart, I really don’t need any new clothes. That was a liberating discovery.
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23. This results in no lunch deductions from your salary and you knowing exactly what you are eating.
I bring every snack, drink, breakfast and lunch from home every day when I go to work. I work in Downtown Brooklyn in NY which is about as expensive as Manhattan… saves me roughly $400 a month!
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24. Toilet paper is an extra expense we all need to cut down on.
A bidet. My toilet paper use has gone way down. I cannot believe I went without one for so long.
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25. Not the trendy ones, but we can definitely learn the simple cuts and do them ourselves.
Cutting my own hair. I started during the pandemic because none of the hair salons were open, and I figured if it looked terrible no one would see it anyway. I tend to prefer simple cuts that are easy to do on myself, and this also cuts out the awkward small talk and all the chemical smells that trigger my asthma. If I decide I want a more complicated hairstyle I’ll pay a professional, but if all I want is a trim I can do it myself for free (the hair scissors paid for themselves with the first haircut).
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26. Make your eating habits better by sharing meals. Good on your health and on your bank balance.
What about eating less and portion control? My wife and I sometimes split meals, at least when we ate out. Though I’m pretty sure I still eat way more than I need, I think developing healthy eating habits or not eating after you’re 80% full could be great for your finances as well as your health.
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27. I really think the world governments need to put a ban on single-use items. Reusable products are so much better.
Reusable floor pads like swiffer but they go in laundry. Reusable dish sponges that go to the laundry . So much better.
28. Old razor blades are very economical and long-lasting as compared to modern plastic ones.
Switching to old-school razor blade razor instead of the plastic ones. Shaves fantastically, lasts forever and razor blades are incredibly cheap.
29. My house needs to shift on these. This is a win-win.
Wool dryer balls. It reduces the price of laundry and at the same time it reduces the amount of fragrance there is. Win Win. Reducing the amount of stuff that I have. I’ve always liked my stuff, after all I bought it all. 🙂 But having less stuff means work taking care of it, cleaning it and storing it.
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30. You can do as well in a tiny apartment as you do in a huge mansion.
Moving into my tiny house. Major downsizing. One room, bathroom and closet. Catio. Honestly I love it. No kitchen. I have a microwave and a toaster oven. Mini crockpot and a mini noodle pot. Small fridge. And a futon. My cats are happy and so am I.
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I really hope you guys enjoyed this one. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Stay tuned for more economical habits that will help you save more!
Via Blueeyedfoxie
Animal tax.
“Smokes stole a Pringle.”
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