Ways To Save Money When You Are On A Tight Budget

If you’ve ever been in a pinch and don’t have any money or need to save extra, it is good to focus on savings.  There are lots of ways you can be very frugal. These might not be things you would normally do on a daily basis, but some are changes that can save you a lot over the long run. I was always very frugal when the kids were little, and I still do many of these things on a daily basis, such as making coffee at home and not paying for any kind of drinks.

Drink water

It’s free and it’s healthy.  Stop drinking soda, wine, and other beverages — even a dollar a day spent on beverages adds up.  You can always ask for things like speciality tea or coffee when people ask what you want for your birthday/Christmas/etc.

If you can’t survive without caffeine, you can get a box of green tea bags for cheap (a few dollars for a month or two worth of tea) or make homemade coffee for less than buying coffee. If you drink coffee, make it at home. Even if you buy a coffee maker, it will be cheaper than buying a $5-6 coffee every day.

Don’t eat out & pack your lunch

I know this can be tough! It is easy to just eat out especially when you are busy. Get in the habit of eating at home and planning meals.  This will save you a lot of money!  Bring lunch to work, and don’t order out.

Line dry your clothes

You can use a clothes line or a clothes drying rack to dry clothing.  You can save on your utility bills by line drying, and the added benefit is drying laundry in the sun helps to freshen items.

Don’t pay for books, movies, or music

There are ways to get books for cheap or free, such as the library.

You can also find audiobooks for free, using Libby (a library app).

For movies, you can check out movies at the library or find free movies online.

There are plenty of ways to listen to music that are free – radio, Pandora, Spotify, other radio apps.

Adjust the thermostat

Turn down the heat or turn up the AC.  Our house stays pretty cool in the winter, but we save money.  We wear slippers or thick socks, and you can always wear a sweater if you feel chilly.  In the winter our heat doesn’t go above 63 (65 max, usually when we have guests) and down in the 50’s at night. Use a programmable thermostat that you can set a schedule or even control from your phone.

Save on utilities

Look for any way to save on utilities, in addition to adjusting your thermostat. Be efficient with water – for example, get a low flow showerhead, low flow toilet, use cold water in your washing machine, be aware of how long you shower, etc.

Clean Your Car at Home

Instead of going to the car wash, wash your own car and clean the interior on your own. 

This could mean saving a lot, as each wash adds up.

Skip the salon or spa

While you may need a haircut 

Cut down on trash bags

Make sure you fill bags as much as possible before putting them in the trash can.  I usually consolidate trash on garbage day. Use any spare plastic bags when you can for trash — such as shopping bags or other bags.  Again, may not seem like much, but a couple trash bags a week is hundreds of bags a year. 

Do your own yard work

This may not be possible for everyone, but paying for lawn service adds up quickly.

We bought a mower and quickly recouped the money. There is a lot of yardwork you can also do on your own, such as raking.

If you work long hours and are either exhausted or there isn’t enough daylight, it is understandable if you can’t do it on your own.  

Be savvy about leftovers and freezer meals

Even if I am cooking pasta, I always cook the whole box at one time.  This way, I save the hassle of cooking small portions, and I know I will have leftovers, which is efficient.  Make large batches of food you can freeze (like soups or lasagna).  You can also buy things in bulk to freeze, or day old bagels at the bakery (and toast them or use them for pizza bagels).

Save money on clothes.

Shop at cheaper stores for essentials like socks, underwear, leggings, workout wear, winter apparel. 

If you have kids this is great because they are comfy and you won’t worry about ruining your clothes.

Shop at consignment stores

A lot of these places have come a long way – I even buy clothes as gifts that are brand new with tags, but at a fraction of the cost.  I buy my kids winter snow pants and boots on deep discount.  Need dance or soccer gear?  Check the consignment shop. There are also sports stores that sell used sports gear. You can also make some money by selling your things to a consignment shop.

Buy in bulk

Sometimes it makes sense to buy things in bulk, such as toilet paper or pet food. Be savvy about which items you purchase in bulk so that things don’t go to waste (such as food going bad), and also consider Amazon Subscribe & Save, so you can get a discount on the more you purchase. Also look into things like overstock, second hand, or Amazon Basics.

We have a nice vacuum, but the bags are expensive (over $5 each).  When we were in a pinch and ran out of bags, I threw on a rubber glove and emptied the bag myself.  This is a little extreme, but some vacuum bags are really expensive.

Order online

For every mile, every 10 miles, 25 miles, etc. to the store, you are spending gas. Consider buying on Amazon, or pet food at Chewy. Many products are comparable or cheaper, and come within a day or two! When you factor in the gas spent going back and forth to the store, it adds up. Bonus – you save a bunch of time as well.

Have a no-spend weekend

Strategize for a no-spend weekend. Instead of spending money at the movies, restaurants, etc., you can save quite a bit by having a short spending freeze.

Consider most of these things a spending freeze. That means no spending on non-essentials!

Of course it is also important to budget and use coupons when possible.

What are some ways you save?