Creative Ways to Spend Less Each Month
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Many of us are feeling the squeeze these days as energy prices soar and the weekly shop for groceries continues to rise. As households across the country tighten their belts and cut back on some luxuries, you may be wondering what you can do to make every penny count. Along with online tools where you can learn about budgeting, there are many simple and creative steps you can take to help you manage your finances and save on everyday expenses. Read on to learn more.
Focus On Food
Rather than dining out or ordering in for each meal, do a weekly shop at the supermarket and stock up on all the groceries you and your family will need for the week. Preparing a list in advance of all the essentials can help you stay on track and keep you from making unnecessary and wasteful purchases. Studies suggest this can help households save as much as $1,866 per year.
Cooking at home can not only be healthier but will allow you to make enough for leftovers which you can eat for lunch the next day, saving you money throughout the working week. If you have a backyard, why not grow your own vegetable patch? This way you can produce homegrown produce, that is organic, has zero-carbon footprint and is cost-free. It also provides you and your family with healthy and nutritious ingredients for your home-cooked meals.
Do a Clear Out
Take the time to go through your belongings to see what can be sold, making you some extra money. Over the years it can be easy to accumulate items that are then boxed up and stored away. Perhaps you have a large DVD collection, or a variety of clothing and handbags. It is worth going through your belongings to see which ones you could sell to a new owner.
You can create free ads online on sites such as Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and Ebay or consider classified sections of your local newspaper and auction houses for more expensive pieces such as family heirlooms or antiques. Not only will you make a few extra dollars from selling your wares, but you’ll also free up valuable storage space in your home.
Get Creative With Clothing
Rather than shopping for new clothing items, why not gather some friends together and do a clothes swap where you can exchange some of your unworn or discarded items for new ones at no cost?
Instead of throwing out or giving away clothes that have minor faults such as small holes or missing buttons, by purchasing a sewing kit you can easily repair these items and have them look good as new. If you have some clothes which you no longer wear, consider repurposing them through ‘upcycling.’ Give an old t-shirt a new lease of life by sewing on some sequins or adding a colorful stencil design and transform an old pair of jeans into some new shorts for the summer.
Follow the tips in this article to help you save money each month and add some fun into your frugality.
