Second-hand or DIY gifts are totally acceptable. My kids always had a mix of old and new gifts, and they never cared. In fact, some of the things they loved the most were purchased from garage sales. If you teach them that new is not necessarily better , it will serve them well throughout their lives.
Instead of buying expensive greeting cards, take a few minutes to write a note on a nice piece of stationery or a blank card. You can buy a box of either for about the price of one regular birthday card. Better yet, make your own card, if you're artistic, or have one of your kids draw something.
Pack your own food instead of eating at a cafeteria or restaurant. Whether you're going to work, school, the zoo, or a museum, you'll save a lot. If you're taking a road trip, bring a cooler with extra drinks, sandwiches, and snacks.
Cut down on pop or soda, and drink mostly water.
Replace your lawn with native plants that don't require much maintenance and/or mowing. Or convert part of your yard into a garden and grow some of your own food.
Use the "BP Me" App or another gas savings/discount app to earn cents off each gallon and/or rewards. Save gas by consolidating errands into one trip.
Use the library. Not only can you borrow hardcopy books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, etc.; but now many libraries offer free content online. You can stream movies and TV shows on your computer and download books and magazines for your e-reader or phone. Some even offer free online language-learning programs. Also be sure to check out their in-person programs and classes for children, teens, and adults.
Carpool to work or school.
See if you qualify for the federal Lifeline program, which offers a discount on phone service. I think it's about $10/month. You can apply here: https://www.lifelinesupport.org/national-verifier/
Apply for the Emergency Broadband Benefit. If you qualify, you can get $50/month off your internet bill, as long as your provider participates in the program. I think all the big ones do, but those of us that live in the country without cable access might not be able to use it.
Read about it here:
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Talk to your kids about how advertisements manipulate people into wanting and buying things they don't need. I learned about it in school back in the 70s. We were shown a film about the methods used by advertisers and how they were actually studying the brain and psychology to make their ads more effective. It made me mad, thinking that people were trying to trick me. From then on, I was skeptical of every ad I ever saw. It's upsetting that nowadays so many schools feel forced to allow corporations to market directly to students inside the school because they need money for programs like sports and music.
Cleaning Creations- I’ve been re-using spray bottles for all my cleaning needs. I buy bleach from the dollar store and put a small amount in a spray bottle and mix with water. This solution works for any cleaning project. Another solution I make is with white vinegar(1/4 cup), 2 Tablespoons rubbing alcohol, 2 drops Dawn Dish Soap and water. Amazing solution for windows and stainless steel. Finally, I buy inexpensive fabric softener and mix 1/4 cup with water in spray bottle. This works for air freshener and freshening pillows, bedding etc.
Skip a haircut or put it off for an extra week or two each time, or grow your hair long. I hated my last haircut so much that I didn't have it cut again for over two years! :)
Go to Supercuts or Great Clips instead of a more expensive salon.
Use a calculator when you shop to determine the best deals at the grocery store. IDK why, but sometimes the larger "economy" sizes are actually more expensive than the smaller size, so make sure to compare. I've seen that at Walmart a lot.
Most stores have stickers in front of each item with the overall price and also the price per ounce or pound or whatever, which is usually in very small print. However, when you have a coupon or there's a sale, it can be more difficult to figure out the best deal, which is when you need your calculator.
Stop dyeing your hair or at least do it yourself.
I'm running out of ideas…
I just heard about this and haven't had a chance to check into it yet, but apparently there are organizations that matches your savings if your income is low. Here's a link to find a program near you, so you can look into it yourself.
https://prosperitynow.org/map/idas
Calculate purchases by hours worked instead of cost. Take the amount of the item you want to purchase and divide it by your hourly wage. For example, if you’re considering a $50 pair of shoes and you make $10 an hour, ask yourself if those shoes are worth five hours of your life. When I do this, I don't even want to buy groceries! ;)
If you'd love to have a pet but can't afford one due to the high cost of vet care and food/supplies, foster an animal instead. Lots of rescues are desperate for someone to provide a loving home for an animal for a few weeks or months until their forever home is found, and most will pay for vet care, food, and supplies. All you have to do is supply a loving home for a few weeks or months. If you don't want a cat or dog, there are rescues for all kinds of other animals, including bunnies, hamsters, rats, snakes, lizards, etc.!
To find a rescue/foster group near you, check out Petfinder (https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/search/) or call your local Humane Society.
Are you bored but can't afford to go out? Volunteer at a festival. Cultural festivals and events often offer free admission to event volunteers. Contact the organizers of your favorite event to ask about volunteer opportunities and benefits.
Prescriptions! Even if you have health insurance, $@!#% can be expensive. Check with GoodRx and/or the Amazon Pharmacy to see if you can get your meds cheaper. The AARP also has a free Rx program, but I haven't used it myself. I used the Amazon pharmacy and saved about $50/month instead of ordering from my insurance provider/Express Scripts. I've heard GoodRx is excellent, too. The only downside is that they don't count towards my deductible when I get them from Amazon. You can also check different pharmacies because I've found that they don't all charge the same prices.
Only drink tap water, especially if you're at a restaurant.
When I work extra hours or overtime. I save that extra money
I posted a bunch of tips, but I've run out of ideas. Does anyone else have something to add? I'd love to hear specific, everyday things you do to save money, rather than just the usual stuff.
Cooking food good
