[Amy]

What are some things you do to save money when you’ve already pretty much pinched most things ?

I’m looking for creative or overlooked strategies that can help stretch a tight budget even further. Any tips or personal experiences?

[Karen]

We do a no spend month when necessary. We also save all our coins. It doesn’t add up very quickly, but it helps.

[Bri]

Call around and see if you can get cheaper insurance. Never hurts to get quotes, see if you can lower your phone bill or switch companies.

Buy reduced foods, coupon, shop sales ads.

It really does help.

[Diane]

If I have cut everything I can..then the only other choice is to increase income.

If that means picking up and selling pecans, selling plasma, babysitting, selling something or taking on a waitress job on the weekends till I can make some breathing room…then that’s what I do.

[Jean]

Ask a trusted friend or relative to go over your budget with you. They may see savings that you do not.

[Susie]

Have you cut your phone bill? We pay $15/month per line with Mint. Visible is equally inexpensive and good as well.

[Kirsten]

Clothing swaps with friends instead of buying new or even thrifting. Join your local Buy Nothing group and make asks there before buying things (everything is free).

Put clear film or blankets over windows to cut down on heating costs.

Depending on your age/income/status, look at any kind of state subsidies/rebates you qualify for—heat, cell phone, rebates for insulating the house, food, childcare, reduced property tax for seniors/veterans, rent vouchers, free tuition at community college, senior housing, upgrading appliances with more efficient ones.

Do some research then call your vendors and ask about discounts.

Look at where most of your budget is spent and shop around to find better deals.

Always look around for jobs that are better paid with more benefits.

[Cely]

Make your own stuff. (Dog food, cat food, butter); cut on car insurance, lower isp cost, drive less, change the way you cook (beans, low gluten grains (barley), no meat – use bone broth, cut electric bill- use wood for fuel, use electric blanket for heat at night, cut down on gas – by shopping for things close by and not driving to far for work, buy a house vs renting, even purchase land and put something small on it is the biggest savings, do not pay PMI insurance – pay the insurance cost to your premium instead, buy from thrift stores or yard sales first, keep a list of items in your head so you can purchase from yard sale when you see it, purchase food buy one get one free, shop around for groceries as some really jack up the price.

Change the way you cook.

Always from scratch. I like dry barley that you need to cook, and also the whole dry organic lentil beans that you prepare yourself.

You can sprout your own veggies. I like organic alfalfa, and mong beans.

Fresh organic sprouts are nutrient dense, and will keep you and your family more healthy.

[Amber]

Something I switched to as an adult (never knew about this as a kid): instead of using chicken broth, beef broth, and vegetable broth use bouillon cubes or granules. Lots of savings!

Step on your toilet roll before you put it on the spindle, it will roll less fast and help you with counting squares.

I buy my toothpaste, toilet paper, our favorite fig bars, and a few other things from sams club, but I always price compare 1st using the sams app, heb app, and Walmart app.

When shopping produce I won’t buy any fruit unless it’s under 1$ per lb, and i won’t buy vegetables unless they are under $1.50 per lb (with the exception of asparagus).

We don’t use paper towels at all, we have reusable cloth napkins from the thrift store (started with old socks cut up first before we found the bargain napkins).

If we have any plumbing issues I always see if I can fix it myself first using YouTube videos.

Over the years I have snaked drains, pipe vents, replaced angle stops, extended cpvc piping, and replaced faucets.

Be prepared to make mistakes at first (and lots of them) but after each one it gets slightly easier.

I hope some of these things might be useful to you!!! Good luck!

[Sherri]

Keep a record of my spending. You will find holes and then you can pinch them shut.

Also reexamine your grocery spending. I stopped going to the grocery store every week and just use what we have.

It amazed me just how much my local grocery store was getting each week just from a quick stop for milk or bread.

[Mary]

Eat what we have. Even if it’s weird meals. By that I mean. Thrown together things

[Margo]

Try to hit the grocery store only Twice/ month
Do our best to put together all meals and coffee at home
Getting creative with pantry and freezer items!!!

We are two adults and occasionally a teenager step daughter

This month we spent $292 the entire month including Christmas day dinner and step daughter staying with us on her school vacation.

I shopped Aldi exclusively

[Elisabeth]

Explore alternate non-meat protein sources like tofu, seitan and tvp (textured vegetable protein). Tvp is dry soy granules that plump up in chili or spaghetti sauces but is low in fat and high in protein.

I have fooled carnivores with tvp chili. All are inexpensive.

Get cookbooks from the library for recipes and also vegan sites on the internet will have them.

Get fruits and veg from local farmers markets and crop swap groups.

People with an over-producing garden or tree may trade or sell you their surplus cheaply.

[Dottie]

Meal planning, some meatless meals, carpooling, dog walking, pet sitting, cancel streaming service for awhile, eat out of your freezer & pantry only, pack lunch for everyone, buy all snacks from home, buy only if necessary.

[Amy]

Cut your subscriptions and see if you can get content for free with ads. Cut eating and drinking out.

Make more vegetarian meals to cut grocery costs.

[Kathy]

Make soups
Rice and beans
Pastas
Stews

Take leftovers for lunch
Make coffee at home

Only run errands once a week
Buy reduced breads and freeze

Make pizzas at home
Make bone broth from roasted chicken

[Karen]

Eat beans and rice and potatoes, oats, etc. Cut out meat and dairy and expensive processed foods like cold cereal, potatoes chips, granola bars (make your own), etc.

Look at what you’re paying per pound for food.

[Virginia]

Pick one new skill a week. Are you meal planning? If not, start a meal plan based on weekly sales.

If you’re meal planning, try prepping meals on the weekend.

Try being a vegetarian every other day. Try to create days when you don’t drive to save gas and wear and tear on your vehicle.

Best of luck!

[Sarah]

The winter hand warmers can be carefully folded in half, cut and taped together with duct tape.

I tried the reusable but they are too big for small hands in gloves

[Julie]

I write all my spending … and look at my receipts all the time…

I went to Walmart the other day… and they charged me twice for a bag of chips when I only bought one…

[Brenda]

Keep a little notebook in your car and everytime you spend money, even just a few cents, write down the amount and the item. Be honest and write down everything.

After a month look over your notes and see where you have been spending money.

I guarantee you will be shocked. My wake up call was fast food drive throughs and gas station sodas.

We reduced fast food to once a month (sometimes not even that much) and now I buy sodas only on sale at the grocery store and fill up a travel mug before going out.

Seriously, gas station 16 oz sodas can be $2.50 in some places. I can buy an 2 liter for $1.59 at the grocery store.

[Author]

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