Are you looking for creative ways to save money on a tight budget? Here are 28 Unusal ways to save money and some frugal living tips that you need to know!
Want to save a couple of hundreds extra every month? We have compiled a list of 28 unusual ways that will save you Dollars every month. Whether you’re saving up to pay off your debts or want a couple extra bucks this month, look no further. These money saving tips are just what you need.
28 Unusual ways to save money:
1.Save on your Credit Card annual fee:
Are you paying credit card fees every year for multiple credit cards? Consider keeping just one or two cards that you use most often. You could also call your credit card company and ask them to waive off your annual fee. And if nothing works, just ask them and threaten to cancel that card. A friend of mine gets his annual fee waived off by calling every year.
There are also a lot of cards that are free for lifetime, so consider getting one that doesn’t charge an annual fee.
2. DIY Pet grooming:
If you have a pet, you could do the grooming yourself. Just get the basic supplies once and you’re sorted. We do have a german shepherd and we bathe him by ourselves instead of paying $20-30 dollars for every visit. Same goes for nail clipping too.
3. Newspapers:
It’s been years since we stopped buying newspapers and switched to free mobile apps. All you need to do is sign up for free either through face book or by using your email ID. Having newspapers on your mobile is really convenient too. you can read the news whenever you get the chance without having to carry around a paper with you. And if you do need newspaper for other purposes like packing, you can always get them for free from your friends or neighbours.
4. Gym Membership:
I think one thing 2020 has taught us is that you do not really need a gym membership to stay on top of your fitness game. So this becomes a relatively easier cost to eliminate. Cancel your gym membership, typically anywhere between $30-$50 and try replacing it with home workouts instead. You could go for a jog around your neighbourhood, or simply do a at home workout from youtube.
5. ATM fees:
I know it’s an odd one. But did you know you’re being charged an ATM transaction fee every time you use an ATM that’s different than your bank. And this fee is about $5 for each transaction. So you really have three options. The first is, to drive around town looking for an ATM of your bank.Let’s not talk about the time and gas you will waste in the process.
The second option being physically going to the bank and withdrawing cash, but I think that’s such a waste of time.
But luckily, you do have a third option. That’s digital payments. Yes! In today’s day and age, why are you still withdrawing cash. There are so many online banking facilities available at your fingertips that are completely free.
6. Consider moving closer to work:
Are you spending a lot on gas every single month because your office is really far away from your home? Consider moving if you are renting your space. Imagine how much time you’ll end up saving. And time is money, my friend.
You could invest all the extra time into working towards a side hustle perhaps. Consider starting a blog, maybe! And even if you don’t, saving money on gas everyday, adds up in the long run.
7. Save money on Lunches:
Buying lunch every day or alternate days can add up really quickly. The average cost of lunch can be anywhere from $12-$20 depending on what you get. And if you get lunch at least 2 times a week, that’s about $25-$35 every week. And that adds up to about $100-$140 a month.
This is one of the easiest ways to save a chunk of money every month. I saved about $1000 a year on lunches when I started bringing my own lunch.
8. Try Meal planning & Meal prepping:
Meal planning and meal prepping on the weekend saves us thousands of dollars every year. And when you meal prep you can eat healthy so it’s a win-win. We have all our prep done on the weekend so that it’s super easy to make the meals during the week and you don’t have to order in or go out multiple times a week.
9. Consider buying in Bulk:
Buying your groceries in bulk is cheaper than buying groceries every other week in small quantities. I also buy the staples in bulk every month or two. So make a list of all the things that you use the most and buy them in bulk at cheaper prices.
There are still a lot of other ways you can save money on your groceries. And in fact I have been able to cut down my grocery bill by half using these tips here. Do check them out below:
17 tips to cut your Grocery bill in Half
10. Consider Renting or Borrowing:
Do you need some thing that you’ll only use once or twice. Then what’s the point of buying it. I like to borrow such things from friends or neighbours whenever I need them.
I am not a very handy person and don’t use a lot of tools and things regularly. So we ended up borrowing them from some friends when we moved into the new house.
And as a way of saying thank you, you can maybe make some cookies or a cake and give them while returning the tools.
11. Cleaning supplies:
You do not need a hundred different cleaning products for every other surface in your house.
There. I said it.
Do not fall for that scam. You will be perfectly fine with just 1-2 cleaning products. I have an all purpose cleaner that I use everywhere except for the wooden items.
And by everywhere I mean everywhere. Be it kitchen slabs, tiles, backsplash, windows, mirrors, refrigerator and other appliances.
12. Save money on Utilities:
Saving money on utilities is a super easy way to save money every month. So make sure to turn off the lights and other electronics when you are not using them.
Make it a habit to turn off all the light switches before leaving the house or any room for that matter. Keep your curtains open and let natural light come in.
Keep your windows open and let the house cooled by the morning and evening breeze instead of always keeping the AC on. It’s great for saving money as well as the environment.
13. Consider Sizing down in your house:
Do you really need a 3 BHK apartment when it’s just you and your husband living there? Do not rent a bigger house just to show it off. Consider your average living expenses and whether having a bigger house is making you poor.
If you are paying mortgages that are keeping your hands tied every month, then are they really worth it?
Would you be better off with a smaller house and smaller mortgage payments instead?
Talk about all these things with your partner and make the necessary changes. We downsized from a 2100 Sq.ft apartment to a 1300 Sq. ft apartment. Smaller apartments are cheaper and are easier to manage as well.
14. Consider decluttering & Selling your things:
Do you have a wardrobe that’s overflowing? Do you have no space to keep your clothes and everything gets pretty messy really quickly?
Then you need a good old cull.
Seriously.
Go through your entire ward robe and go Marie Kondo on it. Sell everything that’s in a good condition but you don’t wear anymore. There are a number of ways to go about it. The easiest way is to have a flash sale on your Instagram stories.
15. Try different ways of Entertaining:
Yes, you can still have a social life while you are trying to save you money. You do not need to throw big ass fancy get together parties that cost you an arm and a leg. Try to do activities with friends that don’t cost you a lot of money.
You don’t have to go out with your girlfriends to have a good time. invite them to your home and have a cocktail making session and then enjoy those cocktails while doing pedi- mani at home.
Or you could go for a walk, hike or a bike ride with your friends on the weekend instead of going out to eat. These activities are great for bonding and they are easy on your wallet too.
16. Re-evaluate your Monthly subscriptions:
Do you really need amazon prime, Netflix, Hulu Plus and more entertainment sources every single month? Could you possibly do away with one or two of them?
I mean you are wasting your money AND your time.
Same goes for your magazine subscriptions. Do you really read them or are just subscribed because you are too lazy to cancel?
And I will not even get started with your cable subscription. Because we all know it is such a waste of time and money. And the hours you spend in front of your tv can be put to better use, don’t you agree?
Cutting down your cable subscription can save you about $50 per month if you have a basic subscription and again, that adds up to about $600 per year. And even more if you have a lot of channels.
17. Cut Down your expensive or Bad habits:
Do you drink every other day or do you smoke often? Maybe it’s time to cut down on these expensive and bad habits.
I mean they are affecting your health and not good for your finances either.
And maybe you don’t have a bad habit. But I am sure you do have some expensive ones that you can easily cut down on.
Do you really need manicures every other week? And before you say “But it’s only a few dollars”, let me just say ” It all adds up, honey”. You’d be better off with buying a manicure kit from amazon and then doing it yourself on a weekend.
It had become kind of a habit for us to have drinks on the weekend but then a few years back we decided that that’s not how we want to spend the weekends. Now, instead of having drinks, we go out on hikes. And it has been great for both our healths and for our bank account too.
And if you are not much of a hiker, maybe there are other things that you and your partner can do over the weekends like painting together, getting creative and making something together.
18. Consider Re-usable wraps:
Do you pack lunches often? And do you have a habit of packing food in plastic wraps or aluminium foil?
This one maybe a little odd for you, but consider wrapping food in reusable wraps like cloth. It’s better for your health than using plastic and good for the environment as well.
19. Buy a filter water bottle and/or a RO:
There is honestly no need for you to buy plastic water bottles every week. You can just get a filter bottle once and you are sorted. You can fill it up anywhere and have the filtered water instead o buying plastic bottles. And again, it’s great for the environment as well.
I can not stress this enough. And you’d be surprised to see how much money you end up saving once you commit to it.
I never leave my house without a water bottle, no matter where I am going. By doing this I make sure that I don’t have to buy plastic water bottles.
20. Air Dry Laundry:
You do not need to use the dryer. Just air dry your clothes and save money on electricity.
We have been doing this for years. Sure it takes longer, but it also increases the life of your clothes because dryers can be really harsh on your clothes. So I’d say air drying is a win-win.
21. Avoid Late fees:
If you use credit cards, which I am sure you do, save money by avoiding late fee on credit card payments.
If you are really forgetful, set reminders. Set reminders on your phone and also put a reminder in your planner if you use one regularly.
The best way to go about it is of course to not be using credit cards at all, but that’s not such an easy thing to do. So reminders is the way to go.
22. Make a plan to pay off Debt:
This is not as much of a money saving tip, but boy do those debt interests add up. And when you can avoid those high interests, it will feel like you are saving more money.
No matter what the amount of debt you have, it’s always a good idea to have a debt pay off plan and avoid all those high rates of interest.
I had a lot of student debt when I graduated from college but I knew it was the first thing I needed to get rid off, if I want to have more financial independence. So I cut down my expenses and started living frugally and when I finally paid of my student loan, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
And I know how paying off debt can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t have a plan and are hoping to pay it off by paying minimum instalments.
And that’s one mistake you should be avoiding. If you are looking to have a stress free and debt free life, check out these resources below:
- 7 step action plan to get rid of debt
- 11 Mistakes you are making while paying off debt and how to avoid them
23: Make a shopping list & stick to it:
This has to be one of the best tips to save money. Something that should come naturally to us, but doesn’t.
Who else thinks grocery stores are like a trap?
It’s so easy to get distracted by offers while grocery shopping.And more often than not, you end up buying things you don’t need.
And don’t worry, you’re not the only one who does that.
We have all been there girl.
I mean they pay people to advertise and market in such a way. Store design layouts are made in such a way that they keep you in the store for as long as possible. That increases you chances of buying things you don’t need.
But, there is a way.
Make a shopping list and stick to it. No matter what.
I swear by my shopping lists. I have a regular grocery list and a big monthly shopping list. And it doesn’t spply to just groceries as well.
When you are going to the mall to buy a pair of jeans, don’t go looking at cute accessories. It’s not worth it. not for your wallet, anyway.
Even if you buy some things on a sale, but never end up using them, they’re still a waste of money, right?
24: Opt out of Emails:
Have you ever received a promotional email from your favourite store and then spent hours scrolling online and ended up buying things you don’t need?
I can’t be the only one who does that.
I mean, the sales and the promotions can be so tempting. And at times tempting enough to make you buy things you don’t even need.
So what’s the solution? Unsubscribe.
Unsubscribe from their newsletters and promotional emails. That’s the way to go if you are an obsessive shopper, no offence.
25. Switch to cheaper hobbies/ Activities:
Your weekend activities or hobbies don’t have to hurt your bank account. You don’t always have to go out to have a good time.
There is no need to eat out and go to the movies every single week. Sorry for being so harsh, but someone had to say it.
And if you are one of those people who have to go out, get drinks, go to the movies every single weekend, then you need to try out and adopt some new better and cheaper hobbies.
And the possibilities are limitless.
You could go cycling, hiking with your partner or a group of friends or to the beach and have fun without spending anything. And make sure you pack a picnic. It’s going to be fun, I assure you.
26. Do a spending freeze week:
Have a zero spend week every single month. It will be a great start to saving more money. Every month, designate one week to be your zero spending week. Use whatever groceries you have at home, so that they don’t go to waste.
Make use of leftovers instead of throwing them away. This also goes hand in hand with having a zero waste week every month. Commit to consuming every single thing you have bought or made.
Make sure that nothing goes to waste. This will help you in saving money on food and this will make sure that the groceries you buy, don’t end up expiring.
27. Avoid trendy clothes:
I quit buying the trendy items years ago and it has been such a big money saver for me. I hate buying things that don’t go together with the rest of my wardrobe.
But resisting the urge to buy things when they are trendy is tricky sometimes.
I am so glad I adopted minimalism when I did and it helped me keep my purchases in check. I do have a 30 day policy before I buy something.
If I really like something, I will make a note and if after 30 days I still like it, I will decide to buy it. And if not, I end up saving that money.
Having said that, I like investing in high quality clothes rather than buying cheap trendy clothes that aren’t the best quality.
I do have a capsule wardrobe and before I buy anything I like to ask myself whether I can mix and match it with any other item in my wardrobe. And I also ask myself how many outfits can I get out of a particular piece of clothing.
28: Never pay the full price:
Yes I know I said avoid the sales, but if you can plan to shop during the sale season, there is nothing better. Why pay the full price for something when you can just buy it when it’s on sale.
And it goes without saying that just because you are shopping during the sale season doesn’t mean you should buy things you don’t need.
Again, only buy things you actually need. Never go shopping without a clear idea in mind about what you are going shopping for.
And this doesn’t mean you can only shop when there are sales. There are so many second hand shops, or consignment stores and thrift stores, where you can buy pre owned items at a huge discount. So why not try these.
There is no shame in buying second hand, especially when it saves you so much money, right?
READY TO SAVE MONEY?
There you have it. 28 unusual ways that will help you save thousands of dollars every year. Are you ready to save more money this year? Of course you don’t have to try doing everything at once.
It’s best to ask yourself which of these ideas will be easiest for you to do and start with that. It’s not always easy to cut down on your spendings and it does take some time to implement these ideas. And that’s okay, we all start somewhere and in the end it’ll be worth it.
Do you have any more tips that help you save money?Leave them down below.
And if did like this post, could you please share it? It would mean so much to me 🙂
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