Hi friends! I feel like I’ve been gravitating towards a lot of budget tips and topics these days. But I think that is just because we have been more conscious in our own lives these days. With a new house and going from two full-time job incomes to one over the past year, we definitely have to be more frugal. I wouldn’t change it for the world, because I love being able to stay home with my daughter, but it is quite an adjustment and reality check.
I wanted to share some of the tips that have helped our family to save and live more comfortably. Sacrifices are made, but at the end of the day, we make it work and do what we can to have our fun and keep life interesting. Here are 10 things that I implemented immediately to save/make more money.
#1: Cut back on groceries. This was the first rule I implemented to cut back on costs – we cut back at least $30 a week, which adds up to $120 a month. That is a decent chunk of money to save. We don’t spend more than $200 bucks a month of groceries. And it isn’t hard! Sure, we had to sacrifice some fun snacks and whatnot, but not every week. We treat ourselves to speciality items still, but just much less frequently. It isn’t about deprivation, just balance. Most of our haul will consist of inexpensive items such as lentils, pasta, beans, potatoes, canned tomato products, seasonal fruit/vegetables. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to save when you are mindful.
I also had to get in the mindframe that we don’t need to buy everything in bulk and stock up every single week. We shop week-to-week most of the time.
#2: Declutter your home and stop buying more. Moving makes you realize just how much junk you really have lying around. Things that I bought and quickly tossed to the side… kinda makes you feel sick. I am done buying things just for the sake of buying it. I used to be an impulse shopper but have changed my mindset. Things = clutter. Cluttered house = cluttered mind (for me, anyways). Once I shifted this way of thinking/living, it became very easy for me to let go of “browsing” and decorating every nook and cranny.
#3: Thrift shop for baby/kids clothing. I’ll be honest. First we were fortunate enough to have a ton of clothes passed down to us. Then once Willow outgrew all those, I started buying more clothes for her at Carter’s, Target, etc. New clothes are nice, right? After a year’s worth of Willow ruining clothes with stains from a plethora of things, I honestly cannot see myself spending more money on brand new clothes. We have a children’s thrift store in our area that has a TON of cute clothing. They look brand new, because most of them were only worn once or twice. It beats paying full price and you contribute to the greater good of recycling and not wasting. It just feels like the most logical choice to me. Save money and don’t feel bad when clothing gets ruined (which in most cases, it inevitably will!)
#4: Start an eBay store. Oh yes, I did. I have an eBay store. It is just a hodge podge of items that we no longer have use for – baby things, clothes, shoes, jewelry, DVDs, home decor, etc. This not only helped me get rid of clutter while moving (trying to be live much more minimal these days) but has generated thousands of dollars for us. THOUSANDS! I can’t even believe it. My mom actually recommended it for a couple items I had and once I started selling, I couldn’t really stop myself. Whatever doesn’t sell, I will donate. It is a nice way to just make some extra cash while still donating when I can.
#5: Go on free or cheap dates. We rarely go on date nights, but when we do, we try to find inexpensive things to do. If we go out to eat, we’ll try to score a coupon. Or we’ll just stroll around town and grab something inexpensive. You could also pack up your own picnic and take it somewhere romantic outdoors. The summertime is easier when it comes to cheap dates since the weather is nice and there is a lot of free outdoor shows/activities. But try to get creative! Sometimes, a date night to us is literally just making a homemade pizza, popping some popcorn, and watching a movie together. Or boardgames! Or cards! Once the baby goes to bed, just spend time together. It is all what you make of it.
#6: Go to your local library. I don’t do this enough, but I really want to try harder. A library card is free and you have access to books, children’s activities, etc. I just think it is a no-brainer and I am going to take my own advice on this one.
#7: Start a side hustle. Love a good side hustle. I am fortunate enough to have started this blog nearly 5 years ago because it has slowly but surely generated an income for me. Aside from this, I am also a freelance writer. I seek out projects constantly and am always looking for new companies/individuals to work with. My husband works full time but he also has a side hustle building guitar pedals. Hobbies that can generate you some income are the BEST. We are so lucky to be able to do what we do. At night, my husband and I will work on our projects after Willow goes to bed for about an hour or so before we will relax and watch TV/hangout. It takes work and effort, but doesn’t feel daunting since we love what we do. Find what you love to do and figure out a way to make money doing it.
#8: Stop going out to eat. This was a tough one, but to be honest… having a baby made it easier. It is just more convenient to eat at home with her. So we automatically started going out to eat less. Now, we maybe go out to eat once a month, if that. If we do decide to grab something, we will go cheap… like a breakfast date for bagels and coffee or some Thai takeout.
#9: Make your own cleaning products. I love using a blend of water, white vinegar, and a couple drops of essential oil as an all-purpose cleaner.
#10: Get a water filter. We are very guilty for buying bottled water in the past. But I am excited to say we have out that behind us and finally got a water filter. This saves us SO MUCH MONEY and it is much greener. I wish we did this sooner.
These are just some of the things that have helped us save lately. Share everything you’ve got in the comments, please. Always looking to save more money!
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