Try these frugal tips to help you go from being poor to making the most of what you have. You end up pinching pennies and making the most of what you have when life hits your family’s pocket book. But, let’s just say that you get a nice job with lots of pay, and you think, well, I will just live it up to the fullest!
You spend your paycheck and think not twice whether or not you will have your job tomorrow. You fail to save your money and plan for the future, emergencies or even retirement.
The person who really helped me with frugal tips was my Great-Grandmother, who came across the plains in a covered wagon into the Big Thicket in Texas. While she isn’t alive today, I learned many things from her that I didn’t realize until I found myself needing to drastically save money. They came across the rugged Texas terrain on the faith of Jesus Christ.
The funny thing is that in the 1800s and even into the 1900s, there were no digital devices and today we take our conveniences for granted. There are still some good old-fashioned skills that we need to use today, but if you really want to save money, you really do need your smart phone! 😉
Money-Saving tips to help you save money
There are plenty more where this comes from, but living a frugal life can carry on way past a tight financial spot in your family’s life. Frugality helps you take what you have and make it much more. Being a frugalista allows you to find a rich and rewarding life.
Living frugally comes down to choosing what you and your family can and cannot live without. You may need to make some tough financial decisions and priorities, but you can also cut back on what we view as modern necessities.
DIY everything you can.
When you are trying to get by on a little, you can make and create a lot. In a woman’s world, that may mean sewing and repairing old things into new things. If you are good at upcycling, this is also a good way to do it.
During the depression days, they made little girl’s dresses out of chicken feed sacks, or even old linens and tablecloths. Sometimes a little bit of leftover paint goes a long way. Re-use fabric from Goodwill in new and creative ways.
Sew
Learn to sew and you open the door to making your own clothes, napkins, drapes and the like. Purchase fabric on sale at discount stores, or use what you have on hand to adjust clothing sizes. Once my son had to have nap mat for a day care program, and I found some discount material and made him a mat. It was his very own, and he still uses it to cuddle up with. It was cheaper than buying him a new mat.
Grow a garden
Did you know you can purchase seeds from Dollar Tree? So, okay, they aren’t non-GMO, they translate to food! Grow your own herbs too. You can puree and freeze them in ice trays, or make a pesto and freeze them. Can, freeze and preserve everything you can for the winter months.
Use soda and vinegar
Find You don’t just need these two items for your kid’s science school volcano project! Vinegar and baking soda are great cleaners and all around general all-purpose ingredients for everything from baking to sanitizing. You can make your own all-purpose cleaner from vinegar and Borax, such as the one here for pennies.
Add them to your more expensive dish soap with some essential oils in a dollar spray bottle. Your home will shine and be sanitized for a fraction of the cost of expensive home cleaners.
Make your own rags
One thing our modern society seems to love is buying everything just to make it more convenient. But, if you are going to toss out that old towel, or t-shirt, cut it up and make your own rags. Then, throw them in the wash when you finish. When they just won’t clean anymore, toss them in the trash and grab a new rag.
Shop online in thrift stores
Forget buying your Mom wardrobe at the thrift store. Shop online with these two thrift stores that help you get what you need, not just a bargain. Thredup and Swap are two great choices to help you find exactly the clothes you need. Plus, they accept returns!
Search the websites by size and brand or style, then shop away! This has become my favorite way to shop. Plus, you don’t have to buy only used clothing. You can also purchase new items, just use their search engines to help you find the right outfit at the right price.
Always keep staples in the pantry.
Make sure you always have flour, salt, and beans in your pantry. You can always make bread or tortillas, and beans can either be a staple or extend the life of the meat in your meals. Buy bulk and store away what you can, so when money is tight, you have something extra to pull from.
Pay for digital book access
You can pay for digital books for your kids to access either through your home computer or their computer devices. Paying for a service allows them to read the books virtually for free, versus paying for more books separately. Amazon’s ebook program, Kindle Unlimited has free ebooks and magazines for only $9.99 a month. And you can view it on a Kindle app if you don’t have a device!
Do you use the library? Well, did you know that each library has a digital website of sorts where you can use your card to check out digital books, movies or audios? Look for your library on Overdrive Media and find out how to get access!
Make your own bread products.
It doesn’t take much ingenuity to make your own bread or flour tortillas, even on a Keto diet! Not only is it healthier, but it is certainly more frugal to make your own bread. I stopped buying store-made bread products years ago.
Using flour to also make your own cookies and treats for your kids adds the stamp of love on top!
Reuse containers and boxes.
Don’t just toss every container you use into the trash when it empties. The question may be how can we use it? Any plastic or glass container which can be washed and reused, should be saved for leftovers. Boxes also can be upcycled into storage ideas instead of throwing them into the trash.
Shop the dollar store
Some think that going to the dollar store is a waste of time, but that simply isn’t true. You can pick up all sorts of items for $1 at Dollar Tree that help you with daily activities. Some ways to save money are by buying batteries, containers, saran wrap, office supplies, art supplies, school supplies, cards, tape, soap, sponges, cleaning supplies, paper towels, Kleenex, and tons more!
Use powdered milk.
Okay, I hate powdered milk, and I remember days when that was all we could afford, but if you are low on money and need to save, then this is a good way to do it. Buy it in bulk and make only what you need. While the taste isn’t as good as the bottled variety, milk companies save money packaging it, so it saves you money.
Make your own toys.
My special needs son has an affinity for stuffed animals. He has a million of them, but guess what I learned to sew? I have made him 2 pillows, a blanket, and a stuffed animal. He is happy and so am I because I save money!
You can also make your own paper dolls, or print any number of art projects you can make at home. Don’t have enough money to buy supplies? Go to Dollar Tree and save money! They have plenty of craft supplies for $1 a piece. Need a jump rope? Buy some rope from Dollar Tree and make your own!
Search Pinterest for tons of great project ideas and printables to print out and use at home!
Save your meat grease.
Not only is this totally Paleo, but it saves you money. Pour off the grease and put in the refrigerator or freezer for later use to stir-fry meals or make healthier fried foods. Trans fat is unhealthy, not a moderate amount of saturated fat. Plus, keeping a bottle of cooking oil does cost extra money.
Cut your subscriptions
If you take a newspaper, stop it and get your news online. Are you using a subscription for kid activities? Stop any extra monthly payments that you just don’t need. Don’t do anything unless it’s free. Get frugal on those subscriptions and watch how much money you save!
Take your vitamin C and D
I never thought this before, but if you take megadoses of vitamin C and D, you prevent illnesses, namely cold and flu bugs. When our diet stays healthy and we take these vitamins without fail, we stay healthy and rarely get ill.
Make your own food.
This is hard in our society, but if you really want to save your health and your money, making your own bread, drinks, and meals will save you tons of money. Make your own pizza crust and no one will notice you are saving money!
If you seriously don’t have time to cook, toss in some frozen meat, and a bottle of barbeque or teriyaki sauce and leave it on low in a crockpot before you leave for work!
Meal Plan
This is a challenge at first, but it stands as a big frugal tip that really works well. Plan out your family’s favorite meals and then buy your food ahead of time. Set aside a big chunk of money to buy all of your meat and produce for the month. This saves time and money while giving you peace of mind.
Use couponing
Using apps like coupons.com or apps like Ibotta can help save you money with rebates and bonuses. You can also sign up for loyalty points and emails with your favorite stores. Or, download their apps and upload them to your smartphone for special offers and coupons.
Stay online
If you are broke and you need to save money, then using free eBooks, online software, music and the like will save you money. Access to the Internet always works, so if you think you are paying too much for your Internet service, then shop around. You pay more without online services than you do trying to use the Wifi at the library!
Watch movies from home
There are plenty of other ways to watch a movie with the family. Rent DVDs from the library. Download free or rented movies, stream them online, or even purchase one movie online. All of these are far cheaper than taking everyone to the theater and then buying snacks!
Use natural remedies
A little bit of calendula (marigolds) can go a long way to healing scrapes and bug bites. Using essential oils helps with a multitude of ailments. Or, making your own elderberry keeps viruses and colds at bay or under control.
You save money and get frugal if you avoid going to the doctor for cold and flu bugs from worsening in your family’s bodies. Pair natural remedies with a good diet and you will rarely get sick.
Hang your clothes on a clothesline
You can make a clothesline with rope from Dollar Tree for $1 and purchase clothespins for another $1. You will save electricity by not running your dryer. Plus, the smell is divine in the summer sun!
Reuse paper
If the paper is misprinted, or lightly written on one side it can be cut up and used as scrap paper. Cut it up in squares for those shopping lists and notes. Or, if you have a shredder, shred the paper to make your own packaging material. Use it in your fireplace as a kindling starter.
Recycle or create gift wrap
Do you use gift bags? Save the unblemished bags and tissue papers for later gift giving. Find pieces of muslin to wrap presents in or use butcher paper to wrap.
Have the kids make gift wrap with their drawings or even painted hand prints on butcher paper. Tie with jute string or discount ribbon.
Make do
Simply make do with what you have. In our disposable society, we think running to the store is the answer.
Find creative new solutions for things you already have on hand at home. Set a goal to avoid shopping, and use what is in your home. You would be amazed at how much money you save!
Re-use plastic bags
Collecting the plastic bags from your shopping trips and re-using them is another frugal tip. Use them to collect trash or put them into the trash can. Save them up for lunches to go, or to use for whatever you might need. We stick a few in an old Kleenex box and pull them out as we need them.
Even more frugal tips to save money
Ways to save money on your grocery bill
Cut your grocery bill in half!
Save money and live healthy forever!
Live natural and well at Dollar Tree
Make your own bathroom scrub for pennies
Mix your own super cheap spray cleaner
Make your own Thieves oil from natural ingredients
Do you need a laundry soap recipe that is super cheap?
And even a natural homemade bleach alternative
Living a frugal life doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, living a frugal life is a simple life! You declutter, reduce and reuse what you have. Plus, you re-prioritize what your needs really are as a family. Oftentimes, waiting to buy something helps you see that you did not really need it in the first place!
Take stock in what is important and change your mindset to live a frugal life. This stands as the best money-saving tip I could possibly give you!
