baby boomers couple saving money

16 Cheap Habits That Are Worth Adopting

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How can we save money today? What methods should we adopt to lower our spending and increase the balance in our savings accounts? Are there certain unconscious behaviors we use in daily life that strain our funds? We’re here to provide several methods to strengthen our finances without decreasing the quality of life. 

1. Cutting Your Own Hair/ Friend Haircuts

Cutting Your Own Hair
Credit: Depositphotos

How much money do you spend a month on haircuts? Do you frequent the hairdresser or barber, or do you wait until your hair gets to an unbearable length that you must resort to the stylist? Here’s a scenario: say you sport a short haircut that grows quickly, but you prefer to keep it shaved on the sides and long down the middle. You need to cut your hair every two weeks to maintain this style.

Each visit costs around $20, turning into $40 a month and $480 annually. Instead of wasting that money on a simple task, ask a friend to cut your hair or perform the task yourself. A huge benefit of cutting your own hair is knowing exactly how you want it styled.

2. YouTube Exercise Videos

Mature man doing yoga
Image Credit: Koldunov/Depositphotos.

Stave off those annoying gym fees for free YouTube fitness tutorials. A plethora of fitness YouTubers dedicate their channels to instructing subscribers on learning new skills. There is a video for almost everything on YouTube. Fitness-wise, I’ve watched pilates breakdowns, yoga lessons, and CrossFit challenges. Find out what you want to work out or the sport/skill you wish to learn, and search it up. The free version of YouTube comes with ads, which is a cheaper alternative than a fitness membership.

3. Cut Drink Expenses

Swiftlet Nest Drink
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Name a time when you had such an unquenchable thirst that you decided to buy a drink from a vending machine. You knew you had the same drink at home, yet you couldn’t wait. You forked over $2 for a can of soda as a 12-pack of the same brand sat in your refrigerator awaiting consumption. The same brand you paid $8 for a 12-pack at the supermarket.

A one-time soda splurge won’t break the bank account or cause you to refinance your house, although making a habit ofpurchasing drinks every time you’re out and about adds up. Get into the habit of bringing a water bottle or a couple of refreshments with you when you leave the house. 

4. Cut Subscriptions

Man Sitting On Sofa Watching TV Eating Popcorn
Image Credit: IgorVetushko/Depositphotos.

Subscriptions eat a lot of money. In fact, they are so sneaky that many subscribers don’t realize which subscriptions they pay for monthly. For example, I attended Halloween Horror Nights last year, and the ticket came with six free months of Peacock. This marketing idea of gifting a free subscription causes the user to forget about the end date of the promise. Six months and one day later, I wondered why my bank account noted a $7 charge for Peacock.

I forgot about the terms and conditions of the subscription, forgetting to cancel the agreement before it ran my card. Stay on track with all subscriptions. Ensure you cut what you aren’t using. Before signing up for a monthly recurring fee, ask yourself if you can find those materials in the library, on YouTube, or on another free streaming platform like Tubi.

5. Thrift Shop

Woman looking at the quality of Thrift store items.
Image Credit: photography33/DepositPhotos.

Macklemore spoke the truth in his “Thrift Shop” single. “One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up.” Thrift stores specialize in rehoming items donated or sold to the store. These secondhand stores carry clothing, furniture, electronics, instruments, pretty much any retail item. An individual donates (or sells) a bag of clothes/belongings they don’t use anymore, the thrift store shelves and prices them, and a customer purchases the item for a fraction of the real price. Again, why shop at a store for a full-priced item when the same item (slightly used or never used) exists for a portion of the price? 

6. Make Water Your Main Drink

Woman drinking a glass of water
Image Credit: sanneberg/Depositphotos.

Ask yourself how much money you spend on drinks other than water. Alcohol, soda, juice, energy drinks, and electrolyte replacements all sneakily eat up paychecks. Try drinking only filtered water from the tap for one week. Notice how much money you’ll save by resorting to good old-fashioned H20. After that initial week, either return to your old habits of spending way too much money on other beverages or continue drinking free water as your main hydration source.

7. Eat Before You Leave the House

Young woman eating apple closeup
Image Credit: seanika/Depositphotos.

This is a great tactic for people who spend too much money eating out or buy too many groceries because they shop while they’re hungry. Before dining out at a restaurant or going to the grocery store, satiate your hunger so you don’t eat with your eyes. You won’t order excess food at the restaurant, and you can bring home leftovers for the next day. At the grocery store, you won’t buy what you don’t need. You save money and food.

8. Library 

Library of Alexandria in Alexandria, Egyp
Image Credit: EvrenKalinbacak/DepositPhotos.

The library is an underrated goldmine. A free membership allows guests to check out books, movies, CDs, audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, and video games, all in exchange for a local address. Libraries also typically offer members a haven to use the internet for a few hours each day, which can cut way back on Wi-Fi bills. 

9. Leftovers

Leftovers
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I have a friend who loves eating Chipotle, yet she never finishes her bowl. She takes the food home and tricks herself into thinking she’ll consume the leftovers, but she faces one major issue. She can’t stand the taste of leftover food. In fiscal terms, she’s spending around $10 on a bowl, eats $5 of that bowl, and then tosses the other Lincoln note into the trash. Imagine if she forced herself to eat that leftover Chipotle. She wouldn’t waste $5 on the takeout meal, and she wouldn’t need to spend money on another meal the following day. Apply this line of thinking to leftover takeout and leftover cooking, and watch your bank account grow.

10. Using Every Bit of Materials Before Buying New Ones 

zero waste
Credit: Depositphotos

I’m guilty of throwing out cans or jars still holding materials. According to a Reddit page, the best way to maximize value is to use every morsel of an item before replenishing the stock. The final layers of peanut butter cling to the bottom of the plastic jar, so use a rubber spatula. The remnants of shampoo sit on the bottom of the bottle, unwilling to come out, so add some water to the mix. By using up the whole container of an item, you’ll treasure its value and waste less.

11. Less Meat

Senior picking vegetable in the grocery.
Image Credit: SeventyFour/DepositPhotos.

Plenty of reasons cause inflation in the meat market, such as droughts, livestock food inflation, herd limitations, interest, and the list drones on. We’re not talking about replacing meat with vegan meat alternatives, as those cost more than realmeat prices. We’re talking about instituting beans, lentils, rice, and veggies into the daily diet. Whipping up a quick lunch dish of legumes, veggies, and rice with a drizzle of tasty sauce in lieu of a meat-heavy dish saves mountains of money in a year.

12. Make Your Own Coffee

Woman with a headset working while drinking coffee MSN
Image Credit: IgorVetushko/DepositPhotos.

I just redeemed a free coffee reward for a drink that otherwise costs $7. The majority of frugal and budget-efficient people agree that one of the biggest wastes of money comes in a store-bought coffee cup. Cafes serve every flavor of Joe and then some creative renditions on top of the basic menu for an exorbitant price. Rather than doling out $7 for coffee, spend that money on groceries or coffee beans to last the week. Be your own barista who never messes up your order.

13. Trash Day

Throwing out the trash
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Back in New York, where my family lives, they host a once-a-year bulk trash day. This means the residents set out their furniture and larger belongings they no longer want for the garbage truck to collect. On this day, the citizens prowl around the town, looking at the curbs, trading furniture, or picking up their new couches from their neighbors. In other areas, cities designate thematic trash days where people place various items on the curb as a free-for-all. Locals have the day to browse the curbs and take what they please or leave them for the dump trucks. Pro-tip: pay attention to wealthier areas scheduled trash days.

14. Plastic Bags 

plastic bags
Credit: Depositphotos

If you don’t save your grocery bags, start. In addition to groceries, you can use them for transporting items, picking up dog excrement, lining trash cans, putting them in your car for emergencies, or packing purposes. Do not waste money onpurchasing small plastic bags when grocery stores give them out.

15. Gardening 

Gardening
Credit: Depositphotos

A family in my neighborhood maintains their produce garden, growing tomatoes, strawberries, strands of pepper, and plenty of spices throughout the year. Study up on the seasons in your city and how the soil reacts to the climate. After learning this, I learned never to spend another dollar on a store-bought tomato or a batch of berries from Walmart.

16. Pay in Cash 

Man holding out stack of cash money
Image Credit: IgorVetushko/Depositphotos.

When swiping your credit card, does it feel like you’re paying in fake money, or do you notice the balance in your bank account decrease after each purchase? I’m asking because I know a few people who associate credit/debit card money with fake money and cash with real-life money. If the latter applies to you, start paying in cash and stashing the remnants in an emergency fund. You’ll spend less money this way and save up a decent cash stash for emergencies.

I’m Frugal: Here Are My Top 19 Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work

Mature man looking at the meat display.
Image Credit: SimpleFoto.

Have you ever been short on money and couldn’t buy what you needed? I remember when I had to buy medications for my sick aunt. At the time, my family and I were struggling financially, and my parents couldn’t help. So I used up my savings to help her. It made me feel helpless and powerless. I didn’t ever want to be in the position that I couldn’t afford necessities for me or my family. 

I’m Frugal: Here Are My Top 19 Money-Saving Tips That Actually Work

18 “Penny-Pinching” Habits That Waste Your Time (and Sanity)

Farming woes
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We all strive to save money, but not all frugal habits are created equal – some can cost you more in the long run, either in time, stress, or money. So before you start reusing that tin foil or driving across town for cheaper gas, let’s take a moment to reconsider. We’ve rounded up 18 frugal habits that, believe it or not, might not be worth your effort at all.

18 “Penny-Pinching” Habits That Waste Your Time (and Sanity)

12 Inexpensive Date Ideas for a Fun and Frugal Adventure

Baby boomers unplugging.
Image Credit: Dmyrto_Z/DepositPhotos.

Are you looking for fun and exciting date ideas that won’t put a dent in your wallet? You’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll share 12 affordable date ideas to impress your special someone. Whether you’re in a new relationship or have been together for years, these ideas will help keep the romance alive without breaking the bank.

12 Inexpensive Date Ideas for a Fun and Frugal Adventure

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