Saving money can seem like a challenging and daunting task. It doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, something as simple as eating only seasonal fruits and vegetables can help you save money. “What is something insignificant you do to save money,” asked a Reddit user. We selected the best replies for you.
I USE OLD SHEETS AND CLOTHING AS CLEANING CLOTHES
“I use old sheets and clothing/socks cut up as cleaning cloths, especially for really dirty jobs that ruin the cloth like toilet, oily pots, and pans, rusty outdoor furniture, etc.”
I BUDGET EATING OUT
“I budget $120 for monthly eating/drinking at the office. This includes coffee, boba, snacks, fruit smoothies, juice, etc. Giving myself a weekly habit of $30 for my outings makes me feel happier and less of the “scarcity” mindset while being disciplined about it, which makes it less likely for me to suddenly blow $50, $75, or $100 on random outings. It also curbs eating out regularly because the snack or drink tides me over until my actual meal.”
I LOOK FOR THE BEST DEALS AT THE SUPERMARKET
“When in the supermarket, I first look at the bottom shelf for the best deals. If I know, I’ll often use something; I buy it in bulk while it’s on sale.”
I TRY TO USE LESS SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER
“I try to use less shampoo/conditioner/moisturizer whatever per use than is recommended on the bottle. I figure at least some of the info there is designed to make us use more product more quickly (and so rebuy more quickly), but that’s a very cynical viewpoint.”
I CONVERT PRICES INTO THE HOURS OF WORK I NEED TO PAY FOR IT
“Similarly, I convert prices into how many hours of work I need to do to pay for it. For example, parking at work costs $20 for the day. That’s a whole hour of work for me, and it’s not worth it, lol.”
I BRING MY LUNCH TO WORK EVERY DAY
“I bring my lunch to work daily instead of getting fast food or something from vending machines. I make my own snacks (beef jerky and dehydrated apple slices) and do NOT buy single-serve bags of pretty much anything.”
I TRY TO BUY EVERYTHING SECONDHAND
“Very obvious, but still takes some getting used to: try to buy as much secondhand as possible. Think about books, clothing, refurbished phones, kitchen appliances, and the list goes on. A lot of things are ridiculously cheap secondhand. Takes a bit more time to research, maybe, but always worth trying. Libraries are also great, and usually, besides books, they also have board games, movies, and magazines.”
I TAKE REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES EVERYWHERE WITH ME
“I bring a reusable water bottle everywhere with me. I always have 1-2 in my car, just in case. I have never bought water at airports, theme parks, gyms, work, etc. It amazes me people will pay $4 for a bottle of water!! If I forget the bottle, I don’t buy the water. It only takes 1-2 times of going to the gym and having to stand at the water fountain before it becomes a strong habit.”
I STOPPED COLORING MY HAIR
“I stopped coloring my hair. It saves me the cost of the appointment and the time for the appointment. On top of that, I can buy cheaper shampoo and conditioner. And when I travel, I can use whatever shampoo and conditioner a hotel provides.”
I DON’T RUN HEAT OR AC UNLESS NECESSARY
“I don’t run heat or AC until it feels absolutely necessary. I use heat when night temps approach freezing, AC when inside un-conditioned temps reach around 80. I enjoy the fresh air and save money at the same time. Win/win. Of course, it’s just me, so no children, pets, or older adults who might suffer under these conditions.
I AVOID TAKING MY KIDS TO THE STORE
“I don’t take my kids with me to the store if I can help it. They want everything they see.”
I CUT MY OWN HAIR
“I cut my own hair. I started because of the Covid lockdown, but now I just enjoy the savings. I haven’t had a professional haircut since pre-pandemic. Also, I’m lazy and don’t want to make time to go to the salon anymore, lol.”
I LINE-DRY MY CLOTHES
“Line dry clothing saves some fossil fuel. My clothes last a lot longer, esp. anything with elastic. Bras and underwear are expensive, and mine have lasted 3x longer since I stopped using the dryer.
I use cloth napkins and dishtowels, which save on paper. They go in the regular laundry, which is much nicer. Paper towels for some messes, but mostly cloth.”
I STOPPED SHOPPING AT WALMART
“I stopped shopping at Walmart. I was always splurging on the little dumb things because they were “cheap.” I get pet food at the feed store, groceries at the grocery store, and clothes mostly from Goodwill or Ross. I try to stick to other things online as needed or small stores that sell that particular thing.”
I BUY FROM STORES THAT HAVE A GOOD CUSTOMER REWARDS PROGRAM
“I make an effort to buy from stores that have a good customer rewards program. Harris Teeter gives you fuel points to use at their gas stations. PetSmart gives you “treats rewards” that you can apply to future purchases. (Target also does something similar with a rewards program.) Getting $2 to $5 knocked off of my shopping trips really adds up over time.”
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Anika Jindal
Anika is a CPA and founder of What Anika Says. She shares simple and actionable frugal living, money management and money-saving tips to live a debt-free financially independent life. She has been featured on popular websites like Bankrate, Forbes, Mint ,and Authority Magazine. Byline: MSN