10 Simple Ways to Save Money While on a Budget

Simple, effective ways to pinch pennies. 

1. Get Back to Basics 
This one is simple but also often overlooked. There are hundreds of small tweaks you can make to your every day life that will make it easier to keep some of your hard-earned money in your pocket. Some obvious ones include: 
A. Lower your cable bill. 
B. Eat at home more often. 
C. Make your own coffee (or specialty drink). 
D. Upcycle! Restore things like furniture and save hundreds. 

2. Entertain at Home 
Consider hosting a wine night or BBQ cook-out with family and friends. By planning ahead and shopping smartly, feeding a crowd doesn't have to break the bank. You also don't have to host an epic party - by putting out a few appetizers and beverages, you can relax and enjoy your company without splurging on restaurant prices and gratuities. 

3. Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions 
While it's fun to receive splurgy little packages in the mail, you may find that they're consuming a not-so-tiny chunk of your bank account every month. Go over any subscription services you have including beauty boxes, Amazon auto-deliveries, home shopping auto-deliveries, etc. Take a moment to decide if those items are still wanted or needed. If not, take the time to cancel. It's so easy to remain enrolled in an unwanted service just because we haven't made the time to cancel. 

4. Shop Around for Groceries 
The newly remodeled grocery store right around the corner may not offer the best deals when it comes to food shopping. Treat your grocery outings like any other shopping excursion - take your time, read the circulars, browse and compare. I didn't always like Aldi - I didn't think it had a nice atmosphere and I wasn't impressed with their selection but I am so glad I gave it another chance! Most Aldi stores have remodeled and increased their offerings. If you haven't been to an Aldi - or other discount grocery chain - in a while, make the time to check it out again. You may be glad you gave it another chance. 

5. Replace Lighting with Energy Efficient Bulbs 
This may seem like a no-brainer, but for a long time, I didn't want to replace our good olf-fashioned 60 watt bulbs with the energy-efficient variety. I didn't like how they looked and they were quite expensive. Energy-efficiency has come a long way in a relatively short period of time and now you can find energy-efficient bulbs that have the same look and soft lighting as the old ones. In order to realize maximum savings (this is important), you need to change all your bulbs - lamps, overhead lights, ceiling fans, etc. Changing a few here and there won't give you the same instantly recognizable savings on your electric bill as changing all at once. 

6. (Re)Visit Your Local Library 
The corner library isn't the same place it was twenty years ago...or even twenty months ago. Libraries are offering more media options today including eBooks, magazines, best-sellers and even portable-audio devices (at some locations) that you can borrow to listen to your audio book selection. They still offer DVDs and CDs, too. Before you spend money on that next pricey hardback or Kindle book, check your library to see if it's in stock. Almost every book that I read on my Kindle is borrowed from my local library. If they don't have what I'm looking for, I can further check our state-wide borrowing database. Today's libraries have come a long way! 

7. Meal Prep/Plan Ahead 
Meal prepping involves more than long stretches of cooking on a Sunday. If you sit down with paper and pen (or in my case, a Happy Planner Notebook), you can figure out how to get the most of your meals, starting with menu writing and savvy grocery shopping. 

8. Revisit Your Hobbies
Especially if they were pricey! Before you get into your next outdoor activity, sport or even craft, make sure you haven't neglected or left something unfinished, first. That's not to say avoid new hobbies and interests all-together, but those activities can be pricey and potentially require a lot of spending to have what you need to get started. Choose any new interest by considering available finances. 

9. Lower Credit Card Interest 
If you have any revolving credit card debt, it may be worth contacting those banks to see if they'll work with you on a lower interest rate. If you have an excellent payment history with them and some longevity to your account, they may be willing to decrease your rate, potentially saving you money in lower payments and a lower balance in the long run. 

10. Wash Your Car at Home 
Many car washes offer subscription services that allow you to wash your car several times a monthy and in some cases, even daily! However, if you're pulling your car through one of those automated bays and paying by the wash, you can be paying anywhere from a few dollars to an upwards of $15 or more. In that case, washing your car at home can be more economical. If you want your car detailed, doing it yourself is definitely more economical. Looking into your spending habits - even on something as typical as this - can potentially save you a lot. 

Those are my first ten of many, money-saving tips. Check back for more ways to save and creative ways to keep yourself on a budget. 

To view the companion video on my YouTube Channel, click below...