It’s very daunting lately to visit the grocery store and gas station and see not only the increased prices on so many common items, but also the shrinkflation that’s happening on some products in order to keep the price the same. I’ve always been frugal (hubby would say cheap) but today I am more conscious than ever of how to save money. Today I’m sharing some tips on how you can save money as well.
1. Use Coupons. Even if you don’t clip paper coupons, most grocery stores have apps that you can download in order to take advantage of the store’s digital coupons. You can also add browser extensions like Capital One Shopping to see if you can get a deal on what you are buying online.
2. Check your weekly circular for sales. I check my circulars and make a list of sale items. If it’s a really good sale, I stock up on the items for my pantry and/or my freezer. Stick to the list and if you’re going to more than one store, plan your trip so that you’re being efficient in how you travel to save on fuel costs. Also, filling up your freezer is actually a good thing since a full freezer is more efficient.
If you’re a Big Box member, check out their sales. For example, Costco is running a number of sales on Back to School items! You could get a 12 count of Uniball gel pens for 7.99, a 40-piece school bundle for 10.99, or a 20 count of assorted colored Flair markers for 11.99 (I did resist!). Another secret for Costco: Look for products ending in .97 and with an asterisk on the label. That generally means it’s the lowest price you can get and also, that the item might be leaving the store soon.
3. Unsubscribe from services. If you’re no longer using a service, or rarely using it, unsubscribe, especially if you’re on a monthly billing cycle. If you’ve paid for the year, check to see when you can cancel and set a reminder in your calendar.
4. Wash with cold water and lower your water heater temperature. There are many efficient cold-water detergents and your water heater doesn’t really need to be above 120 degrees.
5. Switch your ceiling fan direction. In the summer, switch the fan to counter-clockwise so that the fan will blow cold air down on you.
6. Check your library for free online services. Many libraries have free e-book and video rental services for library patrons. Check and see what you can get with your library card. Of course, you can also take out print books, DVDs, and other items from the library.
7. Run full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine. Running full loads will save on your water and electrical bills and is also kinder to the environment by saving water. Also try doing running the dishwasher at night when there is less of a strain on the power grid.
8. Use Gasbuddy to find cheap gas prices. Gasbuddy is an app that tracks gas prices in your area. Use it to get the best possible price and save money.
9. Make your own fancy coffee. I stopped going to that coffee shop that shall not be named years ago when I realized that at roughly $5 a day I was spending nearly $2000 dollars per year on coffee. Hubby and I make a fresh pot of coffee every day and hubby got me a Nespresso Aerocinno that heats and froths my milk so I can make myself a latte.
10. Check out store brands and produce. I have to confess to loving Aldi for their produce. I can buy things for less and in more reasonable sizes than at a Big Box store. Aldi also has some great private brand products, but so do Wegman’s and Shop Rite. Check out store brands, especially when they are running sales. I recently purchased plastic zip bags for less than half of what the name brand would be and they were just as good!
I hope those tips were helpful! I should also add another tip: Ask yourself if you really need what you’re buying. I ask myself that all the time now that I’ve downsized and have less space. It helps keep the clutter down.
