Saving money is a way of life. Looking for ways to save has become a habit in our household as it probably is in many of your homes. I wanted to share with you ten of the things that have worked well for us and have allowed us to save money to use for memory makers or investing elsewhere.
10. Cutting our own hair.
A haircut at local shops range in price from $12-$22. I know there are the occasionally specials that come up but still, with six of us, after cut and tip, it sets us back a minimum of $60. That’s painful!! I invested in set of hair clippers and watched a few online tutorials and now I cut all four of the boy’s hair and my Princess’ hair.
It can be is messy but still $60 that could be spend else where is pretty nice. I do get my hair cut professionally but trim my bangs in the in between times.
9. Accepting hand-me downs.
I LOVE hand-me-downs but have been surprised lately as to how hard it is to get rid of them. Some just don’t like them, don’t have the space to store them, or various other reasons. Not me…I’ll accept your hand-me downs. If we don’t use them we will give them to someone that can use or donate them to charity. I’ve found that hand-me-downs come in forms other than clothes.
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| My hand-me-down furniture and $1.50 pillows |
We have a full living room set that is hand-me-down as well many other things that were just being given away.
8. Stockpiling when things are on sale.
I’m not the big couponer I used to be but I do look for a good sale and stock up when I find one. Yesterday was the perfect example. I ran into Aldis to pick up a few things and I always stop back at their meat section to see if they have any discounted meat. I hit the jackpot. They had 6 lb packages of ground beef for $7.
I know the tag says $7 off but they gave me each of them for $7. I bought all they had. So last night I cooked up, drained and froze 42 lbs. of ground beef. Forty two pounds of ground beef for $49. CRAZY!! So look for those deals and stock up when you find them.
7. Buying thrift and salvage.
My boys are growing like weeds and so jeans and shoes are needed every couple months. Most hand-me-downs of boys jeans and shoes have holes in them or are worn out. So before we head to the “real” store, I always run to the thrift to see if the item I’m looking for is available there first…hopefully for a fraction of the cost. I realize this is not always the case.
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| Thrift Store Outfits |
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| Fill a Bag for $1 Sale |
Thrift bread stores are a fabulous resource. I make a trip to the bread store about once a month and buy BIG…20-30 loaves of bread and once again stick them in the freezer. I can usually get a loaf a bread for $.25 to $.50 per loaf at the Nickles bread store.
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| Bread Store and Salvage Store Trip |
Amish Salvage Stores are plentiful in this area. These are store where mostly food and health/beauty items are very discounted because of scratches and dents at the “real” store. They also have food that is past date. I can almost always find a deal here.
6. Searching for coupons or coupon codes.
I was so proud of my 11 year old the other day. He was looking up an item online to purchase and after he found the item, he immediately opened another tab to search for a coupon code. Often, coupon codes don’t work or you may have to try a few to find one that does but they are well worth the few minutes it takes to look for them.
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| Linen Closet Makeover |
I told you last week that I bought new bath towels for the first time in 19 years. I bought them online and was able to use two different coupon codes. I found these just by searching “Kohls coupon codes”. The towels before sale and coupon codes would have cost over $270…I paid under $80. Worth the search, I would say!
5. Use the library to its fullest capacity.
We have a tremendous library! We are there several times every week. They have good programs and are often eager to purchase a book for me if they don’t have what I’m looking for. They are now offering many e-books for loan. I love staying at home and having the ability to download the book I’m looking for for FREE.
There is also a great free resource to keep track of our library books called Library Elf. This service sends us updates via e-mail telling us when our books are due (3 days left, 1 day left, due TODAY) and warns us if we have anything that is overdue as well. It looks like a national program…check to see if your library is affiliated with Elf.
4. Check the local radio station’s website for deals.
Our local radio station has what is called “Half Price Deals”. We often cash in on deals like this for movie tickets. We can get 4 movie theater tickets for $15 through these deals. I buy these for birthday, Christmas, and anniversary presents. They make a great gift. There are other family, fun activities for half price through our radio station as well.
3. Make things you can make.
Recipes for laundry detergent, foaming and regular handsoap, and dishwasher tablets are all over blogland. I have used many of them. The money saved on laundry detergent alone is astounding. It really is not difficult to make and doesn’t take very long either. If you find a recipe that gets the desired result…USE IT!
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| Dishwasher Tablets |
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| Homemade Swiffer Refills |
Meal planning falls into this category as well. I can almost guarantee that if you plan your meals, you will be less likely to impulse buy, order in, or eat out. Search online for the recipe for your favorite restaurant meal…you’ll probably find a recipe for it. Just think it may taste better and will probably cost a lot less!
2. Buy used appliances
I list this hesitantly because we haven’t been burned…yet. We have had tremendous success buying used appliances at ReStore. We saved hundreds of dollars when we bought our dishwasher and more recently our front load washing machine.
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| Laundry Space Makeover |
They were both very good purchases and work way better than any new appliance we have purchased in the past.
1. Swallow your pride
This is listed as my number one because I think it is the most beneficial and the most difficult. Be willing to ask if there is a discount available. Apply for a scholarship. Use coupons when you can. Make the most of the hand-me-downs. Drive the used car. Walk into the thrift store without worrying who sees you. Pick up the pennies that others dropped and then walked on. It’s amazing how much I save when I quit worrying about what others think!!
These are several of the ways I save. How do you save? I’d love to hear your money saving tip.
A fabulous post packed with so many great money saving ideas and reminders! Thanks!
I do many of the same things you do. I do not cut our hair though. We have several friends who cut hair and give us a discount. Now that 3 of my kids are old enough for jobs they pay for alot of their services like that.
Love this!
Angela
http://www.angela-thesimplethings.blogspot.com
I couldn’t agree more with this post. I am an avid Goodwill/Thrift store shopper and I love it!!! I also visit my local bread store, shop meat sales at grocery stores and make my own laundry soap. I think we could all go a little thriftier and it’s green to boot!! Thanks for the great tips!!!
Amen for hand-me-downs! I would say that 90% of the furniture in my house is from my parents or my Aunt. Even my car I bought from my parents for $1.50. Heh I had a Geo and there’s no way you can put a baby in there, the yellow beast was fun but not exactly the safest.
I purged old t-shirts and turned them into my swifter cloths. And oooohh the library! My girl and I are there 3 times a week. The playroom, the movies, the books on CD (she’s not yet 2 and addicted to books on CD) not to mention the brand new lending eLibrary. Heaven!
The hardest thing I find to save on is food. As in GOOD food, the veggies, the fruits, cheeses and dairy. There’s only 3 of us but sheesh food is getting crazy expensive. I’m hoping to plant a garden that can get us through the summer and fall and winter. *crosses toes and prays for good weather*
Look up Aquaponics. It can be done by a family on a very small scale.
great tips thanks for sharing and so true on that last one 😉
Great ideas! I’m terrible at coupon shopping and should visit thrift stores more often. I’ve found some fabulous things at thrift stores. The biggest way we save money is knowing when to do things ourselves. I’m blessed to have a husband who knows how to do carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. I am always happy to help.
I had this big awesome reply written out and then my internet went bust and I lost it. *sniff sniff*
Anyway, I love #1 and #10.
Your handmedown furniture looks good, I really like your living room! We have a lot of handmedown stuff too. In fact my coffee table is from a friend who gave it to us for free and I’m pretty sure it has been around since before The Beatles were a group. It can withstand the kids (and husband) standing on it and jumping off though.
I have never bought a used appliance (well maybe one), but we do buy scratch and dent floor models. Anything coming into this house is GOING to get scratched or dented so it might as well look like it belongs here before it comes in the door.
ha!
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one that gets excited about hand-me-downs. Thanks for sharing.
You are a creative and budget minded woman, I love that! I’ve done all that’s on your list for years, especially when I had 4 kids at home. Just recently I started making my own laundry detergent and will try the dishwasher detergent next. Three other things I do-make most everything from scratch (so cheap!) for the Welding Man’s low salt diet, and grow our own veggies to freeze and can. Plus I always have a list of neat gifts to make for birthdays, weddings, etc. Funny how listening to people gives you the best gift ideas! And now I’ve got ideas for blog posts from this comment :o)
LOVE handme downs! LOVE thrifting and garage sales! LOVE using items that can be reused when feasible–like melamine plates in a picnic basket.
So man upcycling ideas on Pinterest! One of my favs is to use wine bottles, fill with water and turn upside down in your plants or garden to water–I think soda bottles would work too. Much less expensive than purchasing those bulbs at the store! I am using that one this year for sure!
Hair cuts can be inexpensive if you go to a beauty school–same with manicures and pedicures. Oh and if you have a cooking school nearby, you can get a gourmet meal for very cheap!
LOVE LOVE LOVE my library card which also gave me access to my state library where I can download e-books, kindle books, music, movies–you name it! SO NICE!!!!
Great deal on those towels! Kudos!
I have finally found a laundry soap recipe that I want to try and have the items purchased for it. So when my current store bought soap runs out, I am ready to go!
I have also found a recipe for making body wash for cheap out of the bar soap–which I am going to try very quickly as we are running low on body wash!
I have made my cleaners for a while now and really like my homemade cleaners as well as the purchased one and they are so much less expensive!
You are doing a great job! I always take something away from you blog!
I love #1. I figure, if someone sees me at the DI (our local thrift store), THEY must be there too!
I love the look on people’s faces, mostly family, when I share what we do to stay frugal (most of what you shared above). It’s like I am speaking a foreign language 🙂
I am going to gather supplies to make the swiffer refills right now! Thanks!
My top two ways to save are buying used clothing and cooking from scratch (or basically avoiding eating out). I am more of a home body the older I get so it comes easier. The biggest money saver of all is becoming mortgage free and paying zero interest (we use credit cards but pay them off every month so zero interest and get points for travel in the mean time). Fixing things rather than replacing saves a lot of money and is something people rarely do these days. Love your blog!
Wonderful ideas. Carrie!!! I to use a lot of these tips to save at our home.
I love the swiffer tip! That could save hundreds all on it's own. Too bad we don't have a bread store like that! Great tips!
I found your blog over on Someday Craft's linky party. I really enjoyed reading your helpful tips! I'm your newest follower!
-Shelly
Quiet Luxury
These are great tips! Thank you so much for sharing.
I love and do most of your tips! I also do my own nails & facials and make my own cleaning supplies! Thanks for the post it's greats!
Thanks for the great tips…such good ideas!
another great post! I do most of these but can't convince my husband to cut my hair. I love having very short hair and it's around my shoulder blades now – I'm NOT happy – but we're making it on a single Greek economic crisis income so … oh well. I'm very close to just cutting it myself – how bad could it be? hahah. Great deal on the meat!!! I wish we had a discount
i just botched my hubby's hair last night…i am hoping one of my hairdresser friends will give me a good tutorial 😉
love #1 the best and i really enjoy your blog. thanks for the encouraging info 🙂
Agreed! I buy nearly all my kids clothing at the Just Between Friends Consignment sale every fall and spring. I save a ton outfitting three kids this way!
Great list!
Love your post! I live in Canada and we don’t have Aldis or discount bakeries, but I do “price match” and use coupons at Wal-Mart and save a considerable amount of money.
Hugs,
Heather
These are great tips! I love saving money or free tips! You can check out my blog for tips on free dating if you like!
-Mackenzie @ http://www.fridaynightdatenight.blogspot.com
You’ve made a fabulous list with great money saving tips.
love this post. I do most of the same stuff.
Cooking from scratch with groceries bought at the best prices I can find, rarely eating out, not driving unless I just have to, sewing some clothes for myself, fixing things, careful second-hand shopping, no cable TV (we use Roku and Netflix and an antenna)
packing hubby’s lunchbox, doing the ironing instead of drycleaning,
planning ahead for gifts to either make something or find a good deal that the recipeint will like
so many things! and it is to nice to read what other link-minded homemakers are doing.
Great ideas! I am blessed with a neighbor who gives us lots and lots of hand-me-downs! 🙂
makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com
<-- new follower.
I love all your ways to save money and mine are similar. I love hand me downs especially and love to revamp them too!
What a wonderful post! I’d love for you to share this information at Mix it up Monday:
http://flourmewithlove.blogspot.com/2012/03/mix-it-up-monday_11.html
I hope to see you soon 🙂
We are looking at getting a new dishwasher – so #2 applies to us! Most used appliances come with some sort of warranty!
I cut my husband’s and son’s hair and it saves us a lot – I just wish I could get brave enough to cut my own!
Good for you! I am with you on at least 7 and will work on the remaining. ~Kelly
What a great list! I agree with number one – except that there’s an inverse return….you can take great pride in all the things you do to be thrifty! If you would, consider sharing with my readers at http://sassafrassalvation.blogspot.com/2012/03/sasss-sunday-salvation-show-15.html
Thanks!
We do most of those. I do have to share how we got “burned” almost quite literally on a used appliance! Hubby hooked up the gas stove and tested the broiler. When he opened the door, a flaming fireball literally shot out of the bottom! My favorite money saver is to use Freecycle! We can usually find most of the crazy things we are looking for there. I have gotten some really awesome things like a pressure canner!
in love with this post. We do all these things too except I make bread, but love that you find it so cheap. so awesome. I am following your cute blog:>
Our families are very similar…except I have 4 girls and 1 boy. We also do much of what you do.
My kids read this post with me and it felt good to have them see others who live frugally. Makes it feel less “strange” to them.
Great post!!!
I agree with everything you listed and do all of them except the coupons. Our couponing ability in Canada is pretty useless, plus I tend to stick to the outside isles and store brands – they don’t have coupons for that stuff. My kids would be happy if I stopped cutting their bangs too short between haircuts.
Love this! We just posted our Kitchen Fun and Crafty friday link party and would LOVE for you to share this!
http://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.blogspot.com/2012/03/kitchen-fun-and-crafty-friday-link_15.html We have also included a Sugarlicious giveaway!
Haven’t been by your blog in a long time! My, how it’s grown! Congrats, Carrie! I’m going to look into the dishwasher tablets & home made swiffers!
Tiffiany
Just found your blog and I love it! Great tips and tricks, we can all use. I’m going to be following along now.
Another suggestion when thrifting or using hand-me-downs (or other freebies) if to look at the bones of the item. It is a lot cheaper to buy a can of paint or make a slip cover if the colors/scuff marks are the only problem.
Carrie,
This is a great post. With the exception of cutting hair, we do all of these things. I can’t believe what I’ve things I’ve bought and sold on Craigslist.
The only thing I would add, more of an umbrella theme, is staying organized. That way you aren’t purchasing items you already have, but just can’t find.
Thanks for sharing,
Laura
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