I go through spurts of time where I am too busy to clip coupons or find new ways to save money. However, there are some tried and true tips that have become part of our regular routines that help us save a lot of money!
Check out my favorites! How many do you do?
1) Checking prices – This is probably my favorite way to save money. I try to check prices against more than one store when shopping. Of course, you can’t do this for everything, but it helps to know where the cheapest places are to get various items. I love having a smartphone, because I can also compare prices across retailers right in the store.
2) My favorite find – swapping books – It used to be that you could make some money selling your used books on Amazon. One year I made a few hundred dollars selling old books. Now the market is saturated and books go for pennies. However, this site allows me to create a wish list of books I want and trade books I am done with. I have gotten many great books for my family and for teaching!
3) 9 apps to earn money with your Smartphone – Even though this post is several years old, the idea is the same. Most years I can earn about $400 or more from various apps and websites. My favorites are Brandclub, Ibotta, Amazon Shopper Panel, Yougov, Fetch, and Pogo.
4) Preparing for gift giving = savings – My gift drawer has come in handy many times for kids’ birthday parties, baby gifts, and teacher gifts! I always stock up on things when I spot a good deal.
5) Making your own challah – Since we got a bread machine this has gotten even easier. My husband also makes pizza crust and loaf bread in it. Between that and shopping at Aldi for other breads, we spend so little on bread products! (Aldi has a dupe for Dave’s Killer Bread that is delicious and cheaper!)
6) Menu planning – We often get too busy to do this, but when we do, it helps so much! We make less trips to the store and eat better. Our family loves homemade meals better than pinch hit dinners like eggs and toast!
7) Brighter savings – I cannot remember the last time we had to buy light bulbs. Using fluorescent or LED bulbs saves us a lot of money and we have to replace them so infrequently!
8) Staying on top of your kids’ clothing – We are so fortunate to have generous friends who have given us their hand-me-down clothes when they are done with them. I loved to go shopping in my basement for the next size clothes when my boys’ needed it! I rarely had to buy things for them except for socks, underwear, and a few other items!
9) Become a member – Our zoo and science center memberships more than paid off their cost and gave us other things to do at each place that we normally could not afford! Our science center membership is also reciprocal at many science centers across the country and this has saved us money on family trips!
10) SodaStream soda makers! – I admit that I love soda, even though it is bad for me! However, SodaStream uses healthy artificial sweeteners and is much cheaper than canned and bottled sodas. It also makes a nice treat for Shabbos guests that we would normally not be able to afford!
11) The advantage of buying paper goods online – I try to limit our use of paper goods, but around the holidays (especially Pesach), they really come in handy. Buying them in the store (even Sam’s) can be so expensive. See my reasons for why shopping online is better!
12) Buy a smart tank printer – Ever since I bought a refillable smart tank printer, I hardly have to buy ink. You can just pour the new ink into your printer and recycle the container! They last so much longer than the inkjet cartridges we used to buy!
13) Are “dollar stores” really a good deal? – I love Dollar Tree and frankly probably shop there too much! But, I find so many great deals there – teaching items, kitchen tools, containers, and more!
14) Why I love Target! – Target has so many ways for you to stack your savings – manufacturer’s coupons, coupons on the app, Circle deals, your Target Circle debit or credit card, and gift card rewards. I always come out with a feeling of accomplishment and save at least $20 or more this way! Target often posts their deals right on the shelf or on the product listing in the app, too, so you don’t miss a deal!
15) Making the most of the whole bird – My husband is a master at using as much of a chicken as possible. We let very little go to waste and end up with several meals from one chicken!
16) Follow-up on ditching cable – we love our Roku! – This change has made the biggest difference in our monthly expenses. It was hard to do at first, but I cannot imagine going back and am so glad we are not wasting our money anymore!
17) Post-Christmas shopping success – I love after-holiday sales. I can always find good deals on special treats, snacks, items for my gift drawer, and more. You don’t have to celebrate the holiday to save from the special seasonal items!
18) Saving on Black Friday without spending much money! – I do not stand in line for hours, but I still save a ton each Black Friday. A little planning and knowing the right stores or website to shop at make the difference!
Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think of my favorite tips and other posts!
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