Every time we turn around these days, prices seem to be going up. Fortunately, we don’t have to spend all our time digging around in our couch cushions looking for change — there are actually some pretty clever ways of making our money work for us. Recently, u/NoMedicine3572 asked “What’s a middle-class hack that still saves you money today?” over on Reddit, and these 29 tips are incredibly helpful:
1.
“Cooking beans and legumes from dry, and buying in bulk.”
2.
“Borrowing rather than buying. Do you really need to buy a ladder, or could you borrow your neighbor’s for the afternoon? Always return things promptly, clean, and in good repair, and they’ll likely be happy to help you out.”
3.
“Vacuum sealers are such a good investment. Yes, the bags of rolls cost money, but if you cook up a massive dish of lentils, curry, soup, etc., they are amazing and also enable you to buy bulk meat, chicken, and fish.”
4.
“Stop being snobby about your cellphone service and go to cheaper ones that use the same towers.”
5.
“I have an old Toyota that is pretty messed up now, but it makes me laugh because it looks kind of like shit. But I don’t have a car payment, and I still get 25 miles per gallon or so. I’ll drive that thing into the ground. As long as the car has air-conditioning, music, and drives decently, I don’t really care.”
6.
“Library cards aren’t just for books! They also have a library of things where you can borrow so many different things (a sewing machine, tennis rackets, an inflatable outdoor projector, pressure washers, etc.). They have free audiobooks on Libby and Hoopla, free movies and TV shows, free museum passes to almost all museums, and some of them also have free or very cheap classes.”
7.
“Pack your lunch at home. Don’t eat out.”
8.
“Buying a sewing kit and learning basic hand-sewing can help save pieces of clothing that need minor fixes for almost no additional investment. I can replace buttons, hem slacks, and reattach zippers with the same needles and thread I’ve had since 2016.”
9.
“Learn how to fix simple shit safely. Leak under the sink? It’s $150+ just to have a plumber come out to look at it. Half the time, it’s just a twist or swapping out a standard part that costs $5. And if you can’t fix it yourself, you can still call the pro.”
10.
“Figure out a work uniform, even if it’s four or five interchangeable pieces.”
11.
“I just started writing down every time I spend money. How much and what it was for. Made me realize the difference between ‘need to have’ and ‘nice to have.'”
12.
“Flossing daily saves from expensive periodontal disease and major procedures. No matter what income I have, I buy dental floss.”
13.
“Using a narrow spatula to get every bit of condiment out, as well as using a metal hair clip to fold up toothpaste to also use it all up. That may sound stingy, but to me, I just hate basically giving away money.”
14.
“Plan your menu around the weekly sales.”
15.
“Don’t carry any credit card debt. If you can’t pay it off by the end of the month and it’s not for an emergency, don’t buy it.”
16.
“I get the deep-discounted meat at Target, of all places — and then I freeze it. Target marks down meat based on the sell-by date. The other thing is to learn to cook the meat that isn’t popular.”
17.
“Entertaining at home. You can forge close friendships and save a ton of money.”
18.
“Furnishing your house with second-hand stuff. I’ve moved like every two years forever, buying stuff and selling stuff second-hand. I finally bought a house and was going to buy new things, but it’s like $3k for a single leather chair, $5k for a rug, $400 for a lamp, $5k for a couch. I went back to second-hand life, just can’t justify those prices.”
19.
“Doing my own gel nails saves so much each month, and I don’t have to sacrifice my look in order to save money. I think the cost per use every month is about 50 cents for materials.”
20.
“Price alerts for things I don’t need immediately. Kindle book? Price alert. That compression cube set I want? Price alert. Extra face wash that I’ll need when I run out? Price alert. Once the notification goes off, I immediately pull the trigger. I actually feel really happy buying it ’cause it’s a good price, as opposed to the normal feeling of ‘Ugh, I have to spend money.'”
21.
“All you get from streaming services is FOMO. Cut the ones you don’t need. If it is worth watching, it will be on physical media anyway, which can be borrowed from local libraries. If you MUST have streaming services, find deals like on Black Friday. Sometimes you can get streaming services in bundles or for free, from, for example, cell phone/internet providers.”
22.
“I thrift all my clothes. I’m having to buy new clothes because I’m pregnant, and they have loads of nice things at Goodwill.”
23.
“I don’t shop the season. I shop the end-of-season sale. My husband and I both picked up extremely warm winter coats we needed for 90% off in July when the Eddie Bauer store was going out of business. Spent $200 total between the two of us and now have new great winter coats.”
24.
“Invest in things that help you keep your loved items lasting longer. Think oils for your wooden cutting boards and knife sharpeners, a shaver for pilling sweaters, etc, polish for your shoes, etc. Taking time to care for your items also makes you appreciate them even more.”
25.
“Buying your junk food at Dollar Tree. It’s not like bagged popcorn, cheese puffs, cookies, etc. are made with quality ingredients, anyway, so why pay a premium? Name brands at mass retailers/grocery stores are $5ish/each. So in one trip alone, you save over $10 on three items.”
26.
“Canning is a really good way to save money! I bought a good stock pot for $15 at a yard sale, and I can chicken broth and meatless tomato sauce. At the beginning of the month, I’ll go to Costco and get two whole chickens and a can of whole tomatoes.”
27.
“My friends and I are avid gamers. They have more disposable income per month and can afford to buy a lot of games digitally, which are generally more expensive unless there’s a sale. I, on the other hand, will almost always buy physical editions, finding the best deal and then selling them afterwards.”
28.
“An AAA card with extended tow service. Saved me $1100 in towing fees when I was several hours away from home.”
29.
And finally, “Honestly, I have learned that cleaning vinegar or regular vinegar does a better cleaning job than the brand-name miracle cleaners. Like bubbles, foams, and all this fancy shit. Vinegar is more effective at cleaning, and it’s way cheaper.”
Do you have your own money-saving tips to share? Let us know in the comments. Or if you’d like to remain anonymous, you can fill out the form below.
