Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
Are you guys enjoying this series? Have you learned anything new or gained some inspiration? I’ve been having a lot of fun writing these posts!
One way to save a bundle every day is to make substitutions for things you buy or do regularly. I think it’s possible to find a substitute for so many things these days. The list could go on and on!
When I say make substitutions, I don’t mean necessarily have to stop doing and eating everything you love. Just find a cheaper, and quite possibly, a better way to do it. If you love to stop for coffee, purchase a french press or an Aeropress for at home or work and start making your own instead of going to a coffee shop. Or, if you enjoy getting your nails done, why not find a friend who enjoys painting nails to do it for you? Make an afternoon of it!
Here are a few of the ways I like to make substitutions at home:
Sometimes making substitutions could be as simple as buying a carton of whipping cream (to whip yourself) instead of a can of pre-made whipping cream. Or for some frugal fun, why not find a new-to-you hiking trail instead of dishing out money for a local attraction. Or maybe you’re forced to make a substitution because you ran out of something. Check out this list of 100 Emergency Ingredient Substitutions.
As you go about your week, try to think of some substitutions you can make. Challenge yourself! I’m going to try my hand at some homemade bread. The bread maker has been sitting for far too long. 🙂
What are some ways you make substitutions in your life to help save money?
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
Today’s 52 Ways to Save post is inspired by this amazing community garage sale that I hit up with some friends over the weekend. It was great! There were at least 40 garage sales in this one community. They even provided a map of all the sales!
And with that, learn to save big at garage sales with these tips:
Find the Sales
Before you jump in the car to find garage sales, you might be wise to do a little research beforehand. The night before you head out, be sure to take a look at the sales in your area. When you look at the garage sales in your area, you can plan to hit the sales closest to you so you’re not driving all over the place. Plus, having a clear plan of action in place will help you save big because you’re not going from one end of the city to the other then back again. Here’s where you can look for garage sales in your area:
Your local newspapers
Craigslist/Kijiji
Facebook Buy & Sell groups (I find people often post about their upcoming garage sales)
Write a List
Making a list of items you’re looking for can also be a money saver. Garage sales can be really exciting with all.the.neat.things that you must have for so cheap. All those neat things can add up to a lot of clutter and wasted money. So grab a pen and paper and start listing the items you hope to find that you will actually need. Get specific, especially when it comes to kids clothes. Over the weekend, I was on the hunt for 2 pairs of pants, 3 t-shirts, 2 pairs of summer PJ’s and a great pair of sandals for my daughter. I managed to keep most of my money because I could overlook all the cute things she didn’t need (dresses! skirts! sweaters!).
Be prepared
Now, it’s garage sale day. But before you jump in the car, make sure you’re stocked up on snacks and your beverages of choice. A day of garage saleing can be long and you don’t want to spend more at the drive-thru then you did on your garage sale treasures.
Bring cash
Make sure to have cash on you when you start. If you come across something that you must have, you don’t want to run to the bank and risk that item being sold to someone else! Having smaller bills and change is ideal.
Get ready to bargain
I’ll admit that bargaining isn’t my forte, but I did however, manage to do a tiny bit of bargaining over the weekend! I think most people expect you to offer a different price actually. So, just ask! The worst they can say No and the best they can say is Yes! Just make sure you offer something reasonable. Sort of lame, but one person said I could have my purchase for $8, but I countered with $7 (because I had a $5 and a toonie). He accepted and I’m pleased with the deal I got on two jeans in brand-new condition and a t-shirt!
Another trick I learned is to see if they’ll let you fill a bag for a fixed price. As I was digging through the kids clothes at one home, I was offered a plastic shopping bag that I could fill for $5. I would have jumped on this but I couldn’t find anything in the right size for my daughter.
Buy these items
I find that buying these types of items at garage sales will save you a load of cash in the long run:
Wedding supplies: Once our wedding was over, I sold all the candle holders and table runners that we had purchased. You might find similar items yourself!
Craft supplies: I’ve also sold a ton of fabric and card making supplies in garage sales over the years.
Collector items: If you’re a collector of a particular item, garage sales could be a gold mine for you!
Kid clothes: Can’t go wrong with buying kids clothes. Most of them will be in excellent shape since kids usually outgrow them before they get too worn.
Large baby/kid items: While I am quite hesitant to buy used car seats, I don’t think you can go wrong buying things like excersaucers, baby swings, high chairs and outdoor toys.
Since I didn’t find everything on my list at the community garage sale this past weekend, I plan on hitting up more future sales armed with the tips I listed.
What are your tips for saving at garage sales? What are some of your must-buy items?
Did you know you could be throwing away money each month, right into your own trash can? There are many items tossed into trash cans each month that are worth cash and can help put a little extra change into your pocket. Take a look below at 6 ways to turn your trash into cash and make a little money off of items you would normally throw away or recycle.
6 Ways to Turn Your Trash into Cash
1. Wine corks.
Wine corks have become quite popular with crafters lately. If you drink wine, set your wine corks aside. You can sell them on eBay or Etsy, where crafters are paying around .25 and up per cork. If you host a party or have been collecting corks over time, you could enjoy a real pay day!
2. Aluminum.
Don’t pitch aluminum cans. They’re worth cash! Take it to your nearest recycling center where they will count your cans and pay you the going rate. It is a quick way to get rid of the aluminum and make some cash in the process. With the money I get from bringing in our old cans, I like to put the balance into my daughter’s piggy bank.
3. Magazines.
Back issues of magazines are quite popular on eBay. If you have magazine subscriptions, sell your back issues on eBay to buyers in need. Niche topics are especially hot (crafting, hobby, fashion) and bring in a great price. So don’t toss those old magazines, sell them.
Don’t toss those old newspapers before checking them for coupons. When you toss coupons, it is like tossing money. Instead, check each page one more time and make sure there aren’t any savings you want to clip and take advantage of.
5. Glass bottles.
Glass bottles are another hot item with crafters. If you have glass bottles, especially colored glass, wine bottles, or decorative bottles, see about selling them first. Etsy or the hobby section on Craigslist or Facebook Buy & Sell groups are perfect for getting a few bucks per bottle. At-home wine makers are also always looking for wine bottles!
6. Scrap metal.
Most things that are metal (including cars, bikes, appliances, cans, file cabinets, BBQ grills, etc.) can be recycled for cash. To find out how much you can make, google “Scrap Metal Pickup” for your local city to find someone that will pick up your scraps.
See how easy it can be to turn your own trash into cash? Keep these tips in mind and you can make a little money off of the items you normally just toss away or recycle. So, how much cash is lurking in your trash? Take a peek and see which items you can weed out and get a few dollars for.
Do you have any “trash” items that you regularly like to turn into cash?
Are you looking to make some money from home? If so, you might be cautious about all of the work from home opportunities out there for fear they may be scams. And while plenty of those do exist, you will find that there are a lot of legitimate ways to make money at home as well. Take a look below at 5 legitimate ways to make money at home so you can have extra cash on hand, pay down debt, or save up for that special purchase you have been eyeing.
5 Legitimate Ways to Make Money at Home
1. Write and publish eBooks.
Do you like to write and have knowledge on a certain subject? If so, write an ebook! You can use easy to use and navigate programs such as Kindle Direct Publishing (an Amazon company) to publish your books in just minutes. This is a great way to bring in a little extra cash flow each month. To get started, use a word processing program to type up, edit, and format the text, then transfer the text using the tools Kindle Direct Publishing provides.
2. Become a tutor.
Do you have a background in teaching? Or, perhaps you are just skilled at reading, writing, and math? Then advertise your skills as a tutor among friends and through social media. Tutors can make upwards of $20 an hour, more if you are skilled in junior high and high school skills. Set aside a space in your house for tutoring, or offer to tutor the child in their own home. You will need very little in the way of supplies (usually pencils, paper, will do the trick) and the child is sure to appreciate your help and support!
3. Become a pet or child sitter.
If you love children or animals, why not become a sitter? You can offer to provide services in your own home or the clients. Sitters for children can make upwards of $10 per hour, while the amount you can make as a pet sitter varies. Either way, you can make cash for doing what you already love. Advertise among friends, family, and social media to let others know you are looking to take on clients in these areas. Provide excellent care, and you are sure to have customers flocking to you.
4. Sell from home.
Direct sales are a great way to make money from home without a great deal of overhead involved. Some examples of items you can sell from home would include essential oils, candles, cosmetics, and jewelry. Visit the websites of Scentsy, Young Living, DoTerra, Avon, and other direct sale companies to see what opportunities may be available to you. You will find that these companies offer excellent commission, bonus opportunities, and even trips for your dedication to them.
5. Sell your stuff.
Use eBay, Etsy, Facebook, Kijiji, Craigslist or even Amazonto sell your gently used items. You can sell movies, music, furniture, clothing, accessories, even electronics and plants. If you are getting rid of it, chances are there is a market for it. Check out the sites mentioned to set up a seller account, take some great pics, write a thorough description, and in no time you will be selling your stuff online and making some real cash.
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Making money from home is possible. Give these legitimate ways to make money at home a try and see what you can achieve!
Do you have any other ideas for making money from home?
Spring cleaning is in full swing so retailers are helping you out by putting cleaning supplies on sale!
Vacuums
Along the same lines as cleaning supplies, you will also find vacuums at a discount. So now is the time to buy if you need a new one.
Paint
Once the warmer weather hits, retailers know that home improvement projects begin. So if fresh paint is what’s on your mind, keep your eyes open for a deal in April.
Winter clothes
Retailers are wanting to make room for the new Spring apparel so you can expect to find some deep discounts on winter clothing!
Easter items
Before Easter, you will see ham and turkeys on sale. As soon as Easter is over, stock up on candy, decorations and more. Those items will be drastically reduced to make room for the next holiday items.
Tulips/Daffodils
Once tulips and daffodils are in season this month, I often see them on sale. Cut daffodils are often cheaper than cut tulips.
Yeah yeah, I’m sure you’ve heard it before… use your local library to avoid spending money on new books. While the library is a great place to borrow books, most libraries also offer many other money-saving programs and resources!
Here are more unique ways your library will save you money:
DVDs and CDs
Our local library offers a great selection of DVD’s and CD’s. While you can purchase these items fairly cheap these days, borrowing from the library will save you a ton in the long run!
Audiobooks
If you’re a fan of audiobooks, check the selection at your library! While I have yet to figure out a good way to listen to audiobooks (I get distracted), once I do figure it out, I’m going to check out a few. I noticed that our library system offers downloadable audiobooks.
eBooks
I often list free ebooks that are available through Amazon, but your local library may also give you access to a ton of ebooks. I believe you need to download the OverDrive app.
Digital Magazines
It’s possible to read digital magazines for free through many local libraries! Take a look online at your local library’s website for details.
Kids Programs
Most libraries have a kids story time. My daughter attends regularly and enjoys the story and songs they sing. Our library systems also offers a Summer Reading Club.
Free Activities
I was doing a bit of browsing through our library website and discovered a bunch of fun free activities they offer. One night they offer a Lego Builders program. Another night they have a movie night based on books. On yet another night, they have Chess night. The list goes on!
As you can see the library is a great place or service to take advantage of if you want to save some big bucks!
How often do you use your library? Do you know of any other services or activities most libraries offer?
