Are you constantly trying to save more and spend less?
If so, you're not alone. Saving more and spending less is always one of the top battles we face every day.
One of the best ways to save money is to adopt a frugal lifestyle. Frugal does not have to equal boring. You just have to be get a little more creative with your thinking. Thankfully, I've made that a little easier for you! Below, are 12 almost effortless ways that you can be more frugal today!
Suggest cheaper alternatives
If a friend invites you to a movie, suggest watching one at home. If a relative wants to spend the day at an amusement park with the kids, suggest a free or low cost museum. If a co-worker thinks a trip to the book store would be fun, suggest the library.
Cheaper entertainment alternatives can still be fun!
Switch to homemade coffee
Did you know, you only need to spend $27.40 a day to blow $10,000 in a year?
There are many great coffee beans on the market (Kicking Horse, Melitta, even Starbucks and Tim Hortons sell their coffee in grocery stores) that taste just as good, if not better, than the kind you will pay 10x the price for at your local coffee shop.
Many small local coffee shops sell more locally roasted coffee beans that you can take home to brew yourself.
There are also so many fancy coffee creamers and flavorings available at grocery stores, soon you'll be enjoying your homemade cup even more than store bought!
Flip and rotate your mattresses
A mattress can be a big investment. Take care of your investment by flipping and rotating it every three months to extend its life span. This is a great way to be more frugal.
Keep in mind that foam mattresses, like our Endy mattress can only be rotated. Most of the new foam mattresses can't be flipped. But rotating it will still keep it in tip top shape!
Stockpile groceries
I'm a big fan of stockpiling. I believe that in addition to using coupons, stockpiling is one of the best ways that you can save money on your grocery bill each month.
Set aside a bit of money each month for stocking up on great deals that you know you will use. When those sales come around, pick up as many as you need and can afford, and add them to your stockpile so you can make it until the next great sale.
Use Less
It really can be as easy as simply using less. Use less hand soap, less laundry detergent, less dish soap and even using half a dryer sheet. You probably won't notice a difference in how products like these perform!
Invest in energy efficient products
There are some things you should spend your money on, such as energy efficient products.
If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, refrigerator, washer and/or dryer or chest freezer - take a look at the energy efficient models available. They may cost a bit more, but considering all the money they will be saving you in the future, they are well worth the investment.
Don't forget about smaller energy efficient products, such as LED light bulbs. These do cost more than traditional incandescent light bulbs, but they last much longer.
Shop the Sales
Perhaps a no brainer, but there's really no need to pay full price for most things. Sales always come along on groceries, electronics, cars, clothing, furniture and more. If you are planning a purchase anyways, make sure to purchase when it's on sale. There's no easier way to be more frugal!
Don't use the Dryer
If you can, don't use your dryer to dry clothes. Use a clothes line or drying rack instead. Not only will this save money on your utilities bill, but it will keep your clothes looking and feeling newer, longer!
Cook in Bulk
I love doing this! If I'm already cooking something that freezes well, I'll make a big batch so I can freeze half or more. This not only creates an easy meal for a busy night, it helps me avoid the temptation of expensive take out. I like to do this with taco meat, spaghetti sauce, meatballs, shepherd's pie, Chicken Pesto Pasta Shells and chili.
Cut off the ends of 'Empty' Tubes
When you think your hand cream is empty or your makeup is definitely gone, cut off the ends of the tubes or plastic bottles. You will be amazed to see how much is actually left!
Sign up for Rewards Programs
No matter where you live, most retailers offer some kind of rewards program. Some offer points that you can redeem for free products, some offer discounts and some offer cash-back. This can save you big bucks without really trying!
In Canada, my personal favourite rewards programs are:
One way to save a ton of money this year, is to buy used for everything you possibly can. Do you need new clothes for your kids? Check out thrift stores in your area. Need a new couch? Facebook marketplace is great for that!
Being frugal does not mean you live a life of deprivation. You are simply being smart about the resources that you have and learning to love the simple pleasures in life.
What is one thing you are going to start doing today to be more frugal? Or what are some things you already do without thinking, that are frugal?
Setting a budget is one thing, but actually sticking to your budget each and every month is another! In today's society, you're constantly bombarded by temptations that can lead you away from your plan. TV commercials, an enticing "sale" sign and a beautiful store display can all tempt you to spend outside of what you can afford in your budget. Never mind that you may not like to delay gratification for something that you want today!
But, the truth is, what you decide to do today will determine your future. Having a budget in place to help eliminate debt and not consciously sticking to it, may make our lives enjoyable today, but will give us much misery in the future.
Here are some tips to make sticking to a budget a bit easier:
Set specific financial goals
Since you've most likely put a budget in place so you can attain financial goals, it's important to get specific by providing numbers and deadlines for your goals. For example, instead of “My goal is to save enough for a down payment on a house”, a better one would be, “My goal is to save $2,083 a month for a 20% down payment on a $250,000 house in 24 months”. Setting specific goals gives an idea of how well or how poorly you're doing. In turn, possibly enticing you to be more disciplined with your budgeting or allowing yourself a pat on the back!
Be realistic
In terms of goal setting, it's important to set goals that are reasonable. Not ones that are setting you up for failure right from the start.
It's also important to be realistic when you're setting up your budget. Say you've discovered that you spend, on average, $800 a month on groceries after you've tallied up your receipts from previous months. Don't decide that having a budget of $500 for groceries is "totally doable" since you have to "reach your financial goals as fast as you can because you're so excited". This is just setting you up for failure. I'm not saying it's not impossible to eventually get your budget down to $500 a month, you'll just want to work slowly, one step at a time, at reducing your monthly grocery budget.
Have accountability
Think about the last time you started a workout routine or tried to kick a bad habit; having a partner by your side, holding you accountable is crucial. Involve your family (or a very good friend) in your plan. Explain why you need to scale back on some areas, and get their input and encouragement on those things. From here, review your budget once a week with your family (or very good friend) to make sure that you're on track. Not only is it good to have someone help keep you on track, it's great to have someone helping you celebrate your successes!
Use cash
If you leave your debit cards and credit cards at home and only bring the amount of cash that you have budgeted, then that's all you'll be able to spend. So if your budget allows you $100 at the grocery store each week, then only bring $100 with you. (These printable Cash Envelopes are a fantastic tool to help you organize your cash.)
You'll be more likely to avoid those unnecessary items that might otherwise end up in your cart. They may not seem like a big deal because they're only a few bucks, but when you end up at the checkout with $110 worth of items, you'll be forced to put some things back, making you prioritize and forcing you to stick within your budget. If you had your debit card with you, chances are you'd think "It's only a few dollars", and you'll find yourself short at the end of the month.
Remember your goals
As you go about the daily life of living within a budget, it's important to remind yourself often of why you're living on a budget. Is it because you want to save enough for that winter vacation? Or maybe it's to pay off your consumer debt. Regardless, it's important to constantly remember your financial goals to help fuel the excitement of what's to come, if you manage to successfully stick to your budget. It could help to write down your financial goals and carry them around with you in your wallet or purse. Every time you pull out your cash and look at those goals, you'll be reminded of the reason you have a budget.
Reward yourself
When you divide your big goal into several mini goals, make sure you reward yourself each time you accomplish one of those mini goals. Not only will this help spur you on, you'll also start to feel as though your big goal could definitely become a reality if you stick to it. Your reward may be as simple as a long bubble bath or a bowl of ice cream; or as extravagant as a fancy dinner out. Of course, as long as it is still within budget! Here are some great ideas to treat yourself for free.
What are the things that you do to make sticking to a budget easier? Let me know in the comments below.
Can you believe we have reached the last day in the No Spend Declutter Challenge? It's so hard to believe we've been working away for nearly a month! I still have areas of my house that need some fine tuning, but overall, I'm quite happy! I think I brought in 5 boxes/bags to the second hand store.
One thing I wish I would have been better at, is using stuff we already have in our pantry and freezer. I feel like I still spent the same amount on groceries as I do every month.
Day 18 Declutter Task:
We're going to close out the month with something that I like to do about once a month or so. A digital declutter. This is when I go though my email accounts and delete emails I no longer need. Unsubscribe from newsletters that don't interest me any longer. Unfollow social media accounts and delete photos off my phone and computer that are no longer needed.
It's sort of a mindless task, but feels so good to have only the stuff you need and the stuff you love in the end!
How often do you do a digital declutter?
Day 18 No Spend Task:
Remember when a couple of weeks ago, our task was to create "wants" list? Well, today, we're going to revisit that list.
When you revisit your list, cross off the things you realize you no longer want. With the items that are still on the list, I want to encourage you to try buying used, borrowing from friends or family, or asking in a local Buy Nothing Facebook group.
I know you will will feel just as satisfied with those options when you receive the items you want!
I'd love to know, after nearly an entire month of not spending unnecessarily, how many things do you no longer want or need?
Thank you so much for joining me this month! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
Today, we're going to tackle our desk areas. Now this year, things might look different than normal. You may be using a table as a make shift desk for school or work at home. So I guess you can tidy up the spot you call a work area!
In our home, I have a desk, but the girls are the ones who use it right now for making crafts and colouring. (We are fortunate to have in-class school!) My husband also has a desk that tends to get cluttered up with toys because it’s in our basement where most of the toys are. So today, I’ll tidy them up and make sure all the random items are in their proper place.
Day 17 No Spend Task:
Well, once again, we're going to intentionally not spend money on unnecessary things! But we are almost finished! Have you noticed a big change in your mindset? Are you less tempted to purchase random items now?
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
Today, we're going to declutter and organize our craft/hobby supplies. While we don’t have a dedicated craft room, I still find it very helpful to occasionally go through our craft supplies! I seem to have bins all over the house. I’ll be sorting through my daughters’ craft supplies too. Actually, mainly their supplies. I'm still trying to figure out what my hobby is. 😛
When we moved into our house almost four years ago (!!), we purchased a few of these ALEX drawer units from IKEA. My husband created a desk out of them by placing a piece of pine board overtop. It has been the most wonderful set up for the girls!
Here are some links to great craft organization tips that I thought you might enjoy:
Once again today, we're going to keep it simple, and not spend money on anything unnecessary. What did you do yesterday for your self care? I ended up with an hour to myself so I forced myself to not do any chores and read a book!
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
Today we're going to start a task that I dread. Filing paper. I'm not sure why I don't like it so much, because when I do take the time to to it, it really doesn't take that long. Once it's done I'm always left feeling satisfied too! I just don't know...
I think it was about a year ago that I overhauled our filing system and I'm really liking it! If you are in need of some filing system inspiration, here are some great links:
Do you have a system that works well for you? Care to share your tips in the comments?
Day 15 No Spend Task:
I definitely think it's time for some intentional self-care, don't you think? If you can't find time today, make some time this week! Here are some ideas for self care that you may enjoy:
Journaling
Reading
At home pedicure
Facial masks: Clay, Avocado, egg whites, or oatmeal made into a paste
I will also be posting random progress reports throughout the challenge over at Instagram! Follow me on Instagram @simplyfrugal and use the hashtag #nospenddeclutter to get updates and see what others are up to during the challenge!
If you do not use social media, I would love to read your comments on each task, right here, below each challenge post on SimplyFrugal.ca!
