You’re living on a tight budget. You may have already cut back on your frivolous purchases, but you’d like to save even more money and don’t know where to start. It may take a bit of creativity, but it is possible to find extra savings!
Here are some ideas to help you save money on a tight budget:
Keep your receipts
Most people who feel they are broke and have no way out, actually change their perspective when they find out how much they actually already have and waste. Keeping track of what you spend each monthcan help you make changes to your spending habits which could account for a large chunk of change in the bank.
Evaluate
Evaluate what really is a necessity in your life. Is cable TV really needed at this time or can you use some creativity to occupy your time otherwise? Maybe you have both a land line and a cell phone and perhaps cancelling one is a possibility. Taking a good look at all your recurring expenditures and really evaluating what is an actual necessity (and getting rid of those things that aren’t) will really help you save money on a tight budget.
Prioritize
In North America, people are continuously living outside of their means. It’s impossible to save money if you’re living a $100,000/year lifestyle on a $35,000/year salary. Prioritize what is important to you at this time and get rid of the rest. You may want to put the kids in piano lessons and guitar lessons, but you can’t afford to do both. Pick one, then move on.
Cut out a convenience item
Start by cutting out one convenience item at a time. Do you typically buy packaged cookies? Start baking your own. Rather than purchasing high priced, chemical laden cleaning products, make your own! (Check out my own homemade cleaning kit.) By cutting out one convenience item at a time, you’ll be making little strides towards your savings goal!
Earn more
Of course, earning more money is a great way to add to your savings. Take on a part time job, ask for a raise, turn a hobby into a side business. Just make sure you save your extra, don’t spend it!
Sell what you don’t need
You’ve all heard of Kijiji, Craigslist Facebook Buy & Sell Groups and eBay, I’m sure. I’m also pretty sure you have stuff around your home you don’t need anymore. Sell what you don’t need on one of those previously mentioned sites or have a garage sale, then head to the bank and make a deposit!
Collect change
Make a jar for your spare change then throw it in there. Empty your pockets and change purses every night into the jar. Keep going until the jar is full, then pay a visit to the bank to make a deposit. It’s possible to save hundreds of dollars each year this way!
Shop wisely
Pay attention to how and why you shop. You may discover that purchasing Christmas presents during the Christmas frenzy is expensive and tough on your budget. Why not start buying presents during after Christmas sales or seasonal clearance sales? You undoubtedly have a list of the same people you have to buy for every year so when you’re out shopping, keep an eye open for any gifts they may enjoy.
Another thing that can really help when you’re overwhelmed or paralyzed by the thought of budgeting? Create a plan to stay focused! Check out this thoughtfully made BUDGET PLANNER – pages to help you achieve financial goals, track your bills and spending, discover what you did well, what you need to improve on and so much more!
Money may be a little tight, but choosing to do some of these suggestions could help you save thousands. Decide what you can give up to help you save big and reach those financial goals a bit quicker.
What are you willing to do to make a change in your financial situation? Have you got any other suggestions?
Menu planning is something I highly recommend. Not only does it save money, lessens the unnecessary stops to the grocery store, but it also makes our life much easier!
Today, I’d love to share with you how to menu plan for the week.
I’m going to give you a system that will ensure you are saving money AND eating well.
While there are various ways to menu plan, what I’m showing you today, has been my tried and true system for the last 15 years.
Regardless of how you may tweak my system to work for your family, the bottom line is, you have to have a plan. Whether rigid or loose, a plan will save you hours of time and hundreds of dollars each year!
Here are the steps on how to menu plan for the week:
Step 1: Take Inventory
Scour the cupboards, the fridge, and the freezer for food items you already have. Use the items that you find as a starting point for your menu. Make a list of meal possibilities from what you find.
Maybe you have some pork chops that you picked up on sale, and you have some vegetables from last weeks shopping trip, and perhaps you always have rice on hand. Right there you could have a meal of BBQ pork chops, rice and vegetables!
By using what you already have, you will instantly start seeing savings on your weekly grocery bill!
As you are going through your pantry, fridge and freezer, mark down any staple items you need to buy more of. If you find you are low on milk, eggs or flour, for example, add these to your grocery list.
I like to jot down all my ideas on a small piece of paper titled ‘menu’ and on the other side I title it ‘grocery list’ to put down everything I need to buy. (I like to have my menu with me when I shop because sometimes I’ll forget why I’m buying something or it helps me remember to buy an item that I may have forgotten to write on my grocery list.)
Step 2: Look through the sale flyers
Quickly look through your flyers to see what deals your local stores have. Jot down on your shopping list, the things that are a great deal and you know your family will eat or use.
If you coupon, now is the time to pull out your coupons to see which coupons will make the sales a great deal. For example, maybe this week No Frills has toilet paper on sale and you also have a coupon. This makes it a no brainer purchase!
I do most of my shopping at Real Canadian Superstore as I find they usually have the best overall prices. Occasionally, I’ll pop over to a different grocery store if I see they have great deals on some things we will use. I don’t like to shop at a lot of stores each week because I find that I will end up spending more than I intended. 😉
When I find a great deal on something we use regularly, I’ll stock up as much as I can. This saves tons of money.
I try to build up a small stockpile of ingredients to work with when planning our meals so that some weeks I only have to buy the basics like milk and fresh vegetables!
Step 3: Finish planning your menu
Once you have taken inventory at home and determined which sales you want to take advantage of, write out your menu with your findings.
At this time in my life I do not plan our breakfasts and lunches.
I only plan for five dinners including side dishes, leaving one night open for leftovers and another for dinner out or a quick bowl of soup.
I also don’t give each meal a specific night to be made since I like to cook for what I’m in the mood for that particular day. I try to have at least one chicken dish, a beef dish, and a pasta dish.
For breakfast, I like to have fruit, cereals, eggs, bread and the ingredients for basic pancakes or French toast on hand. I’ll occasionally buy bacon but that’s usually only if it’s in a dinner recipe I’m using.
Lunches are almost always dinner leftovers from the night before. We rarely let food go to waste!
When you’re first starting out with menu planning, you may want to plan all three daily meals, as you don’t want to forget anything at the store. The less trips to the grocery store, the more money and time you’ll save!
Step 4: Make a final grocery list.
Now is the time when I go over my list to see if I’ve forgotten any pantry staples, milk or items needed for a recipe. I’ll also put all the items into categories according to the store layout. Produce, meats, dairy, canned goods, personal supplies…etc.
Make a list and check it twice!
Step 5: Go shopping!
I recommend going at a time of day when the store is not very crowded and you can take a time to compare prices or mark-downs. I try my best to get to the grocery store before 10:00am on Monday mornings. This is what works for me and I also find the shelves are well stocked on a Monday.
I’ve found that when the store is busy I’m more likely to hurry, therefore, I spend more money or forget something I’ve written down on my list.
You may also want to have a grocery budget and bring cash only. Using cash only forces you to stay within your chosen budget. We tend to get a lot of the same stuff each week so I know that I usually spend $125 each week, give or take.
Other useful menu planning tips:
I like to create simple meals that do not call for a lot of ingredients as this saves on time as well as cash since I’ll most likely always have those ingredients on hand. (soy sauce, spices, etc…)
As you are preparing a meal, you may want to double it to put one in the freezer. It’s always nice to have meals in the freezer you can pull out when you don’t feel like cooking! I do this all the time with Spaghetti sauce and taco meat.
There you have it! That is how to menu plan for the week.
Do you menu plan? If so, what kind of menu planning system works for you (monthly meal plans, weekly plans, loose plans, etc.)?
One aspect of frugal living, is the desire to become less wasteful. To live a more sustainable life. We can do this by making intentional purchases with thoughts to the future.
It’s no secret that the kitchen can create huge amounts of waste. However, it’s possible to reduce the amount of waste we see by adding some thoughtful zero-waste kitchen products to our inventory.
While this post outlines zero-waste kitchen products from Amazon, I recommend you shop local first, if possible. Even so, Amazon is a great choice if you don’t have local options or if you just don’t want to spend too much money right away. There are reasons why Amazon is popular – It’s easy and offers affordable price points.
If you are ready for a more sustainable kitchen, here are some excellent zero-waste kitchen products that I recommend:
Reusable Grocery Bags
One of the easiest ways to start with this more sustainable lifestyle is to stop buying plastic grocery bags from the grocery store. Instead use reusable grocery bags! There are so many to choose from, but I like these fun ones that can be folded up nicely to fit in my purse.
Speaking of cooler bags, I have a couple of insulated grocery bags that I use all the time in the warmer months. I use them for bringing home frozen items from the grocery store and I use them for our beach picnics.
Reusable Produce Bags
Instead of using plastic bags to put your produce in, use a reusable produce bag like these ones from Amazon.
Or, if you want to go one step further, cotton reusable produce bags don’t contain any plastic, so they are biodegradable.
Glass Jars
Having an assortment of glass jars on hand is ideal for food storage. They are great for shopping for bulk food if you have access to bulk stores where you can bring your own containers. (Bulk Barn in Canada offers this.)
Because they are clear, it’s also easy to see the contents of the jar so you know when something needs to be restocked.
I prefer to use the empty jars that I get from various food items from the grocery store. (Think pickle jars, pasta sauce jars, etc.) But on some occasions you may need to purchase glass jars. Take a look at garage sales, in thrift stores or ask relatives for extras. I find them expensive on Amazon.
Stainless Steel Straws
Stainless steel straws are must-haves in my kitchen. They get used all the time!
These stainless steel straws on Amazon come with 12 straws in 4 different shapes and sizes. It also includes 2 cleaning brushes which are a must for cleaning your reusable straws.
These reusable straws also come with a travel bag so you can take a straw or two with you wherever you go! Perfect for eating out at restaurants.
If you have kids, you may want to purchase silicone straws instead. While we insist our kids sit to eat and drink, it’s inevitable that our youngest will eventually feel the need to get up and do a dance or something. (LOL). I feel much safer with them using soft silicone straws.
They are ideal because you can easily see the contents so you know what needs to be eaten. Another reason is that you can reheat your food right in the same container.
Beeswax Food Wraps
Beeswax food wraps are a natural and sustainable alternative to plastic wrap. They are eco-friendly and biodegradable because they are made with cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin.
You can wrap any type of food with beeswax wrap or use it to place over bowls. Use it the same way as you would use plastic wrap or tin foil.
Silicone Food Bags
Silicone food bags are a great way to eliminate even more single use plastics from your kitchen.
The Stasher brand is the number one seller, however there are other brands on Amazon with good ratings as well!
You can use these silicone bags in the freezer, dishwasher and the microwave, making them so versatile.
Glass Spray Bottles
Investing in glass spray bottles for your kitchen is a smart idea if you like to make your own cleaning supplies. They even work well for watering your kitchen plants!
This four pack of glass bottles is perfect for scattering around the house in places where they are most commonly used.
Reusable cloth Towels
Are you still using paper towels? Make the simple switch to reusable cloth towels with a set of E-Cloths! They are fantastic zero-waste kitchen products!
Clean virtually anything with only water! They are very absorbent, making mess clean up simple. They also easily trap dust, dirt and grime.
Silicone Baking Mat
Instead of using parchment paper that you throw away after one use, give silicone baking mats a try! I’m still loving and using mine that I got years ago!
Silicone mats also reduce the need for cooking sprays and grease.
Silicone is very durable and therefore a great long-lasting alternative to baking or roasting with parchment paper.
There you have it! 10 zero-waste kitchen products that you’re sure to love. How many of these items do you already use?
Fruit flies can be so annoying, can’t they? It seems they are impossible to avoid and eliminate. If you find your home filled with pesky fruit flies, I have a tried and true technique to get rid of them. It’s so simple and requires only two easy to find ingredients. Here’s how to catch fruit flies at home:
Next, fill a bowl with apple cider vinegar and add a few drops of dish soap.
Bam! That’s all you need to catch fruit flies! Soon you’ll be seeing those pesky things floating in your concoction.
The fruit flies are attracted to the sweetness of the apple cider vinegar. The soap reduces the surface tension of the liquid, causing the fruit flies to sink and drown when they land on it.
By placing a jar or two in areas where you notice a lot of flies, you’ll soon be seeing a lot less fruit flies in your home. Whew!
Check the traps regularly and empty them when they start to accumulate fruit flies. Rinse out the traps and replace the apple cider vinegar and dish soap as needed.
Here’s how you can prevent fruit flies:
Wash all produce when you get home from the store.
Refrigerate promptly the produce that belongs in the fridge.
Freeze or toss overripe produce.
Clean up any spills promptly.
Keep your kitchen sink and drain clean.
Regularly empty and clean your garbage cans.
With these simple tips, not only will you know how to catch fruit flies, you’ll know how to prevent them from showing up in the first place.
How have you dealt with fruit flies? Tell us in the comments below!
Summer is nearly here! Warm weather, plenty of outside time, picnics, swimming, spur of the moment activities… so much fun and delight!
Maybe you’re like me though, and stress a little bit about meal time. Cooking is not my favourite thing, I’d much rather get takeout. However, that is not budget friendly and it gets old, fast.
With longer days and busier schedules, I have found that adding a little organization and preparation can be the key to enjoying delicious meals without sacrificing the budget or precious moments in the sun.
Fortunately, there are plenty of meal prep supplies designed to make summer meal time a breeze. From versatile containers to handy gadgets, these essential tools that I personally own and love, ensure that you can effortlessly whip up nutritious meals while maximizing your time spent enjoying the joys of summer.
Meal Prep Supplies I Love
The Meal Planner
The number one thing that helps me the most with meal time, is having a plan. Not a set in stone plan, but at least a list of meal ideas for the week. Knowing this, I created The Meal Planner. It’s a set of printable sheets that enable me to write down meal ideas, grocery lists and my family’s favourite meals. I’m even able to take inventory of what I already have so I’m not wasting grocery budget on things I don’t need. I encourage you to check it out and save some sanity by having a simple plan in place.
Vegetable Chopper
I’m actually quite a minimalist in the kitchen department. I don’t generally like to have a lot of gadgets because I’ve learned that I typically use them a few times and then never again. But! Having a vegetable chopper, is something I recommend! I debated for the longest time on this, but I’m so glad I bought it. I use it the most for chopping potatoes, shredding cheese and dicing vegetables for Greek salad.
Air Fryer
Now, it might be a little bit of a stretch to call anair fryer a meal prep tool, but it is so handy for whipping up fast meals like chicken nuggets and fries! I have used our air fryer for cooking up some chicken to chop up for easy meals though. On busy nights, it has been a life saver! (I bought the one pictured from Costco.)
Produce Savers
Every time I use our produce saver container, I’m amazed at how fast the food inside gets eaten! The grapes, that used to sit in the fridge and get shrively, are now eaten in record time because I have taken them off the stem and washed them in our produce saver container. I bought our container from Superstore, but these produce saver containers look great too! I love ours for all berries most veggies.
Slow Cooker
Because we tend to have slower mornings in the summer, I like to prepare something for the slow cooker in those quieter moments of the day. That way, dinner is ready when we are! I like to do soups, BBQ sauce chicken for sandwiches or naan pizzas, deli roast beef dips and more.
Kitchen Tool Bottle
Alright, this is something I don’t actually own, but could see big benefits when it comes to meal prep. Especially, if you are someone who loves to make your own salad dressings, juice or egg salad sandwiches. What do you think of the Kitchen Tool Bottle?
Investing in or using the meal prep supplies you have, can change the way you approach mealtime during the sunny season. By taking advantage of versatile containers and convenient gadgets, you’ll find yourself spending less time in the kitchen and more time savoring the delightful moments that summer has to offer. So, grab my recommended supplies and get ready to make summer meals a delicious and stress-free experience.
One aspect of the frugal lifestyle is using things you already have on hand, even if they don’t work perfectly for the task. Rather than running to the store to buy something (and most likely spending a bundle), you could try improvising by using something you already own. It’s amazing how much stuff we already have to work with, once we’re able to train ourselves to stop running to the store for every thing we think we “need”.
In today’s post I hope to help spark creativity and give you new ideas for looking at the things you already own in a new way. With the ultimate goal, of course, making you rethink your normal spending habits.
Is there something you need right now, that you were planning to buy, that you could possibly create a solution for using something you already have?
I rounded up 25 amazing and creative new uses for old things. I am very inspired by these upcycling ideas, and I hope that you will be too!
