Reposted from Daily Muse
There are plenty of ways to save money— make a budget, spend
less, cook dinner instead of doing take-out again—and if you’re trying to cut
your expenses, you’ve probably tried (or at least heard about) them all. But
even for those of you who’re already doing all the right things, here are a few
more uncommon tricks to saving a few bucks here and there.
1. Make a
Food Calendar to Stop Wasting It
Be honest: How often do you realize that you let your milk,
leftovers, or veggies go bad? Your secret is safe with me, but know that every time you throw out that
(gross, mushy, smelly) expired food, you’re throwing away money.
If you do this often, I recommend putting a calendar on your
fridge, with a pen tied to it for easy access. When you return from the store
and put your groceries away, write down the date your milk will go bad
(“November 27: Milk expires”) or how long you have to eat those chicken breasts.
What I love about this is that it serves for good dinner inspiration—“Oh, I
have to eat those mushrooms and that chicken” can lead to Thai Chicken Coconut
Soup with mushrooms if I’m inspired, or a simple chicken breast with sautéed
mushrooms if it’s been a long day.
2. Use
Ingredients That’ll Grow Back
I know this might sound crazy, but instead of throwing
out—or even composting—your kitchen scraps, look into what can actually
regenerate. By putting the root of lemongrass in a glass jar with a little
water or re-planting the end of your onions, you can (almost magically) end up
with free food! In fact, there are at least 16 food that will grow back from
the bits and pieces you have leftover.
3. Choose
Your Heat Source Wisely
In the winter, use your oven as often as you can find the
excuse to. It’ll keep your home toasty, while reducing the need for another
heat source (which you likely need to pay for). Conversely, in the summer,
using your microwave instead of your oven will keep the temperature (and A/C
bills) from skyrocketing.
4. Stop
Buying Fabric Softener
I love soft fabrics as much as the next lady, but instead of
spending money on all those expensive brands, you can make wool dryer balls that
serve the same purpose. Two extra incentives to try this simple craft: You can
pick whatever scent you want by adding essential oils, and you’ll cut your
dryer time by 25-50%, cutting costs yet again!
5. Let
the Internet Tell You When to Buy
Unless you’re buying things at the last minute (which is
almost always more expensive and gives you fewer options—so don’t do it!), you
have lots of choice as to what to buy and when. Try sites like Have to Have
to tell you when clothing items go on sale, Kayak to
get fare alerts on flights, or CamelCamelCamel to create wish lists and get
notifications when items from Amazon are discounted. Why pay $150 for those
boots if you could pay $90, right?
6. Get
Your Car Into Shape
According to The Simple Dollar, “a clean air filter can
improve your gas mileage by up to 7%, saving you more than $100 for every
10,000 miles you drive in an average vehicle.” That just seems like a no
brainer, especially how easy it is to clean your filter with just a vacuum
cleaner.
And while you’re in the get-more-mileage-out-of-your-car
sort of mood, make sure to pump up your tires to the recommended level. Most
car tires are actually five to 10 PSI below the normal level, so you could be
improving your gas mileage by up to 3-4%!
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