Saving money is key to keeping your finances under control. It’s something you need to do every day, so it’s best to start incorporating as many of the ideas as you can as soon as possible.
You will be surprised to learn that many of these tricks won’t require a big change in your lifestyle. They also won’t make you feel worse or inconvenience you in any way.
Plus, it’s a great way of showing the children that money doesn’t grow on trees and that we need to make conscious everyday decisions to lead a better, happier and healthier life.
Here are 101 Easy Ideas to Save Money And Keep The Family Budget Under Control
- Meet friends for coffee, not for dinner
- Do not go shopping when hungry
- Buy non-perishable things in bulk when you have the storage space
- Ride a bike instead driving for short distances
- Invest in a cook book for cheap recipes
- Don’t buy grocery items that are on eye-level, they are likely to be more expensive
- Re-use old clothes as rags for cleaning the house
- Pop a bottle cap under a soft soap bar to make it last longer
- Remind the kids to switch out lights and fans when they leave the room
- Prefer generic brands over expensive brands
- Use the great outdoors as your free gym
- Buy second-hand books
- Drink water from the tap
- Sign up to rewards programs and start collecting points
- Take your lunch to work
- Ask for a romantic picnic date
- Let the children create wrapping paper for gifts
- Make your own jams
- Stay on the lookout for store offers and special deals
- Shop around for the best prices and invest some time in research
- Make it hard to access your credit card information
- Keep a journal to record expenditure
- Put a dollar in the piggy bank every day or more if you can afford
- Cancel any subscriptions you may not need
- Don’t buy something to reward yourself
- Frequent the local thrift shop
- DIY your Christmas gifts
- Use fans instead of the air-con
- Organise dinner parties for your friends and take turns
- Spend 10 minutes in a shop to ponder if you really need to buy the item
- Take 30 days to evaluate if you really need to buy a more expensive item
- Stick to your grocery store shopping list and resist impulse buys
- Sell used children’s clothes in good condition on eBay
- Line dry your clothing and keep the dryer switched off
- Shop regional and seasonal groceries
- Start a garden or at least a herb garden
- Give up smoking, cut back on drinking
- Take the kids to the flea market for new preloved toys
- Check energy ratings of new appliances
- Create your own skin care products using natural ingredients
- Sub-let an unused spare room, garage, shed
- Stop binging on coffee
- Learn to bake good quality bread
- Check your tyre pressure (when they are cold)
- Cut your children’s hair and find a friend to cut your hair
- Travel with snacks, don’t buy food while on the road
- Make your own, personalised gifts
- Stop spending on vitamins, minerals and other nutrition supplements and eat fresh food instead
- Eat more vegetables and reduce your meat intake
- Start car pooling or car sharing among your friends and neighbours
- Make your own toys: Plenty of recipes for homemade glue, play-dough, magic sand on the internet
- Add slices of citrus or herbs to your water for a delicious alternative
- Clean with natural products like vinegar, lemon, baking soda
- Start saving as soon as you know that a big purchase is coming up (this can be years in advance)
- Try a menstrual cup instead of pads and tampons
- Share a nanny
- Use cloth diapers
- Sign up to a free online uni course and learn something new
- Pay in cash
- Learn how to fix simple things around the house yourself
- Use price comparison websites for travel, insurances and other expensive things
- Check classifieds for cheap offers in the neighbourhood
- Plan a yard sale for unwanted toys and children’s clothes and invite everybody from the neighborhood
- Don’t follow the latest fashion trends but buy clothes that are always fashionable
- Have some items in the closet that can be combined easily
- Insulate your water heater
- Get a library pass
- Don’t drive aggressively
- Change your attitude towards money: it’s not something to get rid of but something to cherish
- Check and review your insurance policies – get rid of what you don’t need and bundle where you can
- Don’t use standby on appliances – switch them off completely
- Close curtains or shutters in the evening to keep the heat inside
- Go easy on heating and wear warmer clothes in the house
- Watch TV in winter nights with a blanket for extra warmth and comfort
- Wean children off the bathtub and let them take showers
- Cook with a lid on to save energy
- Pay your debts as soon as possible
- Keep an eye on your account statements and make sure nobody charges you extra
- Sprinkle some salt into melted candles to make them last longer
- Buy food and plan meals using the grocery store flyer
- Negotiate expensive doctor bills
- Start a blog and hold yourself accountable for your spending behavior
- Wash your hands thorough and teach the kids too – it helps keep germs at bay
- Get your holiday gifts just after Christmas
- Cancel your landline
- Buy a fuel-efficient car
- Downsize your rent by moving house
- Work on a monthly budget and keep within the limits
- Don’t go to the mall because you are bored
- Start the day with a healthy, wholesome breakfast
- Don’t throw out leftovers – instead turn them into creative meals the next day
- Get a deep freezer and buy in bulk
- Take the kids to free events
- Move in with somebody who can share the rent with you
- Learn magic tricks for the next children’s birthday party
- Empty the trunk
- Get a crock pot and cook delicious home cooked meals
- Set yourself realistic saving goals
- Re-use teabags – you can make 2-3 cups easily with just one bag
- Move into a smaller house to save on energy bills
- Learn how to use coupons to your advantage
Most important of all: Stay positive!