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There are many ways to save money and to master the frugal lifestyle. Just try to follow the following money-saving hacks as much as you can.
Contents
In the kitchen
- When cooking potatoes, always save the water. Use it in soups or stews, or let it cool and use it to water your plants.
- Empty the plastic bags of your cereal packaging and use it as a freezer bag or wax paper. You can also use the bags as a bread bag.
- Lift up the bag nets if you want to put small items in the washing machine, or put in items that you want to drain.
- Pick up food packaging. Fill the containers of microwave dishes with your own leftovers from the last meal; packaging of jelly or pudding with similar foods, etc.
- Use the old containers of microwave dishes to heat food in the microwave.
- Cut off the top of empty milk cartons to use as funnels.
- Use tights to hang onions and potatoes in your kitchen. Hang these on the ceiling.
- Never throw away plastic containers. Use them to freeze food leftovers, pack gifts inside, or transport food.
- Eat less meat. It is not only cheaper but also healthier.
Garden Hacks
10. Roses love broken egg shells. They keep snails away from the garden.
11. Save money by growing your own plants. Gain a head start to the garden season by planting your plants with potting soil in empty egg cartons.
11. Use an old garden hose to water your garden. Cut holes in the tube lengthwise and place it next to your plants.
12. Be creative when it comes to packaging. Here are a few options:
13. Egg cartons, for planting
- Old shoes, sweet for decorations
- Milk and ice cream packages of plastic; cut them to size and add holes for irrigation, or use them to transport soil, rocks or water. Cut small holes in it and place it near the plants for irrigation.
- Cups and bowls with cracks, use them on the bottom of the packaging
- Old tires; pile them and fill them with straw to plant potatoes in them.
Cleaning
- Use old newspapers to clean glasses and windows.
- Use old dryer cloths to soften dust. Place them on the floor of trashcans and other places in the house to combat the bad smell.
- Cut old, worn clothes to use as cleaning cloths. Use old socks as washcloths. Just pull it over your hand to just dodge.
- Cut off the top half of empty milk cartons and use them to store your bathroom cleaning products. Use it to put your toilet brush in and just throw it away when it’s dirty.
Storage
- The molded ice cream containers can also be used to stow all kinds of things, from food to toys.
- Use empty plastic bottles to store water inside. You can also use them to water your houseplants when you are not there. Cut small holes in the ground, fill the bottle with water and put the bottle into the flowerpot to slowly irrigate the soil.
- Use ice cube trays to store small items inside.
- Use the small jars of baby food to keep small things in it. Screw the lid to the ceiling of a shelf to save space.
- Use empty pieces of luggage to store blankets, winter clothing or gifts bought early.
- Store extra blankets in pillow cases that can be placed on sofas and beds.
- Decorate large packaging with contact paper, pictures, etc. and store smaller objects in it.
- Pick up the small plastic eggs found in these gumball machines. You can use them for Easter or small items such as earrings or similar. Stowed in it.
- Use old shower curtains to store wood outside.
Decoration
- Use worn sewing machine needles to hang pictures.
- Use soundproof wallpaper, it is well insulated so will help you save money on your heating – find out more at soundproofpanda.com.
- Use colorful toy blocks as handles on the children’s wardrobe.
- Make simple noise reducing blackout curtains using these affordable soundproofing materials. You read more information soundproofing at Andrew Mat
Gifts
- Pick up old wrapping paper and shred it to use in gift bags.
- Create postcards, gift notes, or Christmas card ornaments.
- Pick up leftover wallpaper to pack presents in.
- Pick up empty jam jars for gifts or to stow things in them.
Household
- Redirect the hoses of your washing machine so that you can irrigate your garden with the water.
- Never dry clothes completely in the dryer. Remove the clothes if they are still damp and hang them up. With 100% cotton, you do not even do it in the dryer. Hang things up to dry, so there are fewer wrinkles.
- Install a temperature control and regulate the heating down by 10 degrees when you sleep.
- Lower your hot water. If you know when to use your hot water, use the timer on your water heater.
- Check the lighting in your apartment. Reduce the wattage if possible.
- In order to keep your drain clean, in addition to the chemicals you might pour in, you should occasionally fill the entire basin with hot water and let it drain off once. The pressure of the water helps to clean the drain.
Shopping
- Always go to the supermarket alone. Leave your husband and your children at home. You will spend less money.
- Do not trust the scanner at checkout. These make mistakes.
- If possible, you should know the price of the products before the barcode is read.
- When you buy groceries, always look at the sell by date and buy the latest one.
- When you buy a car, you pay attention to the lowest price, the lowest consumption, the lowest insurance premium and the lowest maintenance and repair costs. You will save thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the car.
- Try to buy from online consignment or thrift stores like Swap.com. Even better, score more discounts by using Swap.com coupon
- If you buy from a dealer, go to a half-dozen and let the traders know that you are looking around. When you leave for the first time, you will not expect to see you again. When you come back, they will think they have sold you as good as something. You will not be offered the best deal until you leave.
- Take care of your engine and make sure your tires have the right pressure.
- Find a good mechanic for your car before you are in an emergency situation. Find someone you trust. Get advice from a friend and find out how long the mechanic has been in the business. Find out how to handle repair costs, etc. with him.
Beauty
- Save money by giving your cosmetics products a second job. Mascara can be used as eyeliner with a small eyeliner brush. Depending on the color, it can also be used to dye the eyebrows. Or use earthy eye shading. Lipstick can be used to flush the face.
- A lipstick should last for 6 months. Buy it somewhere where you can return it if you do not like the color.
- Use baby powder under your makeup if you have oily skin.
- For safety reasons, you should throw away your make-up every 6 months. It is difficult but easier if you do not have much left.
- Do not waste a lot of money on expensive face creams. Many women get along well with simple cooling cream.
- If you wear contact lenses, compare the prices. The prices vary dramatically with the same lenses. Also look at the order service.
- Think about wearing glasses. This is cheaper.
Money & Finances
Source: malemilspouse.com- Find a bank where you do not have to pay any fees.
- If you have to use a credit card, remember how much the card was charged during the month. Subtract everything from your budget. In this way, you always know if you are still within your budget or need to pay more when the bill comes.
- If you can’t afford a 15-year mortgage, try repaying at least a little more each month. Extra payments at the beginning of a mortgage can save you thousands of Dollars in interest and shorten the term by years.
Travel
Source: Crazy Egg- Buy your tickets early and always come back on a Sunday.
- Pay attention to price wars at airlines and be flexible when it comes to taking advantage of it.
- If you use a travel agency, check the prices several times. Call the airline and ask them what is the cheapest possible fare to your destination.
- Compare the cost of the flight with the cost of renting a camper. The money you save on hotels and meals can make a good idea if you have enough time.
Power & Energy
- Reduce the temperature on the thermostat by a few degrees and wear a sweater at home. With every degree, you save 2-3% heating costs.
- If you use a dishwasher, stop before the drying cycle and open the door to allow the dishes to air dry.
- Make sure all your equipment is running clean by cleaning the filters regularly.
- Except when baking, you should turn on the oven when the food is in it.
- Close the curtains overnight so that less cold air comes in.
- Open the curtains when the sun is shining.
- Keep your windows closed as well as possible. Locking them will seal them even better.
- Close the doors to rooms that do not need to be heated, such as storage rooms, storage rooms, etc.
- Turn off the heater in unused rooms.
- Turn off the light when you leave the room. It is cheaper to turn it on and off.
- Use the lowest wattage at which you still have enough light.
Water
- Take a shower instead of a bath. You will save money on the water and the electricity bill.
- Take less hot water. Washing hands can be up to 8 liters a week.
- Showers only briefly. One minute to shower consumes about 25 liters of water.
- Only turn on the dishwasher when it is full. Each load consumes about 40 liters of water.
- Always make the washing machine full and use cold water if possible.
- Stop water leaks immediately. A dripping faucet that loses one drop of water per second can cost you up to 60 gallons of water in a week.