Collaborative Post
As a family, we are always trying to cut back costs wherever we can. With us moving soon and having to pay more in rent, we need to be even more frugal than normal. Here are five ways we are being more frugal this year.
Shopping Online
We have started shopping online as it is much cheaper than shopping in store. We are less tempted by different offers when we are shopping online and we don’t end up heading to McDonald’s or somewhere similar after. Why are supermarkets always located near to restaurants?
Applying For Free Stuff
In the nine years I’ve been running this blog, I’ve talked about freebies plenty of times. You can get some fantastic stuff – hair care, body care, food and much more free. One of the sites I tend to use is Latest Free Stuff – they always manage to find the best free samples around and I check daily to see what new things have been put up. I only opt for things I will use but there is always a large variety of different things to apply for.
Cutting Back On Food Out
We are really cutting back on eating out recently – the only time we do now is the occasional visit to the village tearoom or somewhere out of the village that we can use our Meerkat Meals discount on. We love eating out but that can end up costing so much, especially when you have two children to feed too. We are aiming to only head out once a month and only to places where we can use our discount. This should be able to bring that expense down dramatically.
Using Cash
I’ve got into a habit of not really carrying cash with me and it’s ridiculous. I find myself tapping my card for minimal amounts and often end up buying things I don’t need simply to make paying by card worth it. Add to that multiple trips down the shop and the card gets tap, tap, tapped. By using cash more often, I am restricted to how much I can spend and find I don’t buy anywhere near as much rubbish as I do when paying by card.
Repurposing
We’ve been decluttering a lot recently as with the move, we don’t want to be taking too much with us – we are taking the opportunity to reduce our stuff. But this does mean we have come across some stuff that we don’t need in their current purpose- so I have been repurposing them to get even more use out of them. It is amazing what you can achieve with a little bit of imagination
How are you being more frugal this year?
Can you come and do my budget for me please lol. Spending with cash can make a real difference can’t it? It definitely keeps your spending more under control.
Can echo the online shopping. Our daughter did it when he Forces hubby was away as she doesn’t drive. Reckon she saved a fortune as the kids always sneaked stuff in. Even when he returned she continued as he sneaks stuff in too, LOL!
Tips on how to save money better are always welcome. Thanks for sharing.
Im trying many of these steps currently, this year for us is very much being far more carefull of mone, time etc…
We have tried to cut down this year too. We are meal planning, eating out less and no spending unless we absolute need too
I totally agree with your tips! One of the ones that I am trying to adopt this year is to use cash more than cards. If I have cash on me it makes it more “real” to know what I am parting with, where as with cards it can become a bit of an abstract concept if you don’t keep on top of it and that can be a slippery slope.
I always prefer to shop online as you can get some good bargains on the internet
Some brilliant tips here . We are definitely trying to cut back more this year and shopping online does wonders for us . No more picking up all the end isle ‘offers’
Ooooo definitely going to try latest free stuff, not heard of it before
I am really trying to cut down on my spending and making efforts to save!
Always prefer to use cash when I can, easier to keep track of what I spend
Good tips – we need to try some of these too! Sometimes i feel we waste money that could easily be saved!
My ears prick out when i hear or read about saving money, always after tips, so thank you for sharing yours
My ways of saving are batch cooking at weekend for freezer, always writing a menu & sticking to it when do weekly shop. Plus have a small vegetable patch that ensures a constant source of soup for lunch.
Healthy & frugal!!
I have been looking in the reduced sections of the supermarket more and I too love a freebie site x
I do that with my card too so I really need to start spending with cash. Great tips
I have been thinking about online shopping, to save time as well as money
I seriously need to cut down on eating out, it’s probably my biggest expense!
Katie xoxo