If you’ve spent any time browsing the web trying to figure out new ways of saving money, you’re probably quite familiar with some of the usual suggestions. For instance, you’ve likely already heard about the importance of creating a budget. You probably also know how to use coupons and the like. But no matter how much you know, there’s always one or two more tips somewhere you haven’t previously considered. So here we’ll be looking at five ways to save money on a tight budget, that might save you a few extra pounds.
1. Let a Student Hairdresser Cut Your Hair
Check out some of your area’s local colleges and niche hair salons if you haven’t already. They might offer you a discount or even a free haircut if you are willing to put your locks in the hands of a student. Although doing this might sound scary, know that the students here aren’t just left to their own devices. Instead, their work is likely to be overseen by a trained professional. Of course, if you’re feeling especially brave (or talented) and don’t fancy paying out, you could always try cutting your own hair. I do and have been cutting my own hair for years.
2. Get the Most Out of Your Freezer and Fridge
Did you know that the average U.S. household wastes over 30% of food obtained, costing them over $1,800 annually? [1]. The first obvious solution is to buy less food. But we all make the mistake of sometimes getting a little more than we need. The solution? Put your fridge and freezer to good use.
Food such as bread, fruits, veggies, and even milk can all be frozen if they’re at risk of going bad. Meanwhile, foods like onions and potatoes, though generally left out or in a cupboard by most people, will last much longer in the fridge. The result in both cases is a significantly reduced amount of food waste. Depending on your meal plans, you can also batch cook larger meals and store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
3. Leave Your Card at Home and Use Cash Instead
It’s a lot easier to keep track of your money when you can see it in its physical form. And when you don’t have a card on you, you can’t accidentally overspend. So once you’ve got a feasible budget, you may wish to try taking out your spending money for things like food and activities in cash. That way, you can see just what you are spending and won’t risk going over budget.
4. Use a Capsule Wardrobe
The average American buys nearly 70 new clothing items every year, yet will only wear each item around seven times [2]. Not only is this ridiculously unsustainable, but it’s a big waste of money as well. A capsule wardrobe is one solution that can help you reduce the amount you spend on garments and keep you looking fashionable.
A capsule wardrobe is a limited collection of clothes comprised only of interchangeable items. The idea is that such a wardrobe results in a large number of outfit combinations with only a small number of garments. As such, it reduces the need to go out and buy a whole bunch of clothes just to complete one outfit.
The key to a sustainable capsule wardrobe is keeping it under a certain number of clothes, typically around 50 or fewer pieces. Then you only allow yourself to buy something new if it’s replacing something in your wardrobe. Doing this makes you think twice about impulse buys and, as a bonus, reduces the amount of clutter in your cupboards and drawers.
5. Use Youtube Fitness Videos
Gyms are incredibly useful for keeping fit, but they’re also very costly. However, if you’ve got the self-motivation and fancy saving some cash, there’s no reason you can’t work out at home. All you need is a few basic supplies, which will work out a lot cheaper in the long run. What’s more, thanks to the internet, there are plenty of great resources you can use to guide your training.
Youtube is a brilliant place to source workout tips and routines from various free-to-watch videos. Indeed, whether you are focusing on strength training, aerobics, yoga, or anything else, there’s likely something that will meet your needs. Of course, you’ll have to watch a few ads, but it’s not that much of a sacrifice with the money you’re saving.
I also suggest purchasing used fitness DVDs from Amazon found under ‘more buying choices’ on each listing. They are often a lot less than buying new and have nothing wrong with them saving you lots of money in the long run.
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[1] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/study-suggests-u-s-households-waste-nearly-a-third-of-the-food-they-acquire#A-novel-calculation
[2] https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-high-price-of-fast-fashion-11567096637
