I don’t know if I told you, but I consider myself pretty frugal but not cheap , ha, ha. There is a difference, you know. Since I grew up in Eastern Europe, I had to learn how to make my money work for me.
So, I’m always interested in finding ways other people use to save their dough. So today, I will share a few clever ideas I just stumbled upon. Check them out and let me know your favorite.
1. This Smart Idea
Here’s the best advice you’ll ever get from a financial adviser — pay off your debts first. For example, if you have a student loan, try to pay it off as quickly as possible. That way, you can save on not having interest charges on it every month. It might take a while, but it’s going to be so satisfying to see a message like this.
2. This Clever Repair
“Downstairs mini fridge stopped working. Wife said to just toss it and get a new one. Watched a couple videos on how to diagnose/fix refrigerator issues. A $9 replacement overload relay later and it works again.”
Wow, look at that!
3. This Chicken Bone Broth
“Leftover, onion scraps, carrot ends, a celery heart, seasonings, and a roasted chicken carcass. Boiled in a large stockpot for a couple of hours. Pressure canned to standard. If you haven’t picked up canning it really is a great way to save money.”
Amen to that!
4. This Homemade Protein Bar Idea
![Image credit: reddit | Reddit | u/[deleted]](https://static.diply.com/a291e52e-2274-4460-a13f-88b4f01f4300.png)
I love to grab a protein bar on the go, but I admit the healthy ones are pretty expensive. But did you know that it’s easy to make homemade protein bars with only a few ingredients? Oh, yeah. Check out all these taste variations here. Wow!
5. This Homemade Drink Idea
“I tend to splurge on beverages, but have been making my own cold tea infusions at home.
I steep them in an old pasta sauce jar and refrigerate them overnight. Then I have access to refreshing flavored water anytime without the added calories, sugar, and expense.”
Right on!
6. This Frugal Home Cooking
“I make my own pasta sauce with tomato paste, garlic, and pasta water. I’ve also been making my own egg rolls! Super easy, ground pork, shredded carrots, & cabbage. I just wrap it all up & air fry it.”
I’ve definitely made my own pasta sauce but the egg rolls sound like a great idea too, no?
7. This Cooking Idea
“Use a crockpot or a stockpot to make soup over several hours, a bread maker to make bread.”
I have to admit I’m a little intimidated by baking bread at home. For some reason, I’m scared that it won’t rise properly. But I really need to get over that and give it a go.
8. This Clothing Hack
If you have some pairs of jeans, you can no longer wear, check this idea out. This person has made so-called ‘jorts’ out of every pair of jeans that started to wear out. Wow! Cool idea, huh?
9. This Decor Idea
“Girlfriend and I wanted a large mirror on our wall, but didn’t want to spend $$$ so we found six small closet door mirrors on sale for $4 each.”
Isn’t that such a great idea or what? I’m sure you can find mirrors like these at Ikea or similar places like that.
10. This Eco-Friendly Idea
“About six years ago I ditched paper towels and switched to cotton shop towels. I bought 150 off Amazon for about $30. They have been life-changing for staying frugal and eco-conscious!
Okay, I really need to do that, too.
11. This Clever Idea
“Duracell batteries leaked and ruined my Mac keyboard and mouse…took 5 minutes to file a claim over the phone and got this a week later.”
While not all companies will do this, it’s worth a try, no?
12. This Propagation Station
“I combined a free valet stand with a $2 set of test tube shot glasses to make a propagation station!”
Oh nice! I think this is such a clever and frugal idea. I’d have to do something like this one day.
13. This DIY Cardboard Desk Organizer
“Plastic paper organizer was 15€ so I made one from cardboard and hot glue.”
While this idea won’t save you a ton of money, it’s just an example of somebody being creative. Basically, what I gather from this is you can make anything much cheaper than buying it in-store.
14. This Couponing Idea
I know that couponing may not seem like the most attractive idea. But before you start to feel cheap using coupons, just imagine how much you can save. This person started couponing and got all of this for $7! Amazing, right?
15. These Free Meals
“My local rural gas station makes fresh food all day every day and throws everything away when they close. 30 min before closing they gave me all this for free. They offered more but I was modest about taking too much.”
Oh my goodness, is that true?
16. This DIY Backsplash
Who says that kitchen renos have to cost an arm and a leg? Not me, ha, ha. This person applied a stick-on kitchen backsplash to their walls all by themselves. Professional tilers were asking for $2000, and this fake backsplash cost only $200. Wow!
17. This Huge Money Saver
If you’re an avid reader, how much do you spend on average per book you buy? If you said $25-$40, that could really add up. So instead, you can do what this person did and get yourself a library card. Check out the yearly savings this person got.
18. This Life Choice
Here’s the biggest saving you can do in your life. Ditch those bad habits and move on to living your best life. Not only will your body thank you, but so will your wallet.
Wow!
I’m super impressed with these frugal-saving ideas. The biggest thing I have learned over the years is not to accumulate debt. And then, if you can stretch your food budget, you’re on your way. Honestly, we try to be as frugal as we can be. It’s not always easy, but with a bit of effort and planning, you can do it.
