Starting out a new year is always a good time to start, or continue, saving. If you are like me and Fabgrandpa,you are probably on a budget, and need ways to make every penny count. Luckily for you, here is my list of 14 things you can do to save money.
1. Create a budget.
As simple as it sounds, making a budget is a starting point for anyone who wants to save a few or a lot of dollars. Making a budget can be as simple or as complicated as you like it to be. You might be someone who can just make a simple list of things you owe each month, and total up the monthly payments to get a real idea of where your money goes. Or, you might be someone who creates an elaborate spreadsheet, that lets you adjust payment amounts for each item and still come out under a certain amount each month. But, any way you do it, making a budget gives you a starting point to get an idea of where you might save money.
2. Start a savings account.
Whether your savings account is a quart jar or an actual account in a bank or credit union, making a place to park you savings is a positive step toward meeting your budgeted savings goal. At some banks, you have to have at least $100 to open an account. At the credit union that Fabgrandpa and I use, the minimum deposit amount for a savings account is $25. If you don’t have enough cash on hand to open an account, start putting your pocket change or your dollar bills in an envelope or quart jar. You will be surprised at how fast you can save up that minimum. Once you have opened your account, add the budgeted savings amount each week. Even $5 a week comes to $260 by the end of the year.
3. Make a monthly meal plan.
In the past when I have had to feed my family on a really tight budget, I have taken the time to sit down and make a monthly meal plan. Doing this helps me use every bit of my food dollar wisely. I start with a list of different meats that can be stretched out to 2 or more meals, then build my calendar around them. I also plan at least one meal a month that is meatless, since meat is the most expensive food budget item. If you have a good plan, you won’t end up eating Ramen noodles at the end of the month.
4. Serve a meatless meal once a week.
Since meats can be the most expensive menu items, it makes sense to cut them out of at least one meal a week. There are all kinds of other things you can serve to take place of meats. Beans are a good source of protein, and there are many different kinds of them. Kidney, pinto, black, lima, and navy beans are all delicious and provide fiber as well as protein. Other things you can serve instead of beans are macaroni and cheese, quinoa, peanut butter, and tofu. You might try this recipe for Eggplant Parmesean, a delicious entree that does not contain meat.
5. Always make a shopping list for groceries.
I know this may sound silly, but even when you go to the grocery store to just pick up some bread and milk, making a tangible list to hold in your hand can help you stay on budget. I have a rule for myself in tight months that if it is not on the list, I can not buy it. So, if you think you might want candy or cookies, put them on the list, otherwise you are not allowed to buy them. Here is a screen shot of one of my monthly meal plans with a shopping list attached
You can download a Word doc file of it here: Monthly Menu. As a bonus, it is linked to some of the recipes I used for that menu plan. You can see that I have the monthly menu and the shopping list for everything I would need to make all those meals, plus things for breakfast. I can print off the sheet and take it with me to the store. Which brings me to #6.
6. Shop your pantry first.
Once you have your monthly menu planned, and the shopping list of things you need to be able to prepare the meals on your plan, print it off. Then, shop your pantry. Mark off all the things that are on your list that are already in your pantry. You save money by only buying the things you need. This method also helps to clear out older items in the pantry, so that they don’t expire before you use them. Nothing says wasted money quite like groceries that get thrown away. It is one of the best things you can do to save money.
7. Use coupons whenever possible.
After you shop your pantry, and only have things on your list that you really need to buy, go through all of your coupons, and match them up to the things you are planning to buy. Whether you use only one or two coupons, or you are an extreme couponer, you can save money using coupons. You won’t save money, though, if you only buy something because you have a coupon for it. Staple or paper clip your coupons to your shopping list so you remember to take them with you to the store.
8. Stock up when things you use all the time are on sale.
With all of the above being said, if you get to the store, and there is a great sale on something you use all the time, stock up by buying as much of that item as you afford, and that you have space for. Things like chicken broth, tuna, canned chicken, chicken thighs, and ground beef are things that I tend to stock up on, even if I only buy one more than what I need. I am also not opposed to make a change in the meat part of a meal plan if I get to the store and see that another type of meat is on sale. If I know that I can substitute pork for beef, or beef for chicken, I get the one that is on sale and make the adjustment at meal time.
9. Get a small freezer.
One of the best purchases I ever made when my children were young was buying a small freezer. There were lots of times that people I knew would offer me free food, like a half bushel of green beans, or five pounds of ground beef. If I had not had that freezer I would not have been able to take advantage of the offer. I don’t have anyone giving me free food nowadays, but I do have a small chest freezer. It lets me take advantage of a good sale on chicken or ground beef. I stocked it up with fresh from the farm peaches, squash, and okra over the summer.
10. Plant a small garden.
Even the smallest yard can support an herb garden. A square foot garden can provide tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, green beans, and bell peppers, and save a ton of money over the summer. I also love that by planting an herb garden that I can have fresh parsley, oregano, basil, and dill whenever I want them, and they don’t cost a king’s ransom. All I have to do is walk outside and cut them.
11. Start measuring the serving size.
With only two people in the house now that our children are grown, when I cook a whole chicken we are able to eat two or three meals from it. For several years after the kids had moved out, though, when I cooked a whole chicken or a pork roast, of something like that, I put the entire thing on the table when I served dinner. What happened next is that we both ate too much, and we wound up not having enough left over to make another dinner. So, I started only putting two servings on the table, and the rest went into the refrigerator. It was like the pieces on our plates were all there was. We both stopped eating way too much, because we could see what an actual serving of beef or chicken or pork looks like. By measuring the recommended serving size, we can make those meats last for two or more meals.
12. Make your own cleaning products.
You can save a ton of money on cleaning products by simply changing what you use. Simple household items like White vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, salt, olive oil, Ivory bath soap, washing soda, borax, and essential oils can replace many of the chemical based cleaners you now use. They cost less, and are a lot healthier for you to use as well. You can find many recipes and directions on how to make simple household cleaners online. For instance, I buy a pint bottle of the cheapest vodka I can find, and mix in a few drops of lavendar and mint essential oils, shake vigorously to blend, and it makes the best smelling air freshener.
13. Join Amazon Prime, and buy in bulk with free shipping.
If you make a lot of purchases from Amazon.com, you should seriously consider joining Amazon Prime. With Amazon Prime, you get free two day shipping on millions of products that you use every day. Many of Amazon’s prices are lower than local big box stores, and with the free shipping, you are not spending the money for fuel for your automobile to get the products you need and want. Other benefits of Amazon Prime include free streaming of 41,000 movies and TV shows, and more than 350,000 Kindle book titles to borrow for free. The cost of joining is $119, but I easily saved way more than that in just shipping costs in the first three months of the year. You can also give a Prime membership as a Gift!
14. Recycle, reuse, and thrift.
Last on my list but equally as important as the other tips, is to recycle, reuse, and thrift. This means that if you need a gadget in the kitchen, like a ladle or a colander, check in at your local thrift shop first. I have found lots of kitchen tools for as little as 25 cents, compared to paying $5 or $6 for the same thing new. Thrift shops have good used clothing in all sizes, kitchen items, books, home decor, and the list goes on and on. Making use of these old items that still have some work left in them is a great way to save money. If you drink a lot of soda or beer that comes in cans, save them in a plastic bag and take them in for recycling once a month. You can help save landfill space, and get paid for doing it! What other forms of reuse or recycling do you use in your home?
Dianna @ Oy Vey a Day says
This is a great list. I am terrible about meal planning and sticking to my shopping list. However, I have vowed to do more couponing this year.
Karen says
I have four months of meals planned, so when I get into a tight spot, all I have to do now is print one out and run with it.
geogypsy2u says
Wonderful suggestions and good ways to save money.
bernettastyle says
Great tips!! Doing meatless does save money too! And yes, shop the pantry because you would be surprised what’s in there!
Karen says
I could do meatless more often but my husband won’t go for it.
Kate says
Great suggestions! I’m a fan of Amazon. I’ve recently joined Amazon Prime and it’s really worthy. I have a lot of purchases from there so I’ve been trying to find a way to create a digital inventory of all of them where I can include all the information that comes with each purchase. I’ve come across an Amazon purchase tool called Unioncy (www.unioncy.com) that automatically creates a catalogue of all my belongings. I’m curious to hear if anyone else has tried and can share their experience? Seems to be quite useful to me.
Karen says
I love that I can buy things from Amazon at a cheaper price than at the local store, and have them delivered free.
everafterinthewoods says
Great ideas! I truly believe in the shop your grocery list. It’s so easy to pick up things you don’t need.
Karen says
There have been many times over the years that I could not have made it through the winter months without using this system for buying groceries.
saraphillips456707380 says
Fantastic list! I do most of those things!
Karen says
Yay! Then you are way ahead already.
lyricandariasmom says
Great tips! This is something we really need to do this year, it’s so hard though!!
Karen says
The hardest part is getting start. Once you get going, it becomes like second nature. For me, I treat it like a game, to see how long I can stick to the schedule.
Kim L says
These are awesome money-saving tips. A great resource! I will be sure to share with all my friends.
And I love your meal plan ideas. Those are the types of foods I cook all the time. Downloading now to help me with my meal planning this month!
Karen says
Thanks, Kim! I made four different meal plans so I can do this for 4 months in a row without repeating the menu.
Erin says
Great tips! We do many of these already, but I love finding new ones!
MichelleS says
Very good tips! I think the meal planning is a really great one (saving money, and cutting corners is obvious), but so many people are too tired after work and would just rather go out out to eat. Having food in freezer meals ready to go is an even better idea!
Karen says
You can use the meal plan, and cook ahead to have things ready. Or, make your own meal plan one for using the crock pot or freezer meals
Penelope says
What a great list! I tweeted it, and I’ll be honest, I really should shop my pantry first, and also create a meal plan. I keep saying I will but never do. My husband recently suggested we get a freezer for the basement so when we see frozen items on sale we can stock up for the future, so I LOVE that idea!
Karen says
I created my meal plans in Word, and saved them, I have four “winter” months and 2 “summer” months saved. All I have to do is print and go from there. It really does save me time and money.
Linda says
Thanks for the list! I definitely need to do this!!
LaVonne says
This is a really good list. I need to shop my pantry more. It is getting out of control!
musingmainiac says
Great tips Karen!
Robin {Mom Foodie} says
I pretty much do all of these already, but then again I am a cheap Yankee 😉
Donna Chaffins says
I actually do most of these. I need to work on #3 and #11. 🙂 Great tips!
robyn says
I need to work on all of these! Thanks for the great tips!
Melissa says
These are all really good suggestions. I need to work on many of them!!
Not So Average Mama says
Great list! Budgeting is the one thing that is hard for me because we NEVER know when we will be paid. 🙁
Sarah Marturano says
I’m happy to say we do all of these! That makes me feel good lol. Great tips!
Cat Davis says
Those are all great ideas. I actually have not one but TWO savings accounts that I don’t use. I really need to make a plan and start putting some cash in those for a rainy day.
Natalie | One Busy WAHM says
I go in phases of writing meal plans and every single time I do – I save a TON of money in the supermarket. I need to be more organised and commit to this task every week!
carogonza says
Great tips. We have been going meatless twice a week and that saves money!
Elizabeth Ferree says
I need to use coupons more but I use everything in the pantry because I only shop for what will be made with the items. I need to get a spice cabinet going and a bigger pantry stocked. Great tips
steph says
Every year I swear I’m going to do better with meal planning. And every year I fail. Great tios!
Karen says
I have used this system for years. It works for me.
Karen says
I have been using this system for years. It helped me stay within budget during those “off” seasons.