Discover how these extreme cheapskate hacks can help you stretch your dollars further and achieve your financial goals without sacrificing the things you love. Get ready to embrace the frugal lifestyle like never before with these ingenious and practical tips!
Extreme Cheapskate Tips To Try
Are there any extreme cheapskates tips that are reasonable? Reddit thinks so. After someone asked for examples of these hacks, they delivered this excellent list of resourceful tips.
1. Use Grocery Bags for Trash
If you get free grocery bags when you shop, then save the ones that don’t have holes to use as trash bags. Many people have an excess of these plastic bags, so cut down on waste and save money by using them for trash bags!
2. Line Dry Your Clothes
Want to save money on your electric bill? If you live in the right climate, you can skip the dryer and hang clothes on a line instead. This will not only save money on electricity but will also help your clothes last longer.
3. Eat Out Less
via DepositPhotos.com.
Everyone loves to eat out. Someone else has to cook, there are no dishes to wash after, you don’t have to grocery shop, and mostly, it’s fast and convenient. But not suitable for your wallet.
One Redditor explained, “I used to hate cooking but then found some recipes I could make my own and started food prepping so I could spend fewer days in the kitchen and still eat at home.”
Related: 30+ Best Frugal Living Tips To Help You Save Money Now
4. Make Your Own Baby Food
Baby food is expensive and full of sugar. It’s easy to make your own from home. Whatever you cook for yourself can easily be pureed down, and snacks in between are made with pureed fruits and vegetables.
One elaborated, “My two children were raised on table food pureed in a food processor and were always on the high end of the growth charts.”
Related: Having a Baby? Here’s How To Save Money on Baby Expenses
5. Rotate Your Streaming
There are many streaming services now, and they all have different shows and movies. It’s hard not to subscribe to all the ones that have shows you want to watch. But while they only range in a monthly cost from $7 to $20, this can add up fast.
Someone suggested, “Rotate your services. Get Netflix for a month or two, and watch everything that interests you. Then, move on to Disney, Hulu, HBO, and all the others.”
Related: 10 Best Free TV Apps for Live Streaming or On-Demand
6. Jobs Can Pay For Schooling
Many in the thread agreed that college is expensive, and while furthering your education can help you get into a career you love, not all of us can afford the cost. However, many employers have a reimbursement program for community college courses.
One stated, “This may not help you get your Bachelor’s degree, but it will get you some of your credits paid for so you can save and focus on paying for the classes you need for the field you want to work in.”
7. Credit Cards
Many frugal people will advise against credit cards. However, many credit card companies offer a cash-back incentive. If used responsibly, they can save money and help build your credit.
One advised, “Get one with cash back and don’t spend more than 10% of your credit line. Then, pay it back when it’s due and not too early so your credit score can go up.”
8. Couponing
Coupons can save a little here and there, but those little pennies can add up quickly. Many noted that if you have witnessed someone in the store at the check stand with coupons, you watch in awe as their total cost drops after the coupons are scanned.
“In some cases cooking instead of eating out is cheaper, but with coupons and deals you find, you can get a meal at a restaurant sometimes for less,” one confessed.
9. Thrifting
Many people in the thread suggested that thrift stores carry clothes, furniture, entertainment, and more. So buying second-hand can cut some costs. And if you’re a little handy and artistic, you can buy pieces that aren’t quite to your taste but fix them up to your liking at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
“If I can wash it, I’ll buy almost anything second-hand,” confessed one. “It’s my go-to for clothes, furniture, crockery, cutlery, linen, décor, and, sometimes, appliances and gifts.”
Related: Why You Should Never Pay Full Price Again: The Top 11 Things To Buy Secondhand
10. Buy In Bulk on Sale
Many suggest that regularly used items like hygiene products, paper towels, etc., should be bought in bulk while on sale. Then, when you’re running low, start “window shopping” around until you spot the deal again and stock up on more.
It can help you never pay full price on items you always use and need. Of course, this can work on things occasionally used as well. Keep a running list of items you may need and purchase them when you see a good deal.
11. Water and Vinegar Cleaner
You can create an all-purpose cleaner with a 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar. This cleaning solution kills some household bacteria and hard water spots and cuts through the grime.
One user suggests, “I would still add baking soda and dishwashing liquid to the list for a more powerful cleaner, but we don’t necessarily need bleach or other cleaning agents though they are nice to have.”
Another agreed, “I use this cleaner a lot, but do your research to see what cannot be cleaned with vinegar, like some clothing, stone counters, etc.”
12. Transportation by Bicycle
For some, buying a bicycle to get around is not very practical. But for those who live in the city, close to work or shopping, this could be a very inexpensive way of travel. In addition, it saves gas and car maintenance, and you get a little exercise.
Someone stated, “My advice is to get a decent bike used for a few hundred dollars. Initially, it’s more expensive, but you save a lot in the long run.”
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This post originally appeared on A Dime Saved.
A Dime Saved
Hi! I am a millennial mom with a passion for personal finance. I have always been “into” personal finance but got inspired to start my blog after a period of extended unemployment. That experience really changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and the importance of accessible personal finance education.