There are a lot of money-saving tricks that just seem way too obvious or even a bit boring. But some of the best frugal tips are the little hacks you barely notice—until you realize they’re working. Here’s a breakdown of six offbeat tricks that honestly blew my mind.
Time Your Electricity Usage
Utility companies love to jack up prices during peak hours when everyone’s blasting their AC and microwaving yesterday’s leftovers.
Off-peak hours, which are usually late at night or weekends, are when electricity rates drop to their lowest. Take advantage of this by using the most power-hungry appliances during these times. Set timers if you’re not a night owl or just want to “set it and forget it.”
Charge Devices at Work or in Public
Charging your phone, laptop, or even your electric toothbrush at home adds up.
It’s not a major increase, but it’s still something, and it’s easy to avoid if you know how. Free outlets are everywhere, and you should feel just as free to use them; that’s what they’re there for. I like to keep a charger in my bag or car so I’m never missing out on free juice if I’m heading into work or a coffee shop.
Unplug Your “Vampire Electronics”
Tons of gadgets suck up “phantom” energy even when they’re switched off.
The answer is simple: unplug them when you aren’t using them. Some new gadgets have “eco” modes, but I don’t trust them blindly. I like to still set them in these modes, but unplug the most egregious culprits of energy consumption, like my TV and desktop computer, every night.
Cut Sponges in Half
I don’t think I’ll ever go back to the “full sponge” life. Most people toss out sponges before they’re actually unusable. And while sponges aren’t exactly gold nuggets, this is still a waste of money that you can avoid by cutting your sponges in half.
Use one half at a time to get the same cleaning power with double the supply. It’s simple and arguably a little silly, but I find myself getting the same clean and worrying about if I have enough sponges way less.
Re-Wear Clothes
Unless you’re running marathons or spilling food down your shirt, your clothes probably don’t need a wash after every single wear. And laundry is expensive to do! I’ll use the smell test on things I’ve only worn once.
If it looks and smells fine, it’s probably good enough for another wear. I also designate “outside” and “home” clothes to stretch out how long I can go between washes, with outside clothes being washed more often.
Shop Discount Gift Cards
This is probably my favorite hack that I can’t believe I didn’t think of before: checking discount gift card sites before I buy anything, especially if it’s a large purchase.
I like to stack gift cards with existing deals, sales, or coupons for extra savings. And make no mistake: this hack isn’t just for gifts. You can buy cards for your own regular shopping, and you’re basically getting paid to spend.
