Want to save some money on your monthly bills? Turns out these 9 frugal swaps can help you instantly save money and have you spending much less!
Swap Coffee Shop for Homemade Brew
Nobody wants to hear that their morning coffee is holding them back. But let’s be realistic: there’s nothing affordable about stopping for a cappuccino every single day when you can enjoy as much coffee as you want at home for cents on the dollar.
I think it’s so important to live in a way that feels balanced, so it’s ok to treat yourself occasionally. But make sure it’s a special treat, not a regular occurrence.
Swap Store-Bought Lunches for Meal Prep
Another major expense is ordering in for lunch, and it adds up very quickly, especially if you work outside the house.
Try to meal prep your lunches on the weekend so you can just throw things together and have a healthy, affordable lunch. Even just doing one meal a week has made an enormous difference.
Swap Homemade Cleaning Supplies for Store-Bought Ones
I bet you didn’t know how easy it was to make your own cleaning products. It’s basically just three ingredients to create a heavy-duty all-purpose cleaner: vinegar, water, and dish soap, maybe with a touch of essential oils to make it smell nice.
You can spray this on everything (within reason), and it will keep your home clean without the need to buy overpriced chemical concoctions that leave your house smelling like a museum bathroom. All you need is the spray bottles, which cost next to nothing, and chances are you already have everything else you need sitting around.
Get the exact recipe here: 8 DIY Cleaning Supplies Recipes You Can Make To Save Money
Swap Rags for Paper Towels
This might be one of the less impactful adjustments you’ll make, at least at first glance. But once you start to think about how much you save throughout the year rather than a month, it’s inarguably worth it. You can do the same for paper napkins, plates, and silverware.
Once you do this, it will be made abundantly clear that single-use plastic and paper products are worthless, both in your life and for the world at large.
Swap Library for Buying Books and Audiobooks
We all love a good book or audiobook and often consider these a justified expense. But… you can find free alternatives so you can still listen and read as much as you want.
Wouldn’t you know it, tons of libraries and websites have 100% free access to audiobooks; you just have to know where to look and listen.
Swap the Washing Line for Your Dryer
Dryers are known to use a lot of heat and, therefore, energy when drying our clothes. Unless it’s raining or super cold outside, why not make the most of Mother Nature and hang your wet washing on a drying line? If you don’t have a drying line, then maybe now would be a good time to invest in one!
As a bonus, your clothes will last much longer if you skip the tumble dryer.
Swap Frequent Trips to the Store for One Bulk Shopping
Instead of making many small shopping trips, try shopping in bulk to cut down the number of times you go to the store. Planning meals and writing shopping lists can help you avoid the store as often as possible. You might not get all the deals or hot clearance items, but you will keep yourself from all those impulse purchases.
Swap Generic Medicines for Branded Ones
There is usually a significant price difference between branded and generic medications, even though both contain the same ingredients and have the same effects on the body. The next time you need medication for yourself or your family, ask your doctor or pharmacist for a generic version instead.
Swap Cards for Cash
If you’re an impulse buyer, then this swap is for you. You can save a lot of money and reduce impulse buying by allocating a fixed amount of cash each week for your spending. The big problem with using cards is that more often than not, there is no limit to your impulse spending.
You can use the cash envelope system to make this easier for you.
Swap Staying In for Going Out
Whenever you go out to bars, restaurants, or places like the movies, you end up spending money whether you intended to or not. Food, parking, drinks, etc., all add up at a frightening speed. Why not invite a friend over to your place for some snacks and drinks, a dinner party, or even a games night?
Chances are you’ll have a lot of fun, and you’ll end up spending a lot less than you would going out!
