Are there any extreme cheapskate tips that are reasonable?
Well, yes. There are definitely some that are surprisingly simple and practical.
Here are ten cheapskate tips that are genuinely worth trying.
Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner
A 1:1 ratio of water and vinegar creates an effective all-purpose cleaner that kills some household bacteria, tackles hard water spots, and cuts through grime.
For a more powerful solution, adding baking soda and dishwashing liquid takes it a step further, so you don’t need other expensive cleaning agents.
One important note: do your research on what vinegar cannot clean, as it can damage certain clothing, stone counters, and other surfaces.
Read More: 8 DIY Cleaning Supplies Recipes You Can Make To Save Money
Get Around by Bicycle
For those who live in a city or close to work and shopping, a bicycle can be an extremely inexpensive mode of transportation. It saves on gas and car maintenance while also providing some exercise.
Buying a decent used bike for a few hundred dollars costs more upfront, but the long-term savings make it well worth the investment.
Eat Out Less and Prep at Home
Eating out is convenient, but it takes a serious toll on your wallet. Food prepping at home allows you to spend fewer days in the kitchen while still avoiding restaurant costs.
The key is finding recipes you can make yourself. Once cooking feels personal and enjoyable rather than a chore, eating at home becomes a sustainable habit rather than a sacrifice.
Make Your Own Baby Food
Store-bought baby food is expensive and often high in sugar.
The good news is that making it at home is straightforward. Whatever you cook for yourself can easily be pureed in a food processor. Fruits and vegetables make good snacks between meals. Children raised on homemade pureed table food have been known to thrive nutritionally.
For an even cheaper option, look into Baby-Led Weaning, where you skip the baby food entirely and feed your baby the same food you eat.
Rotate Your Streaming Services
With streaming subscriptions ranging from $7 to $20 per month, subscribing to multiple services simultaneously adds up fast.
A smarter approach is to rotate by subscribing to one service, watching everything of interest, then canceling and moving on to the next.
Cycling through Netflix, Disney, Hulu, HBO, and others means you never pay for more than one at a time.
Let Your Job Pay for Schooling
College is expensive, but many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs for community college courses.
While this approach may not cover an entire Bachelor’s degree, it can cover a meaningful number of credits, allowing you to save money and focus your personal finances on the specific classes required for your chosen field.
Use Credit Cards Strategically
Rather than avoiding credit cards entirely, use one with a cash-back incentive. If you use it responsibly, you can actually save money and help build your credit.
A practical approach is to keep spending to no more than 10% of your credit line and pay the balance when it’s due.
This method maximizes the benefits of cash-back rewards while keeping debt firmly in check.
Coupon Strategically
Coupons may only save a little at a time, but those savings add up quickly.
With the right coupons and deals, it’s even possible to eat at a restaurant for less than cooking at home would cost.
Keeping an eye on promotions and stacking deals wherever possible can save you surprising results at checkout.
Shop at Thrift Stores
Thrift stores have clothes, furniture, entertainment items, and more for all at a fraction of the cost of buying new. For those who are handy or creative, pieces that aren’t quite to your taste can be fixed up and personalized inexpensively.
A good rule of thumb: if it can be washed, it’s worth considering secondhand. Clothes, furniture, crockery, cutlery, linen, décor, and even appliances and gifts are all fair game.
Buy in Bulk When Items Are on Sale
Any items you use regularly, like hygiene products, paper towels, and similar essentials, are perfect to buy in bulk during sales.
The strategy is simple: stock up when a deal appears, then window shop until the next sale comes around. Keeping a running list of needed items and purchasing them only when prices drop means you may never have to pay full price again.
