Have you ever received a piece of advice that sounded so ludicrous initially but ended up being solid? Some pieces of advice are hidden gems. They may look useless but could influence positive changes in your financial life. Here are examples of advice that felt useless until people tried it.
Cheap Tools Are Expensive
This may seem poor advice for people who dislike spending money on tools. Unless you buy a tool for one-time use, you should always go for quality, even though the price may be higher. Quality tools will not break or wear out soon, and you won’t need to spend more money replacing these tools in the future. Note that just because a tool is expensive does not necessarily mean it is quality.
There Is What You Need, What You Want, and What You Can’t Afford
This advice is quite practical, although a bit hard for some people to understand. People spend money on wants even if they cannot afford them, neglecting their needs. Needs are things you cannot do without. Wants are things you can do without. Do not buy something you cannot afford, as it will put you in debt.
Bribe Yourself With Fun Things To Do the Not-so-Fun Things
For instance, run a 2.5 mile around your neighborhood even though you do not feel like doing so. Reward yourself after this run with a care package that will make you feel happy and more refreshed. It will make you look forward to doing the things you do not feel like doing.
Spend Money on Things Separating You From the Ground
If you value your health, spend more money on things that separate you from the ground. We are talking about a good mattress, a good shoe, good car tires, etc. You spend a lot of time sleeping, so get a mattress that will give you good lumbar support. Your car should have good tires to keep you on the road safely. A good shoe will help support your posture.
Shop at Aldi’s
Many say Aldis is the poor people’s store, but these people do not seem to grasp the savings you could make while shopping at Aldis. These stores stock high-quality items at fair prices and often run discounts that could save a lot when buying in bulk.
Treat the Car Your Parent Bought for You as a Loan
Make timely payments to them just as you would to a bank until you clear the amount agreed upon. The only advantage you have here is that your payments will not accrue interest. You will learn critical lessons that may help you pay off your mortgages and other bills in the future because they will have instilled discipline into you.
Spend More To Save More
It’s better to buy a higher-priced, quality item one time versus a cheaper item many times over because it keeps breaking. You will spend more on the cheaper stuff in the long run.
Set up a House Fund if You Have a Flat-mate
Instead of buying things for the house on a rotation or paying each other back, avoid the problem from the beginning by setting up a house fund. Get a jar, and each person puts a certain amount of money into it ($20 each to start, for example). Then, whenever someone has to go buy toilet paper or soap or anything that everyone would be using, they could just take the money out of the jar. When the money runs out, everyone puts in another $20, or however much you decide on.
Spend Money You Get as Gift on Experiences
If you get money as a present or a bonus (and you’re in the position to do so), spend it on an experience, not material goods or consumables. You will make memories that can last you your entire life. And you will fondly remember the person who gifted you that cash every time the memory crops up.
Invest in Your Health
Prioritize your health above everything else. If you are not healthy, you won’t be productive. You may end up spending a lot of money to cure conditions you could have managed easily if you prioritized your health. Get away from toxic work environments, travel, and take time to re-energize.
Get a Cheap Gym Membership When You Are Homeless
This advice sounds cryptic because a homeless man does not have money to spend on gym memberships. However, if you think about it, it makes financial sense since they will get access to washroom facilities where they can clean up and spend as much time inside the gym, not under a bridge. You can stay clean and have a roof over your head until you are back on your feet again.
Go Shopping on a Full Stomach
This prevents you from overspending. You will not buy unnecessary food items because you do not feel the urge to eat anymore. Carry money in cash if possible and spend only what you had budgeted for.
12 Frugal Hacks That Make All The Difference
A Reddit user who started the frugal journey with his wife a couple of years ago wanted to know the frugal hacks people had that made all the difference.
According to the OP, shopping grocery sales every week and planning their meals helped cut their bill from $250 to $100 per week. Other users shared their stories about frugal hacks they had that made some difference in their lives. Here are some of the best ones.
12 Frugal Hacks That Make All The Difference
12 Items Frugal People Proudly Exclude From Their Shopping List
Frugal people are known to spend their money wisely. They live within their means and don’t spend a lot of money. According to a thread on Quora, here are some common things frugal people never buy.
12 Items Frugal People Proudly Exclude from Their Shopping List
23 Side Hustles You Never Considered That Make More Than Your 9 to 5
Have you ever wanted to make a lot of money from a side hustle and quit your 9 to 5? You may know about the typical side hustles, but I bet you never even heard of these lucrative side hustles!
23 Side Hustles You Never Considered That Make More Than Your 9 to 5
9 So-Called “Frugal” Habits That Are Actually a Waste of Time and Money
Not everything is frugal! I am sure you have read articles and tips that promote frugal living and give some ideas that are just not frugal! These frugal myths float around and sometimes even cost people a lot of money!
9 So-Called “Frugal” Habits That Are Actually a Waste of Time and Money
10 Stupid Scams People Won’t Stop Falling For
It seems like every day there is a new scam popping up, promising to make you rich or solve all of your problems. Yet, despite the prevalence of scams and the numerous warnings about them, people still fall for them.
10 Stupid Scams People Won’t Stop Falling For
