Remember when “retro” used to be a bad thing?
Well, that retro renaissance doesn’t just apply to bell-bottoms and lava lamps — these are some old-school money tips that are also coming back in style!
Baking Bread
2020 might have been the height of baking culture, but the cool factor for making your own baked goods seems to be sticking around like dough on an ungreased pan.
Baking bread at home is an excellent way to save money while making your house smell impossibly delicious at all times.
Plus, it’s a labor of love that you can share with family and friends (but only if you want to).
Waiting To Buy Things When They’re On Sale
Gone are the days of impulse buys.
People are realizing that this old-school hack is easier than ever with apps that track prices for you.
And you don’t even have to use the apps; sometimes, it’s as easy as adding items to your cart, waiting until you have a coupon, and buying the item then. Either way, the concept is the same: patience is key to saving money!
Make Gifts Instead of Buying
Making homemade gifts used to be a social norm.
And thankfully, the trend is back in full force! People are making their own stationery and gift cards, cooking or baking (there’s another use for that bread), and sharing on special occasions, or even taking one of their hobbies and using it as a way to create something unique for someone in their lives.
Unplugging
“Unplugging” was never really a money-saving tip, but that’s only because there was so much less (or nothing at all) to plug into!
A few years ago, hooking yourself up to every piece of technology was the cool thing to do. But it was both extremely expensive and not a very fun way to live.
Fortunately, we’re all waking up to the reality: we need nature, socializing, and movement!
These are all good things for our quality of life and our wallets, so we must find time in our busy schedules to put the phone on silent, both metaphorically and maybe literally.
Tracking Your Spending
Being a “numbers guy” is cooler than ever. Financial literacy and budgeting prowess are now marketable social skills, and keeping track of your spending is a big indicator that you have things under control.
With so many budgeting apps that make tracking every last expense impossibly simple, it’s no wonder that responsibility is back in fashion, and we hope it’s here to stay!
Actually Saving Your Money
Hold on — you mean it’s cool to tell people you can’t afford something and that you’re saving up for an emergency fund or vacation?
Since when?
We don’t know when the scales tipped in favor of frugality, but even the concept of putting money into a savings account is finally cool again.
Being frivolous with your spending is flashy, but people are learning it’s just not sustainable, which means that fans of financial independence are coming out on top!
