25 Times People Online Shared Interesting Life Hacks For Saving Money

In a recent Reddit thread, someone posed the question, “What are your favorite money-saving tips?” The community quickly responded with a wealth of practical advice, ranging from clever everyday hacks to significant lifestyle changes.

#1

Image source: anon, Mikhail Nilov / pexels

Cook. For f***s sakes cook. Take out, drive thru and delivery adds up.

Every month or so I make a batch of 15-18 meat balls ($12 of lean ground beef) and sauce and freeze them in old yogurt tubs. A tub can hold 2 portions which I thaw in a small pot over low heat. Boil up some spaghettini once the sauce is almost thawed (about 45 minutes), load up some glassware and you’ve got lunch figured out for tomorrow and the next day. Delicious, cheap, filling and microwavable.

Pro tip: good spaghetti sauce doesn’t come from a glass jar.

#2

Image source: funsizedsamurai, cottonbro studio / pexels

If you have kids, buy what you can use. Toys, clothing, furniture etc. They go through clothes so fast, so paying full price is stupid, you can often find brand new with tags stuff at the goodwill, garage sales or local buy and sell pages.

Thrifting your own clothing isn’t a bad idea either.

#3

Image source: ShlomoKenyatta, Kampus Production / pexels

Don’t buy anything bigger than $20 unless you’ve given yourself at least a day to think it over (obviously excluding gasoline, groceries, and other necessities). A lot of people buy stupid s**t in the moment and regret it not long after.

#4

Image source: DarkangelUK, Thirdman / pexels

I was quite bad for really wanting things and buying them as soon as I got paid, of course as the end of the month came near I had barely any money left and struggled. To fix this, instead of buying things at the start of the month I decided to buy things at the end of the month if I still had enough of that months wages left over to do so. If I didn’t then I did the same again and wait till the end of the next month, and of course last months leftovers plus the new months wage by the end of the 2nd month I had enough, and sometimes saved money as the item was now cheaper.

Basically patience and timing means I can still have the things I want and not be struggling near the end of the month, I’m in a much better place financially now.

#5

Image source: HearingSword, Michael Pardo / flickr

I once bought a 500 pack of teabags. That was 3 years ago. I ran out this week.

#6

Image source: nucumber, Miriam Alonso / pexels

Buy store brands

buy in quantity when stuff on sale. i like a particular toothpaste but it is expensive, except every few months it goes on sale for like 1/3 off. when that happens i buy 6 or 8 tubes, then i’ve got a supply until it goes on sale again.

i do that with a lot of stuff, even cheap stuff. like soda. 2 liter bottles are usually between $1.00 and $1.50 each. i just bought a dozen bottles of my favorites for $0.88 each. yeah, my average savings is maybe $0.25 each but it adds up. I do the same with cereals, sometimes the $4.00/box is on sale for $1.75 so i buy six of them.

#7

Image source: ckreddituf, Karolina Kaboompics / pexels

When you’re about to buy something, imagine a person holding the product in hand and it’s worth cash in other hand. If you’re picking cash, don’t buy it.

#8

Image source: TrickyWenis, Ron Lach / pexels

Ask yourself if you need it or only want it.

If you want it, but don’t need it. Give yourself 24 hours to decide whether it’s worth purchasing.

#9

Don’t waste money buying water in jugs. Instead, buy powdered water. Comes in boxes. Cheaper. Just add water.

Image source: AsianHawke

#10

Image source: anaslex247365, Wavebreakmedia / envatoelements

I made an Excel spreadsheet to budget with. Has all my bills, what I make each month, and what to put aside to save any specific amount. So far this year alone, I’ve managed to save $4,000.

#11

Image source: SlightlyStable, Pixabay / pexels

Drink at home, alone. No buying drinks, no tipping, and nobody will judge you for drinking the cheapest stuff you can.

#12

Image source: Leegala, Ivan Samkov / pexels

Don’t spend money.

Ha, but really don’t waste money on “sales” for things you don’t need, do meal prepping, make a budget for yourself, carry cash as it’s harder to spend money when you can actually see it, sign up for email newsletters and use coupons whenever possible, and cut out anything unnecessary or that doesn’t serve a really positive purpose in your life.

#13

Image source: SpockHasLeft, Ron Lach / pexels

Get water with your meal when you eat out. $1-$4 savings immediately.

#14

Image source: Aggyness, Pixabay / pexels

Potatoes. Keep plenty of them in stock – they can sit for a long time in the pantry or fridge, they’re versatile, easy to cook, and filling.

#15

Image source: egnards, maitree rimthong / pexels

I always get my change at put it in my piggy bank – yes it’s a pug, a chalkboard pig so it’s tons of fun to draw on. I very rarely use cash as I like my reward points but it still comes out to $100+ every year.

Don’t feel bad for getting your change. So many people walk out without it thinking it’s what you’re supposed to do. . .but now your $2.56 coffee every morning costs $3, that’s 20% more!

#16

Image source: Anabeer, Pixabay / pexels

This will get lost but hopefully it will help the one person who reads to the bottom:

Carry with you the knowledge that your parents and grandparents didn’t magically start out with a house full of bathrooms, stainless appliances, multiple TV’s and other electronics. Granite.

Its OK to not have everything, to accumulate your stuff over time.
Don’t get suckered in by the lifestyle TV shows or articles online or from your peer group.

Its OK and financially responsible to defer gratification…it will come.

#17

Image source: cupcakejenn, Karolina Kaboompics / pexels

On every payday, I move half of what I had leftover from last pay period over into my savings account. (Paying yourself). Sometimes it’s not a lot but it has added up quickly. I also add 5$ to each of my kids savings accounts every payday. They each have over $1,000 and my personal savings has just reached 5 figures. As a single mom, who has always lived paycheck to paycheck, I have surprised myself.

#18

Image source: OpinelNo8, Diana / pexels

Whenever you feel the urge to buy a non necessity, give yourself a couple of days before you buy it. Often times, the impulse will have passed and you’ll be glad to still have the money.

#19

Image source: Sumit316, cottonbro studio / pexels

– If you are a student – Learn to cook.

– If you are working – Bring lunch to work every day. You’ll save a lot of money.

– When you go shopping, especially grocery shopping: make a list and stick to it. And never grocery shop on an empty stomach. Or after a busy day or week. You’ll be more inclined to buy bad food and make poorer purchasing decisions

People waste a ton of money ordering food and prepared stuff. Just look up some tutorials and save some real money.

#20

Image source: diddlesdiddles, Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels

A trick that always works for me is to think about how many hours wages I am spending on something. As someone who previously had a huge spending problem, this has helped me realise that I’ve worked hard for my money, and I’d rather be working my a*s off for a stress free life financially than living pay day to pay day buying meaningless s**t.

#21

Image source: this_is_original1, Alesia Kozik / pexels

Rice. That son of a b***h goes with everything.

Even rice.

#22

Image source: Statscollector, Boca Dorada / flickr

Make as much food as you can. Buying lunch every day at work adds up.

#23

Image source: anon, Donald Tong / pexels

You don’t have to pay for the basic necessities if you go to prison for Tax Evasion

#24

Image source: CaffeineChristine, Erik Mclean / pexels

Counterintuitive but buy the best you can afford and take good care of your stuff. Since you know you have the best you can afford you don’t have the constant itch to replace and upgrade.

For example, buy quality clothes, get them tailored so that they fit (no stretching to wear them out) and then clean them correctly. Rather then constantly buying/replacing cheap stuff keep good stuff long-term. Same thing with cars, appliances, etc.

Good quality has higher upfront costs but can have long term savings.

#25

Image source: anon, Open Grid Scheduler / flickr

Buy greeting cards at the Dollar Store.

I get greeting cards for 99 cents that are as good – or better – than ones selling for $4.99+ elsewhere.