“You need to spend money to make money,” is a common phrase. But it’s not actually true. Unless you’re investing in a major project, spending money is just that — spending money.
In truth, you don’t need to make any major investments or make major changes to save money every month. Using a few nifty tricks, you can actually cut costs using things you already own.
Learn to mend your clothes
In today’s world of fast fashion, it’s not a hard decision for many people to simply get rid of clothing that has snagged fabric, holes, or signs of wear. However, consumers spend an average of $1,700 on clothes every year. Instead of looking for new clothes to replace your damaged ones, consider learning how to mend them. Not only will this help you save money, but it will also help you keep your favorite clothes in your closet.
Delete your credit card info from your computer
When you shop online and type in your credit card information at checkout, oftentimes your browser will ask you if you want to save your information. While this may seem like a convenient way to online shop, it can put your monthly budget at risk in more ways than one.
Up to 49% of consumers say their security habits make them vulnerable to identity theft, and saving your credit card information to your computer makes it easier for spyware to steal your info. What’s more, saving your credit card info to your browser also makes it easier to make impulse purchases.
Use your car’s cruise control
If you have a lead foot, you could save a lot of money on gas simply by using your car’s cruise control feature. When you switch to cruise control, your engine is no longer at the whim of your feet. The routine shift between slowing down and speeding up is also leveled out so your engine doesn’t guzzle as much fuel to get the car moving.
Consider checking your driver’s manual to determine the horsepower of your vehicle. For instance, the Shelby Mustang GT 500 was advertised as having 335 horsepower to appease insurance companies, but the actual horsepower was closer to 400. A car with a more powerful engine is going to use more fuel and will benefit more from cruise control to maintain fuel efficiency.
Cook in bulk
You can save money on food and reduce food waste by cooking in bulk and saving the leftovers in your fridge or freezer. You don’t need to designate a whole day to bulk cooking or meal prepping, either. Instead, when you go to make dinner, act like you’re cooking for a family of four instead of a family of one or two. Having these extra leftovers puts a few dishes you can easily reheat for dinner later on in the week so you’re less likely to eat out or go through the drive-thru.
This works with other types of food-prep, too. For instance, if you make a pot of coffee every day before going to work, consider saving the coffee in the pot that you don’t drink. Pour it in a glass container to keep in the fridge to make iced coffee and to save on how often you buy a new bag of coffee grounds.
Using coupons isn’t the only way you can save money. By being clever with the things you already own, you can help to cut back on monthly costs.