How To Save Money: 27 Quick Tips That Don’t Involve Maths Or Boring Budgeting
We’re in a cost of living crisis but saving money is hard and boring. Everyone has opinions on how to do it. Here are mine.
I never had the patience for budgeting, so these are some quick tips that don’t involve maths but will involve some lifestyle changes.
1. Use public transport and buy a secondhand bike
If you’re travelling within the inner city, these are now your only two transport options.
Cook. More.
Delete the apps right now. Takeaway should be just as much of a special treat as going out for a meal. It should not be your default. If you don’t want to cook, get up and go to a restaurant. The menu prices are always cheaper in-house, you won’t pay for delivery and the food will be so. much. better.
They are wildly more expensive than . If you’re lucky enough to live in a big city, you have no excuse for not making the most of these magical places. They are real, supermarkets are lifeless.
Buy food that’s about to go off. It’ll force you to actually cook it ASAP and not forget about it in your fridge drawer. Don’t be a baby about it, if a 1kg bag of cucumbers has one that’s looking a little bit slimy, who cares? Cut the creepy bit off. It’s still a bargain.
. Use your God-given senses. If the look, smell and taste of the food are anything but literally making you want to vomit, you can eat it. Even drinking slightly sour milk is fine and a common practice in many parts of the world. Stop throwing out perfectly edible food!!!!!!!
It’s cheaper.
Save all your veg offcuts, corn cobs, cheese rinds, meat offcuts and bones and stick them in a bag in your freezer. When the bag’s too big, empty it into a pot, cover with water and let it simmer on low for two hours. Strain and you have free stock.
If you’re already cooking dinner, make extra so you can have it for lunch the next day.
You don’t need a fancy machine, I know your parents have a random spare plunger stashed in the back of a cupboard somewhere, go pinch it.
1kg bags are about $50. 250g bags are about $20. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
1kg bags of rice? You’re dreaming, 5kgs minimum. It doesn’t go off.
. Herbs are too expensive.
Sorry to trigger memories of lockdown, but now that it’s warmer try hanging out with your friends at the park, beach or in your backyard instead of going to a bar or pub. And instead of a fancy away, ever tried camping?? RIP NSW, you may have to hang out indoors until La Niña passes.
Do you need them? No. But if yes, two words: op shop.
Need a whisk? Get one for a buck at the op shop.
It doesn’t need to be replaced until it is literally crumbling off your body.
You or someone you know can definitely tighten that screw or sew up that hole. Take a second to figure out how broken it actually is before you immediately replace it. Watch a YouTube tutorial for once in your life.
I know you have a pile of old clothes or an old iPhone sitting in your wardrobe that needs to be sold. Go on, take the photos, put the listing online today. If they don’t sell, hock them at a secondhand shop. Some money in your pocket is better than none.
Do you really need five different streaming services? Make sure you’re not accidentally still paying for an app you never use.
Could you go for a walk or lift weights at home instead?
If you can’t afford to fork out for every health appointment, they are crucial. I admit there aren’t many, but they do exist. Call around.
Free money!
Turn your lights, appliances, heating and cooling off when you don’t need them. If you’re not in the same room, does it need to be on?
Gas is expensive.
Try not to be impulsive with money. Plan to go out for meals and drinks, stick to those plans and don’t get carried away. If you can’t afford/don’t want to go to the club after already being at a bar for three hours, don’t go. Be strong.
Just find cheaper alternatives. Saving money and living within your means shouldn’t make your life any harder or less fun.
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