Save More, Stress Less: 8 Frugal Tips
Podcast Transcription
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Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of PFCU's Money Talk Podcast. I'm your host Maddy. It's coming up on February and what better time to be frugal than frugal February. If you're looking for new ways to save a little bit of money, I know I always am. I wanted to take this time to share some tips on how you can do that. It's funny because as I went to brainstorm some ideas on how to be frugal, I figured I would have a couple that I do myself and maybe some others, but then I realized that I might be a little more frugal than I thought. And these are by no means extreme frugal tips, and I know that I'm not the most frugal person out there, but these are just small doable things that you can put in place easily, saving you a few bucks. So, all of these I do myself, and like I said, they're small, and sometimes I feel like that's better than trying to do too much at once and getting overwhelmed and then jumping ship before any savings really start to happen.
So, tip number one is to reuse gift bags. This might seem like something that wouldn't really make a difference in your finances, but honestly, gift bags are not cheap. And if I can save a few bucks just by stashing away the bags after they're used, especially if they're still in really good condition, then why not? And to go along with this, I skip the $6.99 greeting cards and I look in the dollar section or I get a pack of just blank cards for a lot cheaper and they're just as cute.
Tip number two, hit the stores after major holidays and buy things that you can use next year. Now I typically do this after Christmas for things like wrapping paper, tissue paper, decor, and then I'll usually buy some, like, Christmas shirts and pajamas for my kids, obviously in the next size or two up so they fit next year. These are things that I can get for a really good deal and pull them out next year. And don't forget other holidays where you can get deals like Halloween, Valentine's Day and Easter.
Tip number three, if there is a good price on something that I know I'm going to use, I'll buy some extra and store it away. I definitely do this with kids’ shoes when they're on sale because those can be really expensive. And even if we don't need shoes right away, I'll grab some in a bigger size. They're going to need new tennis shoes eventually because they wear them out so quickly. If toilet paper is on sale, grab a few since you know you're going to use it eventually. A very specific example that I ran into a few weeks ago was makeup. It was buy one, get one for like 40% off and I knew I would use it so, I grabbed an extra one and got the deal. This obviously isn't an excuse to overspend or buy things that you don't need or are going to use. But again, if you're going to use it, then why not get the deal and use it later?
Tip number four, look at the price per ounce on the grocery store shelves. It's hard to know if you're getting the best deal when there's different sizes and variations. However, a lot of times the price tag on the shelf is going to list the price per ounce. This is going to tell you which option is the best price for what you're getting. Super easy to do.
Tip number five, use coupons and coupon codes. If you're shopping online, it never hurts to search for a coupon code. I just bought something last week and searched for codes and I tried one. It didn't work. I tried another one and it saved me over $20 on shipping and another $15 off the price. So, use coupons because why not? We get coupons in the mail from Meijer and Kroger. We definitely don't use them as much as we should, but again, just an easy way to save a little bit of money.
Tip number six, sell things that you don't use anymore. Why not get a few dollars back on your stuff by posting it online or even having a garage sale? It takes a little extra time, a little more work but if you want some extra cash, it's worth it. And for us, what doesn't sell, we just donate it. So, it's a win-win.
Tip number seven. This is probably my favorite. Buy used. I love to buy used items, especially clothes for my kids, because they grow so fast. I'm not going to spend more money on clothes that they won't fit into next year. And honestly, I can find clothes that are basically brand new and sometimes still with tags. I also love thrifting for clothes for myself. I can find great stuff for cheap. Also buying furniture, home decor, and toys can be a big money saver too. And then when it's garage sale season, drive around and see what you can find.
Tip number eight is actually a bunch of small tips that I thought I would include. Buy store brand or generic. Stick to a shopping list and plan your meals. Visit your local library and not just for books, but for movies, games, and other activities that you can check out. Find free activities in your area, buy clothes at the end of the season, shop around for prices on your services once a year, and review your subscriptions.
Alright, I hope these easy tips paved the way to saving a little more this year without the added stress. Thanks for listening everyone and see you next time.
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