On a limited budget? You’re not alone. Here are top ten practical tips on how you can stretch that budget to the fullest:
1. Cook your meals. You can save a great deal of money by cooking your meals and preparing packed lunches and snacks you and your family can bring to work or school. Not only will it save you money, you can also assure that the meals are healthy and clean. You can also prepare dishes that can last for a week so you can cook them in advance in large portions and save the other half for the next few days. When it’s time to serve it, take it out a few hours before meal time to allow it to defrost and then reheat it.
Just make sure that you store them in a sealed container in a freezer. Put a label on the container with the date on it so you can be sure to serve it before it gets stale. It is also a good idea to post a meal plan on your refrigerator door so you can be reminded of which meals to serve each day.
2. Buy what’s in season. Fruits and vegetables that are in season are cheaper so you would want to take advantage of it. Look for different recipes that uses what’s abundant in your local market so you don’t have to spend more on produce that are not in season.
3. Pick from your own garden. It’s a great idea to grow herbs and vegetables that you often use in your cooking and are easy to plant even in pots. Examples are tomatoes, lemon grass, basil, parsley, mint, oregano, etc. Planting these is not just cost effective, it is also an enjoyable and relaxing hobby.
4. Put it in a jar. You don’t have to spend big bucks on bread spreads as you can make your own sweet preserves like jams and marmalades. Check your local market on what fruits are in season so you can buy in bulk for a low price. Making preserves is easy as you only need to cook the fruits in sugar in a very low heat until reduced. Afterwards, put them in sterilized jars and seal the lids tightly. Store them in a dry and cool place. These preserves can last for months and are delicious bread spreads and desert toppings.
5. Go with the basics. When it comes to your wardrobe, you don’t have to spend huge bucks just to stay fashionable. You can go a long way if you have the basic items of clothing. Invest on a good pair of flat shoes and stillettos or boots. Black would go well with everything so you want to make sure that you have these two black pairs in your closet. You can use the flat shoes for casual events and the pair with heels for business or formal functions. You’ll also want to invest on a pair of comfortable sneakers for exercising and running errands.
For your clothing, these are the basic pieces that you want to start with: a classic cut of slacks, a pair of jeans, a knee-length skirt, blazer and a little black dress. Go for plain and neutral colors so you can match them with anything and you can wear them frequently without being obvious. To add colors and spice up your look, mix them with the right accessories such as bags, belts, neck tie or scarves in prints and colors.
6. Unsubscribe from unnecessary expenses. Check your subscriptions. Do you really need to receive those magazines regularly or do you just stack them in a corner without being read. If you need information, you can easily find them in the internet and print them as you need them. Also, are you subscribed to a more costly cable plan when the only time you get to watch television is when you get home in the evenings? Maybe you can live without these things, you’ve just been subscribed to them for a long time that you never even bothered to cancel.
7. Buy in bulk. This is obvious as wholesalers really give away goods at a lesser price. Just be wise when you purchase items in bulk. Make sure they do not get staled if stacked in a long time. You’ll also want to keep stack only of the items that are important and that you use frequently. Otherwise, you may only be spending more on unnecessary things. Items such as detergents, soap bars, dish washers, dish sponges, toothbrush, toothpaste, and the like are great wholesale buys.
8. Use coupons. Don’t underestimate the value of coupons. You can find them in magazines or from online coupon sites where you can choose from a list of merchants and print them out. Savings.com is a site that offers free coupons that can be used from various merchants like Bed Bath and Beyond coupons and Shoes.com coupon.
*Tip: Double your savings by using coupons on items that are on sale.
Warning: Don’t sacrifice quality for savings. Make sure that it’s something worth buying. Don’t forget to check on the expiration date of the item.
9. Learn DIY skills. Stretch your budget to the fullest by learning basic skills so you don’t have to hire a handyman all the time. For instance, learning basic PC troubleshooting, sewing, how to fix leaks, or painting can cost you thousands of dollars in a year.
10. Turn it off. Don’t take for granted what you can save from your electricity bills. Be sure to turn off lights or electrical devices when they’re not in use. Teach your kids to be aware of this practice so they’ll know the value of saving as well. The few cents you save from your electricity each day can total into a hundred of dollars or even more in a year.
