I don’t know about ya’ll, but I am always looking for ways to save extra money around the house! I would rather save money on some items, so I can splurge on other stuff, or further work on paying off debt, etc.
This is my first post of many in which I plan on sharing money saving tips. Now, I am no expert, I am constantly learning from others, in fact this is one of my favorite topics to really dig into and work on! In future posts, I plan on sharing how I coupon, meal plan, budget, and tackle debt, but for today I thought I would kept it simple and share with you a few very small changes that you can make (if you don’t already) to save a few extra dollars here and there!
1. Makeup remover wipe hack
So this is probably my strangest money saving tip….Every night I use makeup remover wipes to take off my makeup. Most makeup remover wipes come in packets of 25-30, which makes them last only about a month. Also, I have found that the brands I like (they work/don’t sting my eyes) can be a bit pricey for my liking even with a coupon (4-5 dollar range). I really don’t want to be paying this every month so, I actually tear my makeup remove wipes in half! I know it sounds strange, but half a wipe is more than enough to get my eye makeup off (which is what I primarily use them for). The wipes tear super easy too, right down the middle! This doubles the amount of time I have till I have to repurchase. Saves us only a few bucks, but hey, it can now go somewhere else in our budget!
2. Get books from the Library
I am in no way a book collector. I read a book once, and then I am done (besides Harry Potter!). Therefore, it is pretty wasteful for me to actually buy a book! We have a great library system in our city. I have my card number memorized (lol…nerd status) and I sign on the website and reserve books I want to read and then pick them up when the become available (my library actually has a drive through, which rocks!). Now occasionally I do buy a book, but it’s only when I find one from a yard sale or thrift shop. Usually these books are more devotional style or nonfiction, which I know will take me longer to read anyway. I view the few fiction I pick up second hand as great books for me to take on a beach trip, because I don’t want to destroy the library’s books with water and sand. I also have a Nook, but I don’t buy books on it unless the book is on sale and I have a gift card. This makes my “book cost” maybe about 5-10 dollars per year.
3. Buy cards from the Dollar Tree
If you have a Dollar Tree around you then this is a must! I love the Dollar Tree for many reasons, however my favorite thing it offers are the cards! I love sending cards for birthdays, holidays, events, etc, but the prices for cards at Kroger or wherever are absolutely ridiculous! Why would I spend $8 on a card that someone is probably going to throw away in a week or two? I could just spend that money on a gift for them! DT actually offers some really nice cards, I’ve noticed recently that they’ve really stepped it up with speciality cards that have 3-D effects and what not! They also have some cards that are 2 for $1. Now I don’t get to the DT super often so when I do I like to stock up and think ahead for what I might need (baby shower, birthday, etc.). I keep a box for extra cards I can turn to in a pinch as well (pictured above), that way I don’t have to randomly make a stop at Walmart and pay a crazy amount! I do have one exception to this rule and that is cards for my husband. I do spend more on cards for him because he always keeps the cards I give him, it’s just something special we do for each other, but otherwise I’m saving money on cards!
4. Keeping a Gift Stock Pile
Behind my couch lives a bag of extra items, I refer to this bag as my gift stock pile. This is where I store any gifts that were given to me or my husband that we aren’t in need of, or anything I pick up throughout the year for others. This was a trick I learned from my Mom. Sometimes Todd or I will receive a gift that we already have, or maybe it’s just not our taste, but it’s still a perfectly good item (and we can’t return it). If that happens we just add it to our gift pile. Also, I am constantly on the look out all year long at thrift stores, garage sales, and clearance sections for items that are brand new and something people in my family would like. This honestly makes shopping a lot more fun! Also, when someone’s birthday or Christmas comes up, a lot of times we already have something to give, and we aren’t as stressed about the money it will cost to buy a gift. Also, having a gift pile is great for when an unexpected occasion comes up and you need something fast(such as white elephant gifts)! Now, I should mention that I don’t give gifts just because they are a good deal. I truly try to match the gift I give to the person’s wants. I don’t give something just because it’s in the stock pile. I also don’t just fill the stock pile with junk just because something was a good deal.
We got a few items as duplicates for our wedding, and we just didn’t need two, and of course we had a lot of weddings around the time of our wedding, so I was able to regift those items! It was perfect!
5. Saving Gift Cards
This tip is one that my husband is not a big fan of lol, but I personally love it. I’m a teacher, so gift cards are often the go to gift, and in the past Todd has also received a bunch while working at a church (at Christmas time and such). Also, we got a ton of gift cards for our wedding! Todd personally likes to spend a gift card as soon as he gets it, but I really like to save my gift cards. This way, when I actually need something, say a new pair of shoes, it’s like free money because it doesn’t have to come out of our budget. Also, restaurant gift cards are great when we feel too tired to cook or just want a date night. A lot of times for our birthdays and anniversary we actually pay for our dinner with gift cards! We really don’t eat out a lot, so gift cards really help out with saving money!
I hope at least one of these tips will help you save money! Let me know if you already do any of these! Also, I would love if you would share in the comments other small ways you save money!
-Kasey