Making ends meet when youre on a fixed budget can feel like an uphill battle.
From soaring grocery bills to rising gas prices, every penny counts.
Money saving tricks, both big and small, can make a big difference.
Groceries
1.
Skip Grocery Delivery and Go With Pickup Instead
Grocery delivery is incredibly convenient and expensive.
Tips and fees on an Instacart order can easily add $20 to $30 to your grocery bill.
If youre trying to break the grocery delivery price trap, try pickup instead.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Opting forgrocery curbside pickupis a much cheaper alternative thats still fast and easy.
Be honest about the fresh foods youll actually eat in a reasonable amount of time.
Buy Meat on Sale in Bulk and Freeze It
Pricey cuts have penny pinchers across the country ditching meat.
Think about eggs, too.
There are dozens ofaffordable dinner ideasstarring eggs.
Buy a couple packages at a time, break them down into 1-pound packages and freeze them.
Here are some other hacks tosave money on meatat the grocery store.
Hereshow to start meal preppingso youll actually stick with it.
And if you need more inspiration, check out these hacks forbudget meal planning.
Load up on discount candy the day after holidays like Valentines Day, Easter and Halloween.
Avoid Drinking Your Money
Drink water instead of buying soda or juice.
Nix the bottled water and go with filtered water or tap instead.
Make coffee at home instead of grabbing Starbucks.
Just see to it to shop smart if yourebuying in bulk.
Check Groupon and other coupon sites to score a cheaper annual membership.
Here is a list of whendifferent produce is in seasonacross the U.S.
10.
Serve Smaller Portions
Serve dinner in smaller portions on smaller plates.
It makes you more aware of what youre eating and less likely to throw away scraps of uneaten food.
Its also better for your waistline.
Check the Cost Per Unit Price
Each item at the grocery store has a corresponding tag on the shelf.
In the top left or right corner, youll find the cost per unit price.
This is the best way to truly compare prices, especially when buying in bulk.
you might use thisfood pantry locator toolfrom Feeding America to find food banks in your area.
you’re able to also call United Ways 211 service to find other local resources.
Freeze Your Bread
Bread will get moldy, likesurprisinglymoldy in no time during the summer.
Kitchens and restaurants use this trick every day to reduce food waste and save money, Ayala said.
Another great bread hack?
(Remember: venture to extend the shelf life of everything in your kitchen.)
Stocking your shelves with thesepantry essentialscan also save you money.
Or for an even leaner budget, skip breakfast altogether if it works for your health and diet.
You may even see some health benefits, according tointermittent fasting research.
Weve all been guilty of it.
Leftovers get shoved to the back of the fridge, veggies get gross in the crisper.
Gas
19.
Manygrocery fuel reward programscan also help you save, too.
Pay for Gas in Cash
Theres other ways to save money on gas besides using gas rebate apps.
Some solid money hacks tosave money on gas?
Buy your gas in cash (many gas stations give you a discount) and check yourtire pressure.
Car and Travel
22.
Consider Becoming a One-Car Household
It may sound extreme but so are the savings.
No gas or car payment.
No car insurance bill or new tires in the winter.
No parking fees or tolls.
And going down to aone-car householdcould literally save you thousands of dollars a year.
Explore public transportation options in your area and plan out errands with your partner.
And remember: Ditching your car isnt a forever commitment.
you might pocket the savings for a couple years, then reevaluate your budget in the future.
Cancel Your Car Insurance
Heres the thing: your current car insurance company is probably overcharging you.
But dont waste your time hopping around to different insurance companies looking for a better deal.
Use awebsite called EverQuoteto see all your options at once.
Shopping
26.
There are also net online gate extensions likeCapital One Shoppingandcoupon sitesthat can help you save money on everyday purchases.
Cut Back on Pet Expenses
You love your pet like family.
But if your furbabies are draining your wallet, its time to cut back.
You could even start apet sitting side hustleto bring in extra income.
Learn Money Hacks for Household Items
Here at The Penny Hoarder, we admire a frugal spirit.
And when times are tough, finding smart ways torepurpose everyday household itemsjust makes sense.
Like using Windex to clean your makeup brushes or vinegar to clean your dishwasher genius-level money hacks right there.
Try asking for the retention department when you call.
Entertainment
30.
Be Smart About Your Streaming Services
Multiple streaming services can almost cost as much as a cable TV subscription.
To minimize the bite, take advantage of free trials andfree TV apps.
Another smart way to save?
Ask friends or family if they want to share streaming accounts.
Set up profiles under a shared account and thenVenmoorCash Appyour friend an agreed upon amount each month for sharing.
Just be careful: Some streaming services, like Netflix, arecracking down on sharing accounts.
Cancel Subscriptions and Non-Essential Memberships
Monthly subscriptions and memberships add up quickly.
Five bucks here, $8 dollars there.
Before you know it, youre spending $80 on random subscriptions you may not really use.
Trying to cut costs fast?
Theres a couple ways to qualify.
Its 200% of the federal poverty line.
So why not stay in and explorecheap date night ideas?
(Playing sexy MadLibs with a bottle of cheap wine could be surprisingly entertaining).
Finally, it can be hard, but dont let saving money kill your summer fun.
In fact, thesefree summertime activitieswill get your mind off your money at least for a little bit.
Rachel Christian is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and a senior writer for The Penny Hoarder.
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