Smart financial choices today will help you save a ton of money over time.
It seems obvious, right?
Sometimes theres nothing left to skimp on.
See also: Our ultimate guide onhow to save money
7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People
Do you avoid people too?
Enough small talk.Here are some waysto earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff.
Anyone whos lived below the poverty line understands this issue.
My favorite thing about this study is its about toilet paper.
They tracked purchases of toilet paper over seven years.
And we dont use more when theres extra in the house unlike, say, food.
Toilet paper is also something people with less money pay more for.
Toilet paper is technically cheaper in bulk.
But the 24-pack costs more in the moment than the four-pack.
Having more money gives people the luxury of paying less for things, as The Washington Post puts it.
Being Broke Isnt Cheap
I can relate.
For four years before taking this full-time job, I was pretty consistently dead-broke and without credit.
I bought the four-pack.
Now I have a steady paycheck and a handle on my monthly expenses.
Im building savings and working to build my credit.
Now I buy the 24-pack.
I also buy the big bottles of shampoo and multipacks of bar soap.
I stock up on grocery staples when theyre on sale.
Ipurchase flights when theyre cheapest, instead of waiting until I have the money.
I celebrate these victories yes, I celebrate the backup shampoo in my bathroom.
And Im thankful for my job every time I open a kitchen cabinet.
We know the common sense money-saving strategies even when we cant afford them.
How Do You Get Ahead When Youre So Far Behind?
I wasnt getting ahead when I was poor;I was getting by.
Sometimes, finding ahigher salaryis the ultimate solution.
I had to get creative, especially with food.
I was also smart about free food.
Probably my biggest savior was just gifts.
Not handouts I mean Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, etc.
AStarbucks gift cardcan buy a few meals.
And you’re free to regift orsell gift cardsand other gifts you wont use.
These desperate hacks are usually subjective.
When the typical advice doesnt work for you, you get creative to save money.
Wed love to hear some of your strategies!
Dana Sitar (@danasitar) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…