Saving money and being frugal might be unpopular now, but there are many “frugal” things our grandparents did without thinking. Here are five obvious things that your grandparents knew (and probably did) in order to make money go further:
Make it at home
While there are some things that you won’t want to bother with making at home, there are a lot of things that you can make to help save a few dollars. Some of the most obvious include cleaning supplies and food.
Save your change
Change is a pain to mess with, but you’d be amazed how quickly those nickels and dimes will add up. Instead of just donating your change or losing it in the seats of the couch, set up a jar right by the door and empty your pockets when you get home. Then, when the jar is full, roll all the change and cash it in.
Treat credit like cash
Credit is one of the hardest things to manage for most people. It’s so easy to swipe that card and just not worry about it any longer. While some blogs and advisors will recommend just not having credit (and indeed if you’re deep in debt this is actually a good idea), we all know that you’re going to need credit eventually. So, instead, treat your credit card like cash. If you don’t have the amount to pay it this check, don’t put it on your credit card.
Have fun without spending money
You’d be amazed how easy it is to have fun without spending money. Go to the park, hit up a museum, learn a new skill, or just do a movie night at home; the options are endless. Still lost for options? Check out our list of 50 frugal hobbies that you can start for $10 or less for some more ideas.
Start a savings account
It’s one thing to reduce money and another thing entirely to set it aside in a savings account. Talk to your bank and find out what the minimum balance is for a savings account, and start one. Once you already have a savings account, adding to it is easy.