An enviously money-savvy friend once told me: If you’re in debt or
want
to know how to save money, the most important thing is to be honest
with
yourself about your needs. Maybe your monthly budget absolutely must
include sheet masks or weed. Maybe you would *literally die* without
an
afternoon coffee, or perhaps your fancy gym membership includes the
best
saunas (even if you haven’t touched a treadmill). These are the
rules:
Evaluate your priorities, consider what you can compromise, and
stick to
a few non-negotiables. When you have those things down, you’ll be
better
equipped to carve out a small sum of money for yourself, week by
week,
without feeling deprived. Discover 35 small and easy ways to save
money
below.
1.Get a city card.
Plenty of cities offer residents benefits. In New York, an IDNYC
card
will give you access to more than 35 New York City museums and
cultural
institutions, including free access with a plus-one to the swanky
bar
that sits atop the Met.
2. Get a library card.
Books! Remember them? You can rent them for free at an institution
called the library — and this includes e-books and Kindle reads.
3. Never, ever shop for food when you’re
hungry.
This will wreck you: You’ll likely buy more than you’d planned, and
ultimately end up tossing what you didn’t eat. Also consider
sticking to
the perimeter of the grocery store, where the staple foods tend to
be
placed, so you’re not lured in by a beautiful package of artisanal
donuts.
4. Stop buying bottled water.
Every time you’re about to buy a bottle of water, remember that your
purchase is a wild 2,000 times more expensive than tap water. Invest
in
a water filter or reusable bottle instead.
5. Start a lunch club at work.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could make lunch just once a week, and
still
have something to eat on the other days? Oh, the money you’d save.
Convince a few co-workers to start a lunch club in which a different
person will bring a big batch of something for the group each day.
You’ll have to be organized about this, agree on certain dietary
guidelines, and stay committed, but it can work.
6. Make a big pot of quinoa on Sunday.
Or rice, or farro, or some other kind of fiber-filled grain that can
serve as the foundation of many different meals. It’s versatile
enough
to keep you from setting fire to your bagged lunch by Wednesday. For
some inspiration: This one-pot Mexican quinoa recipe calls for just
a
few other ingredients, and it will last the whole week.
7. Freeze your bread.
Freezing your bread will keep you from throwing out half-consumed
loaves
that get moldy on the counter. When you’re hungry, take a slice out
of
the freezer and put it straight in the toaster.
8. Ditch pre-washed, pre-cut, prepared foods.
Bagged salads and sliced produce almost always cost more per
serving.
Also, prepared fruits and veggies are more likely to be contaminated
with things like E. coli.
9. Don’t take sell-by dates too seriously.
Sell-by dates are more like suggestions from food manufacturers than
law. If the food is moldy and discolored, you should probably toss
it.
Otherwise, if it passes the smell test, it’s probably okay to eat.
10. Go vegetarian.
If it’s a lifestyle you’ve been toying with, here’s an extra reason
to
take the plunge: Vegetarians save at least $750 more a year compared
to
their meat-eating counterparts, according to one study.
- 6+ years of experience in financial analysis
- 5+ years of experience as a writer, published author, editor, and screenwriter