99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part III

Welcome to the third and final installment of genius ways to save money!

If you’re just arriving here you might want to have a read of the first two parts of this three part series which can be found here:

➡ 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part 1

➡  99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part 2

This series came to be because I wanted to provide a little motivation to those of you who are actively searching for new ways to save money but don’t really know where to start.

Sometimes when we examine our budgets we’re really at a loss when it comes to finding ways to scale back and don’t realize that there are in fact ways to change small things in our lives that will add up to big money saving hacks over the long-term.

When we were first adopting a frugal lifestyle just about a decade ago we experimented and through some trial and error came up with ways that help us save money while simultaneously maintaining our quality of life.

In many respects, frugal living is about being creative and intentional with your money and I hope that this series and 99 genius ways to save money will serve as a form of motivation to start making more intentional choices with your money.

Frugal living isn’t about deprivation. Instead, it’s a vehicle for achieving long-term financial goals and prioritizing where every single penny of your hard earned money is spent.

99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part III

63. Negotiate For Better Insurance Rates Every Year

We’re notorious for switching our insurance providers.

Roughly once a year I make a couple of calls to see if any insurance providers are willing to give me a better deal for the same coverage.

In some cases our current provider matches the deal I was offered elsewhere. But, the bottom line comes down to dollars and if another company is willing to offer us the same coverage at a lower price we make the switch.

It does take some time to call around and get quotes. But, it can save you quite a bit of money from year to year so it is absolutely worth the effort.

64. Ditch The Gym For Free Outdoor Exercise

Gym memberships are great if you actually use it.

It’s really quite remarkable how many people have active memberships billed to their credit cards on a monthly basis and don’t use their subscription. If you’re in that situation it’s time to consider ending your relationship with the gym.

There are so many free and awesome ways to get exercise without paying for a gym membership. YouTube offers so many options for fitness buffs of all kinds. A quick search can pull of videos about everything from yoga to strength training!

65. Cut and Color Your Own Hair

If you can swing cutting and coloring your own hair you’re guaranteed to save big big bucks.

If you’re not comfortable cutting your own hair (which is understandable)  attempting to color it yourself or reduce the frequency of visiting your local salon is an awesome way to save money.

Try getting a haircut that you can maintain yourself and grows out well to reduce the frequency and cost of salon visits.

66. Have a Change Jar For Loose Change

Where do you put your lose change?

If you’re not piling it into a jar you need to start doing that right now!

We have a large change jar that sits in our mud room. Whenever we come home we empty our pockets of  change. You’d be really surprised how quickly it adds up and how convenient it is to have a heap of change laying around.

When I have to run out to buy milk I always dip my hand in the change car to avoid using cash or my debit card.

67. Use a Simple Budgeting Challenge to Encourage More Saving

If you’re motivated by a challenge why not take part in a simple budgeting challenge?

Sometimes following a set plan is all it takes to save more money. If you’re looking for a super easy money saving challenge have a look at my $1000 money savings challenge.

It can be adapted to different budgets and income points so it’s the perfect motivation for those of you who need to feel accountable.

68. Make Your Own Beer and Wine

If you enjoy a beer or glass of wine with your dinner why not experiment with making your own?

There are really simple brewing kits available online that can get you started home-brewing. They take the guess work out of the process and as a bonus you’ll save a ton of cash on pricey alcohol.

69. Can Your Own Food

If you’re growing your own veggies or can score some fresh local produce at reduced rates it would be worth your while to learn how to can food to preserve it.

We tend to can about 50 bushels of fresh tomato sauce made with our garden tomatoes every year.

We also pickle eggplant, cucumbers, mushrooms, green beans and artichokes to eat throughout the winter. These types of canned foods are great because they are an easy side dish or compliment to just about any meal!

70. Never Buy Extended Warranties

A common myth is that an extended warranty somehow stretches your dollar further because it provides you with some sort of security.

The reality is that most issues that arise with products covered by pricey extended warranties happen beyond the term of the warranty.

So, it’s probably best to skip the extended warranty the next time one is offered to you.

71. Cook In Double Or Triples If You Can

The next time you’re whipping up a delicious meal in your kitchen you might want to consider making it in double or even triple.

Freezing food for later use is a wonderful way to stick to your food budget and prevent yourself from ordering in or spending money on expensive take-out.

Life happens ya know? There are absolutely nights when something gets in the way of making a meal and knowing you’ve got meals ready and waiting in the freezer is a lifesaver.

72. Always Brown Bag Your Lunch

Brown bagging your lunch is one of the most important ways you can save money. We were really bad at this very thing and discovered that we were spending somewhere in the neighborhood of $26 000 every 10 years to eat take out for lunch.

Our bad habit was the result of being unprepared, not eating leftovers and turning to convenience food for lunches.

I wrote an entire post about the financial implications of not Brown Bagging Your Lunch. In that post I discuss the financial aspect of eating take-out over the long-term as a lunch solution and offer you 5 really practical tips to help you start brown bagging (and saving ) for good.

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Did you miss the first two parts of this series? If so, here are part 1 and part 2 of 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series

➡ 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part 1

➡  99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part 2

73. Go Meatless

If you’re looking for ways to reduce your grocery spending even further why not make a couple of meatless meals each week?

There are so many delicious plant based meals available that are not only delicious but also cheaper to make.

If you’re looking for some inspiration head over to my post about Meatless Meals Even The Carnivore Will Love. My husband is totally meat and potatoes and he loves every one of those hearty meatless recipes!

74. Always Use Gift Cards

If you’ve got a couple of gift cards laying around make sure to use them ASAP.

Consumer reports suggest that something like 1 Billion dollars worth of gift cards are unused and otherwise lost each year. That’s money literally thrown in the garbage!

75. Get the Generic Form Of Your Medication

To save a little extra money on our monthly prescriptions we’ve opted to take the generic form.

Generic medications are literally copies of the originals and have the same ingredients, dosage and intended effects.

Why pay more for medication when you can get it at a fraction of the cost by taking the generic?

76. Reduce Your Hobby Spending

If you’re taking part in really expensive hobbies that cost you a good amount of money each month it might be worth checking into less expensive alternatives.

77. Never Pay Full Price

As a rule I never pay full price for anything.

When it comes to grocery shopping I only buy what is on sale and build meals around it. When it comes to household products I stockpile sale items so I’m never stuck having to spend money on overpriced full-priced items. A little savvy, planning and organization has helped me never pay full-price for anything I buy.

If you’re interested in learning how I built and maintain my stockpile head on over to this post about how a stockpile can save you thousands of dollars.

78. Always Negotiate

Whether you’re buying furniture, a car or trying to renew your home or auto insurance you need to negotiate. Negotiating isn’t appropriate in all consumer transactions but in many situations using your negotiation skills can absolutely save you money.

I probably wouldn’t attempt to negotiate the cost at food at your local chain grocery store but if you’re shopping for a mattress absolutely try and get the cost of the product down!

I look at it this way – there’s no harm in trying. Best case scenario you save a couple of bucks. Worst case scenario they say no. No big deal right?

79. Try To Barter When Possible

Speaking of negotiating, bartering is not dead folks. We barter all the time and negotiate to trade for items that we need without spending any money at all. Bartering is an awesome way to score services, maintenance, kids stuff and even equipment or furnishings you need for your home.

Our biggest and best bartering achievement is having traded a hot tub for the labor to finish our basement.

If you want more information about how to start incorporating bartering into your life or if you’re curious how we pulled off a hot tub labor swap head over to my post about all the ins and outs of using bartering in your life to save more money.

80. Always Triple Check Your Bills For Accuracy

I cannot even begin to stress how important this one is.

Being overcharged or undercharged for your monthly services happens all the time. Just like you want to make sure that you’re not being overcharged you need to triple check that you’re not being undercharged as well.

Nobody likes to get surprise retroactive bills so it’s super important to keep an eye on your monthly bills to make sure you’re paying exactly what you owe.

81. And Pay Those Bills On Time

It’s so important to pay bills on time to avoid paying late fees.

I totally get how hard this can be if you’re living in the paycheck to paycheck cycle. If you’re in that situation you might want to have a look at my post about saving $1000 easily to help you get a little bit ahead.

If you’re fortunate not to be living in the paycheck to paycheck cycle you need to either get yourself organized with a clear budgeting system that allows you to stay on top of your payments.

Late fees because bills are paid late is a huge waste of money.

82. Avoid Paying a Babysitter

If you require frequent child care or if it’s a once in a blue moon type of thing try and see if you can barter for child care services.

If you’ve got friends, neighbors or loved ones with kids see if you can trade babysitting services rather than pay someone to watch your kiddos.

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Did you miss the first two parts of this series? If so, here are part 1 and part 2 of 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series

➡ 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part 1

➡ 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series Part 2

83. Avoid Bank Fees

Paying excess bank fees above and beyond your monthly plan fees is a HUGE waste of money. You’re basically being charged to use your own money which is pretty ridiculous if you think about it.

In some cases, banks will waive fees if you can keep your account at the minimum balance. If this is impossible for you then you seriously need to evaluate your banking needs.

If you’re consistently going over your included transactions it would be a good idea to either find a new system to prevent those bank fees from adding up or visit your local branch and find a plan that’s better suited for your needs.

Using a cash system really helps avoid this type of problem. We tend to pull out a bulk amount of cash once per week to cover our weekly spending needs. We rarely use our debit card because we’ve got cash to pay for the purchases we’ve planned to make that week.

84. Borrow Or Share Things That You Need

If you know you need an item but also know it’s something you wont be using again try asking friends, neighbors or loved ones to borrow it.

Recently, I was baking a few cakes for a BBQ at our place and needed a third spring form pan. Rather than heading out to buy one which I’d probably never use again. Seriously, I don’t need 3 spring form pans ya know? So, I texted my neighbor and she kindly lent it to me. I saved money and got the job done.

85. Cancel Any Automated Subscriptions

You’d be shocked to know how many people have automated subscriptions charged to their credit cards or debited from their bank accounts and don’t use the service.

If you’re in this situation absolutely scrutinize your credit card or bank statements and get in touch with the companies to cancel those subscriptions.

86. Downgrade Your Phone Plan

The cost of cell phone plan can be outrageous! With the advent of smart phones most people need pricier plans that include data and in some cases a couple will spend hundreds of dollars every month for their cell phone bills.

Call your company and downgrade your plan folks! If you work in an office environment take advantage of free WiFi to help you use less data and save money!

 87. Buy Cheaper Hygiene Products

If you can’t score name brand hygiene products on sale you can always save a couple of bucks by buying the store brand!

88. Use LED where appropriate

We’ve switched all our light bulbs to LED bulbs to save some extra money. To save even more money we only buy the replacement bulbs when they are on sale!

89. Always Ask For a Discount

You’d be really shocked to know that most stores offer special discounts on different days of the week. It’s always worth inquiring about discounts and whether you qualify. Every little bit helps!

90.Don’t Try To Keep Up With The Joneses

This is a biggie folks.

A lot of excessive spending is linked to the need to “keep up with the Joneses”. I know exactly how this feels because I was one of those people too.

Once you accept that there’s really no benefit in overspending and trying to keep up with what friends, family or neighbors are doing you’ll find freedom from that consumerist chaos.

91. Create A Realistic Budget and Stick To It

Creating a realistic budget is really the cornerstone of saving money in my opinion. Many people have really no concrete idea about how much money they are spending on a monthly basis. I wrote an entire post about reasons why your budget might be failing and how to fix it.

Once you’re honest with yourself about how much money you’re making and how much you’re actually spending you’re able to come up with a budget that will help you attain your financial goals whether that be debt repayment or aggressive savings for the future.

92. Return Impulse Purchases

Impulse shopping is the worst.

Ever bought something only to bring it home and realize it was an impulse purchase that you really have no use for?

Please take the time to return that item where you bought it to get a refund. There’s really no sense in accumulating stuff you don’t need if you know you’re never really going to use it.

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Did you miss the first two parts of this series? If so, here are part 1 and part 2 of 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Series

➡ 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Part 1

➡ 99 Genius Ways to Save Money Part 2

93. Don’t Buy DVDs and/or CDs

Save yourself a ton of money by using the internet to stream movies and listen to music!

94. Limit  Buying Prepackaged Items. Buy In Bulk and Package Yourself

Anything that is convenient costs more money. So, if you’re regularly buying prepackaged foods and snacks you’re paying a hefty premium for convenience. When possible buy the ingredients and make it yourself to save a ton of extra money.

Buying in bulk is also a really good idea assuming that you’re saving money. Bulk shopping is great but you need to do a little frugal math to confirm that buying in bulk is actually saving you money.

95. Always Have Snacks

With a hungry toddler in tow I cannot tell you how many times my homemade snacks have come in handy while we’re out. My kid is constantly eating so having snacks in my purse is a must to avoid buying convenience foods when we’re out.

We basically never leave the house without food and water which has come in super handy at preventing us from spending money on store bought snacks and expensive beverages.

96. Go to A Clothing Swap

Ever been to a clothing swap?

If not, they are absolutely amazing and you need to start tracking an upcoming one down right now. The idea is that you bring clothing that you no longer need and you swap with other individuals who’ve brought their stuff too. Not only is this super sustainable but you can get gorgeous new pieces of clothing for free!

97. Use Your Local Library

When it comes to books, it might be worth investing in a Kindle and a Kindle Unlimited subscription if you’re an avid reader. If you prefer to read a physical copy, the library is a wonderful way to save money on books!

98. Accept That You’ll Hit Bumps In The Road

Making a transition to a more frugal lifestyle isn’t all or nothing! Remember that okay? There are plenty of times that we spend a little more than we should or splurge on little things that we want.

Unexpected expenses come up all the time. Sometimes you’re prepared for them and other times you’re not. So, anticipate hitting bumps in the road because they happen and they’re normal.

99. Don’t Let Small Splurges Defeat Your Goal to Live Frugally

If you do hit a bump in the road don’t let it derail your plan and commitment to living frugally. Remind yourself of why you’re opting to live a more frugal lifestyle and learn from your mistake.

What motivated it?

Why did it happen and how can you prevent it in the future.

Frugal living doesn’t need to be a rigid lifestyle choice. Instead you can adapt, learn and use its basic tenants to build a lifestyle and quality of life that you love!