Simple Budget Hacks for Frugal Living (household budgeting to start saving money fast)

Did you know it is recommended to shop for new car insurance once a year? That’s because it is very possible to lower your car insurance payment.

The only problem is that shopping around for new insurance is time consuming and tedious.

Good news. Insurify is a free service that compares insurance rates across the top home and auto insurance providers.

Simply input your policy information, and Insurify will scan for similar policies at better rates than you’re getting.

3. Spend Less on Clothes

Try following the one-in one-out rule. When you buy a new shirt, sell an old shirt.

The one-in one-out strategy not only cuts down on the overall price of clothes–you get money back when you’re done wearing it!– but it is also multi-layered in its supportive benefits.

One-in one-out can help you keep an organized and decluttered home. Consider your closet. How many clothes have you accumulated that you do not wear? Sell those clothes, create some space, and save money!

The one-in one-out strategy also helps to check impulsive spending habits. Before you buy, ask yourself, “Do I like this enough to replace something I already own?” If the answer is yes, you know you actually want it. (Btw, checking an impulsive spending habit  is one of the best ways to save money.)

Pro tip: When you buy a new shirt, you may not sell the old shirt right away. Regardless, make it a point to remove the old shirt from your closet. We like to add old clothes to a reusable donation bag. When it is full, we take it to the consignment store. We make money on the clothes that sell. We donate what does not sell.

4. Use Reusable Products

If you are buying products that you throw away after a single use, then you are missing out on the intriguing sustainability products that are being created by small business owners.

Have you been on Etsy lately? There are so many sustainability options now. It is a joy to shop for products that save you money, help the environment, and support a small-business owner.

Browse their sustainability products, every purchase is like money in the bank. Here are a few sustainability items we love:

• K-Cup coffee filters
• Sandwich bags
• Grocery bags
• Produce bags
• Swedish Sponge Cloth

5. Spend Less on Food

The best way to spend less on food is to get back in the kitchen. When you know how to make cooking at home simple, you can easily save thousands every year on food.

Use Google to find a recipe. Whatever is ranking at the top of Google is likely a great meal (the recipe needed a lot of good reviews to get to the top of Google).

Try cooking at home. Not only will you be amazed by the money you save, but you’ll also be surprised by how easy is is to cook healthy, flavorful meals. Check out our favorite food blog to help inspire your next meal, neutraleating.com.

6. Use Apps

There are a few apps and services that offer free money. Here are some of our favorite cash back apps and services (they are all free to use):

• Capital One Shopping: Even when you’re living on next to nothing, you still got to buy stuff online. The free Capital One Shopping browser extension is a great way to save money. Capital One Shopping finds valid coupon codes at check out, and it price-checks other online retailers to help you find a lower price. You can also earn free gift cards with loyalty credits. Get the Capital One Shopping browser today.
• Insurify: Insurify is a free service that compares insurance rates across the top home and auto insurance providers. Input your policy information, and Insurify will scan for similar policies at better rates than you’re getting.

• Scott’s Cheap Flights: Find the best deals on flights coming out of your airpot. Just tell Scott where you want to go. When a deal pops up, an email will be sent to your inbox (deals range from 40%-90% on average). Sign up for Scott’s Cheap Flights to grab your free 14 day trial (and save 20% on a one-year membership with promo code BUDGET20.)

• Dosh: If you want to put cash-back rewards on autopilot, then Dosh is the app you want. Link your credit and debit cards, and you automatically earn cash-back rewards at participating retailers. It truly is that easy.

• Upside: Use the Upside app is earn free cash back at the gas station. You can redeem your money via PayPal, direct deposit, or gift card. Use the promo code AFF20 to grab a 20 cents-per-gallon sign-up bonus.
• Rakuten: When you shop online, the free Rakuten browser extension automatically alerts you to cash-back and coupon-saving opportunities.

7. Drink More Water

The cost of a flavored drink becomes unreasonably expensive when it is your go-to beverage. Not to mention, they tend to be loaded with sugar.

Water is great for both your health and your wallet.

Buy yourself a quality thermos, a water filter, and start drinking your tap water. Switching to water can easily save you over a thousand dollars every year.

Check out these water filter products:

• Brita On Tap Faucet Water Filter System
• Brita Water Pitcher
• Culligan Water Filtration System

8. Spend Less on Entertainment 

There’s no denying that spending money (eating out, online shopping, etc) is an entertaining way to pass time. But since we want to save money, it’s helpful to have top-of-mind activities that interrupt our reflex to spend (or to zone out on social media).

• Visit your local library (endless free entertainment)
• Google a new card game
• Learn to draw
• Try yoga

9. Downsize

Can you trade in your car for a less expensive car? Can you move into a more affordable home? Can you move to a more affordable city?

If you feel you have cut spending in every way possible and money still feels tight, consider downsizing. It is a huge relief to comfortably keep income over expenses.

Run some numbers on downsizing. If the money makes sense, don’t be afraid to make a big move.