Join the Fun!

Helena R 2 years ago

I guess I will be downvoted, but I don't think this belongs on the list. Whilst you shouldn't plan to have kids/pets you can't afford. Once you have them they are your family and part of your life. Yes they can be expensive but they aren't like a loaf of bread or a gym subscription -they are children/pets. You can't just pick them up or drop them when it suits you or you decide it too much

17points

Cara G 2 years ago

I agree with you but I also think it does belong on the list because of the "shouldn't plan to have kids/pets you can't afford" part. I think that's the point being made here, that in terms of financial stability and long term economic consequences, there's more solvency in choosing not to have children. Assuming that you live in a location where you can make reproductive choices.

6points

Ragnarsson Vbba 2 years ago

This makes me sad and angry. :-(

9points

Monday 2 years ago

It is true though, you save a lot of money by not having kids

17points

RMA 2 years ago

But a relevant answer to the question. Additionally, if someone is having a hard time financially and will not be able to get out of that problem for a while, it’s not a good time to decide to start having kids or to add more.

6points

Martin Řezáč 2 years ago

Having kids always cost you, its nothing new. But what you get in return is definitely worth the money. No need to be sad & angry

0points

Phil. 2 years ago

The lessons they teach you and the joy they bring make up for every penny.

8points

J Bo 2 years ago

Plenty of parents I know regret having kids and wish they never had them. Not all are worth the hassle

2points

RL R 2 years ago

Oh sure, that cheapass "philosophy" is shitecrap and you know it. Just looking for reasons how to justify it, lol

1point

Ursula Johnson 2 years ago

Some people don't want kids! For a variety of reasons.

0points

madamjoiedumort 2 years ago

Yeah you already know that's not true

0points

Fluffy mommy panda 2 years ago

Yes it dose.

0points

Thetruthhurts 2 years ago

Don't have pets

4points

Kald 2 years ago

This. I live in a impoverished community with a lot of parents who cannot afford their kids. Don't have kids if you have to depend on the kindness of others to support them. It's unfair to the kids.

4points

CHRIS DOMRES 2 years ago

My friends without kids retired young, travel all over the world on the money they saved.

4points

Z Man 2 years ago

No Kids, Retired at age 52. Just got back from 10 weeks traveling in South Africa and island hopping in the Indian Ocean. No one should feel like they should have kids. Children should be 100% wanted. Life can just as rewarding without them.

3points

idrow1 2 years ago

This. If I had had kids, I wouldn't have my paid off house or paid off car or my career that allowed me to buy those things. I'd be broke and wondering how to pay the rent that the landlord just hiked up 50% because I couldn't afford a house from having kids.

2points

Aisling Raye 2 years ago

Amen to that.

1point

VodkaInMySweetTea 2 years ago

With each child we had, we were happily accepting of the fact that we need to lower our 'standard of living' to accommodate that new family member. As long as you are aware that this is the reality, it is very doable. My husband and I both work in service-oriented industries, we are technically below the poverty line, but we have not lacked for anything. We have always paid our bills on time, chip away at college and car loans, and take very modest vacations only to visit family. Yes, it's stressful sometimes, but life without kids is stressful sometimes, too! It's just a different type of stress. But our kids are loved, well-cared for, and I can't imagine life without them.

1point

OffKeySinger 2 years ago

1000% this!

1point

Anouk T 2 years ago

Here they come again - not having kids as a solution to everything 🤦🏼‍♀️

1point

DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago

It amazes me that my friends can afford to have kids. Maybe I'm just poor and single but gosh that seems like such a financial burden (sorry).

1point

Jef Bateman 2 years ago

My spending slowed down when I had kids. I now had somebody at home who brought joy and entertainment every day, and I didn't have to spend money to enjoy life!

1point

Scott Crowe 2 years ago

Daycare costs are more than my mortgage payment FFS !

1point

RL R 2 years ago

The best truth which always throws salt into the idiot's wounds who did not followed this one, lol

0points

Martin Řezáč 2 years ago

too late for me on this one

0points

Graham Berry 2 years ago

This makes me mad. You should not have to choose between having a family and having enough to live on.

0points

Talysen 2 years ago

The globalists love this. Population reduction.

0points

Erik Rydbom 2 years ago

Yep. Don't have pets. Don't treat yourself. Stop eating so well. Then you'll start bringing in the Jacksons

0points

Erin Eubanks 2 years ago

S**t, 20 years too late for this advice.

0points

Rostit . 2 years ago

Ding ding. No kids here. But not because of money. Because of how awful the world is.

0points

Iriané Marie Laurentwolff 2 years ago

Here's other "stop saying to the people what they have to choose about having children" 😂

0points

An Unpopular Opinion. 2 years ago

True, but I think kids will be worth the expenses

0points

Dr Meatbeefs 2 years ago

My son put a single. Blue. Crayon. In his jeans pocket and it somehow slipped through to the dryer Entire load of brand new school clothes ruined

0points

JE Cummings 2 years ago

When my son left home and joined the Army, we saved over $5000 on food costs the next year.

0points

L hill 2 years ago

Borrow the nephew for a day or two and give him back.

0points

Bobby 2 years ago

Dis agreed. The biggest life happiness belong to them. Can't explain that to you.

0points

Well-Dressed Wolf 2 years ago

They may make you happy, but this is an article about saving money. Having kids empirically costs more than not having kids. It has nothing to do with happiness or being “worth” the cost; this article only addresses frugality and saving money.

16points

2 years ago

Nah dude having money is way better

4points

Cara G 2 years ago

While this may be your own experience and that of most people who have children, it is completely beside the point of the discussion. This is about saving money and happiness is not a form of currency. The average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 in the United States is over $300k. If you don't have over a quarter of a million dollars across that 18 year period, you can't just shrug it off by saying "but my child makes me happy". Financial instability has a staggering impact on childhood development. Happiness does not buy groceries, clothes, diapers, school supplies, health insurance, rent/mortgage payments, utilities, etc. It's also a bit smug to proclaim that "the biggest life happiness" resides in parenthood. It may be true for you but it is not a universal truth. "My biggest life happiness..." might have been a kinder way of phrasing this sentiment.

1point

madamjoiedumort 2 years ago

Kids are absolutely awful wastes of time and money.

-1point

Walter Brameld 2 years ago

This is also an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint. You know how much carbon a single person causes to be released into the atmosphere over their lifetime? Multiply that by how many kids you have; that's on *you*. You did that to the planet. Great job.

-1point

VodkaInMySweetTea 2 years ago

Tell corporations to reduce the 90% of the carbon emissions they produce worldwide, then you can tell me whether or not I'm allowed to reproduce. Large families are not the problem. Your anger is sorely misplaced.

1point

Bryn 2 years ago

Let others have kids. Charge them to have you watch them. profit.

-1point

Dirk Daring 2 years ago

VHEMT

-1point

To find out more about how to make ends meet in times of cost of living crisis, as well as practical tips to save money from a finance expert, Bored Panda reached out to James Andrews, personal finance and savings expert at Money.co.uk who happily shared some insights.

“You can see the signs of a cost of living crisis through rising bills - the latest inflation figures show households are paying 88.9% more for their electricity, gas, and other fuels than they were a year ago. Meanwhile, food prices have risen for 15 months in a row, and are now 16.4% higher than last year,” he said.

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Always eat before going food shopping

Trackull , Jack Sparrow Report

Final score:

221points

POST

Mohsie Supposie 2 years ago

True that! Being hungry makes you want to buy all sorts that will most likely end up in the bin or permanently on your waistline!

32points

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By When at the grocery, look at the price/oz or whatever unit it is instead of the total price. It's usually posted in one corner. It's not going to save you tons of money, but it does add up. Plus it takes out the guess work when comparing similar items.

Richards_Brother , Nothing Ahead Report

Final score:

221points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

This is really valuable advice and should be higher - especially for products like meat and cheese. You can often buy a greater portion for the same ticket price when you compare per 100g price rather than than the packet price.

56points

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By I don't smoke but live my financial life as a smoker. Meaning every Monday I transfer the sum of one weeks worth of cigarettes to my savings account. If people that earn less than me can afford smoking, so can I.

kebabhue , lil artsy Report

Final score:

216points

POST

Mushypea 2 years ago

Back when I was a student, after I quit smoking, I kept putting cigarette money aside. Very soon I had enough to take my boyfriend on a romantic trip to another city. Seeing the money accumulate definitely helped me quit!

87points

On top of that, “rate rises by the Bank of England mean the UK base rate is an astonishing 30 times higher than it was a year ago, adding thousands of pounds to the repayment costs of anyone on a variable rate mortgage or exiting a fixed rate mortgage,” Andrews added.

Andrews argues that while some of these price rises will take a while to filter through to everyone, many households are already struggling. “Figures from the Money and Pensions Service last week show more than 11 million people sought out money help in the past three months alone - with Brits asking energy providers and banks for extra support as well as hunting for free debt advice.”

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Don’t buy something that you normally wouldn’t buy just because you have a coupon.

Rwill113 , Carol Pyles Report

Final score:

198points

POST

karl briggs 2 years ago

Your not saving x amount, your spending x amount on something don't need.

39points

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Get yourself a library card. It's not just books, but also movies, workshops, education, software, computer time, music. I've probably saved thousands on all sorts of c**p.

If it weren't for the library, I probably wouldn't have been introduced to awesome books like American Gods, The Way of Kings, All Systems Down, or The Road.

anon , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

171points

POST

Rumina Io 2 years ago

Thanks to government cuts, 900 libraries in Britain have closed in the past 10 years, and many more have strongly reduced hours to the point where they are inaccessible to anyone who works during the day. It's a tragedy. Cherish your library. Use it if you can. We need to show there is demand for them. I love to take out graphic novels from my local one, as they're so expensive to buy and I read them way too quickly.

55points

Gigglefruit358 , Karolina Grabowska Report

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By I have a friend who, at the end of each pay period, moves whatever she has in checking into savings. It doesn't matter if she's got $5 or $50 in the account, it goes into savings the night before payday.

Final score:

164points

POST

Mohsie Supposie 2 years ago

Force yourself to live within your means.

49points

joo_ish , Juan Pablo Serrano Arenas Report

Although saving money when prices are soaring can feel daunting, Andrews says that the best way to address this is to try and save a little each month.

“This small saving will then build up and really help in times of need. If you have money leftover at the end of the month, move the money into a savings account the day before payday,” the finance expert suggested. Andrews added that setting a reminder in your calendar to check this will help you to remember to act.

“The top-paying instant access accounts are currently offering more than 2% interest, so any money you have that’s earning less than that should be moved,” Andrews explained.

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By learn to cook! 4 or 5 reliably delicious recipes will go a loooooong way.

Final score:

159points

POST

karl briggs 2 years ago

And it's fun.

27points

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By If you can avoid it, never take out a payday loan.

Creative_Uzername , Tony Webster Report

Final score:

153points

POST

karl briggs 2 years ago

I've seen the adverts on TV , and often the interest is something crazy like 1000% . They should be banned.

70points

#10

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Buy secondhand!

Today I have secured myself a solid pine desk for my daughters room, no marks or damage, for £10, and a worn-once, three piece navy suit for my son to wear at our wedding next year, also for £10.

I buy maybe 80% of my stuff secondhand. I bide my time, wait for a bargain, and I have saved sooooo much money over the years.

BeccaaCat , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

146points

POST

Alexia 2 years ago (edited)

Uh. This one is not for me. It's related to my teenage period when my family struggled with poverty. All clothes I had were second-hand, and they all had a persistent, unpleasant smell of disinfectant that wouldn't come off no matter how much I'd wash them. And this was a constant reason for bullying at school.

36points

Many people find it daunting to drastically change their spending habits, and they may feel at a loss of where to start. Andrews argues that a great start is to take a look at your current position and find out how much you’re spending every month.

“The first thing to do is to lower your bills. If you have any debts, you could also pay less interest by moving to a cheaper loan or even a 0% credit card, as it makes no sense to pay banks more than you need to,” he said.

#11

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Making one extra payment on your mortgage per year will reduce a 30 year mortgage to roughly 17 years.

-thersites- , Ketut Subiyanto Report

Final score:

139points

POST

citcat 2 years ago

The math ain't mathing

63points

#12

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Only drinking water is a solid one. Soda at restaurants or other drinks add up a lot.

Kings-x-Dynasty , behrouz sasani Report

Final score:

129points

POST

Mohsie Supposie 2 years ago

In some places, bottled water is just as expensive, if not more expensive than a soda!

51points

#13

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By If you can buy a tool to complete a repair for the same price as the repair itself, buy the tool and repair it for free next time.

-thersites- , Bidvine Report

Final score:

123points

POST

kitten levels tokyo 2 years ago

Tools = good.

45points

Another tip from Andrews is to look to see if you could switch to a cheaper mobile, broadband and TV package too. “If you’re out of contract, that should be a cinch, but even people within a deal can sometimes save if they ring up and ask.”

You may also want to take a look at your subscriptions - “are you still getting full value from them or are there any you could cut, pause or reduce if you’re feeling the pinch?”

Never underestimate the power of simply taking a good look at your bank statement, as it will clearly show where else you’re spending money, like takeaway coffees and taxi journeys, Andrews said. “Once you have this information, you can start to change your spending habits and reduce costs wherever possible,” he concluded.

#14

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By When buying online, leave items in the shopping cart for awhile. There is a good chance that the website is tracking this, and will lower the price overtime to entice you into buying.

I've saved a lot by being patient. Like when I got a surround sound amp for $350 that was listed everywhere for $450 to $500, just by leaving it in the online shopping cart for a week.

Whatmeworry4 , cottonbro studio Report

Final score:

117points

POST

Monday 2 years ago

That doesn't work here in South Africa. Prices are fixed and unless there's some big seasonal discount that amp is staying at $450 if even if you leave it in your cart for months.

30points

#15

Make your own lunches for work. The cost of making/preparing your lunch for the week can be less than what you pay buying one days lunch.

Also, can provide health benefits.

imissmydogloads Report

Final score:

102points

POST

Russell Tilling 2 years ago

Packet of noodles with flavouring:- 55p Portion of frozen mixed veg:- 20p Hot water from a kettle plus 3 minutes in the microwave:- 10p Tasty, healthy lunch for 85p!

8points

#16

If you're low income, **apply for foodstamps** (or whatever your city/state calls the equivalent).

Seriously, there's no shame in it. I neglected to apply for several years when I was really struggling because I had to unlearn the stigma that they had when I was growing up. Times have changed. ***If you need help, don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask for it.*** I qualify for the maximum amount where I live. It doesn't cover my monthly food expenses but it gets me through a few weeks and I could make it stretch if I really needed to. It never hurts to apply.

BabaYagatron Report

Final score:

96points

POST

Lynne Hammar 2 years ago

Very smart. Most states now use a debit-style card, which limits shame at the register.

39points

#17

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Don't buy the cheapest option. Often the middle priced option will be the best value. Things that are too cheap are worth what you paid for them.

-thersites- , Sue Thompson Report

Final score:

95points

POST

Ace 2 years ago

Gross over-generalisation, may have a grain of truth for some specific types of products, but should not be taken as a general rule.

40points

#18

Don't drink. Alcohol is a money drain.

kryptonianjackie Report

Final score:

93points

POST

ADJ 2 years ago

And it is bad for your health... so you save even more costs and troubles in the future.

26points

#19

This is not mine, but 'The 72 hour rule" is pretty damn helpful.

Basically, the gist of it is, if you want something that is not a necessity, instead of buying it immediately, add it to a list (in my case I use a spreadsheet, but whatever works), then wait 72 hours.

If after 72 hours, you still want it, then you can buy it. It seems that 80-90% of the time, after the 72 hours is up, I don't end up buying the item I thought i wanted.

The reason I like doing it with a spreadsheet is, I can then at the end of the year, easily add it up, and see how much money I DIDN'T impulsively spend.

EDIT: It took me a while, but I remembered where I picked this idea up from. It initially came into my world from listening to the ChooseFi podcast interview with the Frugalwoods.
Here's the podcast: https://www.choosefi.com/012-living-frugal/
and here is her original article on it:https://www.frugalwoods.com/2017/01/09/my-foolproof-method-to-stop-impulse-spending/

Icarus_Jones Report

Final score:

89points

POST

Rumina Io 2 years ago

Adding to basket gives you an endorphin hit. So add to basket and then close the site, and check back in 3 days.

50points

#20

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By I try to cost things as portions of better, or more fulfilling things i.e.

A coffee is 1/10 of a new game. Ten meals out is a weekend away etc.

_mexicola , Karolina Grabowska Report

Final score:

88points

POST

indiecognition 2 years ago

And 200 bananas is a whole bunch

93points

#21

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By I don't spend $1 bills. I collect them in a box and at the end of the year I usually have a few hundred dollars

RusoArmo , Pixabay Report

Final score:

86points

POST

Aileen Grist 2 years ago

I collect £2 coins. Then the grandkids get them

28points

#22

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Acting broke. Trust me. Nothing helps you save more than acting broke. And there is a way to do that without becoming a mooch. Eat at home if your friends have a dinner plan at an expensive place. Pregame if you're going clubbing. And if anyone asks you why aren't you eating/drinking/coming for that vacation just say you're broke. I learnt this the hard way. Because I remember becoming a recluse and slowly stopped socializing just because my friends always had these extravagant and expensive plans and I realized it really started weighing down on me. But eventually I learnt that there was no shame in wanting to save money/being broke and definitely none in saying so.

TheQr8r , Nicola Barts Report

Final score:

85points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

And if you tell your friends you are broke (and they are true friends) they will adjust their plans accordingly to something more affordable so that you can spend time together without spending huge amounts of money. i.e. pizza night at home instead of expensive restaurant.

64points

moongardenne , Polina TankilevitchPolina TankilevitchPolina TankilevitchPolina TankilevitchPolina TankilevitchPolina TankilevitchPolina TankilevitchPolina Tankilevitch Report

#23

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Try buying reusable objects in place of single use ones. It's better for your wallet and environment. Steel water bottles, reusable K cups, dish towels instead of paper towels, etc. Over time the costs of little things really add up.

Final score:

82points

POST

Sonja 2 years ago

Found that out when I bought a diva-cup. Hell those monthly products are expensive! You're not aware until you stop buying them.

41points

#24

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Learn how to login to your online banking system and review your statement regularly. You'll see how quickly money flows out for coffee...snacks.... and unnecessary purchase. Also set a budget and STICK TO IT.

AwkwardTraveler , Antoni Shkraba Report

Final score:

81points

POST

El Dee 2 years ago

This is the advice that you shouldn't buy Starbucks etc and maybe you'll be able to afford a mortgage..

18points

danmartinofanaheim Report

#25

Dollar store bleach. Dollar store vinegar. Dollar store cleaning products. Dollar store air freshener.

Final score:

79points

POST

Daria 2 years ago

Yes to all. Also hand soap, bin liners, dish sponges, toothpicks, and many more.

28points

danmartinofanaheim , Sharon Mollerus Report

#26

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Look at store branded food items. Do you really think Safeway, Kroger, Dollar General, Costco, and Walmart all have independent tuna canning facilities? NO! They're sourcing the product from of of the big 3 (or however many) facilities that supply the name brand. This goes for the majority of store branded items. Make it a game to find out who has what national name product as their store brand product.

Final score:

73points

POST

Russell Rieckenberg 2 years ago

Having worked in several food factories I know that just because a name brand manufacturer makes store branded items does not necessarily mean it is the same quality. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

55points

#27

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Drive slower. You will see an immediate increase in mpg. Your brakes will last longer. Your tires will last longer. You will immediately be at a reduced risk for an expensive accident. Your engine will be able to go further before needing expensive repairs.

DentedAnvil , Dids Report

Final score:

73points

POST

Jan Rosier 2 years ago

Highway speed limit in Belgium is 120 kmph. Driving slower than 70 kmph is illegal. I seldomly go over 110, keep to 100 most of the time and keep to the right lane. More relaxed drive, bank account more relaxed as well.

17points

#28

If you have any land whatsoever and you aren't growing at least some your own food, plant a fruit tree, etc, you are really missing out.

We got 20ish raspberry canes at an end of season auction last year for $1 each. They saved me at least $200 in the first year alone, and they are spreading nicely, filling out the space I planted them in.

I was pulling in 100 tomatoes every day at one point this summer. My freezer is full of free soups, and bags and bags of frozen tomatoes. I saved seed (heirlooms) and from here on out, I get free tomato plants forever.

If you mulch them heavy with woodchips, they are almost no work. You can make your own compost really easy. It's all a lot less work than you think, and totally free money.

Plus, FRESH raspberries, tomatoes, peaches, strawberries, they are LIFECHANGING. The s**t in the store is hollow tasteless garbage.

This year alone, I bet I saved at least $2k from food I grew, with zero inputs other than a few hours to drop some compost down, plant, mulch, then pick now and then.

Suuperdad Report

Final score:

62points

POST

MarcyParlomerNerdGirlsRock 2 years ago

Strawberry seeds are life changing… and the avocado tree my mum planted with an avocado core herself when she was a kid

23points

#29

Stop buying snacks. Quit soda and the like.

cgriboe Report

Final score:

60points

POST

Bob La Capra 2 years ago

I stop buying snacks and soda 2-3 times a week.

13points

#30

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Learning how to cook pasta, rice and beans, soups, stews, polenta, grits, etc, really anything that costs very little and can feed a huge family. You save insane amounts of money, even if you are frugal in terms of buying cheaper things from stores (e.g. $5 sandwhich). For that same $5 you can make pasta with butter, cheese, and peas for the whole family. Or make beef stew with barley (chuck roast is really cheap and delicious in a stew).

Bince82 , Jess Ho Report

Final score:

59points

POST

MarcyParlomerNerdGirlsRock 2 years ago (edited)

Yup… I love potato mash with vegetables. It’s cheap and easy to make and it’s so filling it gets you through the day

16points

#31

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Live below your means

turtle101z , Ron Lach Report

Final score:

54points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

real helpful....

42points

#32

Separate s**t out. Use multiple bank accounts.

Use one for "b******t money", Use one for rent/mortgage/wtfever, Use one for recurring bills (gas, car payment, insurance, bills, etc).

You know one easy way to not accidentally blow your rent money on dumb s**t? Keep it separate from your "go party with jeff on a friday night" money.

Final score:

54points

POST

Monday 2 years ago

You do have to weigh this with bank fees and reduced interest though.

37points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#33

Rice is really cheap and can be really tasty. Have a side of rice with a lot of homemade meals to really round it out with basically no cost, same with some simple sauteed veggies. Very low cost, quite healthy and tasty.

cryptoz Report

Final score:

54points

POST

Vinita Talaulikar 2 years ago

Indians staple diet is rice, widely consumed by many. We have it with Dals or Curries, ground and fermented into Idlis or Dosas. Rice is cooked into Khichdi, Pulavs and Biryanis adding Veggies or Chicken, fish or Mutton to it. Some have it daily twice or thrice in their meals. Rice can be used to prepare numerous dishes, sweet or savoury, spicy or bland.

25points

#34

-Most people wash their hair way too often, and the scalp responds by increasing sebum production, leading to a cycle of "I have to wash my hair every day or it'll be greasy". Slowly cut back and/or investigate alternative haircare methods - conditioner-only washing, no-pooing, etc. Shampoo and conditioner are expensive.

-If you garden, find other friends who garden and swap seeds, seedlings, rarely-used tools (postholers, mulchers etc), cuttings and expertise. Same goes for any other hobby really. A weird size of knitting needle for a one-off project? A cement trowel? A novelty baking pan? Someone you know probably has it. I'm not saying be a niche - definitely reciprocate - but it's ridiculous for ten friends to own ten sets of stuff they rarely use.

-I get basically all my books from two annual book fairs run by charities. A dollar or two apiece. Libraries are obviously even more frugal, but if you want to keep books, this is the way to go. If you want a new book and can't borrow it, Kindle is generally cheaper than a physical copy.

-In the winter, never throw out a roast chicken carcass. Chuck it in the slow cooker with water, a bit of salt, and if you're really onto it, onion and carrot ends you've saved in a Ziploc bag in the freezer from chopping veggies. Leave it overnight for stock, which is not only great as a soup base, but makes rice taste amazing. Liquid gold.

-Op shops in rich neighborhoods have fancy clothes.

-Coconut oil is a good cheap moisturiser, hair oil, deodorant when mixed with baking soda, shaving lotion, oil cleanser...

-Buy or make small Christmas stockings, not those huge Santa sack monstrosities. Train your kids that stockings are for edible treats, not gifts. Fill them with yummy things -pretzels, mini-packs of snacks and chips, candy, whatever. If your kids are smallish and don't eat a ton of treats they'll still be super excited, and now you don't have a trillion plastic junky toys cluttering up your house.

-Buy one Christmas present a month (ideally something on sale) and store then up.

-Mystery shopping is a good way to get a bit of cash and luxuries you wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.

-Buy good shoes and get them resoled when they wear out. I've worn the same pair of fancy Italian boots for what, ten years? Had the zippers fixed twice and the soles redone twice. Even if it didn't save money it'd be worth avoiding the hell of shoe shopping. And my boots get compliments, so yay. :p

PuddleOfHamster Report

Final score:

52points

POST

Slim Bluesbender 2 years ago

Repairing quality shoes also keeps plastics out of landfills.

38points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

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“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#35

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Easy one- Buy your own modem. You can get a good one from Amazon for $100. Internet companies charge you $10-$12 a month to rent yours. Buy your own, return the rented one to internet company, and get that charge removed from your bill. Pays for itself in under a year.

Trenuk13 , Stephen Phillips - Hostreviews.co.uk Report

Final score:

43points

POST

Jihana 2 years ago

TIL that in the US the ISP charges money for the modem. In my country you get one when you sign the contract. It's not yours per se, you have to return it when you cancel, but you are definitely not charged for it.

35points

#36

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By If you are getting married, send out wedding invitations to every billionaires address you can find. You have a 50/50 chance that their assistants will just send you a perfunctory gift without ever wondering who the hell you are. Free gifts!

meafloaf , micheile dot com Report

Final score:

42points

POST

Rachel Grig 2 years ago

This is a no for me. It's not a "save money" hack, but a dishonest move.

82points

#37

Don’t use your main checking account for non-essentials. Give yourself a cash allowance each week, set it to whatever you find comfortable, and only spend that. Once it’s gone, it’s gone, and you have to wait until next week. It really helps with budgeting - you know exactly how much you’re spending on nonessentials, and you don’t need to track every penny.

Final score:

42points

POST

Hey! 2 years ago

We do that too and it's easier when we get cash instead of using our cards. Once it's gone, it's gone, but sometimes we switch (he gives me some I give him some) depending on the month. We budget by month though, not by week.

8points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

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#38

Just don't spend on items you don't NEED...

Little items for 10 bucks here and there add up.

Even as less as a dollar adds up in the end.

TheBigDawgRoman Report

Final score:

37points

POST

Rammel Nicks 2 years ago

Once walked by a couple in a Target store arguing about the woman wanting a cute mug because it was only $5. Man said "They're all $5. Next thing you know, we have 50 things because they were all $5!" As I passed them, I yelled "He's right!" And that seemed to break the tension. They just laughed probably realizing that someone was listening in on their dumb argument.

7points

#39

Get a hobby that doesn't take a lot of money, like volunteering, or doing knitting.

Final7C Report

Final score:

31points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

Knitting is not a cheap hobby. Wool is very expensive.

117points

#40

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By 10% of your paycheck goes into a savings account and 20% to debts. The remainder stays in your checking account to pay bills and feed/entertain yourself. Be disciplined and stick to the plan. If you can, increase the savings percent. When you have enough savings to fulfill an emergency fund, start investing. Calculate if you can afford things using these constraints, and if you can’t then don’t purchase them. Not exactly a life hack, but this plan will make you wealthy.

Final score:

29points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

This is good advice for those with the disposable income to do it. For many, that 10% is necessary to live.

67points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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#41

Stop buying Starbucks.. you can buy the syrup they use at target for $5 and coffee for another $10 that will last a whole month... that would be 3 trips to Starbucks for that price.

Final score:

18points

POST

Ace 2 years ago

Or just buy some decent coffee instead. And syrup? Has no place in coffee.

17points

#42

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Store brand over-the-counter medications. Allergy meds, pepto bismol, tums, motrin, aleve, tylenol, you name it, there is a store brand equivalent that is guaranteed to be at LEAST 75% cheaper than the name brand. Just look at the ingredients, they are all the same.

Most of them are just Target/CVS/Rite Aid etc. buying time on a name-brand companies manufacturing process to make their own version of the same drug for less.

ArtistSchmartist , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:

17points

POST

ShellsBells 2 years ago

In the US, all generic/store brand OTC medicine is highly regulated through the FDA. It MUST have the same active ingredient(s) at the same dosage. Idk how many times I've explained this to people at the pharmacy.

1point

#43

I'm 26 and I've been living w/ my folks again to get back on my feet.

I've been paying what amounts to rent and utilities into a savings account to see if I can handle the reduction in cash flow. Should have about 10k by Jan, and moving back out.

Inb4 mooching, I pay them monthly as well.

Tobaggo Report

Final score:

16points

POST

harpling 2 years ago

Living with my parents again gave me to motivation to do absolutely anything necessary to move out again.

9points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

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#44

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By If you're in the US and have children in daycare, you can deduct up to $5000 per year tax free. My wife's company offers a Flexible Spending Account for this, and they don't reimburse until she turns in receipts. She doesn't ever turn in receipts until late November/early December, so every year around Christmas, we get an extra $5k check.

2PhatCC , Ksenia Chernaya Report

Final score:

15points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

I dont think this is really sound advice. You are better off cashing the cheques on time every month and putting the money into a savings account. Why should your employer have the benefit of interest on your savings?

13points

danmartinofanaheim Report

#45

Call around for car insurance. Do it right now. I was with Safeco the last 8 years, and happy I was paying less than in previous years. Just called around again after moving and found out I was paying roughly 2.5x what I should have been. It was like over $1500 more a year. I feel like I've been had.

Final score:

15points

POST

El Dee 2 years ago

'Call'? Everything is online now and there are comparison sites. But PLEASE don't take the cheapest option, they will try and stiff you if you have to claim. Use a company that uses BISL..

6points

#46

Did you just get a raise? Put that amount into savings if you already have it. A couple hundred bucks a month is nice, but you'll probably not notice is week to week.

smokintommybbq Report

Final score:

15points

POST

El Dee 2 years ago

Another good idea. Use it for savings before your lifestyle swallows it. If you're right on the edge it's still a good idea - it will help cover unexpected repairs..

5points

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#47

“The 72-Hour Rule”: 40 Surprising Life Hacks To Save Money That People Swear By Live as a minimalist-“getting exactly what you need is not suffering”-The Minimalist Budget

Edit* The Minimalist Budget takes a more expanded view of how to be a minimalist. An example from the book: If collecting action figures makes you happy-then why not allocate 5% of your income to it? Why not 10%? Life is short and finding true happiness can be difficult. Sure you don’t NEED action figures to survive but if they truly bring you joy then by all means allocate resources to fulfill your hobby.

The book takes notice of not only how to be frugal and save money but also how to manage other resources in your life. Some of said resources are possibly more important than just money such as:

• Time
• Spirituality
• Happiness
• Etc.

Craig-Geist , PNW Production Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Daria 2 years ago

Picture on the left is so ugly

3points

#48

Putting rubber liners around your windows and doors will cut your energy bill by a 3rd.

20 bucks at Walmart for my whole house

theCumCatcher Report

Final score:

14points

POST

lenka 2 years ago

I also saw someone putting a reflector behind their heater. Small changes can add up.

7points

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#49

If youre buying something, for example, deoderant, if there is a value pack vs a singular packaged one, look at the weights and prices of each, it shouldnt be hard to do the math, and see "oh the single one is $1/oz but the value pack is $1.20/oz" just ran in to this yesterday at the grocery store

Final score:

13points

POST

Jan Rosier 2 years ago

Yup, as I described with the ketchup bottle a bit higher up. They trick you into thinking it is 'cheaper by the dozen' but you need to check the unit-price.

4points

#50

Be so depressed you can't go outside for non-essential activities.

zangor Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Ace 2 years ago

I feel ya, bro.

8points

#51

Usually paychecks are issued every two weeks while bills are monthly. You have to pay bills twelve times a year but you get paid twenty-six times a year, so every year you get two "extra" paychecks. Don't spend that money, use it to pay off debt or put it in the bank.

marmorset Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Lynne Hammar 2 years ago

For years, I used the spring "extra" check for a vacation, and the autumn "extra" check for Christmas.

4points

#52

Pay your savings account immediately, and treat it like a bill. Each cheque $100, $400, $50 whatever you can afford gets put away no matter what.

Educate yourself on finance as well, the best way to save money is to be savvy about it in first place.

PS. The amount that "they" tell you put away (10%) is not nearly enough.

Final score:

11points

POST

The Darkest Timeline 2 years ago

I think the 10% thing is a starting point. And just sticking it in low-yield savings isn’t going to do much, even over a long period of time. But if you can get started and have some seed money, you can learn how to take some calculated risks to grow that money. But you have to start somewhere.

3points

#53

Ebay! Sell your old s**t. You'd be surprised at what others are willing to buy when you may think it's worth nothing.

chromefile1 Report

Final score:

11points

POST

indiecognition 2 years ago

This didn't work, and now my toilet is overflowing

19points

#54

If you can, buy electronics refurbished or lightly used on eBay or Amazon. They'll often be quite a bit cheaper a few months after release maybe with a minor scratch.

Certain things probably aren't worth getting used though, like hard drives and earbuds (eww).

**EDIT:** Also, don't get used graphics card. As been pointed out in the comments, they were often used for crypto mining and are pretty worn out.

kirbyfan64sos Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Hey! 2 years ago

I'm no longer buying refurbished electronics. They don't last and I got fed up.

2points

#55

I haven't seen this in this thread yet, so:

Reduce your constant, monthly expenses as much as you can. Anything that you pay for every single month, see if you can get rid of it, or get a better price on it. Over time, those savings aggregate and really add up.

For example, if you're paying for cable, get rid of it. It costs way too much for what you get and so much entertainment is now available for much cheaper. Or just torrent. This thread is for hacks afterall.

Get a cheaper Internet and cellphone plan.

Monthly subscriptions for services are all the rage now because companies figured out that people will continue paying every month even if they barely use the service. Don't fall for that - unless you use that service a lot to justify paying for it every month, it's probably better to drop it and find a per-use option.

SirChasm Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Lynne Hammar 2 years ago

This is smart. I downloaded all of my recent banking info to Excel and sorted it all out. I cabceled all but a few subscriptions, and now I rotate the rest. ALSO I called Sirius XM to cancel, and they got me from $25+ per month to less than $7.

4points

#56

A more expensive good quality product will save you money on the long run compared to shitty cheaper versions of the product which you might have to replace/fix more often. Of course, higher price does not guarantee higher quality so you have to do your research before purchasing. Sometimes the cheaper option might turn out to be the better product.

poopellar Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Yourname942 2 years ago (edited)

Especially for tools. There's nothing worse than buying a cheap tool you are constantly fighting, than buying a good quality one that lasts forever

3points

#57

Look at your bank statement at the end of the month and see what the recurring things are (monthly payments, regular food place etc...) and just look at how much you are spending on them.

I often get too the tail end of the month and wonder "Where the f**k has all my money gone?" then I look and think, Food and unnecessary payments to stuff I don't need. Makes me want to at least try and cut back.

Kietastrophe Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Monday 2 years ago

Don't people keep track of their spending? I've never needed to look back on a statement to know where the money went.

8points

#58

Me: "Oh I'm always broke! Maybe I'll find some great useful tips here!"

Also me: "Literally all you have to do us stop eating out every goddamn day and pounding beers for no goddamn reason. Literally. That's it. That's the only thing you have to do."

EmersQn Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Brendan 2 years ago

Yes, they are literally the only two unnecessary expenses in life /s

4points

#59

To really save money, you need to attack the big things. Brewing your own coffee, bringing a bag lunch, etc., are all well and good, but if you're leasing a new car instead of buying a beater, or living in an apartment that's more than you need, or sending a kid to a private school, those will wash out any other minor savings.

joesmithtron Report

Final score:

9points

POST

CHRIS DOMRES 2 years ago

Never pay for music again. Create a Spotify free account. Find albums you like. Use a freeware audio recording program on your computer to record the entire album. Then use that audio program to edit out all the commercial ads. Save each song as a separate mp3 or wav file. I then burn CDs to listen to in my car. As a teenager we all used to record music from the radio into a cassette recorder.

2points

#60

A mortgage should be your only debt......save up to pay for everything else upright (including cars, student tuition, trips, and weddings). If you don't have the money for what you want in cash, find another cheaper alternative in the meantime and keep saving.

Note: I am a Canadian and I know many people in the United States end up in debt due to surprise illness. I don't know much about this, but I recognize it is a different type of debt.

UltraGucamole Report

Final score:

8points

POST

SC R 2 years ago

I completely disagree that college should be saved for. I made minimum wage before I went to college; I have $50,000 in student loan debt and make well over $100,000 a year, student loans made this possible. I would have never been able to go to college if I didn't take on student debt, just need to make sure you study something that can make enough money to take on the debt.

8points

TunaNoodleMyFavorite Report

#61

Buy "defective" clothes. They're usually way cheaper than regular clothes and most of the time you can't even tell what's wrong with them. Usually it's just something like the arms being marginally too long or a pattern that was from last season (and even then most people can't tell what's from this and previous seasons)

Final score:

7points

POST

VonBlade 2 years ago

If I want clothes that don't fit I'll ask my relatives to knit me a jumper.

7points

#62

Download acorns, turn on round ups and forget you have it. It'll round up each purchase you make to the next dollar so you acquire a lot of change which then turns into a pretty nice savings account.

gt35r Report

Final score:

7points

POST

K- THULU 2 years ago

I don't have a clue what that even means? Just an American thing I asume?

11points

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

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I'm a visual editor here at Bored Panda and I enjoy a good laugh. My work ranges from serious topics related to toxic work environments and relationship difficulties to humorous articles about online shopping fails and introvert memes. When I'm not at my work desk, checking if every single pixel is in the right place, I usually spend my free time playing board games, taking pictures, and watching documentaries

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What do you think ?

POST

VonBlade 2 years ago (edited)

Many of these tips seem to be written by the type of people who "started out with nothing and dragged myself up by my bootstraps. I only had a £1m trust fund, my uncles summer house to live in and a seat on the board of VonBlade Snr and Sons Hedge Fund Management, why can't these poor people make an effort like I did". I dream of having a couple of quid spare at the end of the month to save up.

15points

Thetruthhurts 2 years ago

Lol

1point

Trillian 2 years ago

Eat less meat! It's healthier, more sustainable and you save quite a bit since meat is expensive.

7points

Alex Travous 2 years ago

My dad always said "if you can't afford two of the same item that you want then you can't afford it"

6points

Hey! 2 years ago

If I like something, I'll buy a few other ones in different colors. One of my brothers does the same.

5points

Adam Hildreth 2 years ago

If you are one of the millions who live paycheck to paycheck - or the sort that can't afford pricey vacations with the family a couple times a year, and you wonder how other people manage those sorts of things - If you're one of the millions for whom the idea of "investing" is a damned fantasy - You know, the market goes up and all the business people cheer and you still make the same damned wage or salary - If this is you, you need to take your money out of whatever BANK you have it in and open an account with a LCOAL CREDIT UNION. Banks make money for their investors off of the little guy like you - with fees, overdraft charges, and whatever other shady practices they can get away with. A CREDIT UNION is about doing right by their members. Who are their members? The account holders! You! They exist to help the members - not some other big-monied interests. Go to a credit union to find a loan or mortgage - one that services their own loans vs selling them to for-profit Banks

5points

MeMosabe 2 years ago

YES! Banks for for themselves and their investors, credit unions work for you. I haven't used a bank in 30 years.

0points

Zeyno 2 years ago

Don't buy the fashion clothes, have your own style because when that fashion is over, you'll feel an urge to dump your previous clothes.

5points

Bill Evs 2 years ago

I use cashback websites a lot when I'm buying stuff online. They won't make you rich but a little bit here and there soon adds up and I feel even if you only get £1 back that's still £1

4points

Magda_lena 2 years ago

A good advice right here: When you're in a shop and see something you need/want but it's expensive look it up online before buying it. I bought this coat for 120€ and two hours later I saw the exact same coat on sale on another website. It was down to 35€ so I could've bought 3 coats with that money and still get 15€ back.

3points

TheReader19 2 years ago

I know all the advice, but I can't stop spending. I think it's my depression; I try and spend my way out of it but nothing makes me happy. I'm really focusing on trying to save but I find it so hard. 😭😭

3points

Adam Zad 2 years ago

By cutting meat out of your diet, you can easily eliminate up to 97% of whatever remaining joy you have in your life.

2points

simply.Taz 2 years ago

These are very helpful to the person already living in harsh poverty. I guess we should just skip these type of articles. :(

1point

Kevin Hickey 2 years ago

#63 Eat the rich.

1point

John Dilligaf 2 years ago

didn't see t here , but WATCH THOSE AUTOMATIC SUBSCRIPTIONS. Look at your credit card statement and see what's being automatically deducted each month. Like that streaming channel you never watch anymore, or that car wash club you hardly ever use, and so on.

1point

Brenda Spagnola-Wilson 2 years ago

We only use cash between pay checks. If we run out of cash, oh well!

0points

Awsomemom52 2 years ago

When meat or fresh vegetables (other than salad) are on sale, I buy bulk, prepare meals from them, or prepare to eat/cook (wash and chop)... and freeze portions. I always have "ready-to-cook" vegetables, meat and fruit in the house. Cooking is faster and I cook healthier. It's also worth collecting deposit bottles here (Germany)... you get up to 25 cent per bottle. If possible, the deposit money goes into my piggy bank. I've saved almost 400€ in the last 6 months.

0points

eSayJay 2 years ago

When it comes to technology, buy refurbished

0points

Mister Dave 2 years ago

Try this one. Use a TracFone and limit your use off of WiFi. It's less than $200/ year. Beat that data plan!

0points

An Unpopular Opinion. 2 years ago

I think, if the economy doesn't get any worse... I'll be okay with money when I get older (I'm about to have a job actually what-) anyway, hopefully I'll be okay

0points

Piggy Tee 2 years ago

Well duh

-3points

POST

VonBlade 2 years ago (edited)

15points

Thetruthhurts 2 years ago

Lol

1point

Trillian 2 years ago

Eat less meat! It's healthier, more sustainable and you save quite a bit since meat is expensive.

7points

Alex Travous 2 years ago

My dad always said "if you can't afford two of the same item that you want then you can't afford it"

6points

Hey! 2 years ago

If I like something, I'll buy a few other ones in different colors. One of my brothers does the same.

5points

Adam Hildreth 2 years ago

5points

MeMosabe 2 years ago

YES! Banks for for themselves and their investors, credit unions work for you. I haven't used a bank in 30 years.

0points