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You don’t need us or anyone else to tell you that things are tough and that there’s a lot of financial pressure on many families' shoulders these days, Pandas. Especially with winter quickly approaching. Many of you have probably already felt your wallets and savings accounts getting thinner. And were left flabbergasted by the prices in the grocery stores and petrol stations.
Things are getting quite bad for a lot of people. So much so that they’re figuring out ways to cut back on various costs. From food and transportation to rent and entertainment. Others turn to the vast digital waters of the internet for help. For instance, the helpful folks over at r/Frugal shared their very best money-saving tips, including what products they substitute with others and what they actually make at home, themselves.
Check out their best advice below and upvote the posts that you found to be the most useful, Pandas. Oh, and we’d absolutely love for you to share your insights with us. So go on and give all the other readers some friendly cost-cutting tips and tricks in the comment section at the bottom.
Bored Panda wanted to get to grips with how we can save more money in these times, so we reached out to Sam Dogen, the author of 'Buy This, Not That: How to Spend Your Way to Wealth and Freedom' and the founder of the insightful Financial Samurai blog. The financial expert told us where we can cut back, how much we should ideally be saving, how quickly we adapt to different standards of living, and how you actually need much less money to be happy than you might think. Read on for his expert comments.
Meanwhile, for some more advice on saving money in these troubling times, take a peek at Bored Panda’s recent articles right here and over here.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I’m not sure if this counts, but learning to sew a tiny bit in order to make reusable cotton pads/makeup removers. I used an unworn pair of sweats, cut it into squares, sewed along the edges, and it’s worked great so far for skincare and makeup removal :)
Biliegh Berrie 2 years ago
Everyone should learn how to sew. You can do a lot. I can do quilts and mend. Cannot make clothes though.
Kate 2 years ago
Try a Simplicity pattern. They're really user-friendly, and great for learners.
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Irish woman abroad 2 years ago (edited)
Never throw out old t-shirts! You can cut them up and use them for cleaning glass, etc, instead of wasting tons of kitchen roll. Then when they get really yucky, use them on your car and throw them out. Or find local shops that accept clothes for recycling in exchange for a discount.
Charlotte 2 years ago
Even cheaper: use almond oil or any other oil that's soft on your skin. Take some on your hands, rub it on your face until you look like an exhausted raccoon, then rinse with your favorite facewash and apply moisturizer. I haven't used cotton pads or wipes for years. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Nitka Tsar 2 years ago
Facewash? What's that? What happened to simple water and soap?
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StrangeOne 2 years ago (edited)
I could never sew. My daughter can by hand, but she has trouble using the sewing machine. I can sort of use the sewing machine but I forget how to feed the thread and the bobbin. Last time I hand sewed, I sewn a coat pocket to the back of the coat. Don't ask me how. Thank goodness there's a ton of thrift stores in my area.
Biliegh Berrie 2 years ago
I can only hand sew. My first quilt was a queen size and took me two years to finish.
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Miah Lee 2 years ago
I took every home economics class I could, in high school. As a male, was I made fun of? Yes. Have the lessons from culinary, parenting, and everything else paid off? Also, yes. My mother and those classes mean, I never have to depend on anyone.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
I'm young enough that rather than home ec we had food tech and textiles as separate classes that were compulsory during year 7 and 8. It was unusual for the boys to do textiles after that, food tech was almost a 50-50 split.
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Shushadei 2 years ago
Sewing is a great skill! I habe a wardrobe full of self made "designer clothes", some changed up to three times during the last 20 years to stay in fashion. All because of the sewing skills my mom thaught me! Great for upcycling as well. Thrift stores clothes to fitting couture!
AK to LV 2 years ago
In the US, the required elective classes for Middle School were wood shop or home economics. In Home Ec, you would learn the basics of cooking, baking, and sewing. I'm think they stopped having Home Ec and now have health class? It's been awhile since I was in school.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
At my school year 7 & 8 students had to do metalwork, woodwork, art, textiles, and food tech at least once. Health was a separate compulsory unit every year from 7-10. I still use the hamburger recipe we learnt in food tech and textiles unit plus mum's instruction means I can use a sewing machine fairly well as well as hand stitch which is very useful.
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Wise beauty 2 years ago
ALSO A PRETTY BIG MONEY SAVER; instead of going to target to get a 12-20 dollar tote bag, make one out of a old sweatshirt or teeshirt. If you don’t want to get rid of any of your shirts you can go to goodwill or go to a garage sale or something and spend a quarter of the money on practically the same thing.
Huddo's sister 2 years ago
So true! Plus I have used collars etc from one second hand top and sewn them onto another one if I don't like the whole thing. Depending on which suburb the op shop is in I could spend $6 on two shirts which is about half the price if I bought them straight from fast fashion stores.
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Carole Reid 2 years ago
This is exactly why Home Economics should be a requirement in Middle or High school to graduate.
Deborah B 2 years ago
Just being able to mend things, and do small alterations makes a huge difference. Even being confidant of sewing on buttons is a help. The local drycleaner charges £16 to sew on a button. It takes me 5 minutes, and I have a box of spare buttons. If you don't have a matching one, a single contrasting button can be a style feature.
According to Sam, from Financial Samurai, a major way to save money is to take on a different perspective on entertaining oneself.
"Entertaining oneself for cheaper has never been cheaper today thanks to all the streaming options online. In the past, we'd have to pay $10 a ticket each to watch a movie, pay for gas, maybe parking, and some food. The total expenditure for two could easily range between $50–$100! Now, we can pay $5–$15 a month for unlimited shows from Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney, and more," the financial expert noted that entertainment now is already cheaper than the alternative.
"The pandemic has also taught us how to enjoy more of all the free things our cities have to offer. From public parks, to free museum weeks, to wonderful hikes in the mountains or on the beaches. You don't need to spend a lot at all to have a great time," he told Bored Panda.
"In fact, being able to enjoy all of my city's amenities for free was one of the biggest surprises of early retirement I didn't anticipate. While working, a lot of us believe we need a lot of money post work to be happy. It's just not true. Due to retirees having more time and freedom, retirees actually need much less money to be happy!"
RELATED:
#2
Blackberry jam :) We live surrounded by wild berries, every August we harvest enough berries for a full year of jam. It’s all my boys ever want - I’ve made other berry jams and they still just want black!
#3
I no longer buy popsicles and just instead use the popsicle molds. You just then fill it with juice, iced tea, or some other drink and then you’ll have popsicles with flavors different than what you can buy at the store.
Panda Kicki 2 years ago
Mine gets separated in part pure ice, part VERY concentrated juice. Any tips to avoid that?
Sam, the author of 'Buy This, Not That,' explained to Bored Panda that people adapt to new standards of living and circumstances reasonably quickly. Things quickly become the norm for us.
"We will adapt to new lifestyles and living standards within a month and no longer than three months. Hedonic adaptation works both ways. This is why it's important to save money until it hurts each month. If it hurts, it means you are pushing yourself to the limit," he noted.
"After about a month of living on your new lower budget, you will get used to it. Then you should try to increase your saving rate by 5% to feel the pain again. You will eventually adapt and feel just as good as when you didn't save as much," he said.
"However, over a 10-year period, you will end up accumulating way more money than you thought possible if you invest your savings. Here is a guide for how much I think you should save by age to keep you on track."
Some parts of the world are hit by economic uncertainty more than others. For instance, the energy crisis in the United Kingdom is getting pretty bad. Inflation in the country has reached over 10%, and CNN notes that various sources see it rising to as much as 13% and even 18% as natural gas prices remain elevated.
Regular Brits will be paying a lot more for their energy bills than last year. According to analysts, energy bills for households may rise by 80% in October, year on year. Some businesses are already struggling as well. For example, one pub, part of the Greene King chain, reported its energy costs having jumped by 33k pounds (just over 38k US dollars) per year.
#4
Vegetable stock. Keep your veggie scraps and boil them up.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Yes! I’m usually broke so I make a lot of puréed veggie soup. I keep a plastic margarine container in the freezer and throw leftover bits of onion/garlic/carrots/herb bits etc in there, heat in a pot and let simmer. to make broth. Chop any veggies you have into small bits, give them a quick fry with butter if you have it, and roast them in oven until tender, then throw in a blender with the broth. My faves are curry & ginger carrot soup, cheddar potato soup, or spicy tomato/red pepper soup :) even if you can’t cook these are easy - a staple for my broke a*s with rice or bread, keeps me alive! Haha
#5
I go for less products rather than alternatives. Chances are, the product that’s had millions of dollars of research and development put into it is probably better than a shitty DIY project that you have to buy special ingredients for.
If you’re aiming to spend less overall, replace products with scrubbing a little harder or stressing a little less about hair pouf or cute smells.
When your cooking/baking … just cook with what you have. And if you think “oh, I need such and such!” Then immediately look up alternatives.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
Cleaning products. Use white vinegar in the kitchen, diluted bleach in the bath. Also, Windex is just ammonia mixed with water and some blue coloring, so that's easy to make. Just be careful you don't mix the wrong things together.
#6
Hummus! The ingredients are cheap & I make a big batch on Sunday for the week. I love that I can make it as garlicy as I want, and I’ve been learning how to make the beans smoother (I add a pinch of baking soda before cooking, and let my insta pot natural release for a while before opening…) Store bought doesn’t compare!
SparkleFarts 2 years ago
If you're not putting ALL the garlic in you homemade hummus what are you even doing??
Meanwhile, leading British retailer John Lewis Partnership, recently announced that it plans to feed 88k workers over the winter to help them manage the rising cost of living. They’ll be offering free food to all employees during work from October till the end of December. Someone working a single four-hour shift, for instance, will be eligible for one meal. Meanwhile, those working eight-hour shifts are eligible for two meals, CNN Business reports.
British writer Ariane Sherine recently told Bored Panda that the cost of living situation isn’t all that bad yet, but things are definitely going to get worse in October. "And then even worse in January as the energy price cap rises,” she said.
“It's going to affect so many people badly that it's quite terrifying—and so far the government have barely done anything to mitigate this.”
She added: “Everything costs 1.5x the amount in the shops, our energy bills are spiraling out of control, there's a shortage of home appliances and our new prime minister promises to be just as incompetent. So if you can move to, say, France or Germany or Canada instead, I'd strongly advise it!"
The German government just now unveiled a 65 billion euro (64.7 billion dollar) package to help households get through the winter and cope with soaring prices. This is the third such relief package in Germany this year, since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The former two packages totaled 30 billion euros (29.8 billion dollars).
#7
I simmer cloves, cinnamon & orange peels on the stove instead of buying air fresheners.
Paul Scheermeijer 2 years ago
With the current Electric/ Gas prices and prices of fresh produce going through the roof that's more a luxury novelty
#8
Muffins to take to work for my coffee breaks. Takes me about 15 minutes to mix, 20 minutes to bake, and I have several weeks worth. I keep a well stocked pantry, so have flour/sugar/oil etc. I can control sugar amounts, and portion size (a homemade muffin is often smaller than a bakery one).
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
I used to make “scrambled egg muffin cups” for work. They were really cheap 🤔 I should do this again
#9
I haven't purchased paper kitchen products for over a decade, I just use rags and linen napkins. I also use reusable vacuum cleaner bags
Kitchen expert and incredibly talented pie artist Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin recently shared her awesome advice for saving money when it comes to food-related costs. She told Bored Panda that cooperating with your family, friends, and neighbors to buy in bulk can help a lot. Freezing food that you bought at a discount also helps. As does reducing the amount of red meat that you eat. There are tons of options available to everyone. Though it does take a bit of thinking outside the box.
"Everyone is feeling the pinch the world over right now—so don’t go it alone! Team up with friends and relatives and develop your cost-cutting strategies together. Your purchasing power is greatly increased when you shop together and you can share tips and keep an eye out for deals together," she said.
"If you are looking to cut back on your family grocery budget, consider adding one or two extra meatless days to your existing schedule. Meat, especially red meat, just costs so much more to raise, process, and transport safely compared with alternate sources of protein. Unless you’re dealing with mystery-meat level fast food processed stuff, it’s never going to be able to compete on price," Jessica noted.
#10
I made my own swiffer pads from a $1 flannel sheet from a thrift store. I just cut them a little bigger than needed to fit to allow for fraying (too lazy to sew the edges).
Biliegh Berrie 2 years ago
I'm saving my swifer container and getting flannel to do this as well.
#11
I live alone, so food waste can be a problem. I use powdered milk, so I’m not pouring spoiled milk down the drain all the time, and I freeze eggs as well. Just crack them open, beat lightly, pour into the individual wells of a muffin tin, and cover with cling wrap or tin foil. When frozen, you can store them in freezer bags or whatever you prefer. It’s easy to grab what I need and thaw for use, but this can also be done in a more bulk fashion if you prefer.
Yettichild 2 years ago
I might have to try the egg one. I have issues not ending up using all the eggs I buy.
#12
Granola is so easy to make, and healthy (low-sugar) prepared granola is so expensive! Toast oats in a large pot, stir frequently, add dried fruit, nuts, spices/sweetener and fat, spread on parchment paper-lined pan, and bake.
Panda Kicki 2 years ago
Hm. Here there are alls sorts of granolas, I calculated if it would pay to make my own version of the sugarfree one, but it actually was more expensive to buy all stuff myself and compose. It only costs about 10% more then pure oats.
"Buying groceries items in large lots and splitting between multiple families is a great way to take advantage of bulk discounts when your own pay-check doesn’t permit you to go out and invest in 10 lbs of cheddar on your own. Bonus points if you have a friend who is able to buy from restaurant suppliers directly or is part of a co-op!"
As for freezing, it’s a very viable strategy, so long as you do things properly. "You can certainly freeze fruits, veggies, and meat to eat later without sacrificing nutritional value. Just make sure you read up on the correct way to do this to avoid spoilage and freezer burn."
#13
Honestly, it's so easy to eat out when tired or uninspired to cook.
But my hack is to make things ready when I have time and ambition for when I won't. This also helps my SO cook as she isn't as geared to it.
So chop a bunch of stuff, and freeze. I food process for volume/speed and perhaps someone you know would let you borrow for a day.
Carrots, Mushrooms, onions, garlic celery, peppers are the typical. I can go to the freezer with a pan and scoop what I need sautee as the rice/pasta is cooking. That little prep hack removes the propensity to think "I don't wanna cook" as I am literally doing as much work as making a bowl of cereal almost. And I can do other things while it cooks.
Now, depending on needs I also cook up "packs" of my veg mix sauteed. They aren't cooked until done but about half way, then frozen. This makes it so as soon as they hit the pan as a frozen lump once thawed it is ready to go.
For example I use the snack size sandwich bags as a way to portion sauteed veg. Fill them and toss all into a bigger freezer bag to protect it from freezer burn. Then depending on how many people are eating I guage what I need from experience. Prepping is easily done at one time for tons of bags. Just depends on your grocery budget and time to chop but cooking one onion or 5 can be very marginally longer same if you're using multiple pans.
If you take one pack of veg and toss a can of cream soup (omitting water called for) it makes an awesome sauce to go over rice or pasta. Healthy and quick.
So yeah my hack is to make at home cooking easier to achieve to curb eating out.
Oh and most importantly, I batch out these prep meals when I am cooking other meals! You're there anyway so do the extra cooking at the same time if you can.
#14
I bought microfiber cloths and polishing cloths so I now clean all my glass and mirrors with just water. Make many of my own cleaning products such as an all purpose spray cleaner and daily shower cleaner. Make my own laundry detergent and fabric softener. Rarely use a stain remover and mostly rely on Fels Naptha for that. Make my own salad dressings.
#15
Cold brew coffee and oat milk are very easy to make at home and cost about 25% of what it takes to buy it in the store. There’s very simple recipes for both online if you’re interested
Owen Jarvis 2 years ago
I had a vegan ex-partner, and she would make coffee with oat milk. I wasn't expecting much, thinking it might taste worse, but didn't want to offend. It was SO good.
#16
Ditch the pre-made mixes (pancake, cake, muffin, etc.), and either make it on the spot, or if you use it enough, pre-make your own mix, and store it.
#18
I make my own bar soaps: regular (for cleaning stuff) and castile.
Lye is cheap and we get the oils in bulk from Costco. The equipment costs a little bit at first. Over time it's the most affordable way to have quality soap.
#19
Baking soda + dawn dish soap for stubborn stains. I like to dye my hair fun colors and the only thing that really gets out the dye from the tub is this combo. Also works for gettin g dye off your ears and hands.
Queen Z 2 years ago
Are you talking about a fiberglass, porcelain or plastic tub/showers? Well, either way I’m going to try it. I’ve got a daughter who isn’t the best at dying her hair. She does use Vaseline around her ears, forehead and neck when dying & that works! Now if I could only cover the entire bathroom with it…..
#20
Commercially prepared salad dressing--i mix olive oil and vinegar, with spices to taste.
#21
My fiance used to buy the jugs of Pureleaf tea before I moved in with him and he would probably go through 2-3 a week. I'm a tea girl, so I get gifted a lot of loose leaf tea and started making it by the pitcher at home for us. It may be a small amount but definitely saves us money every month!
JoJo Anisko 2 years ago
Steep your tea overnight in the fridge. It will be beautifully clear and very delicious, no bitterness. For iced tea, hot water does no favors.
#22
I have really been intentional lately about using what I have already. I switched to cleaning the kitchen with vinegar/water spray, as well as Dawn soap. Just put out laundered bar mops in a basket for easy use. I found myself using a linen towel to dry hand washed dishes and put them up immediately, rather than letting them air dry overnight and putting them up in the morning. I know exactly how many tea spoons and plates I own, (I’ve washed and put them away so often) so if the count isn’t correct, it’s time to check kid’s bedrooms or desks for the stragglers.
I have to clean some blood, and we are out of hydrogen peroxide or Biz, my go tos. I was reading the Cascade powder label, and realized the major ingredient is an enzyme, so I am substituting on organic stains. It will work or not, don’t care, but I will learn something using what I have on hand creatively.
Edit: overnight results of Cascade on cotton/poly colored knit. No color loss, blood stain completely gone! So more use from something I was going to discard.
WonderWoman 2 years ago
Never let the kids eat in their rooms, that attract rodents and insects.
#23
Menstrual cup and period underwear instead of pads/tampons
#24
@gocleanco taught me that I could mop my tile floors by adding 1 teaspoon of Tide Laundry detergent to a bucket of hot water. I no longer buy concentrated floor mopping solution, and I’m very happy with the fresh laundry scent after mopping! You can also add a small splash of bleach to this water!
Kristin Corlett 2 years ago
No, you shouldn't add bleach to laundry soap This can result in a toxic gas that should not be inhaled.
#25
A lot of the time I’ll just substitute name brand stuff with the store brand. Advil liquid gels is like 24 dollars. But If you get the store brand boom 8 dollars
Adam Leviness 2 years ago
I worked at a big box store for a while. And when the store brand stuff would come in, the name of the manufacturer was always on the box the products shipped in. The store brand yogurt was made by Yoplait, the organic. Juice by Minute maid, etc. A lot of the time the store brand products are the same as the name brand products, just with a different label. It's really just your perception that they're cheaper that makes you think it's not as good. For instance, a while ago I read about a taste test of wine that was done. Every participant tried 3 wines, one from Texas, one from California, and one from France. Without fail all the contestants preferred the wine from france..all three were actually from Texas. They did a similar wine test with professional wine sommeliers were they had to judge two wines, a cheap one and a very expensive one. They all preferred thr expensive one. They were both the same cheap wine one just had a fancy label and big price tag
#26
I make my own curry powder, but this is mostly because I don't do well on black pepper and want to make a recipe that's better for my health.
I make my own fruit & veg wash from unscented liquid castile soap diluted in a lot of water and put in a squeeze bottle. The premade ones, aside from being stupidly expensive, always seem to have some citrus added to them - and that is horrible for my skin.
Molly Whuppie 2 years ago
I make my own spice mixes too. The ones you get at the shops are heavy on the salt, by making your own you can customise them to your own taste. hotter, spicier, less salty etc.
#27
Not made but i’ve been using bar soap instead of shower gel it lasts forever ! I use towels instead of paper towels for most spills
#28
Dry shampoo. Plain arrowroot powder will do the trick, add some cocoa if you have dark hair, or clay (fuller's earth) for body if that's your thing.
Instead of febreze, vinegar and ethyl alcohol 50/50 with essential oils or citrus peels for fragrance.
Aisling Raye 2 years ago
Adding a side note to this that if you have pets please please please don't spray or diffuse essential oils in your home. So many of them are toxic to pets.
#29
I bought cloth handkerchiefs/cloth napkins at yard sales to use at home in place of tissues, paper napkins, and paper towels. I add white vinegar to the washing machine to remove odors and stains.
I learned to drink my coffee black, so I'm not paying extra for milks or sweeteners.
Kim Lorton 2 years ago
When my dad died, we all took some things of his to remember him by. I took about 4 of his cloth hankies and i love them! Cannot share them but they work really well wash and freshen up well. And not to be campy but every time i use one to blow my nose, I am thinking of him! Also the small paper fibers do not get in my nose or eyes like it does with tissues!
#30
Yogurt.
Then i turned it into my breakfast. I use small yogurt jars, pour oats in, then something to flavor it, like jam, then pour in the yogurt and leave for a day or two so the oats become soft.
Mary Elliott 2 years ago
Making your own flavored yogurt is so much better for you and less expensive than buying that candy-in--a-cup you get at the store. A good plain Greek yogurt, mixed with some frozen fruit(way cheaper than fresh fruit and just as nutritious if not more so!) and a squeeze of raw honey. Boom. Done. If you're really feeling fancy a small sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon puts it over the top.
#31
don't buy any meat really, unless it's $2/lb. pretty much vegetarian, tofu, eggs, lentils, legumes are the main proteins in our house
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Same! Going flexitarian has saved me hundreds every year, taught me so many amazing recipes, and I can still enjoy chicken wings and steak :)
#32
I make my own sandwich bread each week
#33
I make chicken stock in my instant pot. I get clearance rotisserie chickens and pick all the meat off, then pressure cook the carcass to make stock.
#34
We’re just recently trying some things.
Vanilla Extract - a bottle of vodka and about a dozen vanilla beans (we bought from Amazon) sliced down one side of the middle to open up. Let sit for about 6 months to a year, shaking weekly. We’re on about month 3. It already smells amazing.
Onion Powder & Garlic Powder - you need a dehydrator and bullet or blender for these. Slice up a bunch of onion or garlic. Dehydrate for however many hours your dehydrator recommends. Blend into powder. We did onions already and I’ll be doing garlic tomorrow.
#35
I use sodium percarbonate as a substitute for OxiClean for laundry and for washing machine cleaner (it's the main active ingredient and less expensive on its own). I use citric acid crystal as a substitute for dishwasher cleaner (again, main ingredient).
Bianca Saville 2 years ago
Napisan nappy bleach is usually cheaper than other washing bleaches.
#36
Mayo is cheap to make and tastes better IMO.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Oh I just made mayo for the first time ever! Egg, oil, and vinegar in a blender- and I added a lil lemon juice and garlic. It was SO MUCH BETTER than Hellman’s 😅 I went through 500ml in less than 2 days. Definitely worth it!
#37
I cook at home to reduce going out to eat
I use white vinegar and Castile soap to replace buying other expensive cleaners
#38
Substituted 95% of toilet paper with water. Bidet attachment was $24 and amortized itself within a short time since toilet paper is insanely expensive! Added plus, it's way more hygienic.
​
Average adult in the US will use 159 rolls of toilet paper a year at a cost of $182. Add 145 rolls of paper towels you can replace with rags, and we are talking about roughly $350 to be saved per person per year. It's about $22000 in a lifetime. However, if you start saving $350 a year at 20 you'll have $136000 per person at retirement age.
That's how much having a clean butt really is worth :-)
Yoga Kitty 2 years ago
Who uses 159 rolls of toilet paper a year? I think I haven't bought that much toilet paper over the last 20 years! And yes, I AM a woman, so please don't lecture me about periods and stuff...
#39
You can make cream cheese with whole milk and lemon and then I always season it for bagels and dips
#40
I use hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and Dawn for most of my cleaning. Hydrogen peroxide is great for bathroom use, especially pee stains/smells. The enzymatic cleaners often have it as their active ingredient, and I’ve seen lab tests (with chicken juice) show it works just as well if not better than bleach.
#41
Taco Seasoning. As I have all spices, it’s much cheaper.
CrunChewy McSandybutt 2 years ago
I would argue homemade taco seasoning is much better than premade packets.
#42
For my kids, I use cloth diapers and wipes, and cornstarch instead of baby powder.
#43
I get a large bottle of dish detergent that says antibacterial on it and use it to fill those foaming hand soap containers. You fill it about 25% with the soap the rest water. It lasts forever. Like same container has lasted over two years.
Celia McReynolds Tinsley 2 years ago
Been doing this for years. We use the the pink Dawn because my husband, equipment and tractor mechanic, likes how well it cleans the grease off his hands. I have sensitive skin and it doesn't irritate or dry out my skin.
#44
I make my own lunches. Saves a ton and healthier than buying lunch out
Mama Penguin 2 years ago
I pack lunches for my husband every morning. It's easier to manage since I work from home and we have no kids. Also, we make our own coffee. Instant coffee when I'm feeling lazy and fancier ground coffee in a French press when I feel like it.
#45
Dr. Bronner’s Castile mint soap watered down 1 part to 4 parts water in reused foaming hand soap containers— placed at every sink in our home— hand soap for a year or more!
Small spray bottles (3/$1.25) at Dollar Tree, filled with water, 20 drops of essential oil you like, and about a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol— homemade “poo-pourri” that works great!
Homemade shower spray, a mix of rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, rinse aid for dishwasher, and water.
Sunscreen made with olive oil, non-nano powdered zinc oxide, beeswax pellets, and a few drops of essential oils for scent— all commercial sunscreens now seem to make me itch and break out in a rash nowadays!
Purple light 2 years ago (edited)
As a person who had skin cancer: I would never ever use homemade sunscreen. Please don't use it. Skin cancer can kill you!
#46
We make kimchi, kombucha, and rice wine. They’re pretty easy to make at home and a lot less expensive.
#47
I’ve got a 3 monitor setup for work, and they’re on a combination of boxes and books to get them all at eye level.
3 Owls In A Coat 2 years ago
Same! Good for you, no need to buy extra monitor stands or furniture if you can make it work with boxes and books :)
#48
I make all my Indian pastes for butter chicken, vindaloo and korma. Also all my salad dressings. All taste so much better. I also dilute my cleaning products.
Judy Reynolds 2 years ago
Husband says that diluting shampoo etc makes it unusable. i disagree.
#49
Croutons! Just some seasoned bread crumbs in oven/air fryer
What do you think ?
Bored Retsuko 2 years ago
Not a fan tbh. Some of these are just common sense (who buys brush cleaner for make-up brushes, obviously just use soap?), others are just people presenting their hobbies/diy projects. I mean if gardening/sewing/cooking/making soap is your thing, that's great for you, but don’t pretend that everyone has the means to do this, or that you're doing it to save money. It's all very time consuming, and not everyone has the space at home, or the physical skills.
Ruth Hempsey 2 years ago
I was also surprised at how much info was just plain wrong, but seems to be accepted as gospel truth. It's difficult to say so because you struggle for words that won't get you down voted, but when you know stuff is completely wrong, it's hard to hold off saying so since people can be harmed by fake facts.
Load More Replies... Mary Elliott 2 years ago
Still laughing about "grow your own produce." That person has never gardened if they think it's a cheap hobby. Read 'The $75 Tomato.' You might eventually end up saving a bit of money on some veggies once you have your beds built and your soil developed and your compost pile mature, but you're in for a lot of upfront cash and some bitter, heartbreaking experience before you get there, so good luck with that one.
Notyomama 2 years ago
I guess it can if you have no experience or are yard/dirt challenged. Some people have been playing in the dirt from a very early age. I guess it can also depend on where you live. There are plenty of resources for free mulch, compost, manure etc where I live. There are plenty of people willing to let someone come get pine straw, cow manure etc from them. Especially if they are disabled and you are willing to share the wealth.
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Craig Silberman 2 years ago
Not a single "hack" in the list. Why do the Bored Panda writers think "hack" is synonymous with "tip?" These are tips. Not hacks. Like every other post that claims to have hacks.
Kenny Kulbiski 2 years ago
Well that's nice but I figure if I did all that stuff I'd save maybe $100 to $200 a year which isn't enough to make much difference and damn sure not enough for all the hassle.
Aisling Raye 2 years ago
I do a lot of these (not the make your own soap and grow your own produce things - I am not blessed with the time or patience to do those) but of the stuff I do, I probably save $100-200 a month.
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Tamara Horyza 2 years ago
Seriously you gonna take that money to the grave,give up milk in your coffee to save money,if you cant drink something for pleasure of taste just give it up period
Sapna Sarfare 2 years ago
I use public transport despite its issues. I have an all city pass which i try using to go around the city. It has literally got my travel expenses down. I shop for groceries from near my house or my office. This way, i do not spend on travelling for groceries. I look out for deals. Many products like jams and honey come in glass bottles. I save them to reuse later.
Notyomama 2 years ago
I make all of my seasoning mixes myself. Chili, rib rub, ranch, taco, lemon pepper, poultry seasoning etc. Make my own salad dressing. Make my own beef jerky. Cook every thing from scratch, for the most part. Make homemade dog treats. We have been making chocolate depression cake for a while. https://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/chocolate-depression-cake/. It is soooo good. And no eggs or dairy are needed. There are also recipes out there for vanilla and lemon too, I think. Even though we are meat eaters, we do use a lot of vegan recipes. I kind of had to laugh/cry a little bit at this list as we have been doing alot of it for years due to food allergies and intolerances. Then, I remember to be grateful that I was blessed with the country Grandparents that raised me. Because they were born during the depression and were extremely poor when they were young. My Grandmother made sure I could cook from scratch, because her MIL and my Pop had to teach her when she got married.
Claudia Schmid 2 years ago
These are mostly for people who have time. Should I ever be unemployed I might try some. But as long as I work full time I don't have the time for this stuff but I have the money to pay for it
JoJo Bautista 2 years ago
Get in touch with HACKWEST at WRITEME dot COM or Whatsapp: +1 424 307 2638 if you want to recover your scammed funds or get some legal counsel on how to go about it. They’re the best and most legit team out there. West helped to recover my lost Bitcoin of about $289k worth. I saw their reviews and reached out, got back all my funds with my return on investment. Superb I must say!
Lyuben Petkov 2 years ago
My cooking life hack is to make things which are super fast to be prepared, for example: Instead of cooking rice - boil buckwheat or millet - those seeds needs literally 10, maximum 15 minutes to be boiled, they have more taste and texture and with right spices (for each personal taste) can be so much better then rice. Also - if you plan your meal, can soak buckwheat, millet the night before the cooking - it can accelerate the boiling under 7 minutes (depends of the exact type variety of those seeds).
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
So many of these are time consuming and kinda pointless, the cleaning stuff ones are kinda pointless given I can buy cleaning supplies for £1 that last at least a month, but buying the bottles, ingredients and essential oils would cost way more initially and I doubt would save money in the long run. I'd love to be one of those people who grow their own veg, and I've tried but between the Scottish weather and my total plant homicidal tendencies it just isn't going to happen - and again, the veg I use regularly costs a few quid a week, hardly breaking the bank. Things that do save me money is dying my hair at home since I did a colouring course to learn to do it properly, using leftovers to make a second meal for the 6 of us, bulk buying school snacks/drinks instead of going via the shop every morning, having blankets everywhere so I only put the heating on when everyone is home,I refuse to heat up the whole house just for me
Talitha Jansen 2 years ago
Let's just say that the Dutch I know don't let it air dry. And we do wash our towels often, it's not like I use one for weeks.
Jessica J. 2 years ago
Here is an actual helpful thing that I do. Instead of an expensive heated blanket, or mattress pad, get a oversized heating pad or throw, then lay it across the bottom of your bed, between the mattress pad and sheet. Use it in the winter to keep warm, and turn down the thermostat, to save money. I also use it other times of the year, as I have medical illnesses that cause joint problems, and it really helps me sleep. Heating up the feet can also help someone who has trouble sleeping, fall asleep, too. And still cheaper than the alternatives.
Adam Leviness 2 years ago
This list sucked so let me try and help with some actual frugal tips (some will be slight retreads but more general and concise) -find replacements for any reusable/disposal items. Ie. A French press instead of coffee filters, straight razor instead of disposable, etc. Unplug electronics when not I'm use, even turned off they can use "vampire energy" Stockpile food, the only buy food that's on sale. Use coupons ans deals to buy it in bulk and plan your meals around that. Search "extreme couponing" to get tips and tricks on how to do this. Whether proof your home. Caulk and plastic windows, cover cracks under your door. Install drop down ceilings if.you have ceilings that are higher than normal. Etc. In the winter keep your heater at 69 during the day when you're home. Turn it down to 64 when you're out of the house or asleep. Weat sweats and socks around the house. Bake in the winter instead of cooking on the stove then open. The over door to take advantage of ambient head.
Adam Leviness 2 years ago
Cont: get black out curtains and keep them closed in the summer and open. In the winter. Switch all of your lights from incandescent (if you still have them) and the curly ones to LEDs. If you have old appliances check with your electric/gas companies. Many of them have exchange programs that will help you pay for energy star appliances like fridges, heaters, etc. Starr a garden for fruits vegetables spices you eat regularly Use Skyscanner or skipplagged.com to find the cheapest flights. Use a cash back credit card on all your purchases ONLY if you can pay off the balance every month. Better yet, find a program that let's you automatically deduct money from your bank to pay for any payments you make with your credit card. Call up your utilities, cable company, or refinance your mortgage periodically to negotiate a better rate. Extra points if you get an app to periodically negotiate your bills, get credits for outages, and cancel and subscription based service you no longe us
Load More Replies... 
Bored Retsuko 2 years ago
Not a fan tbh. Some of these are just common sense (who buys brush cleaner for make-up brushes, obviously just use soap?), others are just people presenting their hobbies/diy projects. I mean if gardening/sewing/cooking/making soap is your thing, that's great for you, but don’t pretend that everyone has the means to do this, or that you're doing it to save money. It's all very time consuming, and not everyone has the space at home, or the physical skills.
Ruth Hempsey 2 years ago
I was also surprised at how much info was just plain wrong, but seems to be accepted as gospel truth. It's difficult to say so because you struggle for words that won't get you down voted, but when you know stuff is completely wrong, it's hard to hold off saying so since people can be harmed by fake facts.
Load More Replies... Mary Elliott 2 years ago
Still laughing about "grow your own produce." That person has never gardened if they think it's a cheap hobby. Read 'The $75 Tomato.' You might eventually end up saving a bit of money on some veggies once you have your beds built and your soil developed and your compost pile mature, but you're in for a lot of upfront cash and some bitter, heartbreaking experience before you get there, so good luck with that one.
Notyomama 2 years ago
I guess it can if you have no experience or are yard/dirt challenged. Some people have been playing in the dirt from a very early age. I guess it can also depend on where you live. There are plenty of resources for free mulch, compost, manure etc where I live. There are plenty of people willing to let someone come get pine straw, cow manure etc from them. Especially if they are disabled and you are willing to share the wealth.
Load More Replies... Craig Silberman 2 years ago
Not a single "hack" in the list. Why do the Bored Panda writers think "hack" is synonymous with "tip?" These are tips. Not hacks. Like every other post that claims to have hacks.
Kenny Kulbiski 2 years ago
Well that's nice but I figure if I did all that stuff I'd save maybe $100 to $200 a year which isn't enough to make much difference and damn sure not enough for all the hassle.
Aisling Raye 2 years ago
I do a lot of these (not the make your own soap and grow your own produce things - I am not blessed with the time or patience to do those) but of the stuff I do, I probably save $100-200 a month.
Load More Replies... Tamara Horyza 2 years ago
Seriously you gonna take that money to the grave,give up milk in your coffee to save money,if you cant drink something for pleasure of taste just give it up period
Sapna Sarfare 2 years ago
I use public transport despite its issues. I have an all city pass which i try using to go around the city. It has literally got my travel expenses down. I shop for groceries from near my house or my office. This way, i do not spend on travelling for groceries. I look out for deals. Many products like jams and honey come in glass bottles. I save them to reuse later.
Notyomama 2 years ago
I make all of my seasoning mixes myself. Chili, rib rub, ranch, taco, lemon pepper, poultry seasoning etc. Make my own salad dressing. Make my own beef jerky. Cook every thing from scratch, for the most part. Make homemade dog treats. We have been making chocolate depression cake for a while. https://chocolatechocolateandmore.com/chocolate-depression-cake/. It is soooo good. And no eggs or dairy are needed. There are also recipes out there for vanilla and lemon too, I think. Even though we are meat eaters, we do use a lot of vegan recipes. I kind of had to laugh/cry a little bit at this list as we have been doing alot of it for years due to food allergies and intolerances. Then, I remember to be grateful that I was blessed with the country Grandparents that raised me. Because they were born during the depression and were extremely poor when they were young. My Grandmother made sure I could cook from scratch, because her MIL and my Pop had to teach her when she got married.
Claudia Schmid 2 years ago
These are mostly for people who have time. Should I ever be unemployed I might try some. But as long as I work full time I don't have the time for this stuff but I have the money to pay for it
JoJo Bautista 2 years ago
Get in touch with HACKWEST at WRITEME dot COM or Whatsapp: +1 424 307 2638 if you want to recover your scammed funds or get some legal counsel on how to go about it. They’re the best and most legit team out there. West helped to recover my lost Bitcoin of about $289k worth. I saw their reviews and reached out, got back all my funds with my return on investment. Superb I must say!
Lyuben Petkov 2 years ago
My cooking life hack is to make things which are super fast to be prepared, for example: Instead of cooking rice - boil buckwheat or millet - those seeds needs literally 10, maximum 15 minutes to be boiled, they have more taste and texture and with right spices (for each personal taste) can be so much better then rice. Also - if you plan your meal, can soak buckwheat, millet the night before the cooking - it can accelerate the boiling under 7 minutes (depends of the exact type variety of those seeds).
Got Myself 4 Pandas 2 years ago
So many of these are time consuming and kinda pointless, the cleaning stuff ones are kinda pointless given I can buy cleaning supplies for £1 that last at least a month, but buying the bottles, ingredients and essential oils would cost way more initially and I doubt would save money in the long run. I'd love to be one of those people who grow their own veg, and I've tried but between the Scottish weather and my total plant homicidal tendencies it just isn't going to happen - and again, the veg I use regularly costs a few quid a week, hardly breaking the bank. Things that do save me money is dying my hair at home since I did a colouring course to learn to do it properly, using leftovers to make a second meal for the 6 of us, bulk buying school snacks/drinks instead of going via the shop every morning, having blankets everywhere so I only put the heating on when everyone is home,I refuse to heat up the whole house just for me
Talitha Jansen 2 years ago
Let's just say that the Dutch I know don't let it air dry. And we do wash our towels often, it's not like I use one for weeks.
Jessica J. 2 years ago
Here is an actual helpful thing that I do. Instead of an expensive heated blanket, or mattress pad, get a oversized heating pad or throw, then lay it across the bottom of your bed, between the mattress pad and sheet. Use it in the winter to keep warm, and turn down the thermostat, to save money. I also use it other times of the year, as I have medical illnesses that cause joint problems, and it really helps me sleep. Heating up the feet can also help someone who has trouble sleeping, fall asleep, too. And still cheaper than the alternatives.
Adam Leviness 2 years ago
This list sucked so let me try and help with some actual frugal tips (some will be slight retreads but more general and concise) -find replacements for any reusable/disposal items. Ie. A French press instead of coffee filters, straight razor instead of disposable, etc. Unplug electronics when not I'm use, even turned off they can use "vampire energy" Stockpile food, the only buy food that's on sale. Use coupons ans deals to buy it in bulk and plan your meals around that. Search "extreme couponing" to get tips and tricks on how to do this. Whether proof your home. Caulk and plastic windows, cover cracks under your door. Install drop down ceilings if.you have ceilings that are higher than normal. Etc. In the winter keep your heater at 69 during the day when you're home. Turn it down to 64 when you're out of the house or asleep. Weat sweats and socks around the house. Bake in the winter instead of cooking on the stove then open. The over door to take advantage of ambient head.
Adam Leviness 2 years ago
Cont: get black out curtains and keep them closed in the summer and open. In the winter. Switch all of your lights from incandescent (if you still have them) and the curly ones to LEDs. If you have old appliances check with your electric/gas companies. Many of them have exchange programs that will help you pay for energy star appliances like fridges, heaters, etc. Starr a garden for fruits vegetables spices you eat regularly Use Skyscanner or skipplagged.com to find the cheapest flights. Use a cash back credit card on all your purchases ONLY if you can pay off the balance every month. Better yet, find a program that let's you automatically deduct money from your bank to pay for any payments you make with your credit card. Call up your utilities, cable company, or refinance your mortgage periodically to negotiate a better rate. Extra points if you get an app to periodically negotiate your bills, get credits for outages, and cancel and subscription based service you no longe us
Load More Replies... 
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