{"id":302674,"date":"2024-07-06T17:44:47","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T22:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b67-great-frugal-tips-to-make-you-wealthier-today"},"modified":"2024-07-06T17:45:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-06T22:45:14","slug":"%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b67-great-frugal-tips-to-make-you-wealthier-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8b67-great-frugal-tips-to-make-you-wealthier-today","title":{"rendered":"\u200b\u200bsixty seven Nice Frugal Tricks to Make You Wealthier Right now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>There was a point in my life when I\u2019d ask my college roommates to bring me back ketchup packets from their lunches out (#1). I wasn\u2019t about to pay full price for the Heinz when they\u2019re just giving that stuff away at some local establishments\u2026 I mean, C\u2019mon.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"719\" src=\"https:\/\/dollarsanity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/frugal-tips-1024x719.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24447\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>I say the above to let you know that I\u2019ve sat for hours contemplating different ways to save a buck here or earn a buck there. All in a combined frugal effort to fight the staggeringly large 6-figure student loan debt over our heads.<\/p>\n<p>And now that I\u2019ve been to the frugal mountaintop and we\u2019re nearing the end of our student loan repayment, my personal finance nerd friends and I will occasionally search the web for frugal tips that we haven\u2019t heard of or tried in a while.<\/p>\n<p>But I haven\u2019t found a comprehensive list that details all the things we\u2019ve tried or seen our friends do. And with the student loan and general debt epidemic that is running rampant through our generation, we need an arsenal to fight back.<\/p>\n<p>We need a cache of frugal tip weapons to aid us in fighting the approaching debt army.<\/p>\n<p><em>This is our battle plan.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here are 67 Great Frugal Tips to Make you Wealthier Today<\/h2>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frugal tips to use as a general best practice<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1- Write your financial goals on a piece of paper you\u2019ll see every day<\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019ve been writing my goals down and sharing them with the world for the last 2 years. The facts are that I\u2019m more successful when I do.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2- Make a realistic budget<\/h3>\n<p>What get\u2019s measured gets results. The data and statistics show that people who budget are more successful with eliminating debt, saving money, and becoming financially free.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3- Sleep on large purchases<\/h3>\n<p>My wife and I have a 24-hour rule for any purchase over $1,000. It\u2019s saved us more than once.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4- Protect your income<\/h3>\n<p>If you are suddenly unable to work and you aren\u2019t properly insured. That\u2019s a financial disaster. If you have already set up a process to replace your income: your situation is more manageable.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5- Establish an emergency fund<\/h3>\n<p>When the water heater, A\/C, heat, roof, car, \u2026 breaks down, paying for a replacement with cash money saves you in stress, extra interest, and long-term financial progress. Dave Ramsey says $1,000 is a good amount but I\u2019d argue for $2,500-7,500 depending on your financial situation.<\/p>\n<p>Another great way to boost your emergency fund is to check out some great <a href=\"https:\/\/dollarsanity.com\/make-money-from-home\/\">stay at home jobs<\/a> and then save your extra income.<\/p>\n<p>Learn valuable skills to build wealth, achieve a higher level of fitness, boost your business&#8217; profits, and more&#8230;\u00a0 All in support of a healthier YOU!<\/p>\n<p>By signing up you agree to receive regular emails with exclusive content, deals, and more! Unsubscribe at any time &#8211; and it is my honor to NOT SPAM your inbox (I promise)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frugal tips for food (I like to eat)<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1- Grow your own veggies<\/h3>\n<p>Price per pound of tomatoes in the US (2017): $2.24 (that\u2019s 2 large Roma tomatoes. You can find packets of 10 seeds for under $1. One seed could feed your home for a week, minimum. Extrapolate that across all veggies and you\u2019ve got yourself some savings.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2- Don\u2019t go grocery shopping until you absolutely need to<\/h3>\n<p>We sometimes make a game out of \u201cHow many lunches and dinners can we make with what we have in our pantry, freezer, and fridge.\u201d Our record \u2013 5.5 days for our family of 3.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3- Use new tech<\/h3>\n<p>Most major grocery stores have an app. Those apps have coupons and cash back programs. Additionally, apps like Ebates, APay, ibotta, etc., you just perform your normal shopping, scan your receipts, and earn cash back.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4- Couponing is not dead<\/h3>\n<p>In addition to the services above, many communities, stores, and online entities have and distribute coupons. All you need to do is look around. We\u2019ll typically find ours online, in our mailbox, and in the local newspaper (yes, they still have that\u2026).<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5- Cook at home vs going out to eat<\/h3>\n<p>Cooking your own meals typically leads to healthier meals, lower costs, and some of the awesome benefits below. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6- Ask for a discount on purchased items<\/h3>\n<p>First of all, I\u2019ve saved 10-20% countless times just by asking. Secondly, I\u2019ve heard Tim Ferriss discuss this exercise a few times on his uber-popular and well-respected podcast (he got the idea from Noah Kagan):<\/p>\n<p>Go into a coffee shop anywhere in the world and order a coffee or muffin and ask for 10% off then wait for a response. Although you may be confident in your salesmanship abilities, Kagan and Ferriss confirm that everyone they\u2019ve put through this challenge learns something new about themselves that was previously hidden. Savings and growth\u2026 What\u2019s to lose?<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7- Meal plan and stick to the list while at the store<\/h3>\n<p>For years we\u2019d grocery shop without a list. That was a recipe for overspending. Then we made a list and that saved us 20%. But then we took it a step further and planned every meal for the week down to the starch.<\/p>\n<p>By planning every meal on Saturday for the following week, we knew exactly what ingredients we\u2019d need. So we\u2019d take that list of ingredients to the store, plus the daily items we\u2019d use for lunches, and if it wasn\u2019t on the list we didn\u2019t buy it. That process brought out grocery bill down about 30%. And we learned the importance of fully exploring our cupboards\u2026<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t care if you forgot to write something down. Going without it for a week will make you remember to put it on the list next week.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8- If you\u2019re going out to eat pick places where your kids eat free<\/h3>\n<p>Applebee\u2019s, Pizza Hut, Bennigan\u2019s, Denny\u2019s, TGI Fridays, IHOP (with or without the burgers\u2026 smh), and Dickey\u2019s Barbecue Pit to name a few.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9- Batch Meal prep for the week over the weekend<\/h3>\n<p><em>Meal planning<\/em> is one thing. Batch <em>meal prepping<\/em> is another. After we make the list and head to the store on Saturday\u2019s, we\u2019ll set 2 hours aside on Sunday\u2019s and make all the food we\u2019ll need for lunches the following week. And we\u2019ll normally have enough left over for a dinner or two as well.<\/p>\n<p>On this plan, we only need to cook once or twice \u2013 max \u2013 during the week. That saves us from going out for dinner and buying food at lunch.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10- Pack snacks rather than buy<\/h3>\n<p>Ever find yourself at the public library or free community event ? with a hungry kid or big kid(you)? Yeah, same here. After making that mistake more than a few times, we eventually started bringing our own snacks rather than paying $1.50 for an airplane-sized bag of chips or an incredibly unhealthy candy bar\u2026 Which ultimately provided a 10-minute sugar high followed by an exponentially higher desire to take a nap.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11- Shop at Aldi<\/h3>\n<p>We saved around 30% by making a list and sticking to it. Then we started shopping at Aldi, where everything seems to be on sale and we ultimately cut our original grocery bill in half. The link above shares additional details about the quality of the food and my shopping experience at Aldi. I won\u2019t shop anywhere else.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12- Pack your lunches during the week<\/h3>\n<p>The average lunch out costs between $6-10. Five days per week for 49 weeks (I gave you 3 vacation weeks) and you\u2019re looking at $1,470-2,450 for the year. By doubling recipes (which doesn\u2019t double your grocery bill) and batch meal prepping, you can save a minimum of $1,000 for the year. Try telling me that pinching pennies doesn\u2019t work\u2026<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13- Make your own trail mix<\/h3>\n<p>Buying trail mix in a grocery store or, Heavens To Betsy in a convenience store, could cost you $5-10 for a single serve pack. But, if you employ the \u201cshop at Aldi\u201d technique reference above, and buy the full containers of peanuts ($1.69), granola ($2-4), M&amp;M\u2019s ($2.50), and raisins ($1.69)\u2026 And your total is under $10 for at least 5-10 servings. That\u2019s savings.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">14- Order water if you\u2019re out to eat<\/h3>\n<p>This is a simple one. If you\u2019re eating out, skip the $4 soft drink and go with the healthier, free\u2019er option instead.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">15- If you\u2019re going with fast food, use the value menu<\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019m not a huge fan of most fast food chains but if you\u2019re in a pinch, go with the value menu. There, you could easily get 2 sandwiches and a fry. Many restaurants are featuring healthier options at a value price. I see you, Taco Bell, Wendy\u2019s, and Dairy Queen\u2026<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">16- Buy in bulk (Costco, Sam&#8217;s Club, etc.)<\/h3>\n<p>Price per unit is the key term here. For example, if you buy a package of 150 widgets at Sam\u2019s Club that runs $40, then compare that to a package of 48 of the same widgets for $17.00 at your local supermarket \u2013 your price per widget is $0.27 at Sam\u2019s vs $0.35 at the local grocery.<\/p>\n<p>So, it\u2019s simple then. Sam\u2019s is cheaper, right? Well, that depends. Are those perishable items and will you use them all? Do you have enough space to store them in your home? You can see how multiple variables come to play here, but the finances are clear. Buying in bulk can have it\u2019s financial benefits.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">17- Use Groupon if you\u2019re going out to eat<\/h3>\n<p>A quick Groupon search just got me half off at a local pizza joint. I\u2019ll be back\u2026 (No \u2013 I\u2019m not paying the delivery fee. Oh, wait. It\u2019s included in the Groupon? Even better!)<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">18- Try intermittent fasting<\/h3>\n<p>This may be a little out of bounds for some but we\u2019ve been so conditioned to eat automatically at certain intervals throughout the day. What happens when you take a meal off?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve written about my experiments with daily fasting in a recent post and (spoiler alert) \u2013 you can make it without lunch\u2026 You just need to have the right mindset. I use this practice when I\u2019m in an airport, for example where all of the food is either incredibly expensive or unhealthy. I highly recommend giving this one a try, it can change your life \u2013 not only your finances.<\/p>\n<p>Learn valuable skills to build wealth, achieve a higher level of fitness, boost your business&#8217; profits, and more&#8230;&nbsp; All in support of a healthier YOU!<\/p>\n<p>By signing up you agree to receive regular emails with exclusive content, deals, and more! Unsubscribe at any time &#8211; and it is my honor to NOT SPAM your inbox (I promise)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frugal tips for handling debt<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1- Go on a spending freeze<\/h3>\n<p>I\u2019ve worked with clients who are wanting so hard to get out of debt but for every dollar they pay, there\u2019s another they spend. One of the best things to do in this case is to go on a spending freeze and simply stop paying anything but the absolutely necessary expenses. When you need to jump-start your debt payoff \u2013 there\u2019s no better starting method.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2- Refinance higher interest debts<\/h3>\n<p>When you\u2019re differentiating between good and bad debts (yes, there is a difference), it is vitally important to actually make the distinction. One of the main factors separating the two is the interest rate. Most commonly, when you think of terrible interest rates, there are payday loans and credit cards.<\/p>\n<p>But we had the example of student loans. There were a total of over a dozen different loans ranging anywhere from 4.8% \u2013 7.9% interest, and when you start talking about six-figure sums of money at nearly 8% interest \u2013 you start talking about a ton of interest. We shopped different lenders and ended up refinancing all of our student loans into one that had a respectable 5.2% rate. Not perfect but much better than 8%.<\/p>\n<p>If we look at a difference in total interest paid between the two on a hypothetical $100,000 loan over ten years, the interest saved is about $17,138!!!<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3 \u2013 Literally freeze your credit card<\/h3>\n<p>One of those clients mentioned above who was told time after time to start her spending freeze just kept slipping up and using the plastic. It wasn\u2019t devious planning, she just couldn\u2019t resist the quick impulse buy after seeing a shiny object. And as she was insisting on not cutting the card up, I had to get creative.<\/p>\n<p>With her and her husband\u2019s permission (of course), I pulled out a Tupperware container from the cabinet, put the card in there, filled it up with water, and put it in their freezer. She was shocked, the husband was happy, and she quit making impulse purchases\u2026<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4- Improve your credit score<\/h3>\n<p>Having a good credit score can help you earn a lower interest rate, get a cheaper rent payment, buy a house, and even get a job. There are 5 main things you can do to improve this sacred number. Here they are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Have a good payment history \u2013<\/em> The best practice here is to pay each bill in full when you receive it. A great rule to implement for yourself is to make sure that your mortgage, car loans, and other regular payments are accounted for in each month\u2019s budget. And when it comes to the credit cards, do not buy an item with your card unless you already have the money in your checking account.<\/li>\n<li><em>Monitor your credit utilization \u2013<\/em> This number simply represents the percentage of debt that you\u2019re currently using compared with all debt that is available to you. Anything over 30% is a negative that can drag down your credit score. Borrowers in this category are seen to be a higher risk because they may be overextended. To improve, you can ask for a credit limit increase (increases the total debt available and reduces your percentage), pay your cards off every week (ending balance is a fraction of what was actually spent), or just use your card less.<\/li>\n<li><em>Have older cards \u2013<\/em> Rather than canceling old accounts, just cut that card up (so that you won\u2019t use it and it can\u2019t be stolen from you) and keep the account active. This is especially helpful if that card represents your oldest line of credit. If you opened that account 10 years ago and your other most used card is only 5 years old, by closing that older account you will effectively be cutting your length of credit history in half.<\/li>\n<li><em>Don\u2019t run your credit unless absolutely necessary \u2013<\/em> Safeguard your Social Security Number so that you are less likely to be a victim of identity theft. One of the easiest ways to torpedo a credit score (and your overall finances) is to have lines of credit opened in your name by identity thieves. Now that we have security accounted for, make sure you do your research before opening any new accounts. Is this the perfect credit card for your current needs? Are you sure that the payment terms are acceptable for that new car? And make sure to shop prices before the seller checks your credit.<\/li>\n<li><em>Reduce the Outstanding Debt Ratio (ODR) or Debt to Income Ratio \u2013<\/em> When it comes to Outstanding Debt Ratio, the lower the better. But if you\u2019re like most Americans with a mortgage, car payment(s), student loans, and other liabilities, reducing this ratio can be tough if you have a short amount of time. Lucky for us consumers, though, ODR is one of the least impactful factors on your credit score.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5- Pay off your credit card every Friday<\/h3>\n<p>I got this tip from a friend of mine who with his wife paid off $89,000 in 15 months. Want to know what else they did to achieve that goal? No worries, I wrote all about it here!<\/p>\n<p>But back to the point. By getting into the habit of paying off the card every Friday, you\u2019re never left wondering\u2026 \u201cDid I make that payment?\u201d No. Now it\u2019s simple. I pay it on Friday.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6- Automate your debt payments and adjust the timing<\/h3>\n<p>This one was vital to our family when we bought our business. At first, I was writing checks for the mortgage, student loans, the business loan, the loan we took to move our business\u2026 So many checks. And they were all drawing out of our account right around the first of the month.<\/p>\n<p>So I called up all of our lenders and worked to set up automatic withdrawals at different times throughout the month. Now we\u2019re still spending the same \u201cminimum\u201d payments, but they\u2019re spread out over 30 days instead of 5. Big difference.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frugal tips for reducing expenses<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1- Ask to spend less on monthly \u201cfixed\u201d expenses<\/h3>\n<p>Call up your cable provider, cell phone company, or internet provider to see if there\u2019s anything they\u2019re willing to do to keep you as a customer. This was part of my strategy that helped us cut over $200 of spending one month.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2- Remove collision insurance on older and paid off cars<\/h3>\n<p>Haha. Oh man. Disclaimer here: Yes, I did remove collision insurance on both of our decade-old vehicles that were paid off. I was so excited for the savings. And for 2 weeks we loved every minute of those savings. Then in week 3, one of our vehicles was in a collision.<\/p>\n<p>We made a long-term gamble based on statistics, driving record, and ultimate probability. We\u2019re saving in monthly premiums on our remaining car, but with the one that was wrecked: we did lose that bet.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3- Subscribe as a family \u2013 apple music, Netflix, Prime<\/h3>\n<p>I don\u2019t advocate breaking policy rules here, but if you are within the service\u2019s guidelines \u2013 it\u2019s smart to subscribe 1 time for multiple people in the family. Or\u2026 For example, we have 2 Netflix accounts for our dental office\u2019s7 TVs. When we set those two accounts up, we canceled our home subscription because when we\u2019re not in the office, we can have access at home.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4- Consider a discount phone plan(MVNO)<\/h3>\n<p>Cell phone service isn\u2019t limited exclusively to the big few companies. There are many MVNO\u2019s that offer highly competitive rates when compared with the Verizon\u2019s of the world. On top of that \u2013 many MVNO\u2019s have access to the cell towers that those big companies use\u2026 It\u2019s like buying the off-brand cereal that was made in the same factory and at the same time as those Cheerio\u2019s we love \u2013 they were just put into a different box.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5- Walk or Ride to work (if possible)<\/h3>\n<p>A friend of mine has been walking to work for over 4 years. He detailed the cost savings, physical benefits, and general improvements this walking has had on his life here. And I followed up with some additional questions about the logistics of walking for all of those days in this post. If walking or riding more often is an option for you, there\u2019s no doubt about the financial benefits available.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6- Shop at second-hand stores<\/h3>\n<p>When our first child was born we became fed-up with big store prices pretty quickly. Then we found out about Once Upon A Child, where second-hand items are sold at a fraction of the price. Most of our daughter\u2019s clothes and many of the toys she played with were from stores just like this one.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7- Use local community parks for dates or play dates<\/h3>\n<p>Who doesn\u2019t love a good walk in the park? Many times all you need to do is look around for great parks or other community attractions to spend some quality time with the little ones or with your loved one. These are free options and tend to be worth their weight in gold, regarding fun had. Just watch out for the low-hanging bridges\u2026<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8- Workout for free<\/h3>\n<p>Is the gym membership keeping you down? No worries, I wrote about 7 awesome and easy ways to workout for FREE. Want to know the kicker? I\u2019m in the best shape of my life.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9- Use the public library over bookstores or Amazon<\/h3>\n<p>The library doesn\u2019t just have books. Although the books they do have are free for you to rent out. No, you can also use the library for movie and TV series rentals. Our library also has awesome events for kids. Did someone say Saturday morning babysitter\u2026?<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10- Practice self-discipline and say no<\/h3>\n<p>How many times did you make an impulse purchase last week? I\u2019m at 3. And although they were a Dairy Queen Blizzard, a beer at volleyball, and a new charging cord for my phone, those little purchases add up throughout the year. Did I need the Blizzard or beer? No.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11- Take advantage of Netflix (or other services) free trial periods<\/h3>\n<p>With Netflix specifically, you can sign up and immediately cancel your service and you will still be granted the 30 free days. This can be especially helpful if there\u2019s a new series that was recently released. And with this process, you won\u2019t forget about the subscription you don\u2019t really want then pay. Next season, use your spouse\u2019s email.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12- Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them up to dry<\/h3>\n<p>This is an old standby to ultimately reduce utility costs. There\u2019s energy (probably gas) to heat warm water and a lot of juice to run your dryer.<\/p>\n<p>I got great practice with this when I spent a few months circumnavigating a Costa Rican peninsula on foot. It wasn\u2019t by choice, but the cool mountain stream water was effective.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13- Shop around to see multiple quotes<\/h3>\n<p>Our HVAC went down last week in the office. It just so happened to be 90 degrees outside with 90% humidity. Tough to do dental work in those conditions. And although it was vital to get someone in to fix the issue right away, I still shopped around to 3 different companies.<\/p>\n<p>By making the 2 extra phone calls I was able to save an estimated $500. Well worth the warm extra 30 minutes.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">14- Use less toothpaste per brush<\/h3>\n<p>If you are flossing regularly and brushing well, you don\u2019t need heaps of toothpaste on the brush. Not only are you saving money, 1 out of 1 dentist says you\u2019re clinically good (my wife).<\/p>\n<p>Another idea is to ask your hygienist for an extra freebie during your next visit.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">15- Be your own handyman<\/h3>\n<p>You can save so much money by doing things on your own (fixing a leak, changing the oil, or snaking a drain). If you\u2019re not \u201chandy,\u201d then you can either ask a friend to help or hire some help once and ask them to teach you how to do it yourself next time.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">16- Clean with vinegar<\/h3>\n<p>Got this one from Mom. For years we\u2019d buy the name-brand cleaners then during one visit she suggested we use vinegar. I gave it a try the following week then called to tell her thanks! She said, \u201cNo problem. Glad it worked! You should\u2019ve listened to me sooner.\u201d She was claiming to have told me years ago\u2026 A child not take a parent\u2019s advice??? Doubtful.<\/p>\n<p>The best part \u2013 I can buy liters of vinegar for a fraction of the price of the cleaning items. And it\u2019s chemically safer than many others. Win-win.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">17- Use a Nalgene or other washable bottle<\/h3>\n<p>I bought 3 Nalgene bottles for that Costa Rican trip referenced above. That was 10 years ago and I still use those same three bottles to this day. Do you know how they illustrate the whole, \u201cThat amount of plastic bottles would wrap around the globe X times.\u201d Well, I have to be in the 4-digits of globe-wraps saved by this point. Not to mention the actual dollar cost.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">18- Audit your monthly subscriptions<\/h3>\n<p>Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple Music, Spotify, Blue Apron, etc. How many do you have and how many do you actually need? The former is probably &gt; the latter.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">19- Cut the proverbial cord<\/h3>\n<p>Speaking of monthly subscriptions, TV is one that we have struggled with for quite some time. I am happy to say that I\u2019ve reached the, \u201cHe\u2019s threatened to quit over the maximum threshold number of times,\u201d level so that we\u2019ve been awarded superb pricing. It\u2019s like beating the video game and then getting the cheat codes. We pay $62\/month for DirecTV and Internet. That\u2019s pretty good from what I\u2019ve seen.<\/p>\n<p>But to some that don\u2019t value having TV hooked up to all the live channels, that $31 for TV is still way too much. There are many streaming options out there, but just be careful not to stack so many of those on top of each other that you\u2019re right back to where you started.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">20- Free local festivals or parties<\/h3>\n<p>My household loves weekend activities. We hike, go to the parks, hit up the splash pad, and attend local festivals for the great community, free handouts, and mostly rockin\u2019 music. We\u2019re normally walking or biking, but we\u2019re always packing heat\u2026 In the form of deli sandwiches, trail mix, and protein bars (hot because they\u2019ve been in my backpack on a warm summer day). We don\u2019t typically take cash and even if we do, it rarely leaves our pockets.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">21- Ask for \u201cwants\u201d during the holidays or on your birthday<\/h3>\n<p>Rather than buying that cool thing you\u2019d love to have, ask for it during the holiday months or around your birthday. You save on cost and grandma gets what she wants: the opportunity to buy you something that you\u2019ll actually enjoy.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">22- Collect soaps from any hotel stays<\/h3>\n<p>This isn\u2019t limited to the income challenged folk among us. I have a set of relatives that do very well financially and every time they visit a hotel \u2013 they always come away with handfuls of soaps and toiletry items. They use them to set out in the guest bathroom at their house\u2026 A phenomenal idea, am I right?<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">23- No new makeup purchases until you\u2019ve used all of those free samples<\/h3>\n<p>I got this one from my sister-in-law and although I can confirm to never having used makeup, I wouldn\u2019t mind being a TV actor some day. (For the record, this is not a statement I have ever said to my wife\u2026)<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">24- Use the carpool lane<\/h3>\n<p>My day-job office is 30 minutes from our town. It just so happens that many of us live within 5 miles of each other. A great cost-savings approach is to carpool to work. Save on cost and indulge on community.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">25- Negotiate the ability to work 4 10-hour days<\/h3>\n<p>This may not be an option for everyone but if you\u2019ve built up some negotiating goodwill, it can\u2019t hurt to ask. That\u2019s 49 Friday\u2019s without the round trip, gas, and emotional energy spent gearing up for the office. (I gave you 3 weeks off)<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">26- Search for different utility providers in your area<\/h3>\n<p>Competition breeds excellence. And that holds true for utility providers. Especially when it comes to price competition. If you do have multiple providers, pit them against one another to see who earns your business.<\/p>\n<p>Learn valuable skills to build wealth, achieve a higher level of fitness, boost your business&#8217; profits, and more&#8230;&nbsp; All in support of a healthier YOU!<\/p>\n<p>By signing up you agree to receive regular emails with exclusive content, deals, and more! Unsubscribe at any time &#8211; and it is my honor to NOT SPAM your inbox (I promise)<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frugal tips for using taxes to your benefit<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1- Open a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)<\/h3>\n<p>The most popular version uses pre-tax income (from your paycheck) for healthcare expenses. We also take advantage of the version that can be used for dependent care expenses (daycare). Check with your employer!<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2- Ohio\u2019s Tax-Free Weekend<\/h3>\n<p>We live in Ohio but 16 states are offering this benefit. It is typically centered around the \u201cback to school\u201d season.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3- Hire an accountant<\/h3>\n<p>Depending on your experience and skill level with taxes, hiring an accountant may pay for herself in multiples. Personally, knowing that I have a professional whom I trust and that has my best interests in mind, frees me up to do things in our business that I otherwise wouldn\u2019t have the time to. Another huge benefit is a dramatic reduction in the likelihood of not taking full advantage of the tax code or filing incorrectly then paying penalties down the road.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4- Utilize credit card rewards<\/h3>\n<p>I am not a travel hacking guru but I literally make every purchase possible on our credit cards. Doing so allows us to take full advantage of the tax-free benefit that is: cash back in the form of a credit card reward. It\u2019s free, untaxed money. Go get some!<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5- Donate unused clothes and household items \u2013 then claim the deduction come tax time<\/h3>\n<p>Not only are you helping someone in need, but also you\u2019re claiming the deduction come April.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frugal tips for earning or saving more<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1- Ask for a raise at work<\/h3>\n<p>So many times people get caught up in spending less money or saving what they have coming in (which are both great) but forget about the option of opening up that income faucet. Unemployment is at a historic low right now and has recently crossed the threshold of there are more jobs available than qualified workers to fill them.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2- Never stop your education<\/h3>\n<p>Many of the wealthiest people in the world credit constant reading and education as a driver for their knowledge and wealth. If you want to be wealthy \u2013 learn all that you can for as long as you can.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3- Get your side hustle on<\/h3>\n<p>Another way to open that income faucet (other than earning a raise at work) is to start a side hustle. Here are 99 options to sort through.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4- Open a high yield savings account<\/h3>\n<p>Traditional savings accounts tout a paltry 0.06% average interest rate (that\u2019s sarcastic\u2026). Currently, high yield savings accounts range near the 1.7% \u2013 2.1% range. No, 2% is not a phenomenal investment opportunity. But when it comes to an emergency fund or some liquid amount of money, it\u2019s about 33(X) better than a traditional savings account.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5- Acorns<\/h3>\n<p>If you purchase an item for $_.75 (using a linked card), Acorns rounds up to the nearest dollar and automatically deposits the remaining $0.25 into your investment account. This is a great way to automate investing if you lack the time, ability, or general desire to do so.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6- Use an actual change jar<\/h3>\n<p>I have a colleague that puts her spare change (anything $1 and under) into her \u201cvacation jar\u201d at the end of each day. Come December, she takes a vacation using the funds in the jar. Some of the pictures from those vacations are featured on this blog. It\u2019s fair to say that I, too, love the savings jar.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/dollarsanity.com\/frugal-tips-to-make-you-wealthier-today\/\">\u200b\u200b67 Great Frugal Tips to Make You Wealthier Today<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/dollarsanity.com\">Dollarsanity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/dollarsanity.com\/frugal-tips-to-make-you-wealthier-today\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There was a point in my life when I\u2019d ask my college roommates to bring me back ketchup packets from their lunches out (#1). I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-302674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302674","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=302674"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/302674\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=302674"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=302674"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=302674"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}