Does living cheaply mean you have to say “no” to the things you really want? No, not necessarily. But let’s face it: pretty much everything is expensive. From rent and utilities to toilet paper and underwear, there are things you must pay for in order to survive.
So do you want to learn how to live cheaply so that you can afford those other things? The fun things, like trips to the movie theater and the occasional weekend getaway?
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to cut back on your everyday expenses
- Ideas to make your lifestyle fit your budget
- How to negotiate to get the best deals
Ready to be your neighborhood’s resident cheapskate? Here’s what you need to know about living cheaply.
1. Move out of your apartment.
Depending on where you live, you may be paying way too much in rent. That’s particularly true if you live in an apartment complex.
Many rental agencies charge twice (or more) the price of a single family home, simply because the complex offers amenities. Take a look at where you live. Do you have tennis courts? A pool? Gated security?
Think about moving. Single family homes in rural areas cost much less than those upscale apartment complexes. Sure, there are additional costs like yard maintenance and trash pickup. But you can save a lot of money if you carefully examine the housing market in your area.
2. Do you need a whole apartment, anyway?
One of the best ways to live cheaply is just to rent a room! College students, single people and even newlyweds can live very cheaply by renting a space from a homeowner.
This space doesn’t necessarily have to be just one room, either. Many families own homes that feature suites, sometimes called in-law suites. Others may have guest houses they’re willing to rent.
By renting from a homeowner, you can save thousands of dollars each year, giving you money to do the things you really want to do.
3. Buy a cookbook.
Or check one out from your local library. You’re spending way too much money eating out if you don’t know how to cook basic meals. I’m going to be honest with you – cooking is really easy! Anyone who tells you they could burn water simply hasn’t tried.
All you need to create a well-seasoned meal is a little salt, pepper and garlic. Everything else is just there for you to experiment. Buy pasta, canned and frozen veggies, beans, meat products and rice. Then, go to town! Cookbooks will give you plenty of ideas, but here are just a few:
- Chicken breast with frozen peas and egg noodles on the side
- Tuna mixed with frozen peas, onions, mayo and bowtie pasta
- Ground beef mixed with canned spaghetti sauce served over fettucine
- Egg salad wrapped in whole wheat tortillas
- Breakfast for supper (eggs, pancakes and inexpensive sausage are great!)
Use your imagination and keep some cheap staples on hand. Pretty soon you’ll be whipping up tasty meals in no time!
4. Drink water.
This might sound like an odd thing to have on this list, but let’s assume you drink one bottled soft drink each day. Assuming you’re paying around $1.50 for that drink, skipping it means a savings of almost $550 every year! That’s a big deal!
Keep in mind that when I say you should drink water, that doesn’t include bottled water. Bottled water is super expensive. Instead, get a good stainless steel or BPA free plastic water bottle and keep it filled up throughout the day. It’s good for your health, and you may even lose weight!
5. Lose weight.
Speaking of losing weight, did you know dropping a few pounds can help you live more cheaply? And the other way around, too. Living cheaply can help you lose weight.
When you maintain a healthy weight, you’re going to save on healthcare expenses. You just are. There will be fewer joint pains, heart problems and even respiratory diseases. Your pregnancies will be healthier. And you’ll be less prone to suffering depression. As an added benefit, your health insurance premiums will go down.
You’re going to save money on food. Because you’ll be eating less.
And you’re going to live more cheaply because you’re buying smaller clothing sizes, and fewer outfits. Once you’ve reached a healthy weight, your size will be less likely to fluctuate. Additionally, plus sized clothing costs more in some cases.
6. Dumpster dive.
I’m serious! It’s not as gross as it sounds. And while I don’t recommend foraging for food in your local dumpster, there are plenty of treasures you’ll find just waiting for you to pick up.
Once every week or so, or just as you’re inspired to, take a tour of your local apartment complex dumpster areas. Particularly in high-end complexes and in college towns, you’ll find oodles of treasures. I’ve found flat screen televisions with two or three pixels out. I’ve found furniture – enough to fill a two bedroom home. I’ve even found, new in packaging, the full West Wing box set.
Before you explore, make sure dumpster diving is legal in your area. Getting a ticket or posting bail is not conducive to living cheaply.
7. Cut up your credit card.
Credit cards are trouble. They equate to spending money you don’t have, paying ridiculous interest rates and accruing late fees if you can’t make a payment. Most of these credit card issuers even charge you… to pay your bill!
Cut up your credit card, and opt to pay cash. Look at it this way: if you can’t afford it… you can’t afford it! If there’s a purchase you’d really like to make, save your money and pay for it outright. Don’t rely on credit to maintain the lifestyle you think you want.
If you’re trying to build your credit to get a job, buy a home or lease a car, find a prepaid credit card with a refundable deposit and no annual fee. Check the interest rates, too. Then, use common sense and don’t overspend. Make sure you pay your bills on time, every time.
8. Don’t pay for entertainment.
There are so many free things you can do. So many. You don’t have to go to the bar, the theater or the theme park to have fun. Here are a few ideas of very cheap or free ways you can live cheaply with entertainment.
- Go geocaching. Find a well-cached area and walk, don’t drive.
- Visit the park.
- Go hiking.
- Look for shells to sell to gift shops. (Say that three times fast.)
- Borrow a friend’s tent and go camping.
- Play video games at retail stores.
- Volunteer with a non-profit.
- Read a book. (They’re free at the library!)
- Go for a jog.
- Take pictures and sell them online.
- Start a blog.
There are oodles upon oodles of free activities you can do to keep yourself entertained. Use your imagination – you may find a new favorite hobby!
9. Take a free class.
Your local civic center, community center or community college offers some great resources. You can take free classes in everything from animal husbandry to tax accounting. Take advantage of that!
By learning skills for free, you can save money on expenses you’d ordinarily encounter. For instance, you can learn how to create an awesome garden, or how to refinish furniture.
In addition to using these skills yourself, you can turn that knowledge around and make money. Do someone else’s taxes this year. Sew someone’s curtains. You’ll never know what skills you’ll learn until you check out the classes that are available.
10. Learn how to negotiate.
Negotiations aren’t just for used car dealerships. Pretty much everything is negotiable. You just need to know who to ask.
Generally speaking, people think it’s time-consuming to speak to a manager to get the best deal on an item. However, talking to “the boss” can allow you to negotiate on tons of things. For instance:
- Bruised produce or dented cans at the grocery store
- Fresh produce in bulk at the farmer’s market
- Appliances with chips or dings at the thrift store
- Furniture that’s been used as a floor model
- Clothing that’s going out of season
- Your rent, in exchange for repairs or other services
- Anything you’re paying cash for
In short, don’t ever be afraid to ask! You can negotiate some awesome deals simply by asking the right person.
11. Don’t waste your valuable time.
There are about a million websites out there that will try to convince you that you can earn money by answering survey questions or even playing games. Don’t fall for it. As the saying goes, time is money, and the time you spend giving your personal information away is time you could be spent much more productively.
Rather than sharing your information with people who will just sell it, take a free class or read a book that advances your career. As you try to live cheaply, you should always be mindful of whether there’s a better way to spend your valuable time.
12. Shop at the right stores.
There are some things you should never buy used: toilet paper and shoes are two good examples of this. But for everything else, consider your options. You can buy many items at discount stores for much less than you’d buy at the bigger name stores. However, there are many things you can find at thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets.
Clothes are an example of something you should never buy new. You can find great brands in thrift stores and only pay a few dollars per item. Yard sales are another great venue to shop. You’ll find electronics, appliances and even bicycles right in your neighbor’s yard.
Flea markets are common in many areas. Vendors who set up stalls at flea markets may very well sell a few items you don’t really need. However, you can frequently find books (though you should be getting these from the library), dishes and much more at flea markets.
Shopping used is also great for the planet. The United States alone dumps 13.1 million tons of clothing into landfills every year. That’s not to mention the water and carbon footprint every item of clothing leaves. Buy used and save money – and the planet.
13. Bank wisely.
Having a checking account and a savings account is usually a good idea. After all, there’s nothing secure about stashing your money in a sock under your mattress. However, many bank accounts can be expensive. Between ATM withdrawal fees and overdraft charges, you might be spending too much money on banking.
Before you open a bank account, consider your options. If you already have a bank account, be sure you’re not paying too much. Look into your local credit union or community bank, as many of these institutions offer plans that cost nothing. Free ATM withdrawals and interest-bearing checking accounts are two examples of how a credit union can save (or make) you money.
When possible, stay away from the “poor credit” banks. Instead, ask a family member to co-sign with you on an account at a more financially sound bank. And never, ever sign up for secured debit cards that carry high interest rates and annual fees. You’re better off saving money in an interest-bearing savings account.
14. Get in tune with nature.
What do you do for entertainment? Do you watch movies at the theater? Go to the pub with friends? Eat out with your partner?
Well, these things all have one thing in common: they cost money! Instead of taking part in activities like these, why not get in touch with your inner outdoorsman? There are oodles of activities you can do for little to no money once you just step outside the door.
Some outdoor activities do require an initial investment. For instance, if you want to camp you may have to visit your local thrift shop for a tent. If you want to hike, you’ll need a good, supportive pair of shoes. But there are plenty of things you can do that cost next to nothing. Consider:
- Swimming
- Bird watching
- Geocaching (on foot)
- Kite flying
- Simply sitting on a blanket in the park
Of course, you can’t spend every day outdoors. On rainy or snowy days, take a trip to the library and check out a book about your next outdoor adventure.
15. Partner with friends.
Who wouldn’t want to live more cheaply? No one, that’s who. So why not partner up with your friends and use teamwork to save money together.
Some examples of ways you can partner to live cheaply are:
- Carpooling to work, school or any other place
- Sharing a grocery budget and cooking together
- Considering a roommate arrangement
- Take out of town trips together and split the hotel cost
- Share clothing – double the wardrobe!
16. Barter for services.
Not everyone lives in a “barter economy.” However, you can score some significant deals and live cheaply if you consider bartering with others for services.
Not sure what that means? Well, here are a few examples of ways you can barter.
- Offer childcare services in exchange for sharing a streaming video account.
- Work at your local gym for a few hours each week in exchange for a membership.
- Provide help to a neighbor who’s moving in exchange for the furniture he no longer wants.
- Offer landscaping help to your neighbor in exchange for borrowing his pressure washer.
- Provide after-hours cleaning service in exchange for a discount on daycare expenses.
There are plenty of ways you can barter with others to help you live more cheaply. Just use your imagination!
17. Don’t vacation. Staycation.
Do you have a week of vacation time saved up that you’re not sure how to use? Why not plan a staycation? There’s nothing saying you’ve got to travel to exotic destinations during your week off. Instead, save money and stay home.
Now, that’s not to say a staycation has to be boring. Quite the opposite, actually. Take some time and explore places you wouldn’t otherwise go. Visit the horse farm with the kids, or check out the free Movies on the Lawn event downtown.
Check your local digital newspaper and Facebook groups for events and activities in the area, then plan to do a few things that are different from your norm.
18. Frequent trade schools.
There are some things that you just need to do now and then. If you have a car, you’re going to need an oil change. If you have hair, you’re going to need it cut.
Rather than go to pricey repair shops and beauty salons, take advantage of local trade schools. You can score cheap – or free – haircuts, car repairs, electrical and plumbing services and more. Your community college will offer services for pennies on the dollar by allowing (supervised) students to perform them for you.
19. Never stop learning.
The more you know, they more self-sufficient you’ll be. You don’t necessarily have to go get a college degree to learn, either. Instead, use the other resources around you.
- Ask your uncle to teach you to change your own oil.
- Ask your sister to teach you to sew.
- Take a community college class so you can do your own taxes.
- Volunteer with a group like Habitat for Humanity to learn DIY skills
- Register for a free online class to learn coding.
You’ll eventually come to realize that the more you know, they more easily you can live cheaply. You’ll be doing things yourself, from gardening to cutting your kids’ hair. Best of all, you may even be able to turn those skills into paying side gigs.
Summary
Learning to live cheaply is a lifestyle change, sure. But by taking simple steps, you can cut down your everyday expenses and save money. Use your imagination and don’t be afraid to share your budget with others. The more support you have from friends, the more you’ll be able to live on a tight budget.
