There are several words that have been floating around lately. Fearful words like recession, depression, financial crisis, and inflation. Honestly, I don’t like when people try to predict the future yet on the other hand I want to do my part and be prepared. I am thankful that in this particular issue I am already a black belt. Yes, my training has been in raising six children on one income. I am so excited to share with you 101 Recession-Proof Ways To Save Money Around The House!
101 Recession-Proof Ways To Save Money Around The House
- Set your thermostat two degrees lower than normal in the winter and two degrees higher (before the air conditioner kicks on) in summer.
- Crease the toilet paper roll in half before placing it into the toilet paper holder in the bathroom. It will make it more difficult to get a lot of toilet paper off the roll. A little deterrence goes a long way with children who like to use a softball size wad of toilet paper!
- Rethink your habits. Ahem… like a coffee, ice cream, or a shopping habit. It’s never too late to adjust, learn new strategies and change our habits. My husband has a five-cup-a-day coffee habit that he “adjusted” by making his own coffee at home…no more purchasing coffee around town for him. The quality of a cuppa is superior now!
- Take a class on foraging. Most are offered free through state parks and extension agencies! Then get the family involved and enjoy! I especially love wild mushrooms and dandelion greens (which freeze especially well)!
- Take care of your wardrobe. Make your clothes last longer by mending, washing only when dirty, and line drying for a start. Purchase clothes that you love and fit well.
- Don’t leave any residue in bottles, jars, and containers. This goes for personal care products as well as food. Those last drips and drops make a difference, it takes a bit more time but will save you money. If you are in a rush add a little water and swish around to remove the very last drop!
- Make homemade gifts. This one will mean a lot to those who receive your special creation!
- Join a Credit Union.
- Cut down on your meat consumption by adding a few vegetarian meals a week or by halving the meat and doubling the vegetables in recipes.
- Borrow instead of purchase and please make sure to return whatever you borrowed in better condition than you got it in. Top up a tank of gas or deep clean and repair.
- Make your own cleaning supplies. It will be healthy and literally only takes moments to mix up!
- Follow the Pantry Principle.
- Learn how to sew and save a bundle. I learned to sew from my mom and then refined and improved with Mrs. Wessel my seventh-grade Home Economics teacher. The whole area of teaching life skills is now non-existent in public schools and in my opinion in dire need of reinstatement. There are many other free online resources that will teach you and your children how to sew. Have some fun and check them out!
- Make a grocery list and stick to it.
- Thrift your home decor!
- Ok, now this is getting personal, and let it be known that I have trouble with this. Drive at a consistent speed and you will save money on gas. The speed limit is an optimal way to achieve this.
- Make everything from scratch. It will save you loads and you will be healthier!
- Join a Freecycle group in your area.
- Do your research, and look at the ratings before you make a purchase.
- Carpool.
- Reduce beauty spending by having your hair cut, dyed, nails (manicure and pedicure), hair removal, and facials by using your local career center. They are supervised at all times.
- Use your library card frequently! Ask your library to purchase books you want to read. Check out artwork to hang on your walls at home. Borrow books from other libraries and universities in your state using the inter-library loan program. Use your library’s subscriptions to streaming services to listen, watch and read for free, check out digital downloads of books or get the actual cd from the library. Check out movies and video games and of course, check out lots and lots of books!
- Cook in bulk and make freezer meals and save money in the kitchen.
- Have a home energy audit.
- Don’t waste food.
- Make a price book for groceries and frequently purchased items. Make a commitment to find the lowest price and mark the price, weight, and store in your book. I use a google doc for mine and am constantly updating it when I find new bargains.
- Try the “No-Poo” method of cleaning your hair.
- Reuse anything and everything that you can. Get creative!
- Get rid of your landline and only use your cell phone.
- Buy in bulk.
- Grow your own food. Bring back the Victory Garden and make sure to get the kids involved to maximize the fun!
- Learn how to preserve your food through canning, drying, and freezing.
- Own a chicken.
- Price check and lower your home, health, and auto insurance.
- Learn how to repair things. There are so many wonderful youtube videos that can teach you how to fix virtually anything even if you are not handy.
- Use the Fetch Rewards App. Every other grocery app was dependent on what brand names and where I shopped but not Fetch. I can shop anywhere (including the Thrift Store) and earn 25points every time I snap a receipt. I can earn more points for name-brand deals they have going on but honestly, I earn money just because I snap every receipt. 25 points add up quickly and I love the FREE gift cards I earn to save even more money. You get 2,000 points to start off with when you use my Fetch code NEE31!!!
- Make your own candles.
- Join Costco and get the executive membership and earn two percent back on all of your purchases. We receive a check each year that covers our membership fee!
- Insulate your home.
- Add more beans and rice to your diet. These two ingredients together form a complete protein!
- Hire an accountant to do your taxes, I promise it will pay for itself!
- Read the book “The Buy Nothing Get Everything Plan”.
- Use kitchen scraps to make vegetable broth. Keep a container in your freezer so that you can save all your scraps and make delicious homemade broth to use in all kinds of recipes!
- Walk to stores and buy local, the walking part may not be possible for everyone but the buying local definitely is. Local businesses usually are cheaper since they don’t pay shipping costs.
- Go to the extra-large lady’s and men’s section of your thrift store and use the shirts, dresses, and skirts as inexpensive fabric. Vintage sheets are also another great source of cheap fabric.
- Make sure to use money-saving LED lightbulbs!
- Don’t purchase bottled water. Get a stainless steel water bottle and a stainless steel coffee mug and you will save big by eliminating drink purchases.
- Make sure you have free checking and savings accounts without fees.
- Get your car repaired or have the oil changed at your local career center and save BIG!
- Portion control is something we should all be considering. Reducing your portions to the recommended size will help you remain healthy and secure savings.
- Make your own hand cream.
- Make it a game to only have one lightbulb on in your home at a time.
- Sew one outfit for your child this year.
- Freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray. Remove the cubes and keep them in a freezer bag for iced coffee or when a recipe calls for coffee as an ingredient.
- Grow your own herbs. A packet of seeds is the best value around and plus its so much fun!
- Go old school for children’s birthday parties. Play pin the tail on the donkey. Bake a homemade cake. Have a scavenger hunt. Have the kids make/craft their own party favor. Have the children decorate their own cupcakes.
- Explore zero waste options for everything you can think of.
- Make and keep to a budget.
- Read books about personal finance, and extreme frugality as well as history books about how people in the past made it through difficult times.
- Learn how to use a crossbow and hunt for your own meat.
- Use a cash-only envelope system.
- Save hundreds of dollars a year in medical costs by using essential oils. You cannot afford NOT to use natural solutions!
- Shop online auctions, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace.
- Embrace a DIY lifestyle. You can learn to do anything on YouTube!
- Watch out for sales at the thrift store.
- Subscribe to the Money Saving Mom’s Newsletter.
- Make your own sausage using offal.
- Unplug everything in your home before you go to bed each night.
- Shop the curb.
- Replace your body lotion with coconut or sesame oil.
- Take the $1,000 Challenge.
- Use a financial tracking system.
- Purchase used vehicles.
- If you carry a balance on a credit card, find a no-interest for a year credit card, and transfer your balance to it.
- Pack your lunch.
- Make sure you don’t have duplicate coverage within your insurance policies.
- Purchase your gas at Costco.
- Ride your bike when running errands.
- Replace plastic cling wrap by making your own beeswax wraps.
- Take Financial Peace University.
- Cancel your magazine subscriptions and ask the library to purchase the magazines instead.
- Get a roommate or rent out a room in your home.
- Go through your bank statement to find automated recurring charges that you may have forgotten about. Evaluate whether you need the products or services anymore.
- Learn to say NO…this could save you millions!
- Sell all the duplicates you have floating around your home.
- Cancel cable.
- Look into family cell phone plans.
- Purchase a AAA membership!
- Use a hot water heater blanket.
- Look into your state’s Extention Agency to find out what freebies they offer to residents.
- Shut the heat registers in empty rooms in your home.
- Host a clothes swap…hand me downs are the best!
- When you do make purchases make sure you always buy on sale and use coupons to maximize the savings.
- Use cloth diapers.
- Read The Complete Tightwad Gazette!
- Set up a Flexible Spending Account to reduce medical costs.
- Babysit swap with trustworthy, safe family and friends!
- Adopt a “plan ahead” mindset. (This one has been particularly hard for me but I am learning so I suppose that’s the important thing.)
- Make packing a picnic a habit.
- Check out all the free days offered around your town for loads of family fun throughout the year!
- Stock up with BOGO’s! (Buy One Get One Free)
In closing, I want to encourage you to take small steps and make them consistent before moving on to other new ideas and skills. There are 101 money-saving ideas here and the sheer number could easily overwhelm you.
Another truth that will soothe your soul when approaching personal finance is to understand how the world really works. God our Father in heaven is our ultimate provider. No recession or depression catches Him off guard. He is in control and He will provide for you and your family. Don’t let fear steal your joy…
YOUR TURN…
How are you recession-proofing your home? I’d love to hear your ideas so make sure to comment below!
Blessings,
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Thanks for another great post!
Thank you, I needed this!