9 Things We Do to Save Money

Other posts in this series…

• 16 Things We DON’T Do to in Order to Save Money
• 4 Things We Splurge On

We’re all about simple living! Today I’m sharing nine things we do to save money; if you’re looking for more money-saving tips, check out 16 Things We DON’T Do to in Order to Save Money. Let’s jump right in!

1 | We buy items in bulk

Riley has a Sam’s Club membership through work, but there are many other places to purchase items in bulk like Costco, Amazon, and Boxed. We head to Sam’s Club once every six weeks or so to stock up on household essentials–toilet paper, dish detergent, toothpaste, and many other items we use every day are far less expensive when purchased in bulk. If you don’t have time or an interest in shopping at one of these stores, take a look at the cost per ounce in your local grocery store. Almost without exception, buying a larger size of the same product is cheaper in the end.

2 | We use the library to rent books, DVDs, and audiobooks

A few days ago, I shared a photo of my local library on Instagram. It’s nothing fancy, but I have greatly enjoyed checking out books and renting DVDs and audiobooks for free using my library card. I have a Kindle, and like to use it when I travel, but I definitely prefer a “real book” when I’m reading at home. Taking advantage of my local library instead of buying books on Amazon or even renting DVDs through Redbox adds up to big savings in the end.

3 | We give and save first

Each month, Riley and I give a percentage of our income and save another percentage. These two “expenses” are the most important in our budget, and having them in place forces us to be very mindful about the rest of our finances. It may seem counterintuitive, but giving and saving are financial priorities for us, so it’s important to put them first. By doing so, we save money in the long run.

With our financial priorities identified, and then needing to pay our mortgage and other bills, we can only spend what’s left. If we didn’t give and save first, we’d likely spend too much and be unable to give or save at all. It’s not always easy, but those things are priorities for us, so we work around them. Basically: identify your financial priorities and stick to them. Doing so will help you budget and save you from spending money on extraneous items so that you can honor your priorities.

4 | We make our own laundry detergent and cleaners

I was so fed up with buying pricey laundry detergent every month or two that I began to search for an effective, homemade alternative. I pulled up this recipe from One Good Thing by Jillee (a blog I have followed for years), bought the ingredients, and made it. (I omitted the scent crystals and used OxiClean Free.) It’s stored in a giant glass jar in my laundry room, and using two tablespoons a load, I think it’ll last us at least 12-18 months. Not to mention, it works great. I’ve stopped purchasing laundry spray because the ingredients in this detergent get stains out on their own (even makeup on my white towels).

Anyway, I estimated that I was spending roughly $182/year on laundry supplies. By making my own detergent for $30, I’m saving about $152/year. That adds up over time!

Similarly, I use Young Living’s Thieves Household Cleaner to clean every surface of my house (my floors, windows, countertops, bathrooms, showers–everything). I decant just a capful of the cleaner into a 16oz glass spray bottle, fill the rest with water, and I have a powerful, natural, effective, safe cleaner. I bought my bottle of cleaner for $22 in September, use it every day, and it’s still more than halfway full. Roughly a year of cleaning for $22–again, the savings add up. (Not to mention how it simplifies my life not having to buy separate bottles of window/wood/bathroom/countertop/floor cleaner.)

5 |  We research + invest when purchasing something new

This way of thinking was instilled in me by my parents, and it’s something I will instill in my future children. Buying cheap junk because it’s cheap is rarely worth it in the long-run. When purchasing big ticket items, like technology or cars, or items that will get heavy use, like pots and pans, shoes, or handbags, it’s worth the time to do research and invest in the best option for our budget, not simply the cheapest. For us, this often means researching first, then saving up for several months, and then purchasing the item when we’re ready. Maintaining zero debt and buying things that will last requires patience, but it’s worth it!

We both have shoes that we’ve worn for 4+ years, I’ve carried my purse for 2+ years, our television is 4 years old, our pots and pans are 3 years old, etc, etc. We buy things that will last and we keep them for years!

6 | We take care of what we have

This point is tied greatly into number five. After investing in quality items, we take care of them! We keep things clean and well-maintained, we don’t leave things in places where they’ll get damaged or wear out, we buy cases and covers when we can, etc. An example of this “philosophy” are our kitchen knives. We have two high-end, high-quality knives that we use almost exclusively. Every time we use one, we wash the blade, dry it, and put it away. They never go in the dishwasher, and we sharpen the blades when they dull. They look as good as they day we got them! In this buy-cheap-and-throw-it-away culture, it’s nice to invest and take care of what we have.

7 | We invite friends over instead of going out

If friends invite us out to dinner at a restaurant, we’ll happily go and enjoy it! But, if we’re initiating a get-together, we often invite people over for dinner in our home. Both Riley and I love to cook, so we’re happy to put together a big meal and dessert for friends! Not only does dinner at home save money (it still costs something, of course, but is far less expensive than appetizers/dinner/dessert/drinks out), but I also think at-home dinner parties are more casual, comfortable, and tend to facilitate better conversations than restaurants.

8 | We communicate daily about finances

Riley and I communicate every day about our finances. It’s not a sensitive/taboo subject in our marriage because it’s such a frequent and casual topic of conversation. What bill needs to be paid, what expenses we have coming up, when I’m getting paid, when he’s getting paid, whose birthday is around the corner etc, etc. We have the same bank accounts, but even still, it’s important to us to stay on the exact same page. We usually have a brief, lighthearted, five-minute conversation over lunch, dinner, or before bed daily. Knowing that finances can be a huge point of contention in marriage has made us very intentional about having these casual conversations.

9 | We eat at home

I know I’ve mentioned this 1,000 times in other posts, but it’s critical. Eating out is so expensive! When Riley and I go out for dinner, we almost always spend at least $50+ when all is said and done–and that’s at a casual restaurant, not a formal one. That adds up fast…just four meals out totals $200+. We love date nights at restaurants, but save them for every once in a while, not every night. Instead, we eat at home the majority of the time and save hundreds of dollars.

// Those are all the things we do in order to save money! What about you?

Related: 16 Things We DON’T Do to in Order to Save Money and 4 Things We Splurge On

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