Is your budget belt pulled as tight as it can go? If you answered yes, then it’s time to make some changes! Try some of the creative ways to save money outlined in this post…
Then, you can join those “other” families, like the “Jones’s”…
You know…the ones who also drive fancy, expensive cars, take weekend shopping trips in Paris and carry Coach purses.
But here’s the secret they don’t want you to know…
The Joneses are flat broke!
There is no money tree in their backyard…
They have giant mortgages, large car payments and credit card debt up to their eyeballs…
They are working 80+ hours a week just to make payments on those things that we all look to so longingly.
Is it worth it? Is that what life is really about?
Working ALL THE TIME just to make payments on things that we really don’t need for our survival?
I don’t think so!
That’s why I try to be as frugal as possible. I don’t want to give all of our hard earned money away!
I want to use it for fun…for experiences and for life. Not for some silly purse that is going to go out of style by the end of the year.
And if you want to stop working so hard, then you have to stop throwing away your money, too!
No one should have to work 80+ hours a week to survive…to be happy…to feel fulfilled.
Get crafty and be a little more self-sufficient, instead of depending on the almighty dollar to buy it for you. Then, you won’t have to work so hard.
You’ll have more time for fun, more time for experiences and more time to spend enjoying your life!
Now, how does that sound for happiness and fulfillment?
Good?
I thought so!
So, let’s start saving!
12 Creative Ways to Save Money
Create a monthly budget that works for you
Kinda key, here. If you don’t give your money a job, it’s just going to disappear, so be sure to create a good monthly budget that you can follow.
Make a menu plan and stick to it
Seriously! Your grocery spending is very likely one of the largest categories on your budget. Creating a menu plan for week to week or better yet, a monthly meal plan can save you a TON of money throughout the year.
Make your own herbal teas
If you’re a tea drinker, you can easily spend a ton of money buying new and different tea packages from the store. Learn to make your own herbal tea mixes to save money all year long.
How to Save Money on Electricity
Right up there with the grocery budget is often our utilities. Read this post learn how to save money on your electric bill every single month!
Make your own dog treats
Fido’s gotta eat, too! And dog treats are EXPENSIVE! Make your own with this simple 2-Ingredient recipe.
Cook and bake from scratch
Try to make your food at home as often as possible. Homemade food and baked goods are so much better for your family and they cost just pennies to make compared to buying prepacked treats.
Make your own dishwasher detergent
Yes, really! Dishwasher tables are crazy prices, so why not make your own with just a few simple ingredients you probably already have at home?
Make your own laundry soap
Laundry soap is another huge part of your grocery budget, especially if you have a large family. Try my super simple recipe for a homemade detergent that really works!
Keep a running grocery list
Spending too much on impulse purchases at the store? Keep a running grocery list on your fridge to keep better track of the items you really need.
Make homemade cleaning supplies for around the house
Store-bought cleaning supplies are often full of chemicals anyway. So, why not make your own cleaning supplies using ingredients that aren’t toxic?!
Start a vegetable garden
There’s a reason Grandma always had a vegetable garden and the reason is…it’s super cheap to grow your own food! Whether you choose to buy started plants or seeds, you can save a TON of money by growing your own veggies.
Freeze your homegrown vegetables for the winter or learn to can for even longer storage!
Don’t waste the harvest! If you can’t eat it all throughout the season, then learn to freeze all of your vegetables, like green beans, pumpkin and potatoes or learn to can to make pickles, jellies and more!
Try out these creative ways to save money and I’ll bet you’ll have saved hundreds, if not thousands of dollars by the end of the year…plus, you’ll have picked up a whole bunch of new, useful skills!
Good Luck!
More Money Saving Tips:
- New Year, New Budget: Three Small Goals To Save Money In 2022
- 201+ Ways To Save Money At The Grocery Store
- Save Money on Groceries Without Using Coupons
Have a Great Day!
~Vanessa

Vanessa Hamlin is the owner and founder of Food Life Design and VLHamlinDesign. With her passion for frugal living and homesteading, Vanessa loves to write about easy recipes, making money, gardening, home remedies and everything else that a good life entails! When she’s not writing for Food Life Design or creating products for VLHamlinDesign, you’ll find Vanessa reading, drawing, gardening, cooking or spending time with her family.
5 Tips on How to Save Money Fast - VLHamlin
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
[…] Garbage, which shows a sneaky way to stretch your grocery budget. Then, the other day I showed you 12 Creative Ways to Save Money, which shares a bunch of great ways that you can DIY around the house to save some cash. But, I […]