I love to read about frugality. Most of the tips are useful, but some are so extreme, it’s ridiculous! Trade my car for a bicycle? (Get real!) Use homemade toilet paper? (Good Lord, never!) What I like are real-life, easy to implement ideas that most anyone can do. Here are 12 painless ways to cut your expenses:

1. Pay cash for everything.

Did you know most people spend more when using a credit card? By switching to cash, you will undoubtedly be more conscious and probably spend less. This tip works especially well for the conspicuous consumers among us. If you don’t have the cash, you can’t get into trouble, and most of us are in trouble and have tons of credit card debt.

2. Pare down to the basic essentials.

It is amazing what you can live without. Peek into your closet. See a bunch of over-priced clothes, shoes, and purses? The temptation to buy is fierce, I know. Many people are compulsive spenders and don’t even realize it. Try a No-Spend Week (or even a day)! Whatever you need can be bought on sale and usually with a coupon, too. Also, don’t forget the Used marketplace. There are wonderful options on Ebay and Amazon, especially for books and DVDs.  

 
3. Make a budget and stick to it.

If you’re constantly running low on money, getting overdraft and/or late fees, and paying high interest, you’re probably not following a budget. Make a list of every expense you have. This can be done on paper or online. (I use FreshBooks cloud accounting which allowed me to ditch the multiple filing cabinets and shoe boxes stuffed with receipts!) Pay for the essentials first, then splurge on a treat or two. If there is money left over, put it in savings. Try to spend less than you earn if at all possible.

4. Don’t buy expensive gifts.

If you’re crafty, make something. Tastefully re-gift. Buy sale and clearance items all year long and save them for birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. For instance, I try to only buy toys when Target has their huge sales in January and July. By doing that, I’m not scrambling for Hanukkah gifts in December.

5. Stay home more.

It’s amazing how many things you don’t know you are missing out on, if you’re not out window shopping. Staying home and out of the stores is the easiest way to avoid temptation.

6. Don’t eat out.

Cooking and eating at home is always cheaper, especially if you’re buying on sale, cooking in bulk, and using coupons. Stick to simple meals. Learn to cook and bake from scratch. Plan a menu.

 
7. Find ways to have free dates.

Date Night doesn’t always have to be an expensive dinner and a movie. Pack a picnic and go to the park. Go to a bookstore and browse together. Make some homemade drinks and play a game. The possibilities are almost endless on this one if you’re willing to looking into cheap and free entertainment.

8. Learn to utilize the library.

I love the library! I check out as many new books and DVDs as I want and never pay a cent. The only possible expensive is overdue fees, so return or renew promptly.

9. Pack a lunch.

If you, hubby, and/or the kids are buying lunch everyday, you can easily reduce expenses by packing something cheap and nutritious. If mornings are too crazy, pack it the night before. Check out this list of my favorite frugal snacks for inspiration.

10. Cut back on meat consumption. 

Every meal doesn’t have to be a Thanksgiving feast! There are many good meatless meals that are actually filling—pasta, pizza, veggies stir fry, soups, dinner salads, etc.

11. Learn to mend.

Dry cleaning and tailoring can be an enormous expense. In my area, it costs $25 to have a winter coat cleaned! Look into hand washing, Dryel kits, and teach yourself basic mending. I can’t do anything difficult, but anyone can sew on a button.

12. Share the wealth.

Why is it that every single person in a family has to have their own TV, cell phone, laptop, and car? 20 years ago, a family could easily get by sharing a single landline phone. (I know, because that’s how every family lived before cell phones!) Sure, we had to be respectful of other people’s needs and occasionally you had to wait for a call, but overall it was fine. There’s nothing wrong with sharing.

If you implement all of the above tips, you should also have a bit leftover which brings me to a bonus tip:

*SAVE*

Regardless of how little you have, put a little money in savings every month– even if it’s only $5. Try the 52 Week Challenge. By having funds available in an emergency, you will spare the expense of borrowing. (Think you’re super lucky and it won’t happen to you? Guess again. It happens to everyone at some point and being prepared can mean the difference between devastation and inconvenience).

 

Do you have any money saving tips?