More than just some people like to save money. But what does it mean to save money around your house? Does it always suggest buying the cheapest items? What if I could give you some great frugal life hacks that could save you money in the long run.
Would you be interested? Even if it meant you might have to spend a little more upfront?
Spending more money up front to save money later is a concept I get on board with. I prefer good quality that will last a long time rather than have to replace something when it breaks, wears out, or gets dirty.
Call them frugal life hacks or just plain common sense!
Led light bulbs
According to Popular Mechanics, LED lightbulbs last five times longer than a conventional light bulb and use a fraction of the electricity. These lightbulbs have come down in price DRASTICALLY since they first came out.
Amazon has a great price on these LED bulbs, and you can find them in bulk.
Solar lights for outside
Years ago, my husband wired sidewalk lights for his aunt. There were so many issues with those lights. Now, you can get solar lights to light up your house and yard without the use of electricity.
They are powered by the sun and even in (way) Upstate NY; we get plenty of sunshine to power our lights. Check them out at Amazon.
Dryer balls
A while back, I did a little experiment with towels and dryer balls. I washed a load of 12 towels and separated them into two groups. I put six in with the dryer balls and six without.
The ones WITH the dryer balls dried 10 minutes faster than the ones without. If this happens with every load of wash, that’s a LOT of energy saved! I got mine through my friend Stacey and Norwex, but Amazon sells them, too!
Produce fresh bags
I have been getting Misfits fruits and veggies delivered to my house twice a month. If you haven’t heard about Misfits (here is my link for a coupon), they are a company who deliver imperfect organic fruits and veggies to your door.
I have been getting them for MONTHS and do not see any imperfections!
I also wrote a great blog post on how to save money and eat organic.
I like to keep them in these produce bags so that they don’t go bad. I am sure I’m not the only one who has had to throw out the cucumbers because they turned to much in the veggie drawer.
Low flow shower head
A low flow showerhead is going to save you money not only on your water bill but also on your HOT WATER bill. The trick is to do some reading to see which shower head still has some decent water pressure.
If you are used to good water pressure, this might take some adjustment. But for the price of this showerhead, you really can’t say no to savings!! Check out Amazon or go to your local home improvement store to see what they recommend.
Rechargeable batteries
These rechargeable batteries are brilliant. With a boy in the house who plays Xbox (only on vacations and weekends), we used to go through a lot of batteries.
Since we invested in the rechargeable ones, we have seen a drastic cut in how many batteries we go through. We use them for everything. Amazon has quite a selection, including their own brand.
Don’t forget the charging dock!
Programmable thermostat
We had one of these when we moved into the house 17 years ago and shockingly enough, it is still going strong. We secretly (maybe not so secretly) want it to give up so we can invest in a Nest. Those are pretty awesome.
This will enable you to regulate the temperature when you are not home and sleeping, saving you money on your heating and cooling costs.
There is a big assortment of these on Amazon, and they are even still making the one that we have.
Cloth napkins
I do not buy paper napkins. I have had cloth napkins for over ten years! If you are even a little crafty, you can sew your own out of clearance fabric or just pick up a set of pretty cloth napkins from Amazon.
I have not spent the money on paper napkins in over ten years. And the fabric probably cost me less than $10!
Glass storage
No more buying plastic containers that you melt in the microwave and recycle only to buy more. No more zip bags and plastic wrap. Just some Anchor or Pyrex dishes to use over and over.
I have not been a fan of plastic for some time. I believe there are a lot of issues (including health0 with plastic, so I have worked very hard to find alternatives.
These glass dishes are one of the greatest investments I have ever made.
Spend the money once be set for life. Even glass mason jars work great for leftovers!!
Reusable coffee mug
I love my reusable coffee mug… It is PINK! I think it goes just about everywhere with me. Not only can I fill it at home to save me from buying a coffee out, but I can also save money when I buy at a convenience store or Starbucks.
It saves me money, and it has been around a long time.
I also have a thermal mug that I use at home. My Yeti mug with a handle and a lid was pretty affordable as far as Yeti stuff goes.
Perfect frugal life hack!
It is excellent when I am hanging around the house because it keeps my coffee warm if I am busy and get distracted. That way, I am not reheating in the microwave or worse, throwing it out for a hot, fresh cup.
I got my reusable cups and mugs at Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods, but Amazon sure does have a great selection!
Energy saving appliances
Any energy-saving appliance is going to be a great improvement. From toasters to microwaves to hair dryers! Any time you replace an appliance, make sure it is more energy efficient than the last.
Confirm they are Energy Star Certified. You could be looking at hundreds of dollars!
Consider updating older appliances even if they are still running. Upgrades will cost you now but save for you in the long run.
Deep freezer
Purchasing a freezer has saved me so much money! I can go grocery shopping every two weeks saving on gas and time. I can stock up on sales for meat as well as freeze the berries that I pick, and the veggies that I get from my Misfits Box talked about above.
I also buy two turkeys during Thanksgiving when they are on sale. I couldn’t do that without a decent freezer.
On-demand water heater
We have had an on-demand water heater since we moved into our house 17 years ago. I love it. We heat with propane, and that applies not only our furnace but our hot water tank.
I believe it has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. If its time to change out the water heater, consider on demand!
Quality flooring
We are shopping for flooring right now. Renovations upstairs are almost done and its time to look into the carpet. We could go with the cheapest.
It is upstairs so the more affordable carpet might be ok (reduced traffic, no shoes, no dog upstairs) but I do not want to have to replace it in 5 years.
So we are going with a moderately priced, quality carpet.
Consider a laminate or ceramic tile for your flooring. The life expectancy can be much longer than carpeting.
Consider spending a little more on the new flooring so it saves replacement costs and will last longer than the cheap stuff!
A good mattress
You spend one-third of your life in bed and another one third wanting to be in bed (or is that just me?). Invest in your health and your body by purchasing a quality mattress that will last the next 20 years.
I have spoken to so many that have failed themselves by spending cheap and regretted it. I know mattresses are not cheap. But it is a huge favor to you’re well being by getting good sleep.
New windows
No longer do we feel a draft when we put our hands to the window in February. All of our windows have been replaced. It took years to complete, but we have done it, little by little.
Gone are the days of putting plastic window insulation up every late fall and rolling up towels to insulate.
The money we are saving must be astronomical! I can’t imagine the amount of heat lost!!
TV antenna
I know, I know. Kickin’ it old school here. But TV antennas are making a HUGE comeback!!
With the price of cable continuing to go up and the streaming services available, people are not willing to pay for services they don’t need. We have contemplated an antenna just for the local channels.
Talk about a frugal life hack! TV for around $20 – for life!!!
I am still working on this with my husband. There are a few of the channels he still really likes. Send positive cable cutting vibes, please!!
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