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Image Source: Shutterstock Senior programs are slowly shrinking across the United States. There are suddenly fewer services or higher fees for programs that many older Americans used to rely on. For retirees living on fixed incomes, even small disruptions can have major consequences. Here are the five biggest ways state budget gaps are reducing senior programs and what older adults need to watch for. 1. Reduced Funding for Meal and Nutrition Services Many states are cutting […]
Frugality often comes with a set of “rules” that, while generally sound, don’t always work for everyone. Sometimes, spending more or disregarding conventional money-saving advice is the most practical and economical option in the long run. Here are a few unconventional frugal living tips that defy traditional wisdom but make perfect sense in real life. Major Caveat: Please don’t take these examples as an excuse to spend more money or buy things you don’t need. They worked for people (real people, if you must know), but that doesn’t mean they will work for you. The point of this article is to emphasize that every person’s life and situation are unique, and therefore, their frugal living strategy will be unique as well. Make Your Own All-Purpose Cleaner When life gives you lemons, make an affordable bottle of cleaning solution. There are tons of products, like baking soda, vinegar, and lemons, that you can mix together for a DIY cleaning spray. They often work just as well without any of the chemical smell or residue. You can even mix things up and customize the scent with different citrus or essential oils. Drinking Only at Bars This may sound counterintuitive, but choosing to drink only in social settings like bars can help curb other spending habits. It prevents mindless online shopping or late-night spending sprees that often accompany home drinking. The tab might be higher per drink, but the overall savings from avoiding impulse purchases can make up for it. You will also hopefully drink less and save money by not buying alcohol for your house. Spending to Support What You Value Sometimes, it’s worth spending more to support local businesses, farms, or institutions you care about. It might be more expensive to shop at small businesses or buy more expensive items to avoid fast fashion, but the extra money goes to support things you value, and that is money well spent. Post-Holiday Gifting Rather than buying gifts during the peak of the holiday shopping season, giving IOUs and shopping after Christmas can lead to huge savings. End-of-year sales often bring significant discounts, making it possible to give better gifts at a fraction of the cost. Grocery Delivery Services Grocery delivery might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but it can actually be a frugal choice for people with packed schedules. For a small monthly fee—and a generous tip—it eliminates the need for time-consuming trips, helping avoid impulse buys and ultimately sticking to a planned grocery list. Shopping Strategically at Nicer Stores Whole Foods and other “nicer” stores might not be the cheapest grocery stores, but they can serve as a budgeting tool. The higher prices encourage disciplined planning and discourage impulse purchases. When paired with bulk or budget pantry items from cheaper places, it can balance out the grocery bill and reduce waste from overbuying. Freecycle With Some Friends Swap parties and freecycling are on the rise, so join in and see what kind of fun stuff you can get. Freecycling is
Hey! Want to try some slightly different frugal living tips that will save you thousands of dollars a year? Let’s go! Budget Creating a budget that works and then STICKING TO IT is the best and biggest frugal tip anyone can give you. Creating a budget gives your spending structure, allowing you to spend on what you want and avoid things you don’t. That is the definition of living a frugal life. Our simple, printable budget planner makes it easy to track where every dollar goes. Download it free—just enter your email. Grab yours now. When You Find a Great Deal, Buy In Bulk Buying items in bulk when they are on sale is a great way to save money- not only do you save money, but you also have to go to the store less. When an item is on sale, has a coupon, or has a great cashback deal, then grab a few. This is a particularly great tip for meat and chicken. If meat is on sale, have your butcher cut it up into smaller pieces and then wrap them separately. Label everything clearly! Buying large amounts of meat is usually cheaper than buying individually cut pieces. Reduce Your Shopping Trips So That You Spend Less Time in Stores The more time you spend in a store, the more likely you are to spend money. Make a shopping list of the main things you need so that you have a guide to help you stay on task. Buy Items on Sale and Then Plan Your Meals Around That The number one way to save money at the grocery store? Plan your meals around what you buy, not the other way around. Want to start meal planning? It’s easier than you think! Grab this free meal planner and shopping list and get your food budget under control! Eat at Home We experiment at home! We don’t go to bakeries; we find something fun with the kids from home. You can make so many meals and treats at home with a little planning and creativity. Stock Your Freezer Keep your freezer stocked with meals, so you don’t need to get takeout when you are stressed or overwhelmed. When you cook, double the recipes so you have food ready to eat. Soups freeze well and are great for this type of thing. This is particularly important before a major holiday (Pesach, anyone?) or if you are having a baby. Have freezer meals ready to go so you can save money on take-out. Keep Old Fruit Keep frozen fruit and vegetables in your freezer to make quick smoothies and vegetable dishes in a pinch. You can take the slightly browning fruit (from those bananas you bought on sale and that no one eats even though your kids told you that bananas are their absolute favorite food) and freeze them for really cheap snacks and smoothies. Avoid Cleaning Help We clean one floor together as a family every Sunday, often turning
The most important thing to do when you are trying to get your finances on track is to make a monthly budget. This is the first step towards any financial success story. A monthly budget can be an effective way to stay on track with your finances. Creating a budget can seem difficult if you’ve never done one before. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to get started. Here’s how to make a monthly budget in six easy steps. 6 Steps to a Monthly Budget Want to get started? Download the FREE monthly budgeting worksheet here! 1. Choose a Budgeting Method There are various budgeting methods you can choose from, but the right one to use is whichever one you’re most comfortable with. You can consider a few methods: the 50/30/20 budget, the pay-yourself-first budget, and the zero-based budget. The 50/30/20 budgeting method divides your expenses into three categories: 50% of your budget goes to necessary expenses, 30% to discretionary expenses, and 20% to savings and debt payments. A pay-yourself-first budget involves putting away a specific amount of your monthly income towards your savings first. The rest is used for bills and other costs. A zero-based budget is where every dollar is allocated towards a specific expense. Your income minus your expenses equals zero each month. 2. Calculate Your Monthly Income Write down the monthly income that you receive from your employer. If you have other sources of income, such as social security or child support, add that as well. If you’re self-employed and your income varies a lot, use your lowest earning month in the past year as your baseline income. 3. List Your Monthly Expenses Use your credit card statements and bank statements to figure out what your expenses are. List everything you’ve spent in the last three months, including expenses such as rent, groceries, loans, and other costs. 4. Separate Your Fixed and Variable Expenses Once you’ve listed all your expenses, separate fixed and variable expenses. A fixed expense is an expense you pay the same amount for each month. This type of spending includes rent, mortgage, and car payments. Variable expenses change from month to month. A few examples of this type of spending include gas, eating out, and entertainment. 5. Adjust Your Spending To Stick To Your Budget After figuring out your income and expenses, you can determine how to adjust your spending to stick to your budget. How you adjust your spending will depend on your chosen budgeting method. For example, if you’re following the 50/30/20 budget, and your discretionary expenses are more than 30%, you would find ways to cut those expenses until they amount to 30% of your budget. In this case, you might choose to eat out less or cancel unnecessary subscriptions. 6. Set Financial Goals With a monthly budget set, it can be easier to start setting financial goals to achieve. Short-term financial goals you might consider achieving are paying down credit card debt or building your emergency fund. Long-term goals
Image Source: Shutterstock Publix is widely considered one of the most coupon-friendly grocery chains in the entire country. Their policies are designed to be generous, allowing shoppers to stack multiple discounts on a single item. For beginners, the potential savings can be overwhelming, but the system is actually quite logical. Once you understand the basic rules, you can save fifty percent or more on your weekly bill. Here are eight tips to help you master […]
Image Source: Shutterstock We have all grabbed that bag of shredded cheddar for convenience on taco night. It saves us the time and effort of getting out the grater and cleaning it later. However, that convenience comes with hidden costs that affect both your wallet and your cooking. Once you switch back to grating your own cheese, you will realize that the bag was never worth it. Here are the reasons why you should leave […]
If you’re 60 or older, you’ve probably had this moment: you walk out of the store with two bags and a receipt that looks like a car payment. Most people assume the only “fix” is clipping more coupons or buying less. But there are real programs and rules that can stretch your food money without […] The post 12 little-known ways to boost your grocery budget if you’re 60 or older appeared first on Wealthysinglemommy.com.
Budgeting as a beginner may sound confusing and restrictive which is exactly why it is so important to approach it with clarity and patience so that managing money feels empowering instead of overwhelming. Saving money is not about cutting off all joy from your life but about creating balance and control over your finances in […]
A prospective client once told me, “I had a financial plan made three years ago. It showed my net worth growing, my SIPs hitting my goals, and a clear path to retirement. But today, the numbers are completely different. My portfolio is lower, expenses are higher, and my asset allocation is a mess. What’s the… The post Why Your Financial Plan “Failed” (And Why You Still Need One) appeared first on freefincal.
The RTS Link opens in 2027 and the narrative says FCT is in trouble. But the data tells a different story. Here’s why I’m still holding and adding to my position. The post Frasers Centrepoint Trust And The RTS Fear: Why I’m Still Buying appeared first on Turtle Investor.
123RF If you use a budgeting app, you probably think it is on your side. It helps you spot leaks, track bills, and feel less stressed about money. But many people do not realize that the same app can treat your spending history like a product. Mint, one of the most widely used budgeting apps in the country, openly states in its privacy policy that it shares user data with “partners,” “service providers,” and “affiliates.” […]
Some things just aren’t worth the price tag anymore—yet people still keep buying them. With costs rising everywhere, being smart about your spending has never been more important. Recognizing what’s truly overpriced can help you save big without sacrificing quality or happiness. In this list, we break down 17 overhyped items that many say no longer justify the cost, so you can shop smarter and avoid buyer’s remorse. 1. Subscription Overload Subscriptions seem to have […]
Buying a car may sound financially demanding and overwhelming which is exactly why it is so necessary to budget and plan in an organized way so that the purchase feels secure instead of stressful. A car can bring freedom and comfort but if the purchase is not planned properly, this big expense can also become […]