Ways You Can Save Some Extra Pennies Monthly Around The Home

The country's financial situation is an accurate reflection of the kind of position the average American is in. Jobs are scarce, money is tight, and the expenses just keep rolling in. As a result, people have begun reaching for any possible way to save a few extra dollars every month. This can be hard at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes to find other ways to cut costs. Bills like utilities and insurance are pretty inflexible, so it's not wise to start looking here. It's better to analyze the budget you've set for more variable aspects like groceries and household supplies. Here are some tips that can save you some extra pennies around the house.

Re-Use It

During the course of their day, people throw out many potentially useful things. By identifying these and diverting them to other purposes, you could save a lot of money. The bags you put your produce in at the store can usually be re-used for anything else that requires a bag, such as snacks and leftovers. Plastic and paper grocery sacks make excellent liners for small trash cans and are completely free. Even wet paper towels can be left to dry and used again. The more substitutes you can make and the further you can stretch the products you buy, the greater your savings will be.

Be Your Own Salon

Going to a barber or stylist means you get the benefits of the skill without having to invest the time, but it can cost hundreds of dollars each month to maintain. You're much better off if you opt to do your own hair and shave. All you need is a good pair of scissors, a hair trimmer and a quality shaving kit from The Art of Shaving. Once you develop skill, there's even potential to sell your services to others.

Have A Vegetarian Day

Nobody can deny that meat is expensive. Taking one day each week where you restrict your animal protein intake to eggs and dairy will shave a tidy sum off of your grocery bill. It's even better if you can do this with one meal each day in addition to an all-vegetarian day.

Cook From Scratch

Heat-and-eat foods are convenient, but they're also phenomenally expensive. When you compare an equal serving of the same food made from scratch, you actually end up paying several times more for the pre-packaged one. Besides being cheaper, meals made from scratch also be healthier and more nutritious, which makes you feel better overall. With the right utensils and recipes, cooking wholesome and inexpensive meals is something even the busiest people can do.

Use Rags

Paper towels are another expense that can hit your wallet hard. They're great for mopping up messes, but you end up feeling like you're cleaning with dollar bills. An effective alternative is to use rags for anything that doesn't absolutely require a paper towel. Since they can be rinsed and washed, there's no waste. Plus, you can use either your worn-out washcloths or bits cut from old t-shirts to make effective and free cleaning rags. This also works as a replacement for disposable dish sponges.