Mom LifeHacks: 30 tips and tricks to buy less, to gain more

This is post is part of a month-long series about integrating minimalism into your lifestyle. Last week, I introduced you to three simple steps to get started: buy less, do not own anything that you do not need, and question wha is normal.

minimalism Today, we get a little down and dirty as I list the many ways you can cut back on your buying, spending and consuming. Some tips may be common sense, or things you’ve heard of and some might shock and awe you. Strap yourself in and I’ll try to be (sort of) gentle.

Fact: If you shop for groceries when you’re hungry, you’ll buy more. Don’t do it.
Grocery shopping with tired or hungry kids will net you a cart of stuff you might not need, that will basically feed everyone for a day or two, after which you’ll have to return because you forgot the thing you went to get in the first place: yogurt.
Shop knowing what you need, and what it’s worth.
Do your homework and seek out locations that don’t overcharge, whether it’s for milk or mp3 players.
Don’t be afraid to use the coupons on the sale price and then your club card discount on top of it. Yeah, you could look cheap to the other people in line, but you might save yourself the equivalent of your credit card’s interest payment in the process.
Best piece of advice I ever got from the worst boss I ever had (who, incidentally, owned a house worth $14.5 million) Rich people stay rich by spending wisely and living frugally most of the time.
Set up a budget and stick to it, even if it means locking some funds away. If you have to freeze a credit card in a jug of water, do so.
I’ll bet you that the times when you feel the most stressed about finances are the ones you tend to spend more, because of the stress, right? Pay off your debts and build a few months’ expenses so you are free from money stress.
Now that you can get virtually any cleaning product, greener, did you replace all of the old, environmentally toxic ones? Why, when you could find the same cleaning power with three main household staples: baking soda, vinegar and soap?
Do you buy your kids juice boxes? Try containers that you can refill, instead.
Soda cans are just more garbage that you do not need to add to the recycling bin. Buy a large jug or do without.
Plastic water bottles are out. Find reuseable metal or BPA-free bottles and get a tap or jug filter. North America has some of the cleanest water in the world.
Buy in bulk, except when you do not need it. Often, there is less packaging and you will save money.
When shopping – for anything – pick it up and walk around with it for a half-minute. After, decide if you really need it. You would be surprised how often you don’t.
Do not leave the lights on when you leave a room.
Turn off the heat when you do not need it, and the air conditioning off. Open the windows and use fans for air circulation, if you must.
Check your windows and doors for energy-loss. Add weather-stripping as needed.
Hang your laundry to dry. If you cannot do it outside, install a retractable or out-of-the-way line in-house.
Menu-planning can save larger families with picky eaters and busy schedules tons of time and money, as well as headaches.
If you are a smaller family, or you have the time, try shopping for food Euro-style. You will get the freshest food, at the best prices, and you might find more variety in your diet along the way.
If you live in a city with great mass transportation, use it. Consider getting rid of the car altogether, for biking, walking and the trains and buses that can get you there cheaper and more environmentally-responsibly. You will save moolah on fuel, maintenance, insurance and of course, car payments.
If you choose to drive, keep your vehicle well-maintained. It will run sounder, and be healthier for the world, and it will be cheaper in the long run as some major repairs can be avoided.
If a recipe calls for a small quantity of an ingredient that you do not have, consider borrowing from a neighbour instead of purchasing unneeded extras.
Look into produce co-ops, start a garden in your backyard or in a community garden to reap the benefits of fresh produce, without the mark-up of what yo will find at the market.
When something breaks, don not replace it before you find out if it is repairable. It might cost as much as replacing it in some cases, but your consumption will be lower.
Practice the age-old habit of baking or cooking too much and freezing it for later, or repurposing left-overs the next day.
Pay cash. If you do not have the cash for it, and it is a 'want', do not buy it.
If you plan to make a major (unneeded) purchase, do so after sitting on it for a month to give yourself time to research prices, quality and whether you really want it.
If you can avoid buying something new, avoid it. Consider buying second-hand, renting or borrowing from friends, family and neighbours.
The library is a free source for books, education materials and other media; Freecycle is a great place for picking up new things you might need; and you can often get the best advice from friends, family and peers before an expensive specialist. Use these tools.

Check back next week for tips and tricks to cut back on your possessions!

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I blog, I parent, I have mood swings and talk too much.

Posted by Terra in behaviour on May 08, 2010

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Comments

0 # sbmommy 2010-05-11 19:13

I like most of your tips, but I disagree with the one about your boss. If he was so frugal he would probably not own a house worth $14.5 million

Does he really NEED a house that big and fancy? I also don't think paying cash is always a good idea. As long as you are keeping track of your spending and paying your credit card balances monthly, there is nothing wrong with credit cards

Also, looking back at your credit card statements allows you to see exactly where your money was spent. I find it very valuable.

Otherwise, thank you for great tips and advice!

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0 # Zoeyjane 2010-05-11 19:21

Ha! While at first glance, it seems like you're right about my old boss, in reality, the house he'd bought had appreciated A LOT. Hidden point: he worked in real estate and had owned this property for decades, having bought it during a market crash.

I disagree about using credit cards, unless you are lucky enough to have a 0%, no-annual-fee credit card. The reality that I know a lot of people face is that their credit is used to buy now and pay later, not to responsibly spend and pay it off immediately. Kudos to you, if you can swing it!

A tip, however, if you're paying your balance off in full each month, credit card companies won't actually like you that much as a customer. They're not making anything off of you, that way!

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0 # rhonda0228 2010-05-13 16:57

Thank you for the reminders. So many of them I knew, but it was nice to have a refresher course. My grandfather used to give me the same advice as you are giving about purchases, always ask yourself do I 'need' it or do I 'want' it...if you don't 'need' it don't buy it! He survived the great depression. Though he was a child at the time he remembered what it was like to struggle and it really impacted his thought process on finances and how he chose to spend his money.

Thanks!

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0 # Zoeyjane 2010-05-13 20:08

@Rhonda, thanks for sharing about your grandfather. I've actually recently read some accounts of how people managed (and just about their lifestyles, in general) during the Depression. It's amazing how resilient and resourceful people were!

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