If you are on a tight budget or simply looking to save more money, than this post is for you! Read on to learn the 8 things you can buy today that will save you more money in the long run.
Everybody loves saving money. Getting a good deal just feels good! But when you are on a tight budget, saving money becomes more of a necessity. The good news is learning to save money doesn’t have to be painful.
If you can change your mindset and become content with spending less then saving money is easy. That is what frugal living is all about. A frugal person is resourceful (using what they already have instead of buying something new), tries not to be wasteful, and always looks for a cheaper alternative.
This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure for more info.
Today’s post is all about that last attribute of frugal living – always looking for a cheaper alternative. Theses 8 things to buy today to save more money tomorrow are all crucial items in a frugal household.
✅ 8 Things to Buy Today to Save More Money Tomorrow
Evey single one of these things will save you money month in and month out. When you are on a tight budget, that is exactly what you want to look for when you purchase something new.
Read through this list and see what your family could benefit from most:
$5 Meal Plan
After housing costs, food makes up the biggest chunk of the budget for most families. We spend a ton of money on food! The good news is this is one area that usually has room for improvement. The easiest way to reduce food costs is with meal planning. Coming up with a realistic meal plan, not only will help you save at the grocery store, but will also make eating out less tempting.
The problem with meal planning is that we are busy! And sometimes meal planning just feels like one more thing we don’t have time to do. I get that, believe me! As a teacher and a mom, I know busy all too well. That is exactly why I subscribed to the $5 Meal Plan.
For only $5 a month, you get customizable, weekly meal plans plus pre-made grocery shopping list. You can even have your shopping list sent to your favorite store for pick-up. It’s an awesome service and it has saved me so much time, stress, and money.
Try it free! The $5 Meal Plan offers a free 14 trial – I really encourage you to give it a try and see if it works for your family. Sign up for the $5 Meal Plan here!
Slow Cooker
Ahh…the slow cooker, such a great invention. The slow cooker is absolutely essential for busy families. Just throw the ingredients in, and go about your business. When it’s time for dinner, you have a hot meal ready to go. It’s really a lifesaver! Bonus – If you struggle with eating out at restaurants too often, the slow cooker really helps with that too. Many times we go out to eat because it’s just so easy. If you have a meal already cooked, eating out is a lot less tempting.
If you choose to try the 14 day free trial of the $5 Meal Plan, they include at least one 20-minute meal, a freezer-friendly meal, and one slow cooker meal in the meal plan every week. So you will be able to try out your slow cooker right away!
Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet is a must-have item in the frugal person’s kitchen, mainly because they last forever. Non-stick skillets are popular and many people love them, but the coating wears off quickly and you’re left with another worthless pan.Cast iron skillets last forever, plus they can go directly from the stove into the oven making them versatile too.
Antenna
Think using an antenna is old-fashioned? Well, it kind of is (haha), but it still is a great way to get TV for FREE! Lots of people use antennas, my family has been using one for years. New antennas are small and unobtrusive yet are still pretty powerful. We have this antenna and it works great – we get about 15 channels!
When purchasing an antenna, look for one with a long range. The one above has a 65 – 80 mile range which is a great for these small antennas.
No-Contract Cell Phone Plan
Cell phone plans are SO expensive. I was talking to some of my co-workers at lunch and none of them paid less than $100 a month for their cell phone plan. That’s crazy to me! My family has been using Walmart Family Mobile for about 3 years now, and it has been such a good experience. We have traveled all over the US and never had a problem with coverage or dropped calls.
My phone bill is only $30 a month and that includes unlimited data (first 3gb is up to 4G LTE). Switching your phone plan is such an easy way to save more money every month!
Read my complete Walmart Family Mobile review here.
Dryer Balls
Have you seen these wool dryer balls? They are so cool! I am part of a frugal living Facebook group and all the ladies were raving about these dryer balls.
You simply throw them into the dryer instead of dryer sheets to reduce wrinkles and lint plus they help clothes dry up to 25% faster. They are reusable up to a year as well, so you can purchase them once and you are good to go!
Reusable Kitchen Towels
Household supplies like paper towels seem inexpensive, but these convenience items can really add up over time. By investing in reusable kitchen towels, you will definitely save more money in the long run.
I love these Utopian Kitchen towels – they are well-made and hold up nicely over many uses.
Reusable Water Bottles
Not only are reusable water bottles better for the environment, they are better for your wallet too. Instead of buying plastic water bottles, choose a metal bottle that you can use again and again. I have had my Contigo bottle for over 2 years, and I absolutely love it. It seems silly to love a water bottle, but I really do!
The Contigo keeps water cold for up to 28 hours. When you live in Arizona (it’s supposed to be 115 degrees today), this is the most wonderful thing in the world!
Learning to save more money really is a mindset change – you learn to be more resourceful and always look for a cheaper alternative. Every one of these 8 things I have listed in this post will help you save more money over time.
Which item do you think would benefit your family the most? Let me know in the comments below.
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Your post says your phone bill is only 30 a month, but your review of the phone says 49 and change. ????
Sorry for the confusion Judy! When I wrote the review for Walmart Family Mobile, I was on a plan that included more high-speed data. I found I didn’t really use that much data, so I lowered my plan to the $30 a month option.