Is your money not stretching enough this year?

Is your money not stretching enough this year?

Image courtesy of Pixabay

If your money isn't stretching very far this year, you are not alone.  I had to cut corners myself.  Food is high, and so is everything else.  It is getting harder and harder to make it, quite frankly.

I haven't really been able to have a night out lately because food and transportation are so expensive, and you know you have to give a tip. 

 I have been spending more time enjoying my family.  I am cooking more at home.  I have a Firestick, and it is such a blessing.  We enjoy watching movies and eating home-cooked meals together. 

It truly is bringing us closer together.  I am careful about not buying things that I really don't need right now.  In the last two years, I actually prepared myself for this time because I started buying products in bulk to prepare for the increase in prices.  I am still using these products today. 

Check and see if there are any ways that you can cut down on some of your expenses.  Sometimes, there are things that we are so used to spending extra money on that we don't realize that it costs a lot more this year. 

Maybe you have the heat up high when you are at work and nobody is at home.  You can put the heat down, and time it to come on when you are on your way home.  That way, you come home to a nice and warm house.   

Add more blankets to your bed to save money.  Try doing most of your shopping in one trip so you don't have to make unnecessary trips, and this will cut down on gas. 

Make a list of some of the products that you would be willing to buy that are generic and some of the products that you are willing to pay extra for. 

Take on an online side hustle or do Uber or Lyft.

Learn how to cut or maintain your own hair at home.  Hair clippers are very inexpensive compared to going to the Barber or hair salon.

Buy your snacks in bulk so you can avoid the vending machine at work.

I have been buying cheaper cuts of meat and preparing them in my crockpot.  This saves quite a bit of money.  Going to the butcher counter and finding out what meat is on sale will help you to save money.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

If you are paying a lot of fees at the gym, spend time running in the park or buy gym equipment on Facebook Marketplace for a good price.  This will save you so much money in the long run. 

Buy your clothes in the summer so you can get them for a cheaper price.

If you have children, find a cheaper phone service that they can use.  There are a lot of them out there, and they are always having promotions.  Sometimes, it depends on how many lines you need. 

Make a list of the things that you are willing to do without or cut down on this year.  You will be amazed about the amount of things that you cut down on that will free up a lot more money.