People share the “effortless” little thing they do to save money

I love a good money-saving tip, and when it’s so simple that it’s basically child’s play, all the better! When I came across this Reddit thread where people were sharing their favorite little “effortless” tips for saving money, I was immediately hooked. Although what is effortless for one person may be a hideous chore for another, I think there is something on this list for everyone. Here are some of the top comments:

1.“When our dishwasher is full and ready to go, I set an alarm on my watch for 9 p.m. I start the dishwasher when the alarm goes off as the electricity tariff drops after 9pm.”

2.“Write down each transaction with a pen in a spiral notebook. This makes every purchase feel tangible and immediate. It also gives me time to reconsider the purchase.”

—u/agile_makes_no_sense

3.“I keep my cell phones for several years. I use apps like Ibotta, Fetch, and Honey and accumulate all my points/money over years and use them to buy the full amount for a new phone. I haven’t paid for a cell phone in a long time.”

—u/yamerpro

4.“When grocery shopping, I look at unit prices versus sticker prices. You’ll be amazed at how many equivalent products are right next to each other on the shelf, and one is two to three times more expensive than the other.”

5.“When I go shopping, my mantra is, ‘If I have to think about it, I don’t really want it.’ Nine times out of ten, I talk myself out of buying something.”

–u/bowandbat

6.“Fill up my water bottle at work.”

—u/mrperfectionisback

7.“Use my credit card to get rewards points on all the purchases and bills I can.”

8.“I only use two tablespoons of detergent in most wash cycles, use a bar of shampoo, bar of soap and a bar of dish soap in the kitchen. The pieces last much longer, take up less space, and I’m not paying for a product that’s mostly water.”

—u/jbblue48089

9.“When I’m in a city where gas is cheaper than mine, I do many of my tasks first before filling up, so I’m using more expensive gas and making room for cheaper gas.”

–u/greypouponlifestyle

10.“Re-wear the clothing a few times before washing (no socks, underwear, or T-shirts).”

11.“I saw a video at a store like TJ Maxx or whatever. It described how all the items inside were waiting to be used as Goodwill donations, and that really made me rethink how I look at stores and how much new junk I need.”

—u/racheldotpsd

12.“Fix our clothes – mend, darn. Well, of course not the formal office clothes (my office has a pretty strict dress code) or elegant going out clothes, but everything for everyday life and leisure.”

—u/puzzleheaded-emu-138

13.“Saving all my chicken bones from my chicken to make stock.”

14.“Use used food bags to collect the dog’s feces.”

–u/bezere

15.“Buy a reliable car, perform routine maintenance like oil changes, and only replace it when it costs more to maintain than to replace. I have a ’93 Camry that still runs great and requires few repairs.”

—u/im_not_here2day

16.“When my dog ​​tears a stuffed animal, I put all the stuffing back in and sew up the hole with some upholstery thread. Occasionally, when the toy is completely shredded, I swap arms and legs from toy to toy to make new animals.”

17.“I have my TV and cable box/Apple TV hooked up to a timer so that it turns off all night and most of the day and turns back on at 6 p.m. when I get home from work. This saves me about 18 hours of devices in standby mode.

—u/me_version_2

18.“I have a pantry book that I update every time I go grocery shopping. So next time I won’t buy anything twice.”

–u/forfina

19.“I keep my receipts from Costco for a month. When they announce their specials, I go to customer service and ask for a refund on any items that were discounted.”

20.“Save the water before the hot water heats up.”

–u/smartquokka

“I have a 5-gallon bucket that I leave in my shower for this purpose and then use it to water the plants around the house and porch. I do this mainly because we have a well and a septic tank, and I don’t like wasting water that I don’t need.

–u/gnericbear

21.“I spit toothpaste into the toilet so I don’t have to waste water by flushing it down the drain.”

–u/lamppostboy

22.“I have a vegetable garden. I estimate I have saved about $4.28 on grocery costs so far this year.”

23.“Cut open lotion, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner bottles to get every last drop out.”

–u/norcalkerry

24.“Whenever CVS gives me a coupon for $5 off an item or 30% off a full-price item, I buy either sunscreen or deodorant whether I need it or not because both are wildly overpriced and eventually I will need.

—u/rich-past-6547

25.“Take the bus. He takes me a few blocks from my workplace downtown. Driving becomes expensive, and a bus fare is much cheaper than paying for parking and gas.”

26.“If you can afford it, always designate your salary to put a few dollars directly into a savings account.”

—u/oliverbluedog0630

27.“I only use a coupon if A: it’s something I already wanted to buy and B: the item is cheaper than the other brands.”

-u/apadley

28.And finally, “When I go outside and play all day, I don’t feel any consumeristic urge to buy stupid shit.”

—u/looney417

Do you have a simple money saving habit? Tell us all about it in the comments!