Danne’s Top 10 Tips for Miserly Living

1. You have more food than you think you do. Eat it. Before you spend $100 at the grocery store every week, take a look in your pantry. I’ve been managing to spend way less on groceries by making use of my non-perishables and by only buying a few items each week, ex. produce, dairy, bread. I’ve also been much better at not buying more than I need to ensure that nothing goes to waste. Juicing has been an awesome way to use up fruits and vegetables that are about to go bad so I don’t have to throw them away.

2. Comparison shopping. Check your local supermarket flyers and hit up a few different stores for the best deals if you have the time. Not just for groceries too, look around for the best price on whatever you need.

3. It’s worth it to buy in bulk. I didn’t need olive oil this week but when a 68 oz. can was on sale for $9.99, I snatched it up. It might not save you money right now, but it will later.

4. Use it ‘til the last drop. I bet you can brush your teeth 10 more times with that seemingly empty tube of toothpaste, and you can get at least 3, if not 5, uses out of your tea bag and have it taste just as good.

5. I bet you can find it cheaper. There’s a coupon out there somewhere or someone trying to sell it on Craigslist. It’s worth checking out before you pay full price.

6. Turn your clutter into cash. Clean out your closets, your basement, your garage and sell stuff you don’t need anymore.

7. Save up for something rather than buying it now and paying for it later, ie. using your credit card. It saves on impulse splurges and there’s definitely a greater feeling of satisfaction when you don’t give into the instant gratification of buying something you can’t afford.

8. You don’t need it. That last drink at the bar, a new dress for that party. Resist the urge!

9. Every little thing really does count. If I sign up for BOA’s Keep the Change Program, that might put an extra $20 into my savings account this month, and hey, that’s $20 that I definitely wouldn’t have put in there myself. If you aren’t awesome at saving left to your own devices, take advantage of forced savings.

10. Sometimes it’s worth the money. If it’s going to benefit my health, support a local business, or improve my life in some way, then I don’t beat myself up for not being cheap. Some things aren’t “necessary” but they’re still beneficial and worth the splurge.