Remember how grandma would cook everything from scratch, sew torn clothes, and even preserve old fruit for winter? All these tricks helped them put food on the table, pay their bills, and educate their children.
While some grandma’s advice may have been frugal from necessity, it still applies today. Read on to learn more about these timely tips and how to implement them.
Cook Your Meals From Scratch
Grandmas are famous for cooking everything from scratch. From dinners to birthday cakes, they always have fantastic recipes you can borrow. Cooking meals from scratch guarantees nutritious meals and saves money as you can plan and budget for preferred meal sizes and ingredients.
Get Seasonal Produce and Preserve It
Another great hack to save money is to buy fresh produce when they are in season. You can freeze vegetables/fruits, make pickles, or even jam that you can use throughout the year.
Always Have a Budget
Budgeting back in the day was simple. Grandmas would note down their expenses on paper and allocate money accordingly. Although budgeting may seem tedious, it can help you track your expenses and know where your money goes.
Invest in Quality, Long-Lasting Items
It’s tempting to jump on the next sale at Target or get quick furniture at IKEA at a bargain. However, you might buy items that won’t last, which only adds to your expenses. Instead, opt for quality, long-lasting items that will last for years. A classic leather coat never goes out of style, and a quality cast iron can last years like grandma’s did. You’ll realize that quality products are cheaper in the long run than fast, affordable, and tempting bargains.
Use Cashback and Rewards Programs
Back then, grandmas had access to store loyalty programs where they could earn points from their purchases. They clipped coupons from magazines and newspapers to save money on groceries and household items. It’s possible to save money using credit cards that offer cashback rewards on everyday purchases like groceries and utilities. Some online shopping portals also have cashback rewards for online purchases, saving you some extra coins.
Go the DIY Route for Essential Home Repairs and Improvements
Fixing a leaking tap, painting the deck, cleaning gutters, or installing floating shelves are simple home repairs and improvements that you can do at home. Learning basic DIY skills from sources like YouTube and DIY sites will save you money.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
You need to get crafty with recycling to save money. For example, you could repurpose old jeans into trendy shorts, use an old mason jar as a candle holder, or reuse cereal bags to repack patties in the freezer.
Avoid throwing away leftover foods and use them instead to make delicious foods like vegetable fried rice from rice, chicken to make chicken wraps or vegetables to make pickled vegetables or soup.
Use Cash Instead of Credit/Debit Cards
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Although our grandparents had access to credit, they preferred to pay with cash. Using cash feels more natural and results in spending less.
Opt for Thrift Shopping
Previously, people thought used items, whether furniture, cars, or clothes, were good enough as long as they were functional and practical. Shopping for thrift clothes was never looked down on, and
Spend Less Than You Earn
Grandmas, especially during the recession, had to stretch out every coin to get everyone fed. They were frugal and lived below their means. You’d find a special jar that was reserved for special purchases. Avoid overspending as your income rises; don’t buy into consumer trends; track your spending and downsize whenever possible.
Negotiate When You Can
Learning how to negotiate can save you money in the long run. For example, if you’re eligible, you can ask for a lower annual fee or a reduced interest rate from your credit card company. Those with a good relationship with their landlord can negotiate a reduced rent bill or a discounted monthly gym membership rate.
Make Your Cleaning Supplies
Multiple cleaning products in the market claim to kill every germ. However, most of them are toxic and harmful to humans. Our grandmas knew better and would use bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar, soap flakes, and other non-harmful products to make non-harmful cleaning products. Learn how to make your cleaning supplies.
Do Away With Unneeded Subscriptions
Cancel unused subscriptions you have pending. Most of these subscriptions only clutter your bank statements and cost you money. Go through your subscriptions and cancel the unnecessary ones.
Conserve Energy
Our grandmas didn’t have the convenience of modern heating and cooling systems. They would use heavy drapes to preserve warmth and light firewood to hear their houses. You can save money on your energy bills by insulating the loft, adjusting your thermostat, replacing incandescent light bulbs, using solar panels, and turning off lights when not in use.
Buy Non-Perishable Items in Bulk
Grandmas understood the wisdom behind bulk shopping as a way to save money. Consider stocking up on pantry staples like dried pasta, rice, cereal, coffee, canned goods, and more. Some baby products, beauty products, and paper goods such as napkins and paper towels are other items you can buy in bulk. Remember to stick to non-perishable items when bulk buying and shop in wholesale stores like Costo and Sam’s Club.
Learn From Grandma’s Example
Creating a proper budget, cooking more often, spending less than you earn, and buying non-perishable items are some great tips we can all pick from our grandmas. Picking a few ideas from our list can help you determine where to save more and maximize your earnings.
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