Living in the cost of living crisis, where more and more people are uncertain whether they will be able to afford a warm meal and their home rent in the coming months, can be scary.

No wonder more and more people are taking a step further in keeping that wallet tightly shut if possible. “What are some interesting life hacks for saving money?” someone asked on the Ask Reddit community and the responses came flooding in.

Armed with exceptional ingenuity and often unusual approaches to spending and saving money, people revealed what they do when prices are beyond control. Scroll down through the most interesting responses below!

#1

Don’t have kids

Image credits: anon

#2

Always eat before going food shopping

Image credits: Trackull

#3

When at the grocery, look at the price/oz or whatever unit it is instead of the total price. It’s usually posted in one corner. It’s not going to save you tons of money, but it does add up. Plus it takes out the guess work when comparing similar items.

Image credits: Richards_Brother

#4

I don’t smoke but live my financial life as a smoker. Meaning every Monday I transfer the sum of one weeks worth of cigarettes to my savings account. If people that earn less than me can afford smoking, so can I.

Image credits: kebabhue

#5

Don’t buy something that you normally wouldn’t buy just because you have a coupon.

Image credits: Rwill113

#6

I have a friend who, at the end of each pay period, moves whatever she has in checking into savings. It doesn’t matter if she’s got $5 or $50 in the account, it goes into savings the night before payday.

Image credits: Gigglefruit358

#7

learn to cook! 4 or 5 reliably delicious recipes will go a loooooong way.

Image credits: joo_ish

#8

If you can avoid it, never take out a payday loan.

Image credits: Creative_Uzername

#9

Buy secondhand!

Today I have secured myself a solid pine desk for my daughters room, no marks or damage, for £10, and a worn-once, three piece navy suit for my son to wear at our wedding next year, also for £10.

I buy maybe 80% of my stuff secondhand. I bide my time, wait for a bargain, and I have saved sooooo much money over the years.

Image credits: BeccaaCat

#10

Making one extra payment on your mortgage per year will reduce a 30 year mortgage to roughly 17 years.

Image credits: -thersites-

#11

Only drinking water is a solid one. Soda at restaurants or other drinks add up a lot.

Image credits: Kings-x-Dynasty

#12

If you can buy a tool to complete a repair for the same price as the repair itself, buy the tool and repair it for free next time.

Image credits: -thersites-

#13

When buying online, leave items in the shopping cart for awhile. There is a good chance that the website is tracking this, and will lower the price overtime to entice you into buying.

I’ve saved a lot by being patient. Like when I got a surround sound amp for $350 that was listed everywhere for $450 to $500, just by leaving it in the online shopping cart for a week.

Image credits: Whatmeworry4

#14

Don’t buy the cheapest option. Often the middle priced option will be the best value. Things that are too cheap are worth what you paid for them.

Image credits: -thersites-

#15

I try to cost things as portions of better, or more fulfilling things i.e.

A coffee is 1/10 of a new game. Ten meals out is a weekend away etc.

Image credits: _mexicola

#16

I don’t spend $1 bills. I collect them in a box and at the end of the year I usually have a few hundred dollars

Image credits: RusoArmo

#17

Acting broke. Trust me. Nothing helps you save more than acting broke. And there is a way to do that without becoming a mooch. Eat at home if your friends have a dinner plan at an expensive place. Pregame if you’re going clubbing. And if anyone asks you why aren’t you eating/drinking/coming for that vacation just say you’re broke. I learnt this the hard way. Because I remember becoming a recluse and slowly stopped socializing just because my friends always had these extravagant and expensive plans and I realized it really started weighing down on me. But eventually I learnt that there was no shame in wanting to save money/being broke and definitely none in saying so.

Image credits: TheQr8r

#18

Try buying reusable objects in place of single use ones. It’s better for your wallet and environment. Steel water bottles, reusable K cups, dish towels instead of paper towels, etc. Over time the costs of little things really add up.

Image credits: moongardenne

#19

Learn how to login to your online banking system and review your statement regularly. You’ll see how quickly money flows out for coffee…snacks…. and unnecessary purchase. Also set a budget and STICK TO IT.

Image credits: AwkwardTraveler

#20

Look at store branded food items. Do you really think Safeway, Kroger, Dollar General, Costco, and Walmart all have independent tuna canning facilities? NO! They’re sourcing the product from of of the big 3 (or however many) facilities that supply the name brand. This goes for the majority of store branded items. Make it a game to find out who has what national name product as their store brand product.

Image credits: danmartinofanaheim

#21

Drive slower. You will see an immediate increase in mpg. Your brakes will last longer. Your tires will last longer. You will immediately be at a reduced risk for an expensive accident. Your engine will be able to go further before needing expensive repairs.

Image credits: DentedAnvil

#22

Learning how to cook pasta, rice and beans, soups, stews, polenta, grits, etc, really anything that costs very little and can feed a huge family. You save insane amounts of money, even if you are frugal in terms of buying cheaper things from stores (e.g. $5 sandwhich). For that same $5 you can make pasta with butter, cheese, and peas for the whole family. Or make beef stew with barley (chuck roast is really cheap and delicious in a stew).

Image credits: Bince82

#23

Live below your means

Image credits: turtle101z

#24

Easy one- Buy your own modem. You can get a good one from Amazon for $100. Internet companies charge you $10-$12 a month to rent yours. Buy your own, return the rented one to internet company, and get that charge removed from your bill. Pays for itself in under a year.

Image credits: Trenuk13

#25

If you are getting married, send out wedding invitations to every billionaires address you can find. You have a 50/50 chance that their assistants will just send you a perfunctory gift without ever wondering who the hell you are. Free gifts!

Image credits: meafloaf

#26

10% of your paycheck goes into a savings account and 20% to debts. The remainder stays in your checking account to pay bills and feed/entertain yourself. Be disciplined and stick to the plan. If you can, increase the savings percent. When you have enough savings to fulfill an emergency fund, start investing. Calculate if you can afford things using these constraints, and if you can’t then don’t purchase them. Not exactly a life hack, but this plan will make you wealthy.

Image credits: anon

from Bored Panda https://ift.tt/V3KTSyz
via IFTTT source site : boredpanda