Budgets. We all have them. We all live by them. We’re all looking for ways to ease up on our spending where we can. Long-term saving is important, but tweaking current spending habits is essential as we work to offset inflation and look for a more immediate return. Interested in a tip or two to save some extra cash? How about a whole list? Here are seven ideas to get you started...
1. Go natural. Why go through bottles of store-bought surface cleaner for your spring cleaning when you can mix up an effective, all-natural alternative in five minutes or less? Boil some water (about three cups is good) and mix in one cup of distilled white vinegar (apple cider vinegar works nicely too). Squeeze in a bit of lemon juice or your favorite essential oil, and you’ve got the perfect concoction to tackle the nooks and crannies of your bathroom. It’s free of harsh chemicals as well, so it’s perfect for kitchen countertops.
2. Pick cloth over paper. You’d be surprised how much you’ll save every month after making the switch from paper to washable cloth towels and napkins. Just throw them in the laundry and you’re a step closer to zero waste.
3. Ditch dryer sheets. Switching to dryer balls eliminates the need for buying endless packs of dryer sheets and saves over time. Bonus: oftentimes they do a better job!
4. Reuse plastic containers. Remember when Tupperware parties were all the rage? Stick with that idea. Most single-use plastic food containers are great for repurposing after a quick run through the dishwasher.
5. Make your chicken broth at home. Store bought chicken broth is good in a pinch, but cartons tend to go fast, especially when you’ve got a family-size pot of soup on your hands. Did you know that you can make your own using only a gallon bag and kitchen scraps you would’ve thrown out anyway? Save chicken bones, carrot scraps, onions and excess potato slices in a gallon Ziplock bag in the fridge (you’ll be surprised how fast it fills up). Once you have a good amount, fill a slow cooker with water and add your bag of goodies. Let it cook for a day or so (about 12 to 20 hours) and strain into a large bowl. Let it cool in the refrigerator, scrape off the top layer of fat and, viola! Now you should have several mason jars worth or freezable broth to break out whenever needed, no grocery run required.
6. Grow your own herbs. There are plenty herbs and spices that can be grown in anything from plastic cups to egg cartons, even on apartment windowsills. Rather than shop for refills on your shakers and garnishes, ginger, chives, paprika, garlic, cumin, mint, basil, and oregano are just a few you can grow from readily available seed packets.
7. Say goodbye to bottled water. Pick up a reliable pitcher with a filtration system and use that tap water. It’ll save you in the long run and it never hurts to cut down on plastic consumption.
