Finding new money challenges and budgeting tips for how to save money is a fun game! Here are 6 out of the box ways to save money, if you're brave enough!
Two years ago we become a one income family. We knew that our family was finally expanding beyond just the two of us, and that I was going to stay home with the baby... what we didn't count on was my husband losing his job only 4 months after I quit mine!
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As a result we also knew that we needed to drastically change our spending habits. So we dug into our budget and cut out everything that wasn't essential.
We even took our food budget from $1000 a month to less than $300 a month!
But even though we love saving money, there are a few things I'm not quite brave enough to do yet... how about you?
Crazy Ways to Save Money, If You're Brave Enough!
While there are some incredibly sane ways to save money, like creating a meal plan, freezer cooking, and cutting your household budget with my worksheet system, there are also some pretty intense ways to save money too!
I know a lot of people who do all of these things, so I'm not cutting them down in any way. But for me and mine, there are a few points I'm all for, and a few I'm not there yet on!
1. How to Save Money Using Mama Cloth
Ok, this one is getting more and more appealing to me! I'm seriously considering switching over to mama cloth soon.
Mama cloth replaces disposable feminine products. Not only does it save money, but it cuts down on the toxicity that comes along with using the disposable kind of feminine products.
For most women, this would save about $150 a year.
You can make your own mama cloth or buy pre-made mama cloth in a ton of fun colors and patterns!
2. How to Save Money Using Family Cloth
Family cloth is reusable toilet paper. I know a lot of fine people who use this in there homes, and more power to 'em! I'm not sure I have the stomach to wash up after my husband!
However, it would actually save us about $360 a year, so I may have to consider it!
Most people use wash cloths for this purpose, I heard good things about these wash cloths for using as family cloth!
We have started using these for "number 1" and it saves more toilet paper than you think, without all the mess of using it all the time!
3. How to Save Money Using Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers are nothing new, but many families think of them as old fashioned in a time of disposable diapers. However, when you're trying to save money, sometimes you have to get a little old fashioned.
Just like making your own bread, or finding awesome depression era recipes, older ways of doing things can be a really great thing for your budget!
We originally wanted to do cloth diapers with our little guy. My mom got us all stocked up on the sweetest little patterns and I was so excited to use them! But he ended up being a preemie so the diapers didn't fit right away. And by the time they did fit, we were already sold on Honest Company diapers (which are ah-mazing by the way).
However, if we had made the switch it would have saved us $1080 a year!
You can buy cloth diapers in a variety of patterns and styles, or you can make them yourself!
RELATED: More Money Saving Tips from a Child Care Provider!
4. How to Save Money Using Cloth Wipes
This goes right along with cloth diapers of course. Even though we weren't able to get into the cloth diaper groove, I had thought about cloth wipes for our son as he has very sensitive skin. But in the end we finally found these Burt's Bees Baby Wipes and have never looked back.
However, they are not cheap! If we switched to cloth wipes it would save us $640 a year!
You can grab these super soft clothes made specifically for cloth wipes here, or of course, you can make your own from whatever cloth you'd like!
5. How to Save Money Using the No-Poo Method
No, this isn't a method for learning how to not go to the bathroom any more! It's the slang term for cutting shampoo out of your routine.
There are many different methods for doing this, but the most popular is the Apple Cider Vinegar and baking soda method.
All you do is get your hair wet and rub some baking soda (just a bit) into your hair. Then, take a spray bottle with ACV and water at a 1:4 ratio and spritz out the baking soda. Then rinse well and style as you normally would.
While I haven't switched to just ACV and baking soda - I have switched to a conditioner wash only (for curly hair)! I haven't shampooed my hair since January of 2018 and it's healthier than ever!
When I cut out hair products I saved over $300 a year!
6. How to Save Money by Having A No-Spend Day/Week/Month
A no-spend day/week/month is exactly what it sounds like. A period of time during which you spend NO money. I have great friends who do this every year for a full month and I applaud them!
They even take it so far as to spend no money on food, which means getting really creative with your meal plan.
I'm not sure how much we'd save by doing a no spend month, but if we just cut out our food budget we'd save about $300!
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If we did everything on this list we'd save over $2700 a year!
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J says
“I’m not sure I have the stomach to wash up after my husband!” ?? Can’t he clean up after himself?
Victoria says
Lol! Well since I’m the one who normally does the laundry, it would be me. But I suppose he could do his own “dirty” laundry ?
Jen says
We do all of these plus always heat with wood. don’t have babies anymore simnot I’m cloth diapering any more but it saved us sooooo much!
One thing I’d recommend is a diva cup instead of mama cloth. Mama cloth leaks and gets stinky. A diva cup is a two year deal… You only have to buy one every two years or so. Much more comfortable and no stink!
Victoria says
Good to know about the stink! Yuck!
I know people who swear by their mama cloth, but maybe because it’s homemade? Either way, good to look out for! Thanks Jen!
Sabrina says
Great tips. We do 4 of the 6 and we use bar soap I make myself for our hair so that is almost like 5 :-) I don’t think we are brave enough for family cloth though.
Christine says
I realize this sounds strange but I tried the no shampoo method and it did not work for me at all. I then signed up for free shampoo samples from various companies and have accumulated enough samples that I can get away with buying maybe one bottle of shampoo or conditioner per year for next to nothing using various sales/points/coupons/discounts. Good sites for samples are John Frieda, P&G sites, Organic sites, sample source etc. I wash my hair 1x per week so 30+ samples per year are not difficult to come by.
I make my own hand soap and body wash from leftover bars of soap scraps when they get small or using hotel soap bars and a bit of liquid glycerine–a few tiny bar fragments make a TON of hand soap-here is a recipe:
http://clark.com/family-lifestyle/make-liquid-hand-soap-bar-scraps/
I don’t use paper towels but do use toilet paper in the washroom. I get my toilet paper when it is a really great sale and stock up with coupons.
I have used commercial pads but haven’t paid for them in years due to coupons that have come out over the past while as well (Stayfree was the most recent one where i was able to get a large number of free boxes of pads via couponing).
I also join barter and trade sites and often trade things I don’t use or need for stuff I do. I managed to get a giant bottle of shampoo I didn’t much like at a great deal and bartered it for a huge bottle of conditioner that I love.
I don’t think you have to be brave just creative in the way you shop and do things!