Budgeting is not always easy and many of us are struggling to do it. Here are 8 budget and money hacks that will help you to get your finances in order.
8 Budget And Money Hacks You Need to Try: Living on a budget can be tough sometimes, especially if you’re not used to doing it. It’s hard to stay within your budget when there are so many great deals and promotions out there making shopping even more tempting than usual!
8 Budget And Money Hacks You Need to Try in 2022
If you want to stick to your budget and save some money in the process, try these eight awesome budgeting and money hacks in 2022! From setting up automatic savings accounts to using coupons at the right time, these tips will help you do it all!
1) Use a Whole Chicken
If you’re looking for a way to save money when cooking, opt for buying whole chickens instead of chicken breasts. Buying chicken pieces means you have no control over what parts of the bird your getting—which means you might end up with a lot of back (or maybe even giblets!) which is cheaper than thigh meat but doesn’t go as far in recipes. If you can figure out how to use it, it’s still better than throwing it away.
Whole chickens offer more bang for your buck because they contain less bone and are often sold with some skin attached (which makes them tastier). This way, your dish will have more flavor, too! Just make sure to remove any excess fat before cooking. Also, keep in mind that a whole chicken takes longer to cook than boneless breast halves so plan accordingly.
In addition, remember that most recipes call for boneless skinless breast halves rather than just plain chicken so if you’re only using one piece per recipe then consider cutting your own or ask your butcher to do it for you. And finally, if there are leftovers don’t be afraid to freeze them; after all – tomorrow is another day!
2) Save on produce with loyalty cards
If you frequent certain grocery stores, check if they offer a loyalty card. Most stores have these cards that you can sign up for online or in-store. Once you sign up, you get points that can be redeemed for discounts at a later time! It’s similar to having a discount code without needing one specific coupon. If your favorite store offers one of these loyalty cards, see if it can save you some money!
Many people forget about these savings opportunities, so it may be worth giving it a try! In order to take advantage of a rewards program, make sure you pay attention when checking out and remember to swipe your card every time you shop. Also, don’t forget to use any rewards as soon as possible; many companies only allow you to redeem rewards once or twice per year!
3) Cook at Home
If you’re eating out for most of your meals, there’s a good chance you’re spending too much on food. In fact, a 2015 study found that people who cook at home also have healthier diets than those who rely on restaurants for all their meals. Of course, not everyone has time to cook every meal—but if you can, it could save you a lot of money. It’s easier than ever now that so many recipes are available online for free! Just do a quick search for easy weeknight dinners or something similar and see what comes up!
Save these websites and apps as favorites to make sure you never miss a recipe again. They’ll even send you notifications when new recipes become available!
This will save me about $20 each month I spend about $40 dollars a week on food for lunch and dinner plus snacks. So by cutting down my lunch bill from $40 dollars a week to $30 dollars I will be saving myself about $20 dollars a month plus snacks.
4) Have a barbeque party
Here’s a low-cost way to keep your finances from exploding: barbeque. Grilling is often cheaper than eating out—you can cook for a large group on an outdoor grill for about $100 or less, including meat, vegetables, drinks, and side dishes. If you don’t have access to a grill, swap with friends who do. BBQs are a great reason to get together with other people (the more social events we go to, research shows that we tend to drink less).
So it might even encourage savings if everyone pitches in toward hosting it. And let’s face it—most of us could use an excuse to fire up our grills outside anyway! A good alternative to a traditional barbecue party is having an informal potluck dinner party where each person brings their own dish and contributes equally towards food costs.
This strategy works well when you have diverse tastes among guests, but no one wants to be responsible for bringing all of the food. Everyone chipping in makes sure there’s something for everyone at such parties. Potlucks also make it easier to eat healthy because you can choose what goes into your dish rather than being stuck with whatever was brought by someone else.
5) Adjust Your Thermostat
Changing your thermostat by even a few degrees can make a big difference over time. Using a programmable thermostat is an easy way to make sure you’re using as little energy as possible. If that’s not something you can afford, try setting your existing thermostat a couple of degrees higher or lower during different parts of the day, or when you are at home versus away.
It may not seem like much, but it can really add up over time. Also, consider getting your furnace checked out—you might be surprised what simple fixes could save you on heating costs. And remember: cold weather doesn’t have to mean high bills! Check out these other cost-saving ideas for winter heating.
If you find yourself wanting to crank up the heat (or cool down) more than usual, resist! Here are 10 things you should never do with your thermostat. Your wallet will thank you for it!
6) Eat out less often
It’s easy to get carried away on your lunch hour with that delicious, inexpensive meal you grabbed from that nearby deli. But, if you take your lunch every day, think about how much money you’re really spending—and more importantly, think about what else you could be doing with all that money. One option: put it into a savings account or invest it (if you have a higher income).
It can also go toward paying down debt faster if you don’t already have some form of side hustle going. Just remember not to spend your hard-earned cash on something unplanned; being prepared means planning ahead for treat meals like going out or spending extra on dinner from time to time. As an added bonus, when you do decide to eat out, order less food than usual.
The average restaurant portion is twice as big as what nutritionists recommend we eat in one sitting! Cutting back on portions will help reduce your overall food intake, which will make it easier to lose weight and keep it off long term. Another win? Eating out less often helps save money by eliminating impulse purchases such as snacks at a convenience store or extra sides at restaurants—not to mention saving calories!
Bonus: A study published in Health Affairs found that those who ate fast food were less likely to engage in physical activity. So by skipping fast food once in a while (or even just once per week), you may find yourself becoming healthier and fitter without even trying!
7) Get it pre-made if you can’t cook it yourself
When possible, avoid eating out by getting food that’s ready to eat. Since you know how much you’ll be consuming, it will make tracking calories easier. This is also a good way to save money if you’re watching your budget. In fact, going out for dinner has been shown to cost as much as $200 more per month than preparing meals at home. If you can’t cook yourself, then buy pre-made foods from grocery stores or farmer’s markets.
The added bonus of doing so is that these foods are often healthier because they don’t contain any preservatives or additives (and some farmers’ markets sell only raw ingredients). However, these items are usually pricier than buying ingredients separately and cooking them yourself. If you do choose to eat out regularly, consider ordering smaller portions or sharing with someone else at your table.
8) Take advantage of online grocery delivery services
When you’re short on time, online grocery shopping is a convenient option. While some stores charge a delivery fee, you can avoid those costs by having your groceries delivered straight to your door. Services like Instacart will send someone to your local grocery store who can purchase fresh produce, meat, dairy, and more on your behalf.
Depending on how much you need to be delivered, it may take between 30 minutes or several hours for them to collect everything. Typically an Instacart shopper will also deliver these goods within 2-3 hours of being purchased (although same-day service isn’t guaranteed). Once they’ve been picked up, all that’s left to do is wait for your food to be delivered! If you don’t have time to pick up groceries yourself, order from Instacart today.
Also Read 8 Personal Finance Tips You Need to Know
Conclusion
It’s not hard to save money. The key is doing it mindfully, by keeping your eyes open for little tips that’ll save you cash when you need it most. Consider incorporating some of these tricks into your own life, as they can make a huge difference over time.
If all else fails, consider starting a personal finance column so that you can share these tips with thousands of people—and take credit when they end up being millionaires! Good luck, and happy saving.
