7 Creative Ways to Save

Saving money isn't always easy, sometimes you have to be very creative.  When I quit my job to stay home with my son I realized I needed to be very creative if I wanted to make it work. There are a few tricks you can use to really save some cash. Here are my favorite 7 creative ways to save.

Use Every Last Drop

Use a spatula to get every last bit of mayonnaise, unscrew the spray bottles to pour out the last bit of liquid, and fill your soap container with a bit of water before you toss it. Make sure you do your best to use every last drop. You can even cut the end off of a toothpaste tube and squeeze out another days worth of toothpaste.

Make Your Own

It's amazing what you can make at home. I love to save by making my own household cleaners. With pinterest you can find how to make just about anything. You can make your own bread, yogurt, even your own deodorant! I love making my own butter. My son likes to help and it's cheaper than most store bought butter. It's fun to try new things and still be saving money.

Do Without

Going without something is the most simple way to save. Do you really need cable TV? Can you maybe go without the cell phone? When my son was younger we went a couple of months with just one car. Although it took some planning, it really saved us some money. Ask yourself if it is really something you need before you buy.

Use The Leftovers

If you get carry out save those last couple of ketchup packets or napkins to use at home. If you are staying in a hotel then bring home those small shampoo and conditioner bottles. It may not be a lot, but every little bit helps you save. We rarely buy napkins because so many restaurants give you a big pile when you go through the drive thru.

Use Cash Only

We use the envelope system to help us save money. If I don't have the money with me then I can't buy it. It's amazing how many impulse buys I don't purchase because I don't have the money on me at that time. If it is really a great deal then you can always go back for it when you have the cash.

Borrow Instead of Buy

Last month we met my parents for lunch and traded off items. We loaned them our large suitcase and they loaned us their chainsaw. Neither one of these items are something you need to use very often, so it's easy to trade with them. I love being able to borrow instead of having to buy. It just makes sense with those rarely used items to really save some money.

Reuse Everything

I don't ever remember my grandma using ziploc bags. She would save her bread bags and ties, wash them, and use those as ziploc bags. Even if you buy your own sandwich bags you can wash most of them and reuse them. Old peanut butter and pasta sauce jars can be washed and used to store things in. There are so many things that can easily be reused or re-purposed to save money.

With a little creativity you can find yourself saving even more money. What creative ways do you save money?