Simple lifestyle changes that help you save money

Author: Louise O’Bryan

We’re not talking radical lifestyle changes, or living extremely frugally, but by adopting some simple money-saving measures, you can trim down your outgoing costs and see a notable increase to your bank balance. It makes complete sense that spending less and having more in the bank is going make most people happier and less stressed, so who wouldn’t want to live a low-cost day-to-day lifestyle, so that you have more to spend on the bigger treats? Seychelles here we come!

Learn a new DIY skill
Whether it’s mending your own clothes, upholstering furniture or even building your own garden deck, being able to tackle a DIY job on your own, without having to seek expensive external help is going to save you a fortune. Simple online courses or YouTube videos offer quick and easy instructions, while basic evening classes could offer more extensive training. Just imagine if you knew a little about plumbing? Your wallet would certainly be happier!

Personalise your pressies
Try getting creative with your gifts and cards by making them at home, rather than relying on shop-bought solutions. Keep some great ideas up your sleeve by researching online, and make more than one at a time so you have stock in the cupboard for last-minute presents that you can whip up. Homemade children’s presents are going to make a heartfelt treat, and the kids will also enjoy helping make the gift … 

8 homemade (and heartfelt) gift recipes

… while you can also make adult gifts in the form of homemade condiments, sweet bakes or even wine, again stocking up a few batches in the cupboard so you never arrive empty handed.

Bake your own bread
Who doesn’t love the smell of baking bread wafting around the house? And what greater special treat can you offer guests than home-made crumpets or muffins? Buying a bread maker is a large initial outlay, but it will help you save on grocery bills in the long run, particularly if you have bread storage that will keep it fresh. What’s more, home-baked bread is sure to encourage home-made lunches, thanks to the appeal of yummy doorstop-sized sandwiches.

Revive furniture instead of trading it in 
When furniture gets a bit tired and worn around the edges, we often take the easy, but costly route of trading it in for a new model. However, before throwing it out, or selling it on eBay, consider if you could revive it so it will last a little longer.

Maybe a wooden dining table can be sanded down, revarnished or repainted? Or commissioning new covers for a well-used chair or sofa is going to be a lot less expensive, and more convenient, than buying a brand-new piece.

Upcycle your cast-offs for a brand new look

Drink your own coffee
In a similar vein to baking your own bread, investing in a coffee machine and bean grinder will encourage you to make your own good-quality coffee to drink at home and take away.  A thermos flask, or a sustainable coffee cup, not only keeps a few extra dollars in your pocket each day, it will save on environmentally harmful coffee cups too.

Repurpose old items
Becoming a keen op-shopper and nature-strip hunter is going to make life interesting, not to mention cheaper. Keep up to date with council clean-up days. Think up creative uses for everyday items, such as wooden palettes, and you can forego those designer buys for more unique and individual one-offs.

Grow your own
You don’t have to own loads of land to grow your own veggies, even city balconies can be ripe pickings for homegrown produce. All you need is some good containers and a bit of dedication, and you’ll be treating yourself to delicious organic salad leaves, herbs and tomatoes in no time. Look up courses and videos on propagation as a way to reduce spending on plants at garden centres too.

Shop-bought herbs can add a hefty amount to grocery bills, particularly when they don’t last long in the fridge, so growing your own is a must for keen cooks who want to save money for other luxurious food treats.

Read up on growing your own

Turn the power off
This is a well-worn money saving tip, but one that needs to be reiterated in a tech world where we continue to fill our homes with more and more devices. Turning off the power on computers and unplugging idle chargers is going to save on energy and electricity costs. No matter how small the savings, it all adds up in the end.

Rent out a room
This is a bigger lifestyle change that will take a bit of planning, but renting out a spare room to either casual Airbnb guests or Monday-to-Friday lodgers will see a huge contribution towards your weekly bills. It’s a big sacrifice to make, but if you’re prepared to share communal areas with strangers and are happy to clean up after them, then you could be looking at a significant financial boost to put toward your mortgage payments, and that’s priceless!

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