Ways to Save Money if you are Starting Out

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Everyone wants to save money these days. I needed to for my daughter pictured above. It is hard starting out, but don’t be discouraged. I started out making small changes and did one at a time. Here are some of the ways I have saved money for my family living on one income.

1. Make your own laundry detergent! – yes, I truly did make my own and over a year and a half ago! I still have a bunch left also. I have a family of 3, so we do laundry every other day. 1-2 loads each time. I used Zote Flakes, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, and Borax. I mixed it all in a 5-gallon bucket. I use 1-2 tablespoons per load and it works great with my HE washing machine.
2. Cloth Napkins, Wipes, and Diapers – Napkins and wipes are pretty much the same, just napkins you can use different material that you may not use on a baby’s butt. They are simple to make as well. Cloth Diapers save you $100-$1000 a year. We loved them especially living on one income. We bought in bulk and cheap. Amazon is great for these.
3. Buy in Bulk!!! – Can’t stress this enough. It has saved us so much money doing this. We mainly buy in bulk our household products. Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Soap, Trash Bags and Dishwasher Tabs. If I find a good deal I will also buy food in bulk such as pasta, meat, and canned goods.
4. Coupons and Promotions – This is a great way to say on what you already buy. I save about $100 a month on groceries by using rebate apps and coupons. Ibotta, Mobisave, Checkout51, and Savingstar are great rebate apps. I also use Groupon, Ebates, Krazy Coupon Lady, and Retailmenot for deals, promo codes and cash back. I also check out the Sunday paper for coupons, email companies for coupons and check out their websites. Do not forget store cards that have coupons on them!
5.  I rarely pay full price for anything. I try to buy on sale 90% of the time and stock up on the really good deals. Clearance is your best friend. I stocked my daughter’s shirt collection for $1-2 a shirt thanks to Meijer. I also bought all of her Birthday on clearance.
6. Yard sales, Flea Markets, Facebook Sale sites and the like. Find great deals on there and sometimes steals. I have gotten my daughter’s toddler bed, outdoor play toy and my new phone from these sites for half off or more. You can also sell your items, just remember these are not places you sell full price at.

These are great ways to get you started and make a difference in your budget. Hope they help!