After many requests, we’re back with more practical tips for keeping money in your wallet. We’ve shared saving strategies before and written about simplifying life to protect your finances. Since we still like stretching our dollars (and sometimes cringe when opening the Target bill), here are several clear, actionable ways we save the most money. These are simple, sustainable habits you can try right away.
Cheapola Tip #1 – Dollar Dinners. We cook at home most nights, but there’s always room to trim grocery costs. Inspired by nostalgic dorm-era meals, we designated one night a week as an ultra-affordable dinner night. Our go-to is basic spaghetti made with angel hair pasta and a jar of sauce—no salad, no meatballs, no extras. Because it’s only once a week, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice, and it stretches our dinner budget so we can enjoy pricier meals other evenings. You can extend this idea with simple, inexpensive sides: a bag of frozen vegetables and some brown rice makes a nutritious, low-cost meal that adds variety without blowing the budget.
Cheapola Tip #2 – Post Your Goals. Put your financial priorities where you’ll see them before you spend. A small note in your wallet listing goals like “pay off the mortgage in 10 years” or “save for an organic mattress” helps you pause and consider whether a purchase aligns with your objectives. This quick visual cue reduces impulse buys and keeps long-term plans front and center.
Cheapola Tip #3 – Go For Four. Try not spending any money four days a week—Monday through Thursday, for example. The idea is rooted in the one-day-no-spend challenge, but we find four days makes a bigger dent in discretionary spending. Plan errands for the weekend, take toll-free routes when practical, skip the paper and read news online, and bring homemade meals. Limiting weekend spending to planned treats—like a small box of tea that replaces daily coffee runs—keeps motivation high while still producing savings.
Cheapola Tip #4 – DIY One Thing. Pick one service you used to pay for and do it yourself. It might be making your own tea or coffee at home, doing your own nails, washing your car, or using kitchen ingredients to make a face mask. Libraries are a great free resource for books and movies, and homemade cleaners can replace bottled products. Even small DIY changes add up over time.
Cheapola Tip #5 – Save The Date. Great date nights don’t require spending. Commit to one free date each week—walks, hikes, bike rides, or visiting free museums and galleries are all rich experiences that cost nothing. Browse garage sales or open houses, spend a cozy afternoon reading together at a bookstore, listen to music and play board games, or turn a guest room into a mini staycation. These moments strengthen relationships without draining your account.
Cheapola Tip #6 – Break Out The Magnifying Glass. Audit your regular expenses and eliminate or reduce what you barely use. Maybe you’re not getting value from a streaming service, or a landline is redundant now that you rely on cell phones. Consolidating plans, negotiating service rates, and cutting subscriptions you don’t use can free up significant monthly cash. A careful review of recurring charges often reveals easy wins.
Cheapola Tip #7 – Grow Your Own. Start herbs, vegetables, and flowers from seed to cut grocery and floral costs. A small herb patch can supply basil and other herbs all season for much less than buying them at the store, and a cutting garden will deliver bouquets for a fraction of the cost of store-bought flowers. Seed-starting is inexpensive and rewarding, and it turns a little effort into ongoing savings.
Now it’s your turn: what penny-pinching habits have worked for you? Share your best tips and tricks so we can all learn and save together.
For another practical budgeting approach, consider exploring the envelope system for managing cash and tracking spending.