Sometimes, even if you think you’re cutting your spending, that’s not enough. Cutting down on gym memberships and stuff like Starbucks might be a good way to save money, but sometimes you need more. Instead, you need to rely on finding extreme ways to live on an extreme budget and save money.
I remember my family having a tough time for a year. We only had chicken and rice for a year. why? Because my mother found something really good for chicken from a local farmer.
I couldn’t eat chicken for years after that, but my mother’s originality helped me keep food on the table, even when the money was tough.
If you’re looking for ideas to save, we have the cover for you. It doesn’t have to be that way forever, but in the short term, this approach can be extremely useful for your finances.
Why do you want to find an extreme way to save money?
There are many reasons why you might want to find extreme ways to save money. Maybe you have to live in your savings while you lose your job and look for another job. Or maybe you want to pay off your credit card or other debts in the end.
Living on an extreme budget can be a good way to build emergency savings and accumulate retirement savings funds. Some of these ideas may not only save you money, but may even simplify your life as well.
If you’ve fallen during difficult times, that’s not shameful. In fact, more than 37 million people are in poverty in the US country, according to the US Census Bureau. But hopefully, these extreme money saving ideas can help you save a little, even if the times get tougher.
Extreme ways to save money: 25 ideas
So, are you ready to start cutting your budget and try out some of our extreme money saving ideas? You can try couples or all 25. One thing is certain. If your money is tough, build your savings quickly with these ideas!
1. Make your own toothpaste and deodorizer
Did you know that you don’t need many flashy ingredients to make your own toiletries? It’s very easy to make your own toothpaste and deodorizer. All you need is coconut oil, baking soda, essential oils and a few other ingredients.
It can be good for you, especially if you have sensitive skin or gums. Needless to say, environmental benefits. For Zero Waste Group and other DIY skincare ideas, you can find toothpaste and deodorizer recipes.
2. Become a vegetarian
Meat is expensive. Especially the lean meat. An easy way to save money at a grocery store is to cut meat from your life and become a vegetarian.
There are plenty of delicious vegetarian recipes so there’s no need to reduce the flavor either.
Keep in mind that if you are buying out of season or eating specialist products, the vegetarian diet can be expensive. You should also make sure you are consuming enough protein through foods such as nuts and chickpeas.
However, if you are living on an extreme budget, cutting meat can be beneficial!
3. Turn off a/c
Another extreme money saving tip is to turn off A/C. This may sound extreme. But did you know that A/C is less common in other parts of the world?
That also makes sense. A/C takes up a lot of energy and can really raise your electricity bill.
While A/C is off, it may make no sense anywhere in the US, but at least you can raise the temperature a little more than normal. Or think of hand fans or good old cold water suits.
4. Lower the heating
With a similar note to the idea above, another extreme way to save money is to lower the heating. Like A/C, heating occupy a lot of energy. And depending on the type of heating you have, the bill can be crazy.
You can also try to isolate your home or apartment. This will help keep your home warm. Place plastic sheets in the window and create a door draft stopper with rice and old jeans or pants. Please keep the door to the room closed as well. That way, the heating system doesn’t have to work hard to heat each room.
5. Repair your clothes and stop your socks
I started boldly as a way to make socks more sustainable and I think it’s very relaxed. I usually smoke socks while watching Netflix. Above all, I didn’t have to buy new socks in almost four years thanks to Darning.
You can use the same darning method to fix the holes in the sweater. This not only helps to improve your clothes, but also helps to shape them and last longer. You can learn something new and save your penny!
6. Create your own cleaning supplies
Just like toiletries, you don’t need a large amount of expensive products to clean. The most effective cleaning products are lemon, white vinegar and baking soda.
In fact, baking soda is suitable for so many things around the house I always have at least two packets.
Mix some of the white vinegar and some of the water, add the lemon and infuse for a week. Then put it in a spray bottle.
It cleans anything. You can sprinkle baking soda for strong stains and stains.
7. Freeze food
A freezer can hold anything and is the best resource when you are living on an extreme budget. You can’t freeze fresh herbs in olive oil, freeze old bananas for use in shakes or breads, or freeze leftovers to waste.
According to the recycle truck system, approximately 60 million tonnes of food supplies are dumped in the United States each year. Freezing your food before it gets worse will not only save you money, but also prevent you from sitting in the landfill. Track what you have and make sure it eats it before burning the freezer!
8. I’ll buy a lot
Bulk purchases may seem counterintuitive at first, but bulk purchases can save you money in the long run. The only drawback of this extreme saving strategy is that buying in bulk may require more money ahead of time.
Buying a lot of things will be cheaper in the long term, with frequent household items like toilet paper, and even pantry staples like rice and pasta. Practice better budgeting by adding massive spending to your budget in advance.
9.Get free cosmetic samples
Free samples of makeup and other beauty products are available.
In fact, my favorite lip gloss lasted for three years and was from a sample of Sephora I received.
What’s more, with the exception of a few products like mascara and lipstick, you can actually request a free sample in-store. We also offer free samples of the beauty of the big department store!
10. Dumpstar Dive
I don’t know what I’ll find in the trash can. This isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re an extreme money savingr, you can find plenty of things people throw away. It can include everything from clothing to furniture.
Be careful when dumpster diving on private property.
11. Living with your roommate
Living with others is a good way to save big costs, such as splitting rent and utilities.
In fact, if you really want to be extreme, you can also share your bedroom. I did this this summer during my college internship at DC. Because as an intern, I couldn’t afford to buy an incredible living expenses.
12. Use coupons
Coupons and coupon websites are still there and can really help you save money if you are living on an extreme budget. These days, you can find coupon codes online, so if you’re shopping online, do a quick Google search.
You can also monitor sales and buy only what you need, like when new clothing and electronics are on sale. While it may seem like a lot of work at first, coupons can quickly become a money-saving habit.
13. Participate in networking events for free food
One of the extreme money saving hacks I used in college was going to the opening of an event and a networking party. why? For free food.
At the time, it often became my dinner. And I have a network and I have been able to meet interesting people too.
14. Stop using paper towels
Paper towels are not only bad for the environment, but also costly. I always feel that the more paper towels I have, the more I need to use them. A really great alternative is to use towels and rags.
You can start upcycle fashion, feel sloppy, sloppy, reuse clothes, and even develop your life even further. Groove paper towels are a great idea for anyone wanting to try out extreme savings!
15. Use instead of purchasing restaurant seasoning packages
Every time I go to McDonald’s or Taco Bell, I feel like they give me lots of seasoning packages. There are so many that I don’t even feel the need to buy a ketchup bottle at home.
Another extreme and easy way to save money right away is to keep all the seasoning packages and even ask for additional. You can also store them in a seasoning bottle, as you don’t have to worry about overflowing small packages in the fridge. Saving seasonings is a simple tip that doesn’t put too much effort into it.
16. Save the restaurant napkin
Getting extra napkins from the restaurant is another extreme way to save money without much effort! I always put some in my wallet in search of extras. I don’t know when I’m needed.
And why can you get paper napkins for free (well, minus the cost of the meal).
17. Brew coffee or tea twice
This extreme money saving hack is a trick from my great grandmother who lived during the Great Repression. According to my father, she brewed coffee in the morning and saved the grounds to brew coffee again in the afternoon.
I’ve tried this hack and find it difficult to brew coffee twice, but using it in tea is a good trick.
18. Always shop in the sales section
Whenever you need new jeans or jackets, I always wait for the sale season before heading out to the sales section. I don’t even bother looking at the front of the store, but I always head backwards. You may need to dig a little deeper, but you will find what you need and save a lot of money while you’re in it.
You can also find birthday or holiday gifts like this and save even more!
19. We will conduct an online survey
It may seem like everyone has an opinion on the internet, but some people will actually pay you to give you your opinion. Locations like Swagbucks and Survey Junkie respond to investigations and sometimes even pay for test products. It’s an easy way to earn cashback.
20. Rent a spare room at your home
If you have a spare room in your location, you can earn extra income by renting it through Airbnb. This site has a calculator on its website, which makes it easy to know if you can rent it and earn a week.
However, keep in mind that there may be extra costs like cleaning. Additionally, you need to be OK with strangers in your home for days or weeks.
21. Sell your old clothes
You have old boots you thought were really cute, but your heels hurt so you never wear them? Instead of throwing them away or holding them to collect dust behind your closet, you can sell them through market apps like Poshmark.
It’s very easy to set up and doesn’t take long to maintain. Snap some bright photos, determine the price, upload it, and wait for someone to snatch your old clothes.
twenty two. Stop using the clothes dryer
If you want to save money, use less or no clothes dryer. You can dry your clothes outdoors whenever the weather is warm or whenever. In winter, drying racks can be convenient and save money on electricity.
To take it a step further, try using cold water in the washing machine. It saves energy!
twenty three. Be careful about your energy use
Get your home appliances and electronics rated and plug them in to see what you’re using to consume energy. If used to save energy, be intentional to connect only appliances.
For example, coffee pots, toasters, and phone chargers can only be connected from time to time. Obviously, things like fridges should be constantly plugged in, but they should be kept as much as possible!
twenty four. Start the garden
If you don’t mind outdoor work and time, start a vegetable and herb garden to save money on grocery. Instead of buying these foods in the store, you can grow them in your garden!
There are many factors that determine the cost of your garden, but there are opportunities to save money.
A great beginner’s guide to getting started with your vegetable garden.
twenty five. Reduce your home
If you really want to cut costs, consider reducing your home to save money such as rent/mortgages and utilities.
If you currently have too much space, you can also move to a small apartment or explore Tiny House Living. This adjustment suits your lifestyle. If you’re focused on an aggressive savings plan, this could also be a good idea for you.
However, if you have a family with children, downsizing may not work for you. Just do your research to make sure your rent, mortgage and related utilities get cheaper.
Also, be aware that shrinking your home can take some time. Be especially mindful if you need to sell your home or wait for the lease to end before shrinking.
Expert Tip: Extreme Life doesn’t have to be permanent
It is difficult to live in extreme ways to save money. This helps to remind you that it’s not something you have to do indefinitely.
You may choose to do this for a year while you find a new job, or while saving emergency funds or paying off your debts.
If you’re trying out extreme ways to save money, and you know it’s worth the effort, keep an end date in mind.
What causes extreme frugality?
Extremely frugality may inevitably be caused, or maybe someone really wants to save more money. There are many reasons, including losses in employment and income, big savings goals, and want a simpler lifestyle.
Regardless of the reason you choose this, know that there are multiple ways to save cash!
How can I save an insane amount?
By keeping your spending in mind and willing to make some serious lifestyle changes, you can save insane amounts.
Extreme savings include planning your home meals, repairing items rather than buying new ones, learning to create your own home cleaning supplies and products, and learning how to make coupons.
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If you’re looking for extreme ways to save money, there are plenty of ways to save a little cash. From dumpster diving to clothing repairs and research adoption, you can easily save a few dollars a month with a little creativity and luck.
And while that may not be so, it will definitely add up in a few months. Get even more extreme and modest ideas here!