Unusual Ways To Save Money You May Not Have Heard About

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We all know that if you want to save money you should create a budget, start switching to cheaper utility suppliers, and cut coupons, but they are not the only things you can do to improve your finances and save some cash. 

Regardless of your financial situation, I’ve put together a list of some of the more unusual ways to save money that you may not have considered. 

Surprising Ways To Save More Money

1. Get a VPN

A lot of people think that VPNs, which you can read about at Troypoint, are just for accessing Netflix and other streaming services in different areas, which they are great for by the way – making your subscription money do more for you – but they can also be used to gain access to coupons, discount codes and even airfares by unlocking access to better deals that may not normally be available in your specific region.

Obviously, you should always read the small print to ensure your use of a VPN won’t invalidate your purchase, but for the most part, it won’t and you’ll be free to reap the rewards of greater savings.

2. Watch less TV

While we’re on the subject of TV, one of the most unusual ways to save money is to start watching less TV and doing other things instead. Why? Not only will you save money on the cost of running the TV, but you’ll also stop seeing so many commercials that persuade you to spend money you don’t have. It may sound silly, but it can really work.

3. The 30-day delay

Whenever you do see something that you would like to buy, instead of making a purchase then and there, make a note of it and wait 30 days. If, after 30 days, when you look at your 30-day delay list, you still want to buy the item, go ahead and do so, if not, you’ve saved money. This is another tip that seems a little dumb, but pretty much everyone who’s tried it has saved a lot of money and a lot of unnecessary purchases because they’ve bypassed their instant gratification impulse and given themselves enough breathing space to realize they didn’t really want that thing that much at all.

4. Eat before you buy groceries

If you go to the grocery store hungry, you’ll throw in all kinds of (usually unhealthy) foods that you don’t really want or need simply because your hungry and it’s affecting your decision-making. So, before you head off to Trader Joe’s, eat a healthy meal and maybe write a shopping list to keep you on track too.

5. Grow your own

Growing your own fruits, vegetables, legumes, flowers …whatever it is that you buy a lot of and have the right climate for, is a really easy way to save money, and although it should be obvious, a lot of people simply have not considered it before, which is why I’ve added it to this list.

6. Purchase a reusable water bottle

Buying a reusable water bottle can help to save quite a large chunk of money over a period of time. Simply by filling up your bottle with water before you leave the house can save several dollars spent on a single-use plastic bottle at lunchtime. Great for the wallet and great for the environment too!

7. Get your hair styled by a student

Many salons and beauty schools offer discounted or even free haircuts and styles at certain times of the week to give students the opportunity to practise their skills. I have done this before and while the appointment took longer than usual, I ended up with an even better cut than I normally would as each stage was monitored by a supervisor!

8. Leave your purse at home

When going for a walk, leave your purse at home. I’ve lost count of the amount of times that I have gone for a leisurely walk and found myself making impulsive purchases – ice-cream, soda, even trinkets from stores when I was supposed to be window shopping! Leaving your purse behind means that you won’t have the option of spending money frivolously.

Do you have any unusual tips for saving money? Please share them so that we can all benefit from the savings.

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