On the Homefront

TROUBLE AT THE TILLS … pain at the petrol pump … overwhelmed with the overdraft … The cost-of-living crisis has bitten hard, and loads of families are limping! Fact is, most people living on limited incomes already do a lot to save money – so this isn’t a point-the-finger, preach-to-the-choir, fluff piece … We just hope to add a few things to your frugal-living toolbox, or at least offer a helpful reminder of what you already know about careful spending and saving!

1. IDENTIFY GOALS, WANTS & NEEDS

Whether your goal is simple (“Just don’t run out of money before payday!”) or you have a larger focus, like saving for a future expense, writing it down will help you keep your priorities front and centre as you shop. Categorising all your regular and one-off expenses as ‘needs’ or ‘wants’ (and therefore negotiable) will help enormously with the next step … 

2. MAKE (AND STICK TO) A BUDGET

It seems obvious, but one of the best ways to save money is to carefully track everything you spend. There are loads of great apps for this – some of them totally free – which allow you to keep a real-time tally of your income and expenses. Of course, a budget only works if you stick to it – so figuring out a way to keep within your spending limits is well worth the effort. Some people find it easiest to put budgeted cash into labelled envelopes for specific expenses, so it’s clear when the allocated money’s been spent. 

3. MEAL PLAN

As with a budget, planning meals helps save money and avoid waste. If you’ve got access to a freezer, consider making some bulk meals when ingredients are on sale; it’s far cheaper to defrost something for dinner than resort to takeaways when you’re running short on time or energy. Things like curries, soups, and stews freeze well, and you can serve them with cheaper staples like rice, pasta, potatoes, and bread to help everyone fill up. Stick to in-season fruit and veg, and when fresh options are especially pricey, consider tinned or frozen alternatives (which contain similar nutrients).

4. GROWN YOUR OWN

Creating a veggie garden isn’t always cheap – but it’s worth it if you have the resources. Even the most black-thumbed of us might have success with some simple winter staples in an outdoor pot or plot, and that homegrown cauliflower will taste so much better than the budget-breaking shop-bought equivalent! If you’ve got space but gardening isn’t your thing, consider offering the use of your land to a neighbour or community gardener in exchange for a portion of the harvest.

5. SHOP AROUND

Compare prices to get the most for your money; often, smaller grocers, butchers, or ethnic shops offer cheaper produce, spices, and staples than the supermarket giants. Look for local kai co-ops in your area for wholesale fruit and veg in season, shop at a bulk-foods store, or visit a local farmer’s market on the weekend. If you’re time-poor, organise a shopping roster with friends or family members and alternate weeks where you all take a turn to pick up and distribute supplies.

6. GO OLD-SCHOOL

Make foods from scratch – especially baking and sauces – to save heaps. Look at wartime recipes and basic foods from different cultures around the world for inspiration – most have variations on pulse-and-starch combos designed to fill bellies without relying too heavily on expensive meats and dairy. Repair and reuse things where possible, rather than throwing them away. Find recipes online for homemade soaps and disinfectants you can substitute for many cleaning products. And look carefully at your wants/needs list to see where you can cut back on modern conveniences in favour of simpler/cheaper options (such as switching from streaming subscriptions to local ‘on-demand’ channels or opting for family boardgames at home or time together outdoors instead of break-the-bank indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks). 

7. STOP THE LEAKS

Literally and figuratively, leaks can cost major money. Stopping leaks can be about blocking drafts and adding a bit of insulation or a curtain to keep the heat in, or fixing that dripping tap to bring the water bill down … It can be about examining (and possibly reducing) those small, regular expenses that add up over time (we’re looking at you, daily coffee on the work commute!). But it’s also about choosing to ‘spend to save’, where possible; buy the better-quality shoes (if your budget permits) or the slightly-newer used car, to save on expenses for replacement or upkeep and repair over time. As the saying goes, ‘Buy once, cry once!’!

8. BARGAIN DOWN

Whenever you see a special offer from a competing company for internet, electricity, or other service, there’s an opportunity to negotiate a lower rate with your current provider. And if the service you use offers a ‘new customer’ discount, their sales agents often have some wiggle-room to extend the deal to current customers as well. It costs nothing to ask – and you have a lot to gain if you’re successful!

9. BE GENEROUS

One of the trickiest mental challenges of living on a tight budget is avoiding a ‘poverty mindset’ … There’s a lot to be said for frugality and living within your means, but most of us still want to share what we can and be generous with those around us. Being in a poverty mindset means being focused on what we’re doing without instead of what we’ve got – and it robs us of the joys of generosity. Finding frugal ways to treat the kids or sharing with friends and neighbours in small ways can be a real boost to your morale.

10. BUILD YOUR COMMUNITY

This can happen naturally when you’re as generous as possible with your time and resources – but it’s worth making an extra effort to develop neighbourly connections … Look for community groups where you can be part of swaps for goods or services, share your harvest, or otherwise reach out to give or receive help. Close communities provide boosts in health and wellbeing for free!