Frugal tips
Make sure the stain is gone.
Before putting your stained clothing in the dryer, always check to make sure the stain is completely gone. If the clothing is placed in the dryer while stained, the heat may cause the stain to set, which means it will permanently be part of the garment. If the stain is still visible, retreat and rewash the clothing until the stain is gone.
Treat stains immediately.
To keep stains from ruining your clothing, make sure to treat the stain the second you see it. Always follow the clothing tag washing instructions. Here are general instructions I often follow:
- Start by cleaning up excess sauce or liquid, then wet the cloth with cold water. Use a small drop of dish detergent to loosen the stain, pressing the stain over and over to lift it out.
- Avoid rubbing, which may cause damage to the fabric.
- For stubborn stains, place the fabric in water to sit overnight before putting it in the washer. Otherwise, wash the clothing immediately after treating the stain for best results.
Awning Light Hangers
Whether you want to hang a tarp, some lights, or something else from your awning track, these DIY hangers work great. They’re strong, cheap to make, and simple to assemble. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 10 inches of paracord
- 1 inch of 1/4″ aluminum tubing
- 1 M10 washer To see how to fully make it, view the full tutorial here.
Find a way to earn more.
Instead of finding ways to cut back spending in other areas, why not find a way to earn some extra money you can use on clothing purchases? Looking for another job, starting a side hustle, or asking for a raise are all simple ways to start earning more money, allowing you to spend more on clothing without sacrificing spending in other budget categories. Related articles on how to make extra money on the side:
- 11 Easy Ways to Make $100 Quickly
- 11 Work at Home Jobs to make Side or Full-Time Money
Cut back on other expenses.
If being able to afford fashionable clothing is important to you, finding ways to cut back in other spending categories is an option. Take a look at your budget to see where you can move money around to allow you to spend a little more on clothes. Just make sure that those cut-backs are feasible or you may end up going over budget if you aren’t careful.
Check for coupons and discount codes.
Before making any purchase, take the time to research prices, look for coupons, and search for discount codes for online buys. And don’t forget to sign up for cashback providers, like Rakuten. When you sign up for Rakuten in the U.S., you’ll get a welcome bonus of $10 after making your first online purchase of $25 or more! If you’re Canadian, sign up here at Rakuten.ca where the welcome bonus is $5. While you may not save a ton of money with these methods, it will reduce the overall cost of your purchases. And all those little savings will add up over time.
Shop you friends’ closets.
One of the best parts about having friends who enjoy fashion as much as you is that you have a huge selection of clothing to choose from. Sharing clothing among friends is a great way to expand your wardrobe without spending any money at all. The next time you need something new to wear, call your friend to see if you can shop their closet instead of going shopping in a store.
Don’t Hand-Wash Your Dishes
Most modern dishwashers are incredibly efficient at washing dishes. According to the National Resources Defense Council, you use an average of 27 gallons of water when you hand-wash dishes compared to 3 gallons for an Energy Star-rated dishwasher. To save even more water, don’t prewash your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. Simply scrape off the excess food and put the dishes right in.
Don’t Water the Grass
The EPA estimates that the average American family uses 30% of its daily water on outdoor activities like gardening and watering the grass. Watering a home garden is worth the expense since you’re growing food to feed your family. However, spending money to water the grass is unnecessary, especially when money is tight.
Take Fewer Showers
Yes, this is a real suggestion. Most people in the world don’t shower every single day. So why do we? Try taking a shower every other day. Or take a quick rinse-off shower one day and a longer shower where you wash your hair the next day. Another option is to use a kitchen timer to take shorter showers. Try for five minutes or less. If you love taking baths, save them for a special treat. Baths typically use 35 to 50 gallons of water. However, a five-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead using 2.5 gallons of water per minute uses only 12.5 gallons.