Think Outside the Budget: 10 Unusual Tips That Work Wonders for Savvy Savers

A new survey showed that most people think they’re careful with money, especially when it comes to fun, eating out, and trips, but what being “careful with money” means can be different for each person.

In a popular forum, one user asked, “What goes against all the frugal advice, but is still frugal for you?”

Here are some of the top-rated responses:

1. Hire A Mechanic To Change the Oil And Brake Pads 

All the frugalistas believe in DIY, and this isn’t any different. The foremost frugal advice is to change the oil and brake pads yourself. 

A user shared, “I can do an oil change and change brake pads myself. But I NEVER do it. It got to the point where I drove the car twice as long as it was supposed to between changes and started to get worried, but I still didn’t seem to do it. So paying a mechanic to do it is much more frugal than me ruining my car through negligence.”

“This is me 100%. I kept saying, “oh, I’ll just look up the video and figure out how to change my oil!” Nope. The money spent on it was worth it to save the time, stress, and wear on my car.” said another. 

“My car’s oil filter is in a really inconvenient spot to get at, and having done it myself once, I’ll gladly pay someone to do it just so I don’t have to, ” another user said. 

At the same time, someone said, “I wouldn’t put those in the same frame of reference. An oil change will save you ~$30-90 a year for 3-4 hours of work. Brake pads will save you ~$700 for 3-4 hours of work. It’s a different magnitude of savings.” to which someone replied

“I could learn to do these things myself, but it would be a day of watching YouTube videos, swearing, running around for tools, etc., and then worrying about whether I made any mistakes while my car mechanic does it in 15 minutes in his sleep. I can change the battery and any lights, but that’s it. I’m usually capable, but I can’t afford to destroy my car with a mistake.”

In short, if you can eliminate stress and make better use of the saved time, there is no harm in hiring someone to do these part-time gigs. You can look into using apps like Taskrabbit to find someone affordable.

2. Meal Delivery Service

Frugal advice is generally to cook the meals instead of ordering out. Right? 

A user says, “We get a meal delivery service. Of course, I researched and picked the cheapest one, but I could make rice and beans cheaper than $5/serving. The thing is, I didn’t. I said I would, would, and would, but I didn’t.

I wouldn’t say I like cooking, and I’m not good at it. But these are still faster than fast food, and they make it, so we go to the grocery store every other week instead of weekly. I budget $600/mo for groceries, and with this service, we are coming right in at that much more easily AND not going over the budget. Of course, I order the 4 servings per meal and split one between the kids (they’re small and hate dinner) and then give one to my significant other for the next day’s lunch. I mean, this is still r/frugal.”

In my opinion, yes, it definitely is frugal.

Related: How To Make Money Driving For UberEats

3. Hire Help

It is a super no-no in the frugal land.  

Someone said, “My wife and I hire a cleaner for 4 hours once a year during our big deep-cleaning day. It helps to have a 3rd pair of hands helping us so we can get it all done in a day.”

“$100/mo (less in urban areas) for clean, folded laundry is a huge time & mental saver.” said another. 

“I second this. Ours come every 3 weeks, and it is worth every penny. Even though muddy dogs and children make a mess quickly, nothing truly gets out of hand, and I can avoid the chores I hate the most. It’s worth budgeting around if you have conflicts or stress around cleaning, and it’s like a reset button.” seconded another. 

Someone also said, “I pay to get my house cleaned once a month. Having pets and ADHD makes it hard for me to keep my place as clean as I like (when I do a full clean, it takes me six hours). The time, mental energy, and stress I save enable me to do other things that save money; I have time to cook, focus on doing a better job at work, and host friends instead of going out. Food is the big one for me; when things are super hectic, and I’m barely functioning, I end up ordering DoorDash. If I don’t order DoorDash 2-4x per month, that covers the cleaning fee.”

A user put it aptly, said, “Your time is worth money, too. Absolutely!”

4. Walmart Plus 

“I’m signed up for grocery delivery from Walmart. It’s 12 bucks a month but free unlimited delivery. However, I pay 10-12 bucks as a tip for the driver each time. It’s a little steep; however, I work full-time and attend school full-time. The nearest Walmart is 20 minutes out of the way… so it’s a 40-minute round trip plus shopping time. I have found the time saved is worth the extra cost.” said a user.

“OMG, yes. After moving to an apartment 30 minutes away from the closest Walmart and being on the third floor… Yeah, it made sense. I didn’t want to drive 30 minutes into town and then have to carry all the groceries up three flights of stairs….” said another.

Also Read: How To Make Fast Money (For Women)

5. Travel To Create Memories 

“I am happy to spend our holidays. The value, in this case, is in the rest and relaxation and building good family memories.” said someone.

6. Spend On A Budgeting App 

Frugal spending on a budgeting app is such a dichotomy. 

“I pay for a budget app (YNAB). Could I sit down each week to log all my transactions and my wife’s transactions? Yes. Could I take what I know and do it all in excel? Also Yes. But ease of use/entry that YNAB provides is what makes my budgeting a routine habit.” shared someone.

Related: Best Jobs That Pay Weekly, Boost Your Income Now

7. Quality Shoes

“Never be cheap with shoes. You rely on them every day. It’s best to pay for stuff that can last for years, especially if you can have them repaired and maintained at a cobbler. Far cheaper than new shoes every year,” said someone.

“I used to get cheap shoes at Marshall’s <$30 but after foot problems, I now buy >$100 shoes, and they’re worth every penny.” shared another.

Remember, if you ever buy quality shoes, you can always resell them for profit. 

8. Gym Membership

Can we workout without a gym? Yes. 

But, a user shared, “Paying for an expensive gym membership. I go more than if it were the YMCA, and there are mental health benefits to using a sauna, which the YMCA doesn’t have. It’s a bit twice the monthly price as YMCA and 10 times that of planet fitness.”

Related: Is $5000 Enough To Move Out And Live Comfortably

9. A Nice Pair Of Bag

“Buying nicer bags. Not necessarily a designer or brand, but I work in a professional field and need a large bag to carry a tablet, calendar, umbrella, etc. (sometimes even a pair of flats in there so I can change out of my heels after meetings).” shared someone. 

Another user said, “I tried inexpensive Amazon or target bags that look nice and have the right pockets/configuration, but they wear out after a year of use on average, and the faux leather will peel and look shabby. So I invested in a couple of nicely made real leather options for around $200 each. Still going strong after about 5 years, with only minor wear from daily use. I’ve saved money going for the nicer option in the long run.”

I also snagged an adorable blue coach bag second hand but near new condition for like $50 one summer, so that’s been my “fun” evening bag for close to 7 years now 😊 I shared yet another. 

Note: If you buy quality bags, you can resell them and make money. 

10. Getting Rid Of Stuff 

“Get rid of stuff, even though I might need it. I’d rather rebuy a few things instead of hoarding everything. People only remember the couple of times they regret getting rid of something.” said a user. 

Source: Reddit 

12 Fast Food Chains Where You Can Still Eat Cheap

Fast food can be a quick and affordable meal option, but knowing where to go to get the most bang for your buck is essential. Read here.

16 Things That Are Legal in the U.S. but Are Actually Pretty Messed Up

In the United States, there are a number of things that are legal but should not be. These things can range from harmful practices to others. Read here.

13 Inventions That Were Supposed to Change the World… But Didn’t

Though there are both good and bad inventions, it’s fascinating to learn about those that once promised to revolutionize the world, but are now forgotten. Read more.

15 Costco Products That Are a Total Rip-Off

Costco is known for its great deals on bulk items, but only some things at the warehouse club are a good value. Read more.

Did You Know? These 18 Everyday Sayings Are Actually False

Language is a powerful tool, but it can also be misleading. Overused sayings and clichés are often taken for granted as truths. Read more.

This article was originally published on Mrs. Daaku Studio.