DISCLAIMER: I am a full-time working outside the home mom of one toddler, I have the support of my loving husband. I am speaking from my own personal experience. Every family is different and is on their own financial journey. I try my best to be aware of everyone who might be reading my blog posts, but in general I write for women of all ages and in all stages of life. I still welcome you to continue reading even if you are not in this demographic, and I hope you can still leave with a little more information that can help you along this journey called life. Enjoy!

With gas prices hitting an all-time high, I found writing about good financial stewardship fitting. To be “good” with your money, to me, means to be organized. To be organized with your money means being a good steward of your money; see, it turns into a full circle. I believe that staying financially organized helps relieve stress and provides you with peace of mind! The number one way I stay organized financially is to have several different savings accounts. By separating your money into other accounts, each paycheck helps you be organized without fear of overspending. Knowing where your cash is becomes challenging if all your money stays in one account. If saving money is not an option for you right now, or if you just want to save as much money as possible, here are a few tips on how you can save money “for a rainy day.”

1. Ride your bike or walk if you live close to work or school.

This is an excellent option for staying active and being Earth-friendly, but it will also save you tons of gas money every week. As you read this, gas prices are $4.13 in my great home-State of Florida, U.S.A.

2. Consider doing online school or asking your boss to work remotely if possible.

Doing this will save you on driving expenses.

3. Only buy novelty foods if they are on sale.

Novelty foods are typically snacks such as drinks, cookies, and chips. Since these foods are seen as snacks and treats, it is wise to not overspend on these food items. In addition, these food types tend to cost the same or more than fresh or frozen organic foods, and they are consumed quicker.

4. Buy locally grown produce and within-season whenever possible.

When you buy local, you support businesses and farms local to you. Local produce tends to be less expensive than foods that need to be shipped from far away. Also, you can be aware of what grows within the season in your area by doing a quick google search. For example, in Florida, we are fortunate enough to have sunny weather all year-round, which typically means we don’t have an issue growing fruits and veggies. On the other hand, someone reading this who lives in Canada would possibly pay more for strawberries because strawberry season is produced throughout December-March.

5. Borrow a free Hotspot from your local library instead of paying for the internet.

Hotspots are wireless internet connecting devices that you can plug into your laptop or smart devices to connect you to the internet. This might be a good option for you if you are a student or someone who lives alone or with a roommate. Also, depending on your yearly total household income, you may qualify for lower-priced internet for you and your family; visit https://acpbenefit.org/how-to-apply/ for more info.

6. Don’t pay for cable.

You can borrow free DVDs from the library or watch free movies and tv shows from free streaming services provided by your local library, such as Freegal, Cloudlibrary, and Hoopla digital.

7. Don’t pay for books.

Mainly because you can borrow them free from the library. You’ll be hearing a lot about the library from me because to me they are such a fantastic place!

8. Reduce the number of times you eat out.

I try to only eat out once a week on the weekends and eat out at fancier spots with my husband, maybe only once a month or every other month.

9. Invest in yourself first.

Take care of your health, take your vitamins, and work out. If you maintain a healthy status now, you’ll avoid a lot of copays and medical bills later on.

10. Eat your vitamins.

A lot of vitamins can be expensive. Most of them are poorly regulated anyways; the best and most affordable way to get your vitamins is to consume them through nutritious organic vegetables and fruits.

11. Go for a run or jog, quit the gym, or look for a cheaper option.

Gym memberships can be pricey; instead, use your legs to run or jog. There are tons of free videos online that don’t require any weights! If you enjoy the gym environment and can’t go without it, there are cheaper options such as Youfit, and you can even get a discount through your employer’s health insurance plan if they offer that.

12. Carpool to parties, social events, or with your coworkers to work.

If you have neighbors whose children go to the same school as yours, take turns driving the kids to their schools.

13. Invest in stocks, cryptocurrency, or investment properties.

I learned that it’s not how much money you invest; it’s simply investing how much you can and where you can.

A quote my husband sometimes says to me is: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second-best time is right now.”. ❤

14. Get a cheap cell phone plan.

Get your next phone unlocked (meaning you can go to any phone carrier company), take care of your phone, don’t drop it, and protect it with a good case. Phones can be expensive to purchase at first, but if you take care of them, you can have a phone that lasts you a long time. Also, if you work for the government, you may qualify for a discount on your purchase. Finally, some companies offer a discount on a new phone if you exchange it for an old cell phone.

15. Turn down the air before you leave the house.

Doing this will save you money monthly on your electrical bill.

16. Repurpose as much as possible.

Don’t buy brand new storage bins when you can repurpose things around your house for organizing. Brand new storage containers and bins can be pricey. Instead, you can look for more affordable organization tools at Walmart or thrift shops.

I hope you all enjoyed reading the blog post; I was thinking of creating a newsletter; if you’re interested, please leave me a comment below. I would like to send out the newsletter weekly. What would you like to read? What would you like to see from me? Don’t forget to find me on Instagram @amandamadewith for more recent life updates. I hope to hear from you soon!

-with love, Amanda