Choose the plan that’s right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Choose the plan that’s right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.

I confess: I live with a chronic case of avoidance behavior.  It flares up around tax filing time, doctor’s appointments, viewing my 401(k) statement in a bear market or taking the garbage out.  In short, whenever I have to confront an unpleasant activity of any sort, I’d just, well, rather not. 

So I understand when people tell me they would rather not talk about their finances right now, since money is tight.  But if not now, when? Over the years, I have made great progress in managing my tendency to avoid and I have learned a few things. Like: The best time to buy stocks is when they’re down, and the best time to talk about money is when you don’t have much. 

Each of these activities – when acted on – will set you up for future wealth accumulation. Now is an excellent time to develop a spending and saving-to-invest plan – even if you can’t act on it just yet. 

New priorities:A dream home, a vintage school bus and quirky roller skates: Here’s what couples are buying with their pandemic wedding funds

Pay it back:I was furloughed and got too many unemployment payments. 

In the literary classic “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” Francie Nolan’s dirt-poor, immigrant grandmother (who reminds me of my own grandmother) provides a lesson in saving that we could all stand to learn. The grandmother counseled to save whatever could be managed – even pennies each day:  “The money will grow.”  Soon, “there will be a small fortune.” 

Old-fashioned advice from another time? I think not.

Last August, I wrote a column about two people of humble means who saved to invest and died with millions of dollars. 

With close to 85% of purchases made with credit or debit cards, many people have forgotten the satisfying clinking sound of tossing a penny, nickel, dime or quarter into a glass jar of spare change. But all that is starting to change.

Clever new savings ideas

In today’s world of smartphones, several apps have digitized yesterday’s jar of coins by sweeping electronic spare change into a digital jar to increase savings balances or pay down debt. For example, if you make a purchase for $1.89, the app rounds up your purchase to $2.00 and transfers the extra 11 cents into the app’s account. Here are three of the more popular apps and how they work.

Popular digital savings players

• Acorns. Acorns was the first app to jump on the idea of rounding up your purchase and stashing away the extra money. The app connects directly to your debit or credit card and sweeps the difference between the transaction amount and the next dollar amount into an investment account. Since its start, Acorns has added more products like checking accounts, debit cards, budgeting tools and IRA options. Fees range from $1 to $3 per month depending on the types of products you use. That may not sound like much, but it should if you calculate the effective cost for these small transaction levels. For instance, if the application collects $50 in a month and the Acorns fee is $2, you end up paying a fee of 4% per month for the digital savings account.

• Digit. Digit takes a different approach. Their algorithm tracks your spending and upcoming bills, then compares them against your checking account balance to figure out how much you can save. The app then automatically transfers that amount from your checking account to your savings account. You can establish three different savings goals with Digit. The app will then distribute the amount it sweeps from your checking account into each of the three savings buckets depending on how you prioritize them. Worried about overdrafts? You can set a minimum checking balance, so transfers won’t be made if you don’t have enough in the account. If that fails, Digit will reimburse you for the overdraft fees. At $5 per month, it’s one of the more expensive micro-savings apps. If interested, they offer a 30-day trial to test drive their digital savings tool.

• Qoins. Looking to pay down debt? Qoins might be the app for you. Like Acorns, Qoins takes the difference between each transaction and the next dollar amount, then aggregates the amount over the course of a month. But instead of investing this amount, Qoins makes a monthly payment to pay down the principal of a student loan, credit card or other debt. Qoins charges a fee of $2 for every monthly payment, so if you have many accounts, the monthly fee can add up quickly. In most cases, the interest expense saved on paying down debt early is more than the interest you can currently earn in a savings account.

The area of digital money saving applications is rapidly evolving. Before using any of these apps, it is important to understand their costs and risks involved, compared to other ways of saving money. One of my primary objectives is to help you achieve your financial goals through a holistic approach that is also tax efficient in my wealth management practice.

For more information visit www.fredtfoxiii.com.

The world is still a patchwork of different rules and restrictions, but many places are getting back to work. In New York City, for example, hundreds of thousands of people returned to their jobs this month as the city implemented the first two phases of its reopening plan.

Across Britain, thousands of workers unable to work from home, in construction and manufacturing industries, have already returned to work after the country eased lockdown restrictions in May. Many more will be returning to work July 4, as pubs, restaurants, hotels and museums reopen.

All this requires energy to keep the lights on and the machines running. And that energy means greenhouse gas emissions.

We saw a sharp drop in those emissions when large parts of the world were locked down to fight the coronavirus pandemic, though they are now rebounding. In early April, global emissions were 17 percent below 2019 levels, but by early this month they were roughly 5 percent under last year’s levels.

That’s not enough to solve global warming. So, when we head back to the office, how can we change habits and work culture to help keep emissions down?

[If you’re already signed up for the Climate Fwd: newsletter, thanks! Want to follow The New York Times climate team on Twitter, too?]

In the United States, commercial buildings account for nearly 40 percent of national energy use. If that energy comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, it very likely produces a lot of greenhouse gas. So changing work habits can make a difference.

Although lockdown measures are changing next month, it’s likely you’ll still be spending a lot of time in your backyard as life won’t return to normality just yet.

And if you’re thinking of innovative ways to revamp your space, then one mum-of-three and grandmother-of-two has shown how you can get creative with just paint and tile stencils.

Dawn Burton, 54, decided to totally overhaul her 117-year-old yard when she was furloughed due to coronavirus.

The office administrator spent just £123 on materials and transformed took her yard from a drab space to a stunning Pinterest-worthy feature.

Dawn told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk : “I have always followed various home accounts on Instagram and love nothing more than to look at various images online for decorating ideas and DIY.

“I wanted my garden to look different and I had noticed a few people who were stencilling paths and patios.

“I wanted to take the inside outside and at the same time create a space that anyone would love to sit in.

“Lockdown came and for the first couple of weeks I was just baking nearly everyday to keep myself occupied. The weather became brighter and warmer and I thought ‘right, now is the time to transform my 117-year-old yard’.”

Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter

Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter

You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here

For Dawn, being on furlough was the ideal opportunity for an intricate project.

“I told my family I wanted to transform my yard, but didn’t go into detail as I wanted to surprise them,” she said.

“I also told a few close friends and shared my ideas with them, and they inspired me to just go for it – they couldn’t have been more supportive throughout the whole process.”

Dawn used two five litre tins of smooth masonry paint, one black and one white, from BQ and The Range, which cost £39.98.

She then bought one 750ml tin of Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Blush from her local stockist Drab to Fab by Janey Home Interiors for £17.95.

Dawn also used Thompsons Patio Driveway Sealer from Screwfix for £27.99, one Victorian tile stencil from idealstencils.co.uk for £34.99 plus postage, one stipple brush from BQ for £1.90, and also various makeup and children’s paintbrushes from around the house.

The total cost of all the materials was £122.81.

Dawn explained: “To prep, I jet washed the walls and floor. I painted the walls using the smooth black and white masonry paint and gave the floor two coats of smooth black masonry paint.

“I then took the edging stencil and went around the wall and across the middle of the yard, stippling the smooth white masonry paint with a brush.

“Once the edging was in place, I measured across the yard to find the top centre point.

“I always remembered the guy who laid my flooring in my kitchen saying ‘you start in the middle and work your way out’.

“I then measured across the yard in between the two edging stencilled tiles and immediately under the top stencilled edging tile to find the centre point. I marked this with chalk.

“I then placed the top centre point of the main stencil on the middle marked point on the floor.

“I stencilled that tile using the white masonry paint and the Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Blush, and again stippled this with the brush.

“After stencilling that tile, I did one either side, all the way down, which left the edges on both sides.

“I then went back up to the top right and stencilled all the way down following the pattern, and the same for the left.

“Finally I did the remainder at the bottom. After letting it dry for 24 hours, I then applied the patio sealer with a roller on a long handle and went around the edges with a brush.”

Dawn said that her top tip is to plan what you want to do and draw a rough sketch on paper. Then measure and work out what size stencil is best suited for the job.

She added: “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of what I’ve achieved, especially being the first time I have attempted stencilling.

“I wanted to show and inspire people that anyone can achieve something if they really want to do it. I did!”

Although lockdown measures are changing next month, it’s likely you’ll still be spending a lot of time in your backyard as life won’t return to normality just yet.

And if you’re thinking of innovative ways to revamp your space, then one mum-of-three and grandmother-of-two has shown how you can get creative with just paint and tile stencils.

Dawn Burton, 54, decided to totally overhaul her 117-year-old yard when she was furloughed due to coronavirus.

The office administrator spent just £123 on materials and transformed took her yard from a drab space to a stunning Pinterest-worthy feature.

Dawn told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk : “I have always followed various home accounts on Instagram and love nothing more than to look at various images online for decorating ideas and DIY.

“I wanted my garden to look different and I had noticed a few people who were stencilling paths and patios.

“I wanted to take the inside outside and at the same time create a space that anyone would love to sit in.

“Lockdown came and for the first couple of weeks I was just baking nearly everyday to keep myself occupied. The weather became brighter and warmer and I thought ‘right, now is the time to transform my 117-year-old yard’.”

Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter

Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter

You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here

For Dawn, being on furlough was the ideal opportunity for an intricate project.

“I told my family I wanted to transform my yard, but didn’t go into detail as I wanted to surprise them,” she said.

“I also told a few close friends and shared my ideas with them, and they inspired me to just go for it – they couldn’t have been more supportive throughout the whole process.”

Dawn used two five litre tins of smooth masonry paint, one black and one white, from BQ and The Range, which cost £39.98.

She then bought one 750ml tin of Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Blush from her local stockist Drab to Fab by Janey Home Interiors for £17.95.

Dawn also used Thompsons Patio Driveway Sealer from Screwfix for £27.99, one Victorian tile stencil from idealstencils.co.uk for £34.99 plus postage, one stipple brush from BQ for £1.90, and also various makeup and children’s paintbrushes from around the house.

The total cost of all the materials was £122.81.

Dawn explained: “To prep, I jet washed the walls and floor. I painted the walls using the smooth black and white masonry paint and gave the floor two coats of smooth black masonry paint.

“I then took the edging stencil and went around the wall and across the middle of the yard, stippling the smooth white masonry paint with a brush.

“Once the edging was in place, I measured across the yard to find the top centre point.

“I always remembered the guy who laid my flooring in my kitchen saying ‘you start in the middle and work your way out’.

“I then measured across the yard in between the two edging stencilled tiles and immediately under the top stencilled edging tile to find the centre point. I marked this with chalk.

“I then placed the top centre point of the main stencil on the middle marked point on the floor.

“I stencilled that tile using the white masonry paint and the Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Blush, and again stippled this with the brush.

“After stencilling that tile, I did one either side, all the way down, which left the edges on both sides.

“I then went back up to the top right and stencilled all the way down following the pattern, and the same for the left.

“Finally I did the remainder at the bottom. After letting it dry for 24 hours, I then applied the patio sealer with a roller on a long handle and went around the edges with a brush.”

Dawn said that her top tip is to plan what you want to do and draw a rough sketch on paper. Then measure and work out what size stencil is best suited for the job.

She added: “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of what I’ve achieved, especially being the first time I have attempted stencilling.

“I wanted to show and inspire people that anyone can achieve something if they really want to do it. I did!”

Although lockdown measures are changing next month, it’s likely you’ll still be spending a lot of time in your backyard as life won’t return to normality just yet.

And if you’re thinking of innovative ways to revamp your space, then one mum-of-three and grandmother-of-two has shown how you can get creative with just paint and tile stencils.

Dawn Burton, 54, decided to totally overhaul her 117-year-old yard when she was furloughed due to coronavirus.

The office administrator spent just £123 on materials and transformed took her yard from a drab space to a stunning Pinterest-worthy feature.

Dawn told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk : “I have always followed various home accounts on Instagram and love nothing more than to look at various images online for decorating ideas and DIY.

“I wanted my garden to look different and I had noticed a few people who were stencilling paths and patios.

“I wanted to take the inside outside and at the same time create a space that anyone would love to sit in.

“Lockdown came and for the first couple of weeks I was just baking nearly everyday to keep myself occupied. The weather became brighter and warmer and I thought ‘right, now is the time to transform my 117-year-old yard’.”

Sign up to the free MEN email newsletter

Get the latest updates from across Greater Manchester direct to your inbox with the free MEN newsletter

You can sign up very simply by following the instructions here

For Dawn, being on furlough was the ideal opportunity for an intricate project.

“I told my family I wanted to transform my yard, but didn’t go into detail as I wanted to surprise them,” she said.

“I also told a few close friends and shared my ideas with them, and they inspired me to just go for it – they couldn’t have been more supportive throughout the whole process.”

Dawn used two five litre tins of smooth masonry paint, one black and one white, from BQ and The Range, which cost £39.98.

She then bought one 750ml tin of Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Blush from her local stockist Drab to Fab by Janey Home Interiors for £17.95.

Dawn also used Thompsons Patio Driveway Sealer from Screwfix for £27.99, one Victorian tile stencil from idealstencils.co.uk for £34.99 plus postage, one stipple brush from BQ for £1.90, and also various makeup and children’s paintbrushes from around the house.

The total cost of all the materials was £122.81.

Dawn explained: “To prep, I jet washed the walls and floor. I painted the walls using the smooth black and white masonry paint and gave the floor two coats of smooth black masonry paint.

“I then took the edging stencil and went around the wall and across the middle of the yard, stippling the smooth white masonry paint with a brush.

“Once the edging was in place, I measured across the yard to find the top centre point.

“I always remembered the guy who laid my flooring in my kitchen saying ‘you start in the middle and work your way out’.

“I then measured across the yard in between the two edging stencilled tiles and immediately under the top stencilled edging tile to find the centre point. I marked this with chalk.

“I then placed the top centre point of the main stencil on the middle marked point on the floor.

“I stencilled that tile using the white masonry paint and the Frenchic Al Fresco Dusky Blush, and again stippled this with the brush.

“After stencilling that tile, I did one either side, all the way down, which left the edges on both sides.

“I then went back up to the top right and stencilled all the way down following the pattern, and the same for the left.

“Finally I did the remainder at the bottom. After letting it dry for 24 hours, I then applied the patio sealer with a roller on a long handle and went around the edges with a brush.”

Dawn said that her top tip is to plan what you want to do and draw a rough sketch on paper. Then measure and work out what size stencil is best suited for the job.

She added: “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of what I’ve achieved, especially being the first time I have attempted stencilling.

“I wanted to show and inspire people that anyone can achieve something if they really want to do it. I did!”

When I was making extra income, it seemed easy to save money. However, the pursestrings have tightened up lately. It’s not nearly as easy to save money on a tight budget. It feels like every penny that comes in is already budgeted to go pay for something. It feels challenging. But if you want to be smart about money then you need to be up for the challenge. There are creative ways to save money on a tight budget.

Of course, there are plenty of money saving tricks out there. What makes the ten items below unique is that they emphasize creativity. Therefore, not only are you saving money, you’re also exercising your creativity. Doing so helps us in myriad ways. If you’re feeling stressed about finances, turning your attention to your creativity can help relieve that stress. Think about that as you explore these creative ways to save money on a tight budget:

1. Use Every Food Item In Your Home Before Buying More Food

Many of the people that I know took on some version of this challenge when COVID-19 hit. Mostly, they didn’t wan to go to the store during the initial phases of shelter-in-place. Therefore, they decided to use only what was already in their refrigerators, freezers, and pantries.

As the weeks wore on, some of them gave in and went to buy essentials. However, one of my friends stuck to the goal of getting rid of absolutely every food item in her house before making something new. She had to come up with some extremely creative dishes in order to make that work. It was inspiring to watch her food journey on Instagram.

I am not typically this creative in the kitchen. But I do spend a lot of money on food. Taking on this challenge could be a great way to save money on a tight budget. People who enjoy playing in the kitchen might also find the creativity of this money-saving method quite relaxing.

2. Meditate / Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the act of paying attention to everything happening in the present moment, including your thoughts about what is happening, without judgment. Meditation is a more formal practice that can include mindfulness.

You might not think about mindfulness as a means to save money on a tight budget. However, stress and financial strain often lead to impulsiveness and reckless money decisions. When you practice mindfulness, you de-stress. This gives you the time and space and sense of tranquility you need to make smart financial decisions.

For example, imagine that you’re working extra hours trying to earn more money. Everything has gone wrong that day. You’re overwhelmed. You want to buy a bottle of wine a big pizza for comfort. However, a bottle of wine and pizza are not within your budget. Stressed, you don’t care. With a mindfulness practice, you may be able to recognize the craving for comfort for what it is and find a free way to soothe yourself instead.

3. Re-Evaluate Your Values

Oftentimes we waste money on things that aren’t aligned with our deeper values. Take the time to examine your deepest values. Make your financial decisions from that place. I value creativity, which is one reason I’m focusing on creative ways to save money on a tight budget, rather than typical money-saving tips. Sure, I think it’s good to save money, but what I value is doing it creatively. Focusing on the creativity part helps me stick to the plan.

Let’s say that one of your values is connecting with your partner. You have date night when you spend a lot of money getting food to eat or going out somewhere. However, when you emphasize the value (connecting), you can make choices that don’t cost so much money without feeling like you’ve sacrificed anything.

Take some time to journal about your values. Ask yourself repeatedly, “and what is underneath that?” Make sure that you’re listing your true, authentic values, not values that someone else thinks you should have. Then, brainstorm a list of ways to focus on those values while saving money.

4. Use Music as Timers to Reduce Waste at Home

Susan Paige recently wrote an article here on How to Save Money, No Matter How Long the Recession Lasts. She discussed lowering energy and water bills, which is something I always do when trying to cut costs. But she added a tip that I’d never considered: play a favorite song while showering and get out when the song ends. The idea is that you save water, and therefore money, by keeping your showers as short as a favorite song.

I love this idea. And I think you could apply it to so many different areas of the home. For example, get the house vacuumed during the duration of one song. If you’re desperately hot and must use a fan, try using it for the length of only one album then turning it off. These little tricks could help you save money on a tight budget. Plus, adding that music to your daily life is going to make your little rituals and routines so much more enjoyable.

5. Take Up a Creative, Free Hobby

Spend your time doing something you love that doesn’t cost anything. The more time you spend doing that, the richer your life will feel. Sure, you need to save money on a tight budget so that you can pay bills. But if you feel like you’re suffering in the meantime then you’re never going to want to stick with your savings. If you fill your days with joyous activities like making music, reading, and creating collages then you’re going to feel more fulfilled. Here’s a list of free and inexpensive hobbies to get you started.

6. Cancel All Paid Entertainment

Once you start engaging with hobbies that you love, you won’t even have time for Netflix, cable TV, and whatever other entertainment subscriptions you pay for. Get bold. Cancel them all. Reduce your data plan and limit your screen time. Use that time creatively instead.

7. Barter

While not the most innovative suggestion, bartering can be one of the most creative ways to save money on a tight budget. It’s tempting to just buy whatever you need (or want). If you can’t persuade yourself not to make the purchase, at least try to get creative with bartering. Think about ways that you can swap or trade with others. Get rid of something you don’t want in order to get what you do. Or offer a creative service that you enjoy providing for a product or service that you need. Apply your creativity in this area and you might find that it’s actually fun to see how many things you can get for “free” just through bartering.

8.  Emulate a Money-Saving Mentor

Do a little bit of research to find someone from history or contemporary times that can be your money-saving mentor. Then take some time to really dive deep into learning more about them. Don’t spend money on this activity, of course. Use free online resources (such as podcasts or your library) to access information about them. Imagine that you are writing their biography and must learn as much as possible about them. Find ways to emulate them in your own life. This will give you fresh ideas and inspiration for how to save money on a tight budget. Invoke your mentor in mind when you have a tough money decision to make.

9. Cut Your Own Hair

COVID-19 shutdown a lot of hair salons so many people were forced to do this anyway. Perhaps you’re relieved if your salon has opened back up. But is that where you need to spend your money? Get creative learning how to cut your own hair. Have fun with it. This can be a great way to save money on a tight budget. And, if you decide you really like it, maybe you can even earn some extra money cutting other people’s hair for them.

10. Have Others Support Your Creativity on Patreon

I have a Patreon account. People subscribe for $1 – $50 per month. They are patrons of my art. In exchange, they get certain rewards. At the $1 level, they get a creative newsletter put out just for subscribers. At the $15 they get handmade cards that I have collaged for them. At the $25 they get a box of ephemera and art supplies. What do you enjoy doing creatively that other people might want to support? After all, earning money is as good as – or better than – trying to save money on a tight budget.

What do you do to save money on a tight budget? Share thoughts in the comment section.

When I was making extra income, it seemed easy to save money. However, the pursestrings have tightened up lately. It’s not nearly as easy to save money on a tight budget. It feels like every penny that comes in is already budgeted to go pay for something. It feels challenging. But if you want to be smart about money then you need to be up for the challenge. There are creative ways to save money on a tight budget.

Of course, there are plenty of money saving tricks out there. What makes the ten items below unique is that they emphasize creativity. Therefore, not only are you saving money, you’re also exercising your creativity. Doing so helps us in myriad ways. If you’re feeling stressed about finances, turning your attention to your creativity can help relieve that stress. Think about that as you explore these creative ways to save money on a tight budget:

1. Use Every Food Item In Your Home Before Buying More Food

Many of the people that I know took on some version of this challenge when COVID-19 hit. Mostly, they didn’t wan to go to the store during the initial phases of shelter-in-place. Therefore, they decided to use only what was already in their refrigerators, freezers, and pantries.

As the weeks wore on, some of them gave in and went to buy essentials. However, one of my friends stuck to the goal of getting rid of absolutely every food item in her house before making something new. She had to come up with some extremely creative dishes in order to make that work. It was inspiring to watch her food journey on Instagram.

I am not typically this creative in the kitchen. But I do spend a lot of money on food. Taking on this challenge could be a great way to save money on a tight budget. People who enjoy playing in the kitchen might also find the creativity of this money-saving method quite relaxing.

2. Meditate / Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the act of paying attention to everything happening in the present moment, including your thoughts about what is happening, without judgment. Meditation is a more formal practice that can include mindfulness.

You might not think about mindfulness as a means to save money on a tight budget. However, stress and financial strain often lead to impulsiveness and reckless money decisions. When you practice mindfulness, you de-stress. This gives you the time and space and sense of tranquility you need to make smart financial decisions.

For example, imagine that you’re working extra hours trying to earn more money. Everything has gone wrong that day. You’re overwhelmed. You want to buy a bottle of wine a big pizza for comfort. However, a bottle of wine and pizza are not within your budget. Stressed, you don’t care. With a mindfulness practice, you may be able to recognize the craving for comfort for what it is and find a free way to soothe yourself instead.

3. Re-Evaluate Your Values

Oftentimes we waste money on things that aren’t aligned with our deeper values. Take the time to examine your deepest values. Make your financial decisions from that place. I value creativity, which is one reason I’m focusing on creative ways to save money on a tight budget, rather than typical money-saving tips. Sure, I think it’s good to save money, but what I value is doing it creatively. Focusing on the creativity part helps me stick to the plan.

Let’s say that one of your values is connecting with your partner. You have date night when you spend a lot of money getting food to eat or going out somewhere. However, when you emphasize the value (connecting), you can make choices that don’t cost so much money without feeling like you’ve sacrificed anything.

Take some time to journal about your values. Ask yourself repeatedly, “and what is underneath that?” Make sure that you’re listing your true, authentic values, not values that someone else thinks you should have. Then, brainstorm a list of ways to focus on those values while saving money.

4. Use Music as Timers to Reduce Waste at Home

Susan Paige recently wrote an article here on How to Save Money, No Matter How Long the Recession Lasts. She discussed lowering energy and water bills, which is something I always do when trying to cut costs. But she added a tip that I’d never considered: play a favorite song while showering and get out when the song ends. The idea is that you save water, and therefore money, by keeping your showers as short as a favorite song.

I love this idea. And I think you could apply it to so many different areas of the home. For example, get the house vacuumed during the duration of one song. If you’re desperately hot and must use a fan, try using it for the length of only one album then turning it off. These little tricks could help you save money on a tight budget. Plus, adding that music to your daily life is going to make your little rituals and routines so much more enjoyable.

5. Take Up a Creative, Free Hobby

Spend your time doing something you love that doesn’t cost anything. The more time you spend doing that, the richer your life will feel. Sure, you need to save money on a tight budget so that you can pay bills. But if you feel like you’re suffering in the meantime then you’re never going to want to stick with your savings. If you fill your days with joyous activities like making music, reading, and creating collages then you’re going to feel more fulfilled. Here’s a list of free and inexpensive hobbies to get you started.

6. Cancel All Paid Entertainment

Once you start engaging with hobbies that you love, you won’t even have time for Netflix, cable TV, and whatever other entertainment subscriptions you pay for. Get bold. Cancel them all. Reduce your data plan and limit your screen time. Use that time creatively instead.

7. Barter

While not the most innovative suggestion, bartering can be one of the most creative ways to save money on a tight budget. It’s tempting to just buy whatever you need (or want). If you can’t persuade yourself not to make the purchase, at least try to get creative with bartering. Think about ways that you can swap or trade with others. Get rid of something you don’t want in order to get what you do. Or offer a creative service that you enjoy providing for a product or service that you need. Apply your creativity in this area and you might find that it’s actually fun to see how many things you can get for “free” just through bartering.

8.  Emulate a Money-Saving Mentor

Do a little bit of research to find someone from history or contemporary times that can be your money-saving mentor. Then take some time to really dive deep into learning more about them. Don’t spend money on this activity, of course. Use free online resources (such as podcasts or your library) to access information about them. Imagine that you are writing their biography and must learn as much as possible about them. Find ways to emulate them in your own life. This will give you fresh ideas and inspiration for how to save money on a tight budget. Invoke your mentor in mind when you have a tough money decision to make.

9. Cut Your Own Hair

COVID-19 shutdown a lot of hair salons so many people were forced to do this anyway. Perhaps you’re relieved if your salon has opened back up. But is that where you need to spend your money? Get creative learning how to cut your own hair. Have fun with it. This can be a great way to save money on a tight budget. And, if you decide you really like it, maybe you can even earn some extra money cutting other people’s hair for them.

10. Have Others Support Your Creativity on Patreon

I have a Patreon account. People subscribe for $1 – $50 per month. They are patrons of my art. In exchange, they get certain rewards. At the $1 level, they get a creative newsletter put out just for subscribers. At the $15 they get handmade cards that I have collaged for them. At the $25 they get a box of ephemera and art supplies. What do you enjoy doing creatively that other people might want to support? After all, earning money is as good as – or better than – trying to save money on a tight budget.

What do you do to save money on a tight budget? Share thoughts in the comment section.