This post may contain affiliate links. I only recommend products that I’ve tried and love!

Without getting into politics or anything like that, I think we can all agree that this economy is not for the weak, and prices are insane. I mean, EVERYTHING is so much more expensive than it was just a few years ago and it’s rough.

Our home is older and needs updates and repairs and I keep thinking back to when we were fixing up our first home when things were cheaper. In that home, we replaced our front door for around $1200. We were just quoted over four times that much for a door. Now I’m wondering where this magical door leads to, that it should cost so much more. Narnia? I hope so.

Anyway, it got me thinking that maybe I’m not the only one in this boat and maybe some other people are also looking for ways to save a little bit of money here and there. These are some of my go-to budget tips. If you have some of your own, drop them in the comments below!

second-hand items for free or very low prices.

I am a huge fan of Facebook Marketplace and have gotten some really great deals there. I will say a level of patience is necessary for this, as you don’t want to pull the trigger on something that isn’t really what you want. However, I’ve furnished a good amount of my home with second-hand items from friends or family, my local Buy Nothing FB group (find yours here) and FB Marketplace. I’ve also bought a good chunk of Will’s toddler shoes on Marketplace - 3 pairs of gently used shoes for $12! You can’t beat that.

shop the sales, but don’t fall for them.

I’m all for a good sale, but lately, the sales haven’t been all they’re cracked up to be. I’ve noticed this last Prime Day that there were really only a handful of good deals, and many that were marked up the for the event, only to be discounted back to around the regular price. What I am a fan of, is when there’s an item I need or really want and I am able to wait for a (real) sale to come around. When it comes to a home improvement item, I am happy to wait for Labor Day if it means I save a chunk of money.

amazon dupes.

I love that we have the option to snag an Amazon or Costco dupe of an expensive, name-brand item. I’ve done this for home decor, clothes, you name it. If you can swing name-brand and it means a lot to you, by all means, go ahead. But for me, in a lot of cases, a knockoff is just as good.

make the most of your meat.

Meat is so expensive these days - I’m trying to maximize it. A couple years ago, I bought this meat grinder attachment for my KitchenAid mixer so that I could grind up my own beef. The piece itself is a little pricey around $60, but I figured it would pay for itself in no time, with ground meat prices being as high as they are. When roasts or rounds goes on sale, we buy a few, trim the fat at home and freeze the ground meat in freezer bags. We freeze them flat for quick defrosting, so I can whip up a batch of chili or tacos in a pinch. I haven’t purchased ground meat in a few years and I’ll never go back.

Another way we (Elliot) maximize our meats is buying whole chickens when they’re on sale. Elliot will debone the chicken and roast or grill the meat and carcass. Then he puts the roasted carcass in our Instant Pot to make homemade chicken stock. In the IP, it only takes an hour or two, and we get several large jars of that liquid gold to use or store in the freezer for soups. Whole chickens are pretty inexpensive, but can provide a lot of good nutrition.

sprinkle in cheaper meals.

We all do our best to provide healthy and nutritious meals for our families, but food is expensive and it’s hard to keep the house stocked with fresh fruits and veggies 24/7, especially when you have small kids. One thing I’m starting to do is sprinkle in a cheap meal once every week or so. There is no shame in a quick and cheap Hamburger Helper meal with a bag of frozen mixed veggies tossed in, or a bowl of chili once a week. Heck, both of those are some of my favorite meals! I’m a firm believer in balance, so if I’m feeding my family a complete, but inexpensive meal in between some fresher, leaner meals, then so be it. It saves me some stress over meal prepping, saves a bit of money in our grocery budget and honestly, I love Ramen noodles - throw a bag of mixed veggies in and you’re set.

Here are some more cheap meals we love:

Chili (with meat or just beans)

Spaghetti and tomato or meat sauce

Ramen noodles with a bag of mixed veggies (or not, you do you)

Overnight Oats

Note: Stock up on frozen mixed veggies when they’re on sale. They go with everything.

2 more tiny quick tips:

be patient.

You probably don’t need that thing. Wait for a sale or just do without for a bit.

cut back on takeout.

There are super easy and quick meals that cost a fraction of a takeout order (above). It takes a bit more planning, but saves so much money.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5