It’s no secret, prepping for a disaster and other types of emergency scenarios is not going to be cheap. However, that shouldn’t be a good enough reason to keep you and your family from being prepared for one. A vast majority of families across America are already stretched thin with their finances.
Many would argue that there isn’t any leftover money that they could be setting aside for prepping, but they would be wrong!
How to Save Money for Prepping
Perhaps this sounds like you? Maybe you have a spouse that is having a hard time coming to grips with the idea of emergency preparedness because of a tight budget? Fortunately, there are several little tricks that you might not currently be doing that are causing you to throw away money needlessly.
Keep reading to discover all the different ways that you could be cutting back on your daily spending so that there’s a little extra money left over for your prepping goals.
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Is It Too Late to Start Prepping?
1. Get Out of Debt
This is a big one! Getting out of debt is one of the best things that you could ever do for your family and your future. Don’t just pay the recommended amount on your school debt and credit card bills each month because these interest rates are eating your finances alive.
Be willing to pay a little extra to get them down and keep at it. Before too long, you’ll see a huge difference. Just remember not to take on any more debt in the meantime.
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2. Negotiate Your Bills
Many people don’t realize this, but you actually have a say on how much you are spending on a chunk of your bills each month. Take, for instance, your cellphone, tv, internet, cable, and health care bills. The ball is actually in your court with these companies. Don’t get stuck paying their prices. Tell them what you can afford for their services. Your credit card fees and interest are others that you can talk companies down with also.
3. Do Away with Cable TV
Cable TV simply isn’t worth it anymore. You’re paying far too much on channels that you probably hardly ever watch. Instead, go with tv and movie streaming services where you can watch what you want and for only a small fraction of the price.
4. Avoid Eating Out So Often
This is a tough one, but eating out at fast-food restaurants is a convenient luxury that has kept America broke for far too long. Make a conscious effort of eating at home more and you’ll be surprised at how much extra money you have in your bank account at the end of each month. This also applies to any other areas of wasted spending that you can think of.
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5. Stop Buying Bottled Water
Not only is buying bottled water a lot like throwing money down the drain, but it’s also not good for the environment. What you can do is invest in a good water filter that will save you money in the long run while giving your tap water the desired taste you’ve been looking for.
There are those that hook up beneath your kitchen sink and also ones that sit or attach to the inside of your refrigerator.
6. Drink Only Water
This one may be impossible for some of you out there, but buying soda pop, vitamin water, and juice all the time is costing you some big bucks. At the very least, consider backing off a bit with these items. Maybe it’s the taste of water that you don’t care for? Consider adding a lemon, a few strawberries, or some of your other favorite kinds of fruit to help with the flavor.
7. Cut your Kid’s Hair
Is it really that necessary for someone else to cut your children’s hair, and then you feel obligated to leave a good tip afterward? If you’re currently doing this once a month with two or more children, it quickly adds up by the end of the year. While the first few haircuts that you do may not look as good as Great Clips, it won’t take long before you’re a pro!
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8. Keep an Eye on Close Expirations
Don’t wait until the food in your fridge and in your pantry becomes outdated and you’re left with little choice but to throw it away. Pay close attention to expiration dates and make a plan on what to do with those food items that evening for dinner.
9. Shop the Bottom Shelves
Every grocery store has a secret that they don’t want you to know about. Instead of browsing everything that’s on the shelves that are at eye level, look down and compare to see how the lowest prices are typically down at your feet.
10. Buy in Bulk and Look for Deals
Buying in bulk is another great way to pinch your pennies together while you’re out grocery shopping, especially items that your family tends to eat a lot of each week. Shopping for deals and stocking up on great values will keep you from paying full markup on those items the next time you visit.
11. Skip the Pre-cut Fruit and Veggies
Another bad habit that many of us make the mistake of doing, is purchasing pre-cut fruit and veggies at the grocery store due to its convenience. To be completely blunt with you, cut them yourself. It will only take a few extra minutes of your time yet you will save a good chunk of change in the process.
12. Pack Your Lunches
Packing everyone’s lunches for the day is also a great way for you and your family to save a little extra. Middle school and high school lunch prices continue to go up and eating out on your lunch break everyday also isn’t helping.
13. Find a Part-time Job
Maybe you could use a little extra time outside the home doing something that you enjoy? There are part-time jobs and gigs out there that are surprisingly fun to do compared to your 9-5 job and you can make some quick cash doing it.
14. Trade Services with Friends and Family
Are there certain skills that you have that could help you out elsewhere? Perhaps you could offer to mow someone’s yard or do their car’s oil change in exchange for babysitting. Tutoring and dog walking are just a few other good examples.
15. Garden, Fish, or Hunt for Food
Not having to rely completely on the grocery store for the entirety of your family’s food supply is truly an amazing feeling. If you have land that’s available for gardening, take advantage of it by growing fruits and vegetables. Fishing, hunting, and foraging in the forest are other great ways to use your surrounding resources while at the same time, stretching your hard-earned dollars.
16. Save 50 Cents a Day for Prepping
You might not think it to be the case; setting aside just 50 cents a day can quickly add up. If you were to do this for a year, you’re looking at an extra $182.50 of spending money; that could completely be put towards prepping items. You’d be able to cross off some of the more expensive prepping items on your list!
How to Save Money for Prepping
With so many different methods on how to save money, your family has the finances can support a prepping lifestyle. Saving money is about a change in mindset. It’s the small things that you do every day that add up to make all the difference.
Can you think of any other ways on how to save money for prepping?