Penny pinchers make thoughtful purchases and think out every dollar they spend. The truth is, there are certain items they refuse to spend money on.
They can save the money they don’t spend on these items or use it for more important needs. Take a look below at 7 items penny pinchers never spend money on, so you can pinch and save as they do. Here is what you need to know!
Condiments
Thrifty people love hanging on to their carryout and restaurant condiments. The small packets work great when tossed into lunches or meals on the go.
And they prevent the need for having to buy regular sized bottles. Penny pinchers save ketchup, mayo, and salt packets, knowing they will always come in handy. While they are at it, they hang on to those carryout utensils and napkins too!
Remember we don’t advocate taking more than you need from a restaurant. But when a restaurant dumps 10 ketchup packets in your bag, save the remaining packets for later!
Reading materials
My daughter reads over 60 books a year and she rarely pays for them. A penny pincher knows that their library is an excellent source for free reading materials.
They also know that Amazon offers hundreds of free eBooks for the taking. These are two wonderful sources for all the reading materials one could want!
Music
Just as a super saver goes to the library for books, they go there for music as well. Libraries have huge selections of current music free for the borrowing.
They also take advantage of free music streaming from stations and apps such as Pandora. By listening to just a few commercials you can get all the free music you want.
Housekeeping
A penny pincher would never pay for something they can do themselves. This includes housekeeping and cleaning. Savers do these household tasks themselves as opposed to hiring someone else to do it.
In turn, they save big. They also take care of laundry, lawn care, and other household jobs themselves.
Pre-made cleaning products
Why pay for store bought cleaning products when vinegar and baking soda clean just about everything? Vinegar makes counter tops and floors sparkling clean, makes glass shine, and can make your sink as clean as ever.
Baking soda cleans out disposals, absorbs drain odors, and can scrub away grime. Thrifty people use these products to clean instead of buying pre-made products.
Check out our list of common household items that can be used to clean.
Paper products
A penny pincher never buys paper products. Instead, they use cloth napkins, tablecloths, and towels. They also use organizational apps instead of pen and paper.
They don’t waste money on disposable paper products but instead use cloth whenever possible.
As someone who LOVES paper towels, here is how I switched to using less paper products in the kitchen.
Prepackaged snacks
Have you ever looked at the cost per ounce on your favorite pre-packaged snack? A penny pincher knows that when they buy prepackaged and snack-sized food items, they are paying for convenience.
Instead, they buy their favorite snacks in bulk and divide the servings up if need be. There is no point in paying for easier packaging or convenience.
Are you ready to implement the practices of a penny pincher? Consider these 7 items penny pinchers never spend money on and see if they make a difference in your life.
DJ @ MoneyGoody says
The condiments bit gave me a good laugh because I’ve definitely seen plenty of people with drawers full of ketchup packets and Taco Bell sauce haha. I like to save money but don’t think I’m at that level yet.
Marina says
I am in love with apple cider vinegar.You can drink it for so many health benefits, you can add it to bath water to clean your skin better, it disinfects and kills mold, it can be used with baking soda to clear blocked drains, it breaks down so many grimy messes, it helps rinse soap off dishes, it de-funks smelly plastic containers, it makes windows shiny, it cleans your produce AND makes it last longer, it makes a lovely salad dressing when mixed with olive oil, and it can even be used for stopping a sore throat before it progresses!
Kim says
Devil’s Advocate here:
Store brand 20-30 oz Ketchup, Mayo, & Mustard = $5.69
(Will last 2-3 weeks)
Taco Bell low cost 4 item lunch = $5.57 not including tax
(One lunch)
McDonald’s low cost 4 item lunch = $5.15 not including tax
(One lunch)
That also doesn’t count gas for going to pick up or tip if using a Grub Hub type delivery.
I imagine a true penny pincher would see the wisdom of making/taking a lunch from home.