How to Save Money by Sticking to the F A C T s!

Apr 13, 2020 | Budgeting, How To Save Money

It's time to stop letting money rule our lives and instead rule our money! We're talking the best ways on how to save money with tips on finding things cheaper, being assertive, and asking for what you want. Start living the Fun Cheap or Free way, AKA the frugal life!

How to save money by sticking to the F A C T s from Jordan Page at Fun Cheap or Free!

There will always be things in our lives that we need, things that we want, and things that fall somewhere in between. Maybe we need a new car, but we want a higher end model that's more expensive. We need a new refrigerator, but want one with all of the bells and whistles. If it fits within the budget, then what's stopping you from going for it??

*Note: When you click the links in this post, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Instead of just throwing all your money at those things, it's time to learn how to save money when it comes to buying what you want and need. We're giving you all our best frugal tips and tricks that will help you find what you need while getting the most bang for your buck. Come join us and see just how great the Fun Cheap or Free life really is!

HOW TO SAVE MONEY

If you've been a Freeb for any amount of time, then you've heard us talk about the F A C T s of saving that will help you learn how to save money. These will literally help you save the maximum amount of money as long as you're willing to follow these tips! Use the F A C T s of saving to help you become a Fun, Cheap, or Free SAVINGS Champ! 

Let's break it down now:

FIND IT CHEAPER

How to save money by finding it cheaper - Tips from Fun Cheap or Free

Let's play a quick game. Name anything in the world that you spend money on. Anything at all. Now, can you think of how to get that thing cheaper? We can! It takes time but you can, and will, learn to NEVER PAY FULL-PRICE FOR ANYTHING. Ever.

Here are a few quick tips on how to do that:

  • Use Google – Always Google coupon codes, coupons, discounts, or specials before buying anything. And by anything, we mean ANYTHING. Seriously, anything. 😉
  • Ask for Things – It never hurts to ask for discounts, deals, and specials. (We'll have more details on this below, so keep going!)
  • Buy Used – This is a great way to save money. Just because it's used doesn't mean that it's necessarily old or messed up. Facebook Marketplace is a great way to find used items that are still in good shape in your area.
  • Shop on the Right Day – Research days of the week/times of year that are best to buy. This is especially important for getting the cheapest flights!
  • Shop Around – Many places will price-match, and many places have big sales at certain times of year.
  • Buy in Bulk – Here's how to save money on grocery and household items. Buy them in bulk! Usually, the more you buy, the cheaper it is per unit. You can save even more money if you shop the sales and only buy when it's at an even more discounted price.
  • Keep Store Coupons – Find and keep coupons in a handy binder or box. Always leave it in your car, or have it in your purse. You never know when you may need to use it!
  • Buy Scratch and Dent or Floor Models – Sometimes an appliance can have the smallest scratch or dent on it and you can get some major savings when you buy it!
  • Use Daily Deal Sites – Take advantage of daily deal sites like Groupon, Zulily and more.
  • Buy from Ebay – Sites like Ebay or other bidding sites are a great way to get the cheapest price on what you're wanting to buy.

The list goes on and on! You don't have to do much to get things cheaper, we'll show you how easy it is to never pay full-price for anything! Just remember, it never hurts to ask for something.

BE ASSERTIVE

Be assertive and ask for the things that you want. Tips from Fun Cheap or Free

To be assertive is to take initiative. It's time to take action and make things happen. Get up and do something. It's the verb in the frugal equation. It's great to have ideas, it's another to put them into action. This is both the hardest and easiest tip of all.

Hardest in terms of getting the courage, energy, or finding the time to actually put your ideas into action. It takes guts to ask for a discount or deal on something! Some people were made to be assertive and have no problems asking for things. While others (we're talking to you, shy or introverted Freebs!), will have a much harder time with this. That's okay! It's worth being a little uncomfortable or embarrassed to be able to save a lot of money. We promise, the more you do these, the more comfortable you'll get doing them!

HOW TO SAVE MONEY BY BEING ASSERTIVE

  • Ask for Things – We can't stress this enough. Ask for discounts, hidden costs or fine print, hints on when things will go on sale, or for a better deal. Your social network is a great tool that can help you save money. Ask for their advice and ask how they save money on things. It doesn't hurt to ask lots of questions! Better to have all of the info before you make a purchase instead of having buyer's remorse. Remember, knowledge is power, and also remember… The worst anyone can say is NO. See? That didn't hurt, did it?
  • Gain Knowledge – Learn anything and everything you can. Make yourself an expert in saving money. Then, more and more knowledge will simply come to you by way of experiences and other people!
  • Try – You never know whether you can or can't do something unless you try. How do you know the lady at Gap won't give you a discount? Did you ask? How do you know you're getting the absolute lowest price on a car that you're buying? Have you asked if it's the lowest that they can go? Try asking!

This is one of our favorite quotes that can be applied to saving money and being assertive:

“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”

Wayne Gretzky

Turns out that Gretzky fella is a pretty smart guy. Action, people, action!

REAL-LIFE TIPS FOR BEING ASSERTIVE

Alright, so you've worked up the courage and you're ready to ask! Whether you're looking to lower your phone bill, get discounts on the theater that you visit often, or are looking to buy a car, here's how to save money and get the best bang for your buck:

  1. Be Firm, but Nice – We promise, you WILL NOT get your way if you are mean, but you also WILL NOT get your way if you are timid and back down easily. Balance, people, balance. 🙂
  2. Don't Take the First NO for an Answer – You may not get your way in the end, but make sure you hear 10 NO's before you finally accept it!
  3. Ask for a Supervisor – Most times, the first person you speak to can't make the ultimate decision. It is not mean, cruel, or unnecessary in any way to ask for a supervisor. It's being assertive; get to the decision-maker!
  4. Present Alternative Solutions – If they keep saying no, or if something is against policy, you can't really argue with that. Present alternative solutions instead! “If I'm too late to get tickets for this game, how about you give me tickets to the next home game instead?”
  5. Explain That You May Have to Take Business Elsewhere – Once again, no need to be mean. Just simply say something like, “Look, I understand where you are coming from, but I hope you also understand that this makes me unhappy and I will have to take my business elsewhere. Is this really worth losing a lifetime customer over?”
  6. Get a Name – Good or bad, get a name. This will make them feel good if they treated you well, or will scare them a bit if you didn't get what you wanted. If you need to file a formal complaint or call back later, you MUST have a name to have any form of credibility.
  7. Resolve the Situation – Don't just walk away. If you didn't get your way, end it by saying, “Well, I'm sorry you lost a customer over this.” Or if you got your way, say, “Thank you so much, I really appreciate it; you've earned my lifelong business.” Sometimes they'll give you something more just for being so appreciative!

It's really not that hard once you go through those steps. Remember, we're all about how to save money here! While it may be a little bit uncomfortable, never be afraid to stand up for yourself. Especially if it's over something like a phone bill where they've overcharged you for something that you didn't agree to. Always be assertive and hold your ground for something that's rightfully yours!

GET CREATIVE

How to save money by making your own homemade cleaners - Tips from Fun Cheap or Free

Do it yourself. Be innovative. Reuse things. Make your own concoction. Stop buying, start creating! Use that super-smart noggin of yours, and it will save you bajillions! You don't have to be crafty to get creative, TRUST us. You just have to think outside the box a little.

Here are some examples of how to get creative:

  • Do It Yourself – Make some homemade cleaners, dusting spray, recipes, gadgets, trinkets, anything! The possibilities are endless. (Here are our favorite DIY projects.)
  • Create Something – For yourself, for gifts, to make money from, to keep you from getting bored, to fulfill a need… There's no better way to save money than to make it yourself!
  • Figure Out How to Afford What You WantSell stuff, save up, get a side hustle. NEVER EVER EVER say “I can't afford it.” Rather, say “HOW can I afford it??”
  • Reuse Things – Empty containers, broken mirrors, old sweaters, empty baby food jars, or leftover food. Whatever it is, simply find a new use for it! Can't come up with things on your own? See some tips above – use Facebook, Google, YouTube, and ASK around. You'll have ideas and how-to's in a snap.
  • Turn Trash into Treasure – Look at thrift stores, garage sales, and the classified ads to find cheap things. You will find some things that are in great condition – SCORE! – and some things in not-so-great condition. Simply get creative and make it your own. It'll be treasure before you know it!
  • Repurpose/Refinish Things – Spray paint, hot glue, fabric, paint, glitter…there are a million and one easy ways to refinish and repurpose things. You will hardly recognize it when it's done.

Sometimes it can take money to start crafting or to buy the tools/supplies needed to do things yourself. However, once you have down the art of “Finding it Cheaper,” then you'll be able to get the supplies for less, and you'll have them to use over and over for other projects!

TAKE ADVANTAGE

Use these tips and save money by using your phone to find great deals! Tips from Fun Cheap or Free

The best part about becoming a Fun Cheap or Free Queen is that you don't have to do it overnight, and you certainly don't have to know everything. Hey, we don't know everything! The best part is that you don't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to saving money. Take advantage of what's already out there!

Here are a few examples:

  • Follow Sites and Blogs – There are plenty of free resources out there that give good tips on how to make things or how to save money (he'em…like…hmmm…this site!) 🙂 Like that plug? Use them, then be amazed at how much money you'll save!
  • Look for Ways to Save Money – Always be on the lookout for freebies, giveaways, and coupons. We have a Facebook group that's dedicated to finding you the best deals!
  • Take Classes – If there's a free workshop, take it whenever and wherever available. You'll be able to learn a lot of different hobbies or ways to save money.
  • Take Advantage of Fun/Cheap/Free EventsFind fun things to do in your area like free museum days, cheap entertainment, free places to go, and many more!
  • Sign Up for Daily Deal Sites – As we said in the “find it cheaper” section, sign up for the deals sites and daily text sites.
  • Learn from Others – Do this by asking around and by simply observing. Once again, no need to reinvent the wheel, just ask someone to teach you how it's done!
  • Check out Books – The library has lots of free books with home tips, savings tips, financial advice, etc. There are tons of books out there that we all should take advantage of.
  • Take Advantage of Sales – Go for anything that's a clearance item, deal, blowout, offer, and everything in between. Just remember, only do this when you need the item!

There are unlimited amounts of resources out there. All you need to do is simply find them and TAKE ADVANTAGE of them!

SAVE MONEY WITH BUDGET BOOT CAMP

Have you heard of Budget Boot Camp? It's a fun and in-depth online video program that walks you through your budget, step by step. You'll learn all about how to be the most effective when it comes to saving money… You'll be blown away by the results!

Doesn't that sound so great? We are so sure you'll love it that we have a 100% money-back guarantee if you don't save at least as much as you paid for it. Plus, use the code FCFBLOG for 10% off at checkout, just because! 🙂

HOW TO SAVE MONEY BY BEING FRUGAL

Now that you know all there is to saving money in the stores and when it comes to spending money, let's go over how to save money by being frugal, doing things on your own, and keeping that money in your wallet! Being frugal is a way of life around here. Most people start being frugal because they have to, it's the only way that they can survive.

The mistake that most people then make is they stop being frugal once they no longer “have” to. If you have that kind of mindset, you'll end up back in a place that you're forced to start living frugally again. However, if you always live the frugal life, even once you're not forced to anymore, then you'll always be able to save the most amount of money.

LIVE YOUR LIFE FRUGALLY

Live your life frugally by making homemade food! Tips from Fun Cheap or Free
  • Stop Making Excuses – Trust us, there will be a million and one obstacles and excuses, and they will all be valid. They will never go away, they will never get easier, they will always be changing. Stop making excuses for yourself! While making homemade bread may sound like a daunting task, it's so simple that even someone who doesn't like to bake can easily make it. Don't use the excuse that you can't do it, because you CAN! Which leads us to our next point…
  • Just Do It – Be like Nike! Make that bread, just jump in and do it already. Maybe you've been thinking about selling your wedding dress for a while or want to start budgeting. What's stopping you? DO IT! Don't wait for the month to end…start now. Today. Don't say “this was a bad month.” Trust us, every month is a bad month for some reason or another! Just go for it. Taking your first step is often times the hardest part.
  • Learn How to Do It Yourself – Tired of wasting tons of money eating out every week? Learn how to make home cooked meals that won't break the budget! Love to feed the hummingbirds in your backyard? Make your own feeder and nectar! Need to exercise but don't want to go to the gym? Workout at home! Go to the web and start with “how to…” It may just change your life.
  • Be More Productive – Thinking that you don't have enough time to get things done can stand in the way of you actually doing it. Not being organized and productive is 99.9% of the problem many times. If you focus, set priorities, tackle things, and make lists, then that alone might be enough to completely change the direction of your life. Follow along with a productivity expert to see just how easy it is to open up more of your time to dedicate towards doing the things that you want, like saving money and being frugal.
  • Set Goals – They need to be specific, and yes, you need to write them down. You'll never break the finish line ribbon if you don't hang one up! Lucky for you, we have some great tips on how to set your frugal goals and actually keep them.
  • Develop Frugal Habits – Sometimes, you gotta fake it 'til you make it! Apply some frugal habits to your life that may not start off as habits, but will end that way if you do them often enough. Before you know it, they'll be second nature to you and you won't even think twice about doing them.

Start doing those and you'll no longer be wondering how to save money. Instead, you'll be a money-saving champ! *And the crowd goes wild!*

What's your favorite way to save money? Let us know in the comments! It's always fun to give each other new ideas and ways to save money.

How to save money by sticking to the F A C T s from Fun Cheap or Free

Oh, and if that productivity section hit you in the feels and you know that you need to do more in that area of your life, then you must check out Productivity Boot Camp!

It's a wonderful program that helps you be more organized and productive within your daily life. Which, in turn, opens up more time for you to do the things that are important to you! You won't be sorry that you did it, it's definitely life changing! Use the code FCFBLOG for 10% off at checkout.

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