Low-Cost Ways To Improve Your Life When Money Is Tight

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When you feel in a rut, it’s nice to have some low cost ways to improve your life in your back pocket.

I hate feeling trapped when I am trying to save money. Whether I want to save up for a big purchase, set money aside for an emergency, or have some money for a trip, finding cheap things to do is always advantageous.

This post is all about low cost ways to improve your life!

Low Cost Ways to Improve Your Life

1. Declutter and Clean

I know when I am on school break or I have a few days off, I will always find somethign to deep clean. I feel so much better when my space is nice. I think better, work better, and sleep better. My life feels so much more put together when I have less junk.

For example, I have a fan that is always going, and I took some time to vacuum and disinfect it. It makes me feel nice that the fan is tidy and clean. I would hate for it to be pushing around dirt and germs when I just want it to push air around.

What you can do is choose one area that you see all the time and find a way to tidy it. You can deep clean an area or give a few appliances a good cleaning.

2. Learn a New Skill

Learning a new skill can be very cost-effective and even free. If you play your cards right, the skill can even help you make or save money!

I like working on my sewing, language learning, coding, etc. All of these skills can improve your life in various ways. For example, if you learn to sew, you can start to sew Christmas presents to save some money. Learning a new language can allow you to take cheaper trips and not have to only visit English Speaking areas.

Taking the time to learn something new will always pay off. Everything I learn has a way of coming around and being useful. It is never a waste to learn something new.

3. Make the Most of What You Spend Your Money On

Could you take a look at your subscriptions and all the benefits? Are you using them to their fullest potential? Probably not.

Take some time to note all the benefits of your memberships, subscriptions, insurance plans, and even the free things you can do. For example, a Sam’s Club Plus membership has free delivery for orders over $50. Who goes to Sam’s and spends less than $50 anyway?

Now, if I need anything from Sam’s, I get a few of my essentials: toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, butter, rice, beans, flour, etc. And I add on what I need. Obviously, I don’t order all of these at once, but I keep track of what is running low so that when I place an order, I can add my essentials to reach the $50 minimum for free delivery. Nothing ever goes to waste because I use it every day.

4. Find Ways to Get Things Cheaper

Take a look at things you buy frequently. Keep an eye out for coupons, offers, or secret hacks to buy those things at a cheaper price.

I buy discounted Spotify giftcards so that my monthly membership is a dollar or two cheaper per month. I got Amazon Prime for young adults because I am 24. These things save me money over time.

Check out a few thrift stores before making any purchases. When there is a dress-up day at my school, I always go to the thrift store to see what I can find before I buy anything. I discovered my Instant Pot at Goodwill. It makes me so happy to know that I can still participate in the things I want to, without spending a fortune.

Going on Vacation and need some clothes? Check out some thrift stores. You can find some supporting pieces at the very least!

5. Time Blocking (Never Get Bored)

Boredom is the main reason many people spend money frivolously. Filling up your time with things that are low cost or free would prevent you from doom scrolling or getting sucked up into buying things.

I always notice I spend way more money on my days off than when I am working. Now what I do is have goals for what I want to get done that day, and then I let myself doordash dinner. This allows me to fill that frivolous spending void without overdoing it.

If you are a Christian, you might relate to this, but I always feel closest to the Lord when I am saving money. Taking time to do things slowly and talking to God has been a happy place for me. I love the book The Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren. When I feel overwhelmed, I read a chapter from that book, read my Bible, and practice something I learned. A lot of times that looks like meditating on what I learned as I am cleaning or cooking.

6. Go Tech Free For Your Favorite Things

Some of my favorite phone games are solitaire and Sudoku. Instead of constantly playing them on my phone, I went to Dollar Tree and found some books that allow me to play these games on paper.

If you can find ways to do your favorite things without a screen, you will feel more at peace, and you’ll feel proud of yourself. I notice most of what I do involves a screen, I don’t want that to be my whole life.

I like the thought that if my phone died for a day or two that I would be just fine. I hate to think that I would have to run out and buy a new phone right away or that I wouldn’t be okay in a power outage.

7. Do a Deep Dive Into An Interesting Subject

Start keeping a list in your phone of interesting things you’ve heard. This will be a great place to start if you want to learn something new. Learn all about the invention of the refrigerator, how humans have changed our ideals overtime, the influence of one man on a culture from a thousand years ago!

I ask chat gpt to give me books, documentaries, and assignments for a subject that I want to learn and then I get the books on Libby. I keep detailed notes and prepare citations for an essay. I know this sounds like something you would’ve hated to do as a High School student, but when it is just for fun and there is no pressure, you can explore however you’d like.

Doing things like this will keep your brain sharper and they keep you interesting. People who don’t know anything about anything aren’t as fun as people who can have interesting conversations. Have you ever noticed how smart comedians are? They find connections to humor in everything because they deeply understand a lot!

Now What?

Now that you know seven new low cost ways to improve your life, what will you do with that information? Will you move on and never think of this again? Will you make a list on your phone for you to refer back to? Why don’t you try doing one of these things right now?

Go through the list one more time… I’ll wait. Choose one thing you can do right now that will be productive, but not expensive.

Leave some more ideas in the comments! I’m sure you all have great insight!