Spring Cleaning: Forming New Money-Saving Habits Financial Consultant

Spring Cleaning: Forming New Money-Saving Habits

To me, spring cleaning means reevaluating the way you do things and asking yourself how you can “clean up” your habits. It also means finding ways to save money in the process; and I’m always looking for ways to live more frugally.

I’m sharing some of my frugal findings when it comes to spring cleaning habits to work into your everyday routine.

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Reevaluate Your Personal Hygiene

Let’s start with something personal: your hygiene. There are ways you can “clean up” your hygiene that make good financial sense.

First off, I’ve taken the “no-poo” (or “less-poo”) challenge. I read about it over on LearnVest and I was intrigued. Now, I wash my hair twice a week, and in between I rinse or use a little dry shampoo. Not only does this save money on shampoo, but I can afford to splurge on natural hair products because I’m using them so infrequently.

Living in a city means haircuts can cost $60 or more, so I save money by getting my hair cut at a salon school, which usually costs no more than $20. Plus, an instructor is always close by to intervene on potential hair disasters. Salons like Aveda and Paul Mitchell both offer hair cutting services at their schools. I save even more by trimming my own bangs between appointments.

Lastly, I use an all-natural deodorant. Many deodorants have chemicals that can ruin your clothing over time. An all-natural deodorant, like Toms of Maine, helps my clothes last longer and keeps me from buying new clothes often.

Reevaluate Your Groceries

I buy in-season produce, which is better for my wallet and the environment. In-season food is typically cheaper, and often on sale, because it’s more readily available. Recently, I’ve been buying lots of asparagus and strawberries. Check out Cooking Light’s in season recipe list to help guide you.

I don’t eat meat every day. For lunch, sometimes I’ll trade meat for cheaper sources of protein like peanut butter. I also tend to cook at least one or two dinners a week that features protein-rich beans, like these sweet potato black bean enchiladas or this chard and white bean stew. Skipping meat every now and then can save you some serious cash.

Reevaluate Your Shopping Habits

Just like groceries, other products are cheaper during certain months of the year. For example, I usually shop for new boots at the end of winter because that’s when they’re marked down in-stores. Real Simple has a great guide to monthly shopping deals.

Most athletic shoe brands churn out the latest editions either in December or July. Shop right before the new shoe is released for generous discounts on the old version. Get on a mailing list, ask your local sports store, or follow your favorite brand’s Twitter or Facebook page to stay in-the-know on the latest releases.

Reevaluate Your Monthly Subscriptions

Last year, months went by when I focused on running outdoors and doing yoga videos All while I was paying my monthly gym membership. So I cancelled it. Now, I run outdoors and have a few pieces of inexpensive home equipment (such as resistance bands and free weights) that help me with strength training. You’ll initially fork out some dough for this at-home equipment or workout videos, but in the long run it costs a lot less.

I used to subscribe to several magazines, plus pick up a magazine or two from the grocery store or newsstand. I’ll never quit my magazine addiction, so I’ve found another solution. I cancelled all of my magazine subscriptions and now maintain one monthly subscription with Maghound. I pay less than $5 a month for three magazines. In the end I’m paying more than I would for three magazine subscriptions, but my magazine preferences change throughout the year and Maghound lets me change which magazines I receive whenever I want. Having three new magazines a month helps me resist the impulse to buy a magazine at the checkout counter.

What are some ways you can spring clean by reevaluating your money habits?

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