Last Updated on January 31, 2024 by Lori Pace
With inflation running at top speed as 2023 enters its later months, single parents are continuing to search for no-hassle techniques for saving money. Besides cutting grocery bills, which is near the top of everyone’s list, people are using ingenious methods to pay for college degrees, save at the gas pump, minimize discretionary spending, store food at home, and turn unneeded clothing into ready cash. Here’s how they’re getting the job done and saving money in a year when that’s one of the toughest challenges of all.
Three Easy Tricks For Chopping Grocery Bills
When prices are on the rise, it can be tough to bring grocery expenses down to earth. But the technological age offers at least one tool for beating inflation, and that’s the coupon app. Check several of the top-rated ones online and choose an app that works in the stores where you shop and offers deals on the brands you frequently purchase. Some coupon applications focus more on staples, while others give price breaks on convenience foods like frozen pizza and desserts.
Two other simple ways to outsmart the cash register when shopping for food are wholesale clubs and detailed lists. For about $100 for an annual membership, consumers can join one of the major clubs and save by purchasing in bulk and snagging low prices on common items. If you take time to construct a list every time you shop, it’s possible to avoid impulse buying and save even more. One bonus of wholesale club memberships is that most companies now have their own gasoline stations at which you can save as much as 5% when filling up the tank.
The Simplest Way to Finance a College Degree
Single parents who want to go back to college or earn a degree from scratch can pay for school with scholarships. There’s no guarantee that the awards will cover the cost of attendance, but many applicants are surprised to discover that scholarships are readily available and are a good way to finance a portion of a degree at the very least. The most efficient way to approach the task is to work with a popular online platform that allows users to apply for multiple scholarships at once.
Millions of dollars of award money go unclaimed each year simply because no one applies for it. Don’t let your potential opportunities expire from lack of interest. Instead, head to an online platform and apply for as many scholarships as you can, remembering to use a screening tool to find the ones for which you already meet the minimum requirements.
Strategy For Slashing Gasoline Expenses
If you’re sick of the high price of gasoline and diesel fuel, commit to taking public transport more often, planning every car trip, and remembering to inflate tires to their recommended pressure levels for maximum MPG.
Convert Used Clothing to Cash
For decades, the best-selling items at second-hand stores and in garage sales were things like shirts, baby clothes, slacks, and a long list of apparel items. The same is true today for online auctions and direct sale sites. Most people have no idea how much their used clothes are worth. Take high-quality photos of your unneeded pieces and put them up for sale on one of the top platforms. Price them to move and be ready to ship them to buyers without delay.
Learn How to Store Food
Even in the modern, digital age of sophisticated computers and artificial intelligence, knowing how to store food in your home is a valuable skill. For centuries, human beings have developed techniques for keeping meats, vegetables, and other foods fresh for months at a time. In the 2020s, efficient household freezers are the go-to appliance for single moms and dads who wish to conserve capital. A good freezer can reduce grocery bills by as much as 10% across the board.
When shopping for a stand-alone unit, consider the size of your available space, the cubic footage of the freezer, and the price. You don’t need to be a scientist to leverage the benefits of a standard unit. Try to purchase high-quality meats, frozen vegetables, and other storable items that can last for up to six months. Read product labels carefully to find the ones that are most freezer-friendly.
