We all like to save money.  What started out as a necessity in our household has become somewhat of a game for me.  How much money can I save during this shopping trip?  How can we save an extra $20 this month?  Can we get by on $25 worth of groceries this week (without going hungry)?  It’s my own personal challenge.

Here are 7 money-saving tips that save our family more than $4,000 each year.

1. I cut my spouse’s hair.  Hubster needs a haircut every 4-5 weeks, and he’d spend at least $20 each time.  We purchased a haircut/trim kit for $40 and now we save $200-250/year.
2. We eat at home.  Unless we have a gift card, we dine in almost every night.  Instead of spending $20 on a weekly pizza or $40 at a restaurant once/week, we save $1,000-2,000/year.
3. I grocery shop based on weekly sales.  Except for the staple items (in our household: bread, milk, yogurt), I plan our weekly menu based on what’s on sale that week.  We now typically spend $50/week or less on groceries instead of around $75+.  That’s a savings of at least $1,300/year.
4. We purchase C’s clothes second-hand.  Unless I find an amazing deal (like the Old Navy toddler slippers I just bought for $3.33!), I purchase C’s clothes at a store for used children’s clothing.  I find name-brand clothes that look new for around $3-5 per shirt (retail: $8-20) and $3-6 for pants (retail: $7-25).  I’ve even found shoes for him and they have never cost more than $8/pair.  It’s a great deal!  We save about $300-1,000/year this way, depending on the size of C’s wardrobe and how many sizes he grows out of each year.
5. We own one car.  Luckily, we’re in a situation in which Hubster can walk to work.  We’ve decided to share a car, thereby halving our insurance and maintenance costs.  This saves us at least $1,200/year.
6. I coupon for diapers.  If you want to learn how to coupon, see Couponing 101 and 201.  The bottom line: I never purchase diapers unless I can buy them for less than 18 cents/diaper (they retail at 25+ cents/diaper).  This adds up to an average savings of at least $150/year.
7. I stock up on essentials during sales.  This includes cleaning supplies, toothpaste, deodorant, diapers, etc.  I only purchase toilet paper 3-4 times each year.  I love stocking up on things at Target, because they often run gift card promotions.  Last week, I purchased two 24-packs of our toilet paper of choice.  I found printable manufacturer coupons online and also received a $5 Target gift card for future use.  Combining the sale, manufacturer coupons and gift card, I saved $8 and we won’t need to purchase TP until summer!  Stocking up on essentials during sales saves us hundreds of dollars/year.