We’re seeing higher prices at the gas station, the grocery store and pretty much everywhere these days and experts say inflation is at a near 40-year high. That means a lot of people are tightening their belts and ditching their budgets just to get by. BuzzFeed readers share the money-saving hacks and budget swaps they’re making to cope with rising prices everywhere.
- “I’m lucky to live in a place where I can do this, but both my husband and I have been biking way more and driving a lot less. We’ve always done this but have stepped it up recently.”
- “I’ve also started ordering groceries for pickup rather than going into the store — that way I can be sure I’m getting what I need, and I’m not tempted to buy 50 extra items. We used to eat out multiple times a week and have cut that back to once or twice a month. None of this is saving us all that much, but anything is helpful these days."
- “To save on driving, I group errands together that are in the same location.”
- “Buying less alcohol so that when I sell my kidneys they’ll get a better price.”
- “If you're paying off credit cards, forget balance amount — look at interest rate. Tackle the highest interest rate first, paying minimum payment on all others.”
- “Ask friends if they want to share streaming accounts. Set up profiles under a shared account and Venmo/Cash App an agreed upon amount each month for sharing.”
- “At the grocery store, look high and low on the shelves. Most people only ever look at the middle area of shelves, and that’s usually the most expensive stuff. For the things you typically buy, check similar items on the top and bottom shelves (use that 'cost per unit' in the top left of the sticker to truly compare prices for what you get!).”
- “I decided to hit up the world of online surveys. I found one that gives points even when you don't qualify. It's not much, but the pennies eventually add up.”
- “I’m not taking a major vacation this season while I watch most of my friends revenge travel. I’m banking that cash and stockpiling it for a rainy recession day. Instead, I’m going to local hidden gems and honestly, trying to build friendships with people who have nice vacation properties I can visit with them. Grifting is the ultimate inflation strategy."
Source: BuzzFeed