Money-Saving Skills That Will Save You Thousands

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a day ago

In this challenging economy, I'm always looking for ways to save money.
Whether it's taking on DIY projects or learning how to spend less, simply knowing a few valuable life skills can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
If you're looking for a few economical hacks, you're in the right place. In one Reddit thread (which you can see here), people shared the simple and inexpensive life skills that basically made them richer, and I'm honestly going to look into some of these for myself.
Ahead, I've rounded up 18 of the best skills:
"I learned how to cut my dog's hair during COVID, watching videos on YouTube."
"Dog grooming costs a good $70 every 2 months or so over the lifetime of the animal. So my dog has an uglier haircut, but I save thousands over the course of its life."–EarlyAd3047
"Simple handyman jobs. Get some basic tools and look up YouTube videos to save you from hiring a tradesman."
"Doing 20 to 30 minutes of exercise daily will save you thousands in health costs down the road."
"Cooking. It's not that hard to follow a recipe to get some decent meals."
–FailedMaster
"Basic sewing. Buttons, turning up trousers. So many people throw something away because it doesn't fit properly or the buttons come off."
"How to budget and track expenses. Knowing where your money goes can prevent surprise overdrafts and debt."
"Flossing properly. No more cavities or bleeding gums."
–Thin_Pitch_4515
"Downloading digital coupons at home before you go to the grocery store."
"I am a tax accountant, and I'd suggest doing your own taxes. The key is understanding when you have a complex situation. Most people without businesses or rentals can just do them online."
"Learning how to make your own coffee."
"A shit coffee machine is less than $30, and it'll make you coffee for as long as you take care of it. A French press will run you half that, and an electric kettle will run you less than the other half of $30. Paying more than 30 cents for a cup of coffee is wild. Do it yourself and stop paying $5 a cup for it."–theBJbanditO
"Basic car maintenance — oil change, tire rotation, replacing filters. Saves a ton over time."
"How to Google. But I'm serious, though. Knowing how to format a word or a question is extremely important to learn if you want to find answers. Also, if you don't even know what question to ask, knowing how to find enough info to inform yourself to ask the right question is important too."
"Learning how to shop — whether it's groceries or general goods."
"Small things like being able to compare prices by looking at price per ounce or unit instead of total cost. Taking the time to look over sales ads. Using manufacturers' coupons. App discounts. The list goes on. So many people mindlessly shop and get into a routine, and they don't realize how much they could save if they tried to."–buckeyebob45
"Basic retirement planning. You can save yourself thousands or even hundreds of thousands with a basic understanding of investing for retirement."
"Mastering the phrase, 'let me think about it and get back to you.' Saves money and regrets."
"Cycling. It takes some effort to figure out how to cycle around a city that's primarily built for cars, but the economic side is so worth it."
–OldCadillac
"How to negotiate your salary, or more precisely, how it's okay to try and negotiate your salary. Seriously, you can learn the basics in less than two hours, and it will earn you hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars each year for the rest of your life if you apply it."
"Learned to cut my own hair. I bought a $45 cutter 10 years ago, and haven't gone to a barber since. At less than $35 a pop every six weeks, I figure I've saved over $3,000."
Do you have a money-saving life skill that belongs on this list? Let me know what it is in the comments!