Over the years, I’ve realized that some of the simplest homemaking habits have saved our family hundreds of dollars each month.
Nothing extreme.
I’m not an extreme couponer, and we don’t do anything complicated to save money. These are simply ordinary habits that have become part of the way I take care of our home.
And while each individual habit may only save a little money here and there, those little savings really do add up over time.
Here are some of the simple homemaking habits that help us spend less each month.
1. Keep Easy Meals on Hand
One of the biggest expenses for many families is food, so that’s an area where I try to be especially intentional.
One of the easiest ways I’ve found to save money is simply to make sure we have meals at home as much as possible.
The problem is that cooking dinner isn’t always the hard part.
Sometimes it’s the mental energy required to figure out what to make.
After a busy day, going through the drive-thru can sound so much easier than coming home and making dinner.
That’s why I keep ingredients on hand for meals I know I can make quickly and easily.
- Tacos
- Steak and rice bowls
- Burgers
- Spaghetti
- Burritos
I don’t need a recipe for any of these, so they require very little thought.
On nights when I want something even easier, I also keep a few freezer staples on hand, like Italian meatballs and Costco brand chicken nuggets.
I also keep frozen and canned vegetables available so I always have an easy side dish I can make in less than 10 minutes.
None of these meals are fancy.
But they’re fast, they’re easy, and they keep us from spending extra money eating out simply because we’re tired.
2. Meal Plan and Make a Grocery List
Another habit that saves us money is having a meal plan and making a grocery list before I shop.
Knowing what we’re eating before I walk into the grocery store or place an online order, helps me avoid impulse purchases.
I also tend to stick to a rotation of meals rather than constantly trying new recipes that require specialty ingredients.
For example, we rotate between a few favorites breakfast options.
- Smoothies made with frozen fruit and milk
- Greek yogurt with berries and honey
- Fried potatoes with scrambled eggs
- Sausage and cheese
On Fridays, I’ll sometimes make something a little more special, like pancakes, waffles, or muffins.
But even those can usually be made with basic pantry ingredients.
And when I find a new recipe that calls for something I don’t already have, I don’t automatically run to the store to buy it.
I’ll often look for a substitute or simply leave out the ingredient if it isn’t essential to the recipe.
Learning to work with what I already have has made a bigger difference in our grocery spending than I expected.
3. Make Simple Sauces and Marinades at Home
Another small habit I’ve developed is making my own sauces and marinades instead of buying them premade.
For example, I’ll make a simple marinade for chicken using ingredients we already have in the pantry.
I also make pasta sauce using a can of tomato sauce and seasonings.
It’s not difficult, and I don’t need a complicated recipe.
These are small substitutions, but when you make them regularly, the savings add up over weeks and months.
4. Use Up the Food We Buy
I really dislike throwing food away.
After all, food doesn’t save money if it ends up in the trash.
So if I notice that something isn’t going to get eaten before it goes bad, I’ll freeze it.
Recently, we had a gallon of milk that we weren’t going to be able to use before it expired.
Rather than throw it away, I divided it into two-cup portions in freezer bags and froze it.
I also freeze fresh produce when I realize we’re not going to eat it quickly enough.
We recently had some watermelon that we weren’t going to finish, so I froze it and have been using it in smoothies.
I like keeping frozen fruits and vegetables on hand anyway, so freezing food before it goes bad is an easy way to stretch what we already purchased.
5. Buy Fewer Cleaning Products
Another surprisingly simple way we’ve saved money is by purchasing fewer cleaning products.
I used to think I needed a specialty cleaner for every area of my home.
But over time, I’ve realized that many of those products can simply be omitted.
For mopping, I use hot water and a microfiber mop.
I clean my mirrors and windows with a damp microfiber cloth rather than buying window cleaner.
And instead of using a special dusting spray, I use a damp microfiber cloth.
It’s cheaper, it’s simpler, and there’s less clutter underneath my kitchen sink.
Sometimes the best way to save money is simply to stop buying things you don’t actually need.
6. Organize the Pantry and Toiletries Regularly
Have you ever bought something at the store only to get home and realize you already had two of them tucked away in a cupboard?
I’ve definitely done that.
That’s why I try to regularly organize our pantry and bathroom cabinets.
When I can actually see what we have, I’m much less likely to buy duplicates.
It also helps me use things before they expire.
A little organization can save money simply because it helps you know what you already own.
7. Use What You Already Have
This is one of my favorite money saving habits.
I used to regularly walk through stores like Hobby Lobby and Target looking for something new for our home.
Now, when I get the urge to buy something, I try to stop and ask myself:
“What can I use instead?”
I’ve turned old towels into cleaning rags.
I save jars to use as containers and vases.
And instead of buying new decor, I’ll often rearrange the furniture or move decorations from one room to another.
It’s amazing how different a room can feel simply because you’ve changed what’s already in it.
Sometimes we’re not actually craving something new.
We’re just craving something different and fresh.
So before you go shopping for something to freshen up your home, try shopping your own house first.
8. Keep Your Home Clean and Take Care of What You Own
This last one might sound a little strange, but I really believe that cleaning my home saves us money.
Of course, taking care of our belongings helps them last longer.
But there’s another reason.
When my home is clean and everything is picked up, our home feels peaceful.
And when I’m enjoying the home I already have, I’m much less tempted to go shopping for something new.
I’m happier staying home.
I’m more content with what we already own.
And I think contentment is one of the greatest money-saving habits there is.
Contentment Is a Homemaking Habit
This is actually one of the reasons I love homemaking so much.
Homemaking isn’t just about keeping things clean and getting dinner on the table.
It’s also about learning to care for what we’ve been given and being content with what we already have.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”
And then he says:
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
I don’t think contentment means we can never buy something new or enjoy something beautiful.
It simply means that our happiness isn’t dependent on having more.
And I’ve found that when I’m content with what I already have, I’m naturally more careful with our money.
I’m more willing to cook at home.
I’m more willing to use what we already own.
I’m less tempted to buy something just because it’s new.
And I’m able to enjoy the home we’ve already been blessed with.