![\"money_hacks_cover\"](\"https:\/\/aspire-canada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/money_hacks_cover.jpg\")
<\/a>If you saw a $20 bill on the sidewalk, you\u2019d definitely bend over to pick it up, wouldn\u2019t you? Well, without much more effort than that, you can save at least that much \u2014 and probably a lot more \u2014 by employing a host of everyday life hacks.<\/p>\nRelated: 31 best websites for free stuff<\/a><\/p>\n Credit: Niloo \/ Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/p>\n 1. Buy Prescription Drugs at Costco Without a Membership<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Membership warehouse stores like Sam\u2019s Club and Costco have good prices on prescription drugs \u2014 and you don\u2019t have to be a member to buy them. Because access to drugs is regulated by the federal government, warehouse stores aren\u2019t legally allowed to require membership in order for customers to use the pharmacy. So go take advantage of the low prices and don\u2019t worry about purchasing a membership.<\/p>\n Read: Hacks for Saving Money<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Save $200 a Year by Using a Clothesline<\/strong><\/p>\n Go back to the future: Dry your clothes on an old-fashioned clothesline. It\u2019ll save your family about $200 per year compared to using an electric dryer (according to calculations by Mr. Electricity), and your clothes will last much longer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 3. Thriftier Swiffer <\/strong><\/p>\n Has your Swiffer Wet Jet run dry?<\/p>\n Remove the cap from the fluid canister and fill it with cheaper, concentrated cleaner mixed with water, rather than buying another Swiffer-branded bottle. You can also save by using dryer sheets (new or even used) rather than buying a box of Swiffer sheets for your Swiffer Sweeper (say the last part of that sentence ten times fast).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 4. Scan Grocery Receipts for Cash Back <\/strong><\/p>\n Smartphone apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51 give you cash rebates on your grocery store purchases; all you have to do is scan the receipts after you shop. For just a minute of your time, you\u2019ll likely earn about $5 a week, adding up to hundreds a year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 5. Kool-Aid in Your Toilet? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dump a package of grape Kool-Aid in the tank of your toilet and don\u2019t flush it for an hour. Then, if you see purple water in the toilet bowl, you know you have a slow leak, one that you can\u2019t even hear. It\u2019s wasting water \u2014 and money \u2014 and can usually be fixed easily and cheaply.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 6. Get More Toner Out of Your Printer <\/strong><\/p>\n If your printer is out of black ink, change the text color to dark blue \u2014 you\u2019ll be able to print a couple more times before needing a refill. And always print in Garamond typeface rather than more popular fonts like Times New Roman, Century Gothic or Comic Sans, since Garamond uses less ink.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 7. Skip the Shopping Cart <\/strong><\/p>\n shopping hack When you run into the grocery store to \u201cpick up a few items,\u201d literally \u201cpick them up\u201d rather than use a cart or shopping basket. By forcing yourself to carry your purchases, you\u2019ll be less likely to buy things you didn\u2019t intend to buy and don\u2019t need.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 8. Ask for Free Upgrades \u2014 But Don\u2019t Book Them <\/strong><\/p>\n Car rental upgrade<\/p>\n Never book a luxury car or premium hotel ahead of time, unless you definitely need it. Instead, reserve a standard car or room and then politely ask for a free upgrade when you arrive. If they have one available, it\u2019s usually a pretty easy score.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 9. Get a Closer, Cheaper Shave <\/strong><\/p>\n When your multi-track disposable razor gets really dull, try pushing the blade a dozen or so times against the skin on your forearm or against your thigh in a pair of blue jeans. This will realign and sharpen the blades, giving you more shaves for the buck.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 10. Don\u2019t Use Shaving Cream <\/strong><\/p>\n Skip the shaving cream and lather up with a bar of bath soap instead. Invest in an old fashioned bristle brush, shave some soap into a mug, and you\u2019ll get the cleanest and cheapest shave available, sans the cream.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 11. Zip Pants Before Washing Them <\/strong><\/p>\n Always remember to zip up jeans and other garments that have metal zippers before laundering them. Those little metal teeth are like miniature chainsaws, tearing up and ruining other expensive clothing in the washer and dryer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 12. Sync Your Sleep Schedule With Daylight <\/strong><\/p>\n Adjusting your sleep schedule to better coincide with daylight hours will allow you to save on your daily electrical usage \u2014 plus, you\u2019ll wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 13. Shop with Discount Gift Cards <\/strong><\/p>\n Gift card exchange websites sell discounted gift cards for everywhere from Best Buy to Home Depot for less than their remaining value. Stock up and use them instead of cash for your next purchases.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 14. Gym Membership Savings <\/strong><\/p>\n Many health insurance plans offer reimbursements or discounts on gym memberships \u2014 for example, UnitedHealthcare has plans that will reimburse you for up to $240 per year in gym costs. Benefits vary by provider, so check with your insurance to see if you\u2019re eligible.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 15. Carry Around $100 <\/strong><\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of research that shows if you pay in cash rather than with a credit card, you\u2019ll likely spend less. Take it one step further and only carry large bills like $50s or $100s, which are even harder to break \u2014 it\u2019ll keep you from making impulse purchases.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 16. Get an Extra Potato for Free <\/strong><\/p>\n When buying pre-bagged produce \u2014 like three-, five- or 10-pound bags of potatoes, onions and apples \u2014 always weigh the bags before selecting the one you want to purchase. The weight marked on the bag is the minimum weight required by law, and some bags will likely weigh in at more, even though they cost the same.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 17. Skip the Rental Car Insurance <\/strong><\/p>\n Alot of private auto insurance policies and many major credit cards provide coverage for rental cars, particularly when rented for personal use (as opposed to for business). Check their policies just to make sure, but chances are good that you can skip the expensive insurance coverage offered by the rental car company.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 18. Save Old Calendars<\/strong><\/p>\n Real cheapskates know that eventually all annual calendars will be timely once again. For example, your 2015 wall calendar can be used again in the years 2026, 2037, 2043, 2054, 2065, 2071, 2082 and counting. For a handy schedule of when you can reuse your old calendars, visit: whencanireusethiscalendar.com.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 19. Insulate Your Outlets<\/strong><\/p>\n Stop heat loss and drafts with inexpensive, easy-to-install foam insulating gaskets on the back of electrical wall switches and outlets. Bonus tip: While you\u2019re installing the gaskets, write the color and brand of the paint used in the room on the back of the switch plate to remember it when touching up or repainting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 20. Crock-Pot Humidifier <\/strong><\/p>\n Cooking more meals at home in an old-fashioned slow cooker (aka \u201cCrock-Pot\u201d) will save you some major bucks, but also use one in the bedroom in the winter to add humidity to the air and help stretch the heat. Just keep it filled with water, with the lid off and set on low \u2014 it will cost hardly anything to operate, and house guests will be really curious about the steaming slow cooker in your bedroom.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 21. Granny\u2019s Electric Teapot <\/strong><\/p>\n Remember the electric teakettle your grandmother always used? Well, granny knew best. When boiling just a small amount of water, an electric teapot is the most economical method, compared to the microwave or stovetop.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 22. Start a Drippings Jar <\/strong><\/p>\n Nothing frustrates a cheapskate more than trying to get the last smidgeons of product out of a jelly jar or other condiment container. Shake a little apple cider vinegar around in near-empty containers to get them nice and clean, then add the contents to a wide-mouthed \u201cdrippings jar\u201d kept in the fridge. This everevolving flavorful concoction makes a great salad dressing, meat marinade or dipping sauce.<\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 23. Use \u201cWool Balls\u201d in the Dryer <\/strong><\/p>\n Skip the fabric softener and dryer sheets by making your own \u201cwool balls\u201d out of old woolen yarn and a pair of worn-out panty hose \u2014 just Google \u201cwool balls\u201d for DIY instructions. They\u2019ll help your clothes dry faster and keep garments nice and soft, all without the use of chemicals (or your wallet).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 24. Bubble Wrap Your Windows <\/strong><\/p>\n In the fall, lightly mist the inside of uninsulated windows with water, then apply a sheet of sized bubble wrap, bubble side facing the pane. The bubble wrap will cling to the window all winter long, boosting the insulating value, and come off neat and clean in the springtime.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 25. Stay Away From Extended Service Plans <\/strong><\/p>\n Those extended service plans they always push on customers at electronics and appliance stores are a great deal \u2014 for the stores selling them. They do, indeed, provide some additional protection for most products, but the vast majority are never used, since many problems are covered under the manufacturer\u2019s warrantee. What\u2019s more, people often forget they even bought the extended coverage plan in the first place.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Niloo \/ Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/p>\n 26. Go for Store-Brand Savings<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone knows that \u201cgeneric\u201d or store-brand products are cheaper than name brands, but maybe you don\u2019t know just how much cheaper. According to Consumer Reports, you\u2019ll save an average of about 25\u00a0percent per item when you buy store brands, which could save a family of four more than $1,100 per year on their grocery bill.<\/p>\n 27. Grow Food, Not Lawns <\/strong><\/p>\n The growing movement to replace costly, high-maintenance lawns with veggie-producing garden space has even taken root at the White House. Google \u201cgrow food, not lawns\u201d for tips on how to supplement your grocery budget and reduce lawn care costs by starting an eco-friendly yard garden.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 28. Check Your Refrigerator Seals <\/strong><\/p>\n The seals around refrigerator and freezer doors need to be replaced periodically to avoid energy loss. Test for a tight seal by closing the door on a dollar bill; if you can pull the dollar out, the seal needs replacing and your energy dollars are being wasted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 29. Kill the Dust Bunnies <\/strong><\/p>\n After you check the seals on your fridge, take a few minutes to vacuum out the dust bunnies living underneath it and clean the coils. Keeping the coils clean and dust free can increase the energy efficiency of a refrigerator, saving you money on your utility bills.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 30. Save The Rainwater <\/strong><\/p>\n Installing a rain barrel to provide water for your lawn and garden can save you a barrel full of money on your water bills. Conserving water is always the eco-friendly thing to do, and many municipal\u00a0governments now offer tax and other incentives to encourage homeowners to reduce storm water runoff.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 31. Plant Some Trees <\/strong><\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n Trees and other landscaping can not only increase your home\u2019s value, but if carefully positioned to shade the house and act as a windbreak, they can reduce your home energy costs by about 25 percent. Talk about a growing investment!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 32. Make DIY Nontoxic Cleaner <\/strong><\/p>\n Make an inexpensive, all-natural, all-purpose household cleaner by loosely filling a heat resistant glass container with leftover citrus peels, then adding equal parts boiling water and white vinegar. Cover and let it sit for a week before straining it into spray bottles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 33. Clear the Dryer Vent <\/strong><\/p>\n Keep the vent coming from your clothes dryer clean and free from blockage at all times. A clogged dryer vent reduces the appliance\u2019s energy efficiency and can cause a fire.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 34. Trick Yourself Out of Online Impulse Shopping <\/strong><\/p>\n impulse buying When shopping for an item on an e-commerce site, search for the specific product (e.g., \u201cDVD player\u201d) instead of surfing the general product category (e.g., \u201celectronics\u201d). One study showed that online shoppers who search by the category were three times more likely to keep browsing after they found the\u00a0item they wanted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Credit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n 35. Shred Your Own Carrots <\/strong><\/p>\n carrot hack Everyone knows that you pay more at the grocery store for produce that\u2019s already prepared, like those little bags of shredded carrots \u2014 but do you actually avoid them? Given the minimal time involved and the difference in price compared to buying whole carrots and shredding them yourself, your paying someone else a bundle just to do several minutes of work. Buy the cheaper, unprepared versions of all produce.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n