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General Money Management
Spreadsheets
This is what I use to track:
- My budget – Here’s how you can track your budget too
- Monthly expenditures
- Net worth
Credit cards
I recommend cards that give reward dollars. I personally don’t want to mess with specialized categories. I have 2 credit cards – one for groceries and one for everything else. On my grocery credit card, I typically earn back about $200 in a year.
Rewards points won’t make you rich, but credit card debt can make you poor. If you know you can’t have a credit card or else you’ll carry a balance, then no amount of reward points will outweigh the debt.
However, if you are very in tune with your budget and spending habits, then having a credit card that gives you some kind of reward can be a great way to get some money back.
Books
Library Cards
While I don’t go to my local library as much as I should, I love the benefits of my library cards! Yes, I have cards to multiple libraries around.
You can reserve e-books, audiobooks, and even music and movies through Hoopla. I believe Libby only offers eBooks and audiobooks.
I have found that typically if one app doesn’t have a book, the other app probably does. Hoopla doesn’t usually have a wait time while Libby does (like a typical library).
Clothing
Poshmark
This resource is great for items that you know the brand and your size. You can often get lightly used items for a fraction of the price if you were to buy new.
You can also make an offer to the seller and they can accept, reject, or counter. I think a good rule of thumb is to make an offer that accounts for free shipping ($7 since Poshmark uses a flat rate).
If you have never used Poshmark before, you can use my referral code LYDIAKH to receive $10 off your first order.
Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are great for clothes! I’ve noticed prices have gone up over the past 5-10 years, probably because so many people buy to sell online.
However, they still have great finds but you might have to spend more time searching
My local thrift store chain has a text club that sends notices about 50% sales and coupons.
Household Items
Local Discount Stores
Discount stores are great for household products and some pantry products. They don’t always have the same items from trip to trip, however, they always have good deals.
A local discount store I shop at sends out coupons to those who have a rewards account. They often have 20% off sales where I stock up on household needs that I know I will use in the next 6-9 months.
Rewards Accounts
So many stores have various rewards accounts/clubs you can sign up for. It can be overwhelming to remember all the places I’ve signed up. Therefore, I only follow updates for 2-3 stores I shop at regularly.
If I get an email for something that catches my eye for a place I signed up for at some point, then I’ll try to utilize it.
Food
Budget Friendly Recipes
Pinch of Yum – I love this blog! The recipes are generally simple and have ingredients I keep on hand or can buy relatively easily. I always have this site pulled up when I’m creating a weekly meal plan.
Budget Bytes – This blog is designed for the budgeter+foodie! Recipes are broken down by cost which is awesome! These are great, simple, and tasty recipes.
Fetch Rewards
I upload most of my receipts to Fetch for points that can be redeemed toward gift cards. Like credit cards, this isn’t going to make you rich, but it is nice to get a few bucks toward gift cards you can use.
You can use my referral code G6FF2 to earn up to 1,000 points when you open an account and upload your first receipt!
