Beat Inflation in 2024: Frugal Tips for Moms

**“Frugality is the daughter of common sense, the sister of moderation, and the mother of freedom.”** – Samuel Smiles

It feels like it’s all anyone is talking about these days: INFLATION! Why? Because most people are feeling the weight of it, whether it means spending an extra dollar on yogurt than you recall last year or crying at the gas pump.

As a wife, mother of four, and family living on one income, I understand how most of you are feeling. Quite frankly, you’re desperate for new ideas.

OR, you’ve heard some of these ideas, and you just needed one more friend to encourage you to take the leap of faith. Who cares what anyone thinks? Lots of these tips and tricks are the best-kept-secrets that can remain secrets. But they can save you.

Here are TWENTY tips to help you in 2024. Some of them take previous wisdom to the next level with additional challenges or additional details.

MAKE YOUR OWN BROTH. Why is “bone broth” or “homemade vegetable broth” such a big deal? Not only does it contain TONS of nutrition, but the fact that thousands of recipes (not just soups and stews) call for it, a small can or container of it at the grocery store can be quite pricey (not to mention the fact that you can’t control the amount of sodium that goes into it, which you can easily do when you make your own. How do I do it? Whenever I cook chicken with bones, I save the bones AND THE SKINS. In addition, whenever I chop up vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, onions, zucchini… you name it, I save the ends that most people throw away. I toss it in a gallon freezer bag and when it’s full, I wash it and toss it in my crockpot to simmer with water, garlic, and sea salt for 48 hours. You can use it right away, pop them in mason jars for the refrigerator (good for a week), or freeze the broth in freezer bags by pouring it in when the broth is not too hot and laying them flat in the freezer. This will allow you to save space. I have also seen them frozen as cubes in ice cube trays so that you can use as little as you need when you need it. I simply break off an imperfect chunk from my freezer bag when I need it, eyeball it for my recipe, then pop the rest of the frozen bag back into the freezer.
Learn to mend holes in your children’s clothing. I wouldn’t say it’s the best use of your time to sew up every tiny hole in your children’s socks. At that point, you’re better off cutting them up into rag rugs or sewing up rag-toy animals and dolls with them. But there are two takeaways from this tip: (1) learn the skill of basic hand-sewing, which can be a lost art, but can also be VERY THERAPEUTIC. You can get a very basic sewing kit at your Dollar store; and (2) think about the items that you would normally toss, but still fit perfectly nicely and serve a good purpose. For example, I have two sons who rough and tumble, so none of their clothing is safe. Often, they rip up the knees of their pants before anything else, but the pants still fit them. What do I do in this situation? Make cool patches for their knees! Maybe there are some old pajamas with a baseball or a dinosaur print that would make your sons feel special if you added it on. Or perhaps your daughter would love a heart-shaped floral patch on her favorite princess dress before you throw it away. I would set a timer to see how long it actually takes you to repair items and you may surprise yourself. CAUTION: it can become addictive to salvage everything! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
GOING TO COSTCO? Skip the cart and buy ONLY WHOLE INGREDIENTS. There are a few things to unpack here. First of all, most of us know that it can be DANGEROUS to go to Costco. They have an expert marketing and visual merchandising team who make 99% of their items appear to be “needs.” What’s my strategy? Long ago, like most grandmothers, my mom wanted to be helpful in some way. She would bring food or buy toys that my children didn’t need. One day, we had an honest conversation about what our family actually needs. Knowing she was retired, I told her, “Mom, the truth is… I hate going to Costco. Can you just go for me? I just need basic things, like the two-pack shredded Mexican cheese, the huge pack of butter, and the giant pack of blueberries.” I know not every relationship is like this and I try to be mindful that some grandmothers may be sad or offended by this, but give it a try! I knew that I did not have the time to dedicate to finding a parking spot at Costco, navigating the busy aisles, and waiting in the horrendously long lines. But for my mom, that was her one task of the day. And we turned it into a monthly routine because I didn’t need the items as often.

All that to say, if you are going to go to Costco, try to challenge yourself to bring your reusable bags and only fill what you can carry without pushing a cart. This forces you to prioritize what you need. I’m not saying this always works, like when it comes to toilet paper. But it’s a good exercise at least ONCE to reflect on what you actually need and what behaviors you unknowingly adopted when you are at stores like Costco and Target.

In addition, buying only whole ingredients will help you to avoid the pricey, junky stuff that eats your grocery budget (I know I’m being generous with this term, but think “eggs,” “chicken,” “tomatoes,” “butter,” and items that you don’t have to wonder if there are 10 other ingredients in them). Quite frankly, you can also give yourself a free pass with “boring” items, like toilet paper and laundry detergent.
Determine which cleaning products you can swap with simpler, homemade cleaning ingredients, like baking soda and vinegar. I am not advising to get rid of your workhorse toilet bowl cleaner or make your own laundry detergent, only to have you hate me when your washing machine breaks down. Instead, think about your basic wipe-downs, like your dining table, your kitchen counters, your sinks, your floors, your fireplace, your bannisters… can those be cleaned by mixing vinegar, water, and essential oils in a dollar store spray bottle? Cleaning products can cost $7 or $8 per bottle (sometimes more). This can easily add up if you love Windex, Method shower cleaner, Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, Bar Keeper’s Friend, etc. I challenge you to think of just ONE swap.
Host a barter-themed party. This doesn’t have to actually be a “party.” Instead, are you a part of a Mom’s group on Facebook? Share a post for a “toy exchange” at the park or a “homeschool curriculum swap” at your house in July. All of your children can play in the yard and you can get free books for the school year while getting rid of the ones you no longer use. This can also be helpful because Moms bring wisdom to help you avoid the same mistakes they made, so you often learn new tips to prepare you for something you didn’t think you would encounter (and this is not limited to schooling, but other life stages you are experiencing, like potty training, flag football, etc.). Another great time of year to put together a “barter” party is in September when everyone is looking for Halloween costumes. Again, you can get rid of your old ones and find the gently-used ones that no longer fit another Mom’s child. One of the best takeaways from this tip is that many moms will likely just give items to you without expecting a swap. We are all just moms trying to help each other (and help ourselves by getting rid of the junk, happy to see it go with someone else who will appreciate it and live a second life). Lastly, moms are securing relationships so that when everyone’s children keeps growing, they now have a hand-me-down partnership! Everyone’s happy!
Clean when you’re “bored.” It seems like we always have plans for the weekend. That can be a blessing and a curse, especially when you’re an introvert. It forces you to make community connections and lasting memories, but sometimes it’s worth asking yourself: are you making plans because you are bored? If so, there’s always something to clean at your house! That’s right, I’m taking about those base boards we all know, love, and avoid like the plague. Yes, staying home and cleaning what you already own CAN SAVE YOU MONEY because you’re not out spending any. It’s not always fun, but it’s certainly gratifying and you will be proud of yourself that you “gave your future self a gift” instead of putting it off.
Make cloth gift bags. I’m certain that you will go to some birthday party or event that will warrant gift-giving. Your own children will have birthdays. It can be really easy to sew a cloth gift bag from an old flannel shirt, an old dress, an old curtain, etc. You can sew by hand or use a basic straight stitch on a sewing machine (even a borrowed one from a neighbor, family member, or friend from your church!). It’s great because you get to reuse these and they are not one-time use items you have to run into the store to get right before a celebration.
Create “old book page” greeting cards. I know that some of you are laughing because you don’t give greeting cards anymore. You just shout, “THAT’S FROM US!” when Little Johnny opens up his present. But greeting cards are still so personal and appreciated. It’s another “lost art” that I strongly believe we should teach our children. You may not have a lot of money, but you can always say something from the heart and use your own personal penmanship to show that you stopped everything you were doing to carefully write out a thoughtful message. This is easy to create if you visit your local public library, which often has a used book section. You can also visit your local used book store or thrift store. Find a very old book with yellowing pages, rip out a few, fold them in half. Decorate them as you please by cutting out construction paper shapes (like hearts, stars, etc.) for the front of the card and a plain, rectangular piece for the inside where you will write your message. I promise that everyone who receives this will love it!
Inventory your refrigerator and pantry. Find out which items you often allow to spoil, and stop buying them. Or challenge yourself to find out why you let them spoil. Are you optimistic at the beginning of the week, and then life gets busy? For example, if you find that your spinach always ends up spoiling, look up “easy spinach recipes” so that you can turn it into something quickly. Pop it into a smoothie. Set a phone reminder to pop it in your freezer by Wednesday if you haven’t used it.

In addition, check out what you do use all the time, like tomato paste. That’s where you will want to stock up when it’s on sale. I often buy at least a dozen cans of what I regularly use so that I never have to wonder if I have something to make at home. Challenge yourself to find 10 pantry staples you always use. Here are some of mine if you need ideas:

– canned, diced tomatoes
– garbanzo beans
– frozen kale
– bananas
– limes
– onions
– garlic
– penne noodles
– white rice
Consider wearing more prints than solids. I wrote an article with my capsule wardrobe that mostly uses printed fabrics. I mentioned that this is a Mom strategy because I will inevitably get stains on my clothing, so it helps me to hide them. Prints can help to save money because my items feel more forgiving after the wash. One small stain on a white t-shirt can make me re-think whether or not I am going to keep it or get rid of it.
Challenge yourself to a “no dryer” month. We have all heard the wonders of line-drying our clothing. But sometimes we are just lazy. Or we don’t have the right stuff. Buy a laundry line and some cute clothes pins. These can be very inexpensive! Try this for the entire month of July. You will be amazed at how quickly your laundry dries. If you’re like me, you can romanticize the chore by taking yourself back to a nostalgic, simpler time while you hang up your clothing and sheets. Plus, it smells wonderful.
Swap out paper towels for cloth napkins. Sometimes I forget that people still buy paper towels because I made the switch so long ago. This can be an easy one because you usually aren’t mopping up anything too shameful, you’re just using them to wipe up kitchen and living room spills or already-decent surfaces. Cloth napkins come in many different colors and designs, making your home more charming and cozy. You can get these at thrift stores or sew them yourself from old sheets and old clothing! Since you wash them over and over, it’s never a problem as to where they came from.
Sweep instead of vacuum. I’m not saying that this is your best go-to for rooms with carpet, obviously. But are you using the “hardwood floor” setting on your vacuum instead of using your broom? You can extend the life of your vacuum by picking and choosing when to use it.
Join an online frugality group. There are TONS of Facebook groups where members cheer each other on, provide tips, and celebrate their own wins. I have participated in these groups and love the encouragement, knowing I’m not the only one. In addition, they often share creative frugality challenges that you might not have considered on your own.
Make your own spice blends. I no longer buy the taco seasonings or any of the pre-made dry rubs. Instead, I buy my spices in bulk (I have a Winco that is somewhat close to me and I love it!). I make my own “Italian Seasoning” blend with parsley, thyme, basil, and oregano. In addition, I have simplified my ingredients, challenging myself to only season food with salt and pepper. It goes a long way!
Switch to bar soap. Bar soap lasts longer and in my opinion, smells and feels better. I find more natural options in bar soaps. Can you make your own? Making your own soap can be fun and they make great gifts, especially when you wrap them up in simple brown paper and twine.
Talk to your grandmother. If your grandmother is not close by or no longer with you, find a sweet old lady to befriend! They have SO MUCH WISDOM to share when it comes to frugality, mindful spending, and simple homemaking. I have been told I’m an old soul and I have always agreed. So it has always come easily to me to speak to older men and women, gleaning any knowledge they have to share. They are usually very happy to share, making them feel important and helpful.
VISIT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY. Not only do they offer free programs and can surprise you with the many free things you can borrow with your library card, but you can borrow books that teach you new skills that help you in your money-saving journey. There are “simple frugal” cookbooks, crafting books, home improvement books, and of course, books to read for pleasure (which will occupy your time instead of going out to spend money someplace else). I know I am biased because I am a librarian, but I cannot stress this enough!

I hope these tips were helpful! I plan to bring more ideas since I know that there are a myriad of other ways we can get through tough times. Try one of these tips and let me know how it went! Do you have any other tips?

“I think frugality drives innovation, like other constraints do. One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out.”

– Jeff Bezos