17 Clever Ways To Spend Less Money This Month (2024)

Promising review: "I have used this little cookbook almost all my life. Somehow in the passing years it got away from me, so once I saw it on Amazon I hurried to have it sent to me. All you younger girls (and guys, too) give this little book a gander. I bet you'll find a hint or two that will make your meal prep a little easier. Signed, 74-year-old Grandma!" —dexie cat

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle).

No need to buy new pumpkins for a mid-October do-over on your gourdgeous masterpieces. All you need is a carved jack-o'-lantern, five-gallon bucket, and household bleach. Read the full instructions from Clorox.

Get a 30 oz. bottle of bleach from Amazon for $7.34.

Amazon has the best deals on lots of products, but you can also find items for even cheaper on Jet. Shipping is free for $35+ orders and you can get two-day shipping on thousands of items without paying for a membership (like you have to with Amazon Prime). As you shop and add certain items with the purple arrow icon to your order, your total cost will drop because those items are easily shipped with the stuff that's already in your order. Get all the deets on how Jet cuts costs on their FAQ.

Check out the deals page on the reg for fresh new finds available for discounts for a limited time.

Promising review: "In the part of the country where I live, we get lots of fruit flies as it gets warms outside. I got these both to deter the flies and cut down on plastic bags. I was surprised at how well they work. They keep the food fresh longer. They are also handy for awkwardly sized veggies like celery and green onions, which tend to wilt quickly in the produce bags. I see these saving us money in the long run!" —Emily

Get a five-pack from Amazon for $8.97.

About 20% of produce grown in the US goes to waste because it doesn't match up to beauty standards. Yep, even produce is held up to bullsh*t unrealistic beauty standards. Sigh. Imperfect Produce made a business out of selling the stuff that will get passed over in the produce aisle. But does it taste the same? Watch our taste test.

Sign up one of four box types here.

Get at 200 sq. ft. roll of aluminum foil from Amazon for $9.17.

Find more hacks to keep your groceries fresher for longer.

This shower head easily installs on standard 1/2" threaded shower arms in minutes and has an adjustable water flow rate of 1.85–2.5 gallons-per-minute. All the hardware you need to install is included.

Promising review: "I went from a hotel style–water blasting shower head, which used buckets of water per minute. I loved that shower head, but the guilt of all that water usage bothered me. I tried three other water-saving shower heads, and they felt like damp English mist, stinging needles of torture, or drooling warm water. This shower head is the first one that feels good and saves water. In low setting, it's a good shower, with just enough water to get clean. In high setting, it's a drenching blast. It does't stream like a regular shower head, it just makes a funnel shaped wall of water." —Moonshine Bob

Get it from Amazon for $20.42.

And check out more smart purchases that'll save you money in the long run.

Promising review: "I washed before use and was impressed. They are soft and thick. They left no residue of lint etc. I ordered two sets of gray and will be ordering more!" —Amazon Customer

Get the eight-piece set from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in seven colors).

Promising review: "No need to chuck your bra when the bone breaks! These have saved me so much money! My bone always snaps right in the middle. Rather than pitching the whole thing (who are we kidding — theses things are expensive!), I just slid the broken bone out, made a new little incision in the placket and slid the new one in. I didn't even sew it shut. The coating on the tip makes them stay put once you get them in place. The only downside I could see was the replacement bone was about one inch shorter than the one I replaced. I suppose I could go up a cup size, but it honestly didn't bother me once it was in place. I may experiment next time with the next cup size up to see. The bone is very strong, not flimsy at all. I am so impressed with this product." —dcrossman

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $3.54+ (available in two finishes, cups A1-E).

Check out our ways to make your clothes last so much longer.

Yes, you'll have to get over the poop thing, but tbh, you'll have to get over that anyway while caring for a baby. I mean, look at those chubby legs!

Promising review: "These are one of the products that I feel are essential in cloth diapering. They allow for the effective and firm closure of prefold diapers for maximum absorption and minimal leakage. The initial investment may seem a little high but with durability that should last at a minimum of several months with constant use, they are actually incredibly cost effective. With the use of Snappis, you could effectively reduce your diaper budget from approximately $600 (25-30 well known pocket/AIO) to around $300 with an efficient number of well-known covers and prefolds. Suddenly $15 seems more than worth it." —MMS

Get them from Amazon: 10-pack of cloth diapers for $14.99 and five-pack of fasteners for $13.

And read more money-saving parentings tips.

So actually the savings probably won't kick in 'til next month. But you get the gist.

Promising review: "I didn't think I would need to do all the book work, but having done all of these, now I know why muscle memory is crucial. I learned Spencerian within three months while serving in Afghanistan. Now my wife has me writing our Christmas cards using this new skill. Very happy and proud!" —David H. Park

Get it from Amazon for $23.16.

And check out other ways to improve our handwriting.