30 Smart Money-Saving Tips to Steal from Grandma (2024)

Cutting out the middle man saves money. Shop at farmers markets or consider joining a community-supported agriculture (CSA) farm. For a small annual fee, you'll get a box of produce every week during the growing season. It's fresh, local, and generally less expensive than you'd spend at the grocery store. Some farms also are certified organic.

If you get a hole in your sock or tear a seam, don’t toss the garment. Fix it. Picking up a few basic sewing techniques, such as how to hem pants or sew on a button, saves money in the long run. Teach yourself with YouTube tutorials, or convince a friend to take classes with you at a local crafts store.

Bought too many berries at the farmers market? Don’t want those cucumbers your neighbor gave you getting soggy? Learn different ways to preserve food just like our grandparents did so that nothing spoils. And don’t be scared: If you can read a recipe, you can learn to can. Find tips for freezing, dehydrating, fermenting and canning at the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Meat shortages meant our grandparents had to stretch their rations to get more out of every portion. The cookbook suggests making meat a supporting player, not the focus of meals. Try dishes such as French lentils with sausage, pasta e fa*gioli soup, or a savory stew that's heavy on the veggies, light on the animal proteins.

Our grandparents didn't have a cabinet full of expensive products to clean house. They used tried-but-true basics you always have on hand, such as: bleach for disinfecting, baking soda for light scrubbing, and vinegar and water with a dash of dishwashing liquid for windows. For most cleaning, that's all it takes alongside a dose of elbow grease.

Keep it simple with a pile in the backyard, as my grandparents did. You can get a closed bin if it’s located somewhere more visible. Collect “green” waste such as kitchen scraps, and “brown” waste such as dry leaves and twigs. Avoid adding food scraps, which will attract pests, and pet waste or diseased plants, which could contaminate your compost. Keep adding layers, stir occasionally, and let Mother Nature do the work.

Soup is filling and cheap. And it’s perfect for your slow cooker, so you don’t even have to think about dinner. Plus, leftovers freeze well.

It’s never too late. Don’t throw up your hands and give up because you didn’t start sooner. Something is always better than nothing. Set up a direct deposit so you’ll save automatically. We promise you won’t even miss what you didn’t have in your hands in the first place.

An old-fashioned barn-raising or a quilting bee was nothing more than friends helping each other out. If you love to paint, and she’s great at cutting hair, you both can save a bundle by trading your abilities and not having to hire someone.

Don’t toss raggedy sheets, towels, and t-shirts. Use them for drop cloths when you’re painting, or cut them up into manageable squares for cleaning rags. Cotton and flannel fabrics tend to work best. They’re soft, washable, and almost infinitely reusable.

Our grandparents didn't rely on takeout to feed their families. "You don't have to make everything from scratch, but getting into the habit of not eating out all the time is a huge money-saver," says Kristen Cross, blogger at thefrugalgirl.com. "I'm a big fan of keeping meals simple. For example, we do a soup night, taco night, and pizza night regularly so I don't have to think too much about it."

I have many fond memories of Gram’s can of sequins and buttons that she hoarded for the craft projects we made together. Save all those fun little scraps: bits of ribbon, cute little glass jam jars, broken costume jewelry, little cardboard berry containers, etc. Toss everything in a plastic container, and you’ll be surprised at how many creative uses you’ll find for these treasures.

It's far cheaper and better for you than buying prepared or prepackaged foods loaded with sodium and preservatives. "Start small," says Cross. "Pick something your family eats all the time, then add new recipes to your scratch repertoire as you feel more confident." Cross learned to make granola and yogurt because those are foods her family eats frequently, so the savings add up in the long run.

Our grandparents did not buy on credit. Period. If you’re shopping for holidays or birthdays (or even to splurge on yourself), go to the ATM first and get cash. Paying with actual money makes it feel more “real,” so you’ll likely spend less, too.

If you’re going on a day trip or family outing, pack up some sandwiches, pasta salad, or even soup for chilly days. It’s cheaper than having to feed everyone at a restaurant, plus the view is more scenic!

"It's a chore, but if I don't have a menu and grocery list, I buy food I don't need or forget to buy what I do need," says Cross. Write up a menu for a few days to a week ahead, then make your shopping list so you can resist impulse buys. Inventory your fridge and pantry as well, so you don't forget what's hiding in there. Wasted and spoiled food accounts for as much as $2,275 in losses annually for a family of four!

Long before it was environmentally smart, my grandparents collected rain as it ran off the garage roof into a barrel. Make or buy your own to collect free water for your garden.

Sure, it’s fine to go out occasionally. But that adds up. Bringing your own lunch also helps you control portion size and calories. Do it the night before if you’re always running late in the morning.

My grandmother was talented with needle arts and loved creating afghans, handmade kitchen towels, and lace tablecloths for people she loved. Homemade gifts are more memorable anyhow, and everybody has a special talent: Bake a plate of brownies. Give a coupon for a weekend of pet sitting. Create a memory book of old photos, or enlarge and frame one.