Create your own Swiffer cleaner to save

You may not only buy inexpensive Swiffer Wet Jet cleaners, but you can also create your own at home.

This one is for individuals looking to save money or develop a natural, less hazardous cleaning solution.

If you want to produce your own Swiffer cleaner, combine orange, lemon, or lime peels with distilled white vinegar in a jar.

Make careful to date the container or jar and store it for at least one week in a dark, cold location.

Easy cleaning hack to save $100

Heather Rhodes didn’t want to spend money on Swiffer refills, so she devised a clever solution.

Heather recommends microwaving a cup of water for two minutes to remove the cap on the Swiffer cartridge.

After that, immerse the cap for one minute in a cup of hot water.

After that, you should be able to simply screw off the cap. You may now use your favorite cleaning product to refill your Swiffer cartridge.

Cutting lumber and saving at Home Depot

Leftover wood at Home Depot is still suitable for use, and if the piece you want is too large, you may have it chopped at the store.

Any piece of wood purchased from Home Depot will be chopped twice for free.

Following that, it’s supposed to be $0.50 for each cut for up to ten cuts, however, some customers claim that they aren’t charged.

Home Depot’s Special Buy of the Day is also worth bookmarking, according to the Krazy Koupon Lady.

This guarantees that you don’t miss out on any flash sale discounts, which may save you up to 50 percent on severely reduced products.

Up to 70 percent off on lumber

Home Depot provides everything you need for any job, big or little, but it isn’t always affordable.

The Krazy Koupon Lady has provided a tip to save 70 percent on everything you need.

Shoppers should look at the far back of the lumber aisle for some lumber with purple markings.

To promote the 70 percent off sale, Home Depot paints all of its leftover and warped wood purple.

Save by buying generic

Gina Zakaria’s TikTok account, SavingWhizGina, offers money-saving advice.

She started buying generic name things at the grocery store when she initially started attempting to save money.

She revealed in a video that most generic products are created in the same factory as name-brand products, with the same components but a different label.

You don’t have to convert to generic for everything, she says, but the more you purchase, the more money you save.

Although certain goods will always be costly, this is an excellent strategy to reduce total spending.

Sam’s Club v. Costco, continued

For shoppers that purchase the Sam’s Club Plus Membership, they can enjoy free curbside pickup, a service that Costco discontinued in 2021 as reported by Eat This Not That!

Additionally, Sam’s Club introduced a new shopping alternative customers could enjoy.

In 2016, the company debuted its scan and go program which allows customers to scan items in their cart, pay online, and show their digital receipts to employees as they leave the store.

Costco employees, on the other hand, still physically check receipts as customers leave.

Sam’s Club v. Costco

Sam’s Club, Costco’s long-term rival, has been outshining its competitor by offering more benefits for its shoppers.

The warehouse retailer offers more brand-name products at a cheaper price than Costco does, Eat This, Not That! reported.

Like Costco, Sam’s Club also has a food court but with a wider food and drink selection.

Shoppers can also purchase secret menu items like a pizza pretzel and ICEE floats, as reported by Taste of Home, while they shop.

Company savings: BJ’s Wholesale Club

Customers at BJ’s Wholesale Club can pay for their items with manufacturers’ coupons, something that can’t be done at Costco.

According to a 2017 earnings call, as reported by Eat This Not That!, this wholesale store also offers the biggest selection of items which is double that of what Costco and Sam’s Club offer.

The store sells 7,000 products in-store.

However, there are so drawbacks to these stores since they don’t have a large food court, like Costco does, and they have fewer locations.

Nutritionist reveals additional tips

In addition to her common-sense tips, Alissa also revealed two things you should always be looking for to maximize savings at the grocery store.

• Buy local and in season whenever possible
• Look at the label information to check the cost per unit of what you are buying.

Avoid last-minute counter purchases

Something we are all guilty of from time to time is making those last-minute purchases, like candy or chocolate, while waiting to pay at the counter.

However, nutrition expert Alissa Steinberg warned that those purchases will cost you in more ways than one, as they’re often more expensive, and less nutritious.

Seek out longer-lasting vegetables

Nutrition expert Alissa Steinberg said to look for veggies that will stay fresh on your countertop, or in your fridge, for longer periods.

That includes things like squash, cabbage, leeks, carrots and Brussel sprouts, which are generally cheaper than some other vegetables and fruits.

Bring a list when you shop

With a list, you are less likely to get derailed from what you need for the coming days.

You’ll also avoid buying things that you might already have in your pantry.

Never shop on an empty stomach

Alissa Steinberg, a registered dietitian based in Canada, who goes by the TikTok moniker Healthyu dietitian, advised filling up your stomach BEFORE you hit the store to fill up your cart.

That way you avoid a hunger binge run, where you end up spending more than you intended.

Habits to avoid: Buying name brands

Sticking to name brands is one of the biggest mistakes a person can make, according to savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

“Advertising sticks in our brain and we’re prone to buying name brands,” he said. “If your gut reaction is to go for a name brand, pause and give it a second thought.

There are multiple brands in stores that offer equal or better quality than name brands that can save you as much as 20 to 40 percent.

Also, several stores offer money-back guarantees, so you can try products out risk-free.

Habits to avoid: Too much meat and dairy

Items such as meat and dairy products have gone up in price, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index.

“I think there’s a problem with too much meat in our diets in general,” said savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

“Can we have one meatless meal a week? How about skipping the bacon?”

Also, animal food production emits greenhouse gases twice as much as plant-based foods, meaning that cutting back on meat isn’t just good for your health, it’s also good for the planet.

Habits to avoid: Eating too much

“As Americans, we’re prone to eating too much in general,” said savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

It’s better to be more mindful when it comes to portion sizes and only shop for the amount you will eat.

Anything extra that you do buy should go into the fridge or freezer right away.

With stores like Costco, it’s easy to buy items in large quantities for cheap, but that deal only works if the money isn’t being wasted.

Habits to avoid: In-store shopping

Curbside pickup is both convenient and it keeps your shopping focused so you aren’t buying unnecessary items, said savings expert Joel Larsgaard.

“When we go into the store, we’re more susceptible to the end cap displays or a sale on something, and we end up putting a bunch of other things in our cart that we didn’t necessarily go in there to purchase,” he said.

Doing your shopping online and picking it up curbside “is a time saver for one, and it’s going to ensure that you’re only going to get the stuff on your list.”

Some stores might have a fee for pickup, however, it’s usually minimal and would likely be offset by the money you’re saving.

Aimless shopping stats

Aimless shopping usually results in buying things you don’t need, meaning you’ll be wasting food and money.

According to the USDA, an estimated 30-40 percent of food produced in the US gets thrown out.

The average family of four will waste almost $1,500 worth of food each year.

Travel tips: Book rental cars in advance

If you need a car to get around, this is something you will want to do sooner rather than later.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi recommends doing it at least a few weeks before traveling.

He said: “With the current demand for travel in recent months, brokers are ramping up prices and leaving travelers paying a steep price for car hire once arriving in their destination.”

Travel tips: Consider the time of year when booking

Even if you are desperate to go to Paris or Venice, you may want to choose a different destination depending on the time of year.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi explained: “There are many variables that go into what city will be the cheapest place to fly into at any given time – from seasonality to flight time.

“When looking for tickets, you’ll want to keep these things in mind, and if you’re flexible, you can adjust your plans accordingly to make sure you find the cheapest flights anywhere.”

Travel tips: Consider the time of year when booking

Even if you are desperate to go to Paris or Venice, you may want to choose a different destination depending on the time of year.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi explained: “There are many variables that go into what city will be the cheapest place to fly into at any given time – from seasonality to flight time.

“When looking for tickets, you’ll want to keep these things in mind, and if you’re flexible, you can adjust your plans accordingly to make sure you find the cheapest flights anywhere.”

Travel tips: Book through the airline directly

While third-party websites can sometimes offer cheaper fares, they can make it much harder if you run into any problems such as delayed or canceled flights.

Next Vacay founder Naveen Dittakavi explained: “I’d recommend booking through the airline as there is a chance that the airline will go above and beyond for you if you book with them.

“An airline is more likely to have a team to quickly deal with the issue either in-person or via a call service.

“With a third party, it’s likely the best option they could give is to refund you, which isn’t helpful if you’re just looking to get to a destination.

“The airline, on the other hand, will do everything in its power to get you to your destination.”

Travel tips: Fly between Tuesday and Thursday

When you choose to fly could save you hundreds of dollars, even if you change the date by just a few days.

Founder of Next Vacay Naveen Dittakavi. said: “When looking for flights, you should avoid flying on weekends.

“Tuesday to Thursday are the better days to fly and you want to avoid flying during peak season, so summer is obviously going to be more expensive around the holidays when the flight prices get bumped up.”

How much it costs to run a washing machine, continued

The average cost per load at home due to water and energy costs is 97 cents, according to The Simple Dollar.

However, it can vary between states due to different costs of energy and ClearlyEnergy has put together a handy guide on how.

For example, New York works out as the most expensive at up to $1.13 per load, while it costs 66 cents in Albany, according to its research.

How much it costs to run a washing machine

How much it costs to run a machine depends on the price you pay for energy, and how much it uses per kWh.

Assuming you have a washing machine in your home, keep in mind that a majority of the energy used by washing clothes goes to heating the water.

In other words, you can save a load by changing the temperature settings.