Some people assume that military wives are just rolling in the money, but that is far from the case. They have to live on a budget just like everyone else does, and some of them struggle with that more than others. If you’re a military wife in need of a way to cut back on your expenses, the tips below should help you out. Here are five simple solutions every woman should try.
Make Use of Fast Food Freebies
The next time you go to McDonald’s, don’t just get a burger and run. Try to take as much from the restaurant as you can, within reason. For instance, you could bring home a whole stack of napkins to reuse throughout the week, and then you wouldn’t have to worry about buying paper products at the store. You may look a little strange trying to take 50 packets of ketchup with you, but a handful should be fairly inconspicuous. You’d be amazed by how much you can save just by using the resources available to you.
Ask about Store Inventory Changes
If you need to buy new clothes or furniture for your home, try to find out when the store is supposed to get new inventory in. This will be the time that the store starts marking everything down in price because it needs to make room for the new merchandise. Items like this aren’t necessarily undesirable. They’re just “in the way.” You can always find good deals if you learn to look at the right time.
Practice the Art of Coupon Stacking
You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to be a coupon stacker. In this case, you simply watch out for sales in stores and try to find coupons that relate to them. If you can manage to use a coupon on an already discounted item, you will save a ton of money in the long run. Some stores will not allow you to do this, so you have to be careful where you go. Research the couponing policies in your area, and then you can determine if stacking is even an option.
Carpool with Other Army Wives
Carpooling is certainly not a new idea, but it is one that is rarely explored outside of major cities. If you live in a military community, chances are there are other wives like you who have to get to the same places you do. Make some friends and then plan trips with them. You could go to the grocery store, beauty salon, clothing store, or anywhere else with these people, and then you’ll only have to pay for half the gas. The savings are bound to add up over time.
Trade When You Can
Rather than buying everything you need, you might want to try trading with other people. For instance, if you need a new TV, you may trade an old computer you have that you no longer use. The other person gets the benefit of a new-to-her computer, and you get the TV you needed. Everyone wins.
As long as you think creatively about your day to day life, you should be able to come up with ways to save money. Then you can get back to taking care of your soldier in the way he deserves.