9 Skills That Can Save You Money
With soaring inflation and a recession still looming, it's a smart move to save money however you can. After all, who knows what tomorrow will bring on the financial front? While you can do things such as automate your savings and cut back on unnecessary purchases, you can also learn some new skills that can save you money.
If you're not a trained hairstylist, home haircuts are best restricted to trimming off split ends or maintaining a certain length -- not trying to cut layers or changing the shape of your hair. However, if you can hone this skill, it can help you save hundreds of dollars each year. On average, women spend $228 per year on haircuts and coloring, while men spend $168.
On average, a conventional oil change and filter will cost $35-$75. If you use synthetic oil, the cost will be between $65-$125. If you choose to DIY your oil change, you can expect to pay around $30 for five quarts of conventional oil and a filter. Synthetic oil will increase the cost to around $45.
Bartering is exchanging goods or services with someone else -- no money involved. It's a skill that's become more popular since the pandemic and can help you gain access to goods or services without taking a bite out of your budget. For example, you might be able to barter your carpentry skills for a discount on your rent if the property is in need of some repairs or improvements.
The index for fresh vegetables rose 7% in 2022, according to the Consumer Price Index. If you have an area of your yard or property with full sun and well-draining soil that's close to water, planting a vegetable garden could help you save. Visit your local county extension office for information about gardening in your area, including what seeds to plant and when.
Gardening and canning skills work well together because if you plant a big garden, you might have a ton of produce that will go bad before you can eat it all. The solution is to can the extra vegetables so that you can enjoy them throughout the year. You can also make pickles, relishes, jams and jellies.
It is possible to save money sewing your own clothes. You can save the most by using discount fabrics and simple patterns without zippers or buttons. Depending on your skill level, it might be cheaper to buy ready-made clothing. A better way to save money using sewing skills is to repair or alter your clothing, so you don't have to buy new items as frequently.
If your meals consist of takeout or eating premade meals at the grocery store, gaining some cooking skills can help you save. According to CNET, by cooking at home, you can save 50% off the price of carryout and 75% if you have food delivered. Your local community center might offer cooking classes or you can find all kinds of videos on YouTube.
If you tend to buy a lot of baked goods every week, such as bread and pastries, learning how to bake could save you some serious dough. The same holds true if you often purchase baked goods to take to work or donate to your child's school.
While major plumbing issues are best left to the professionals, there are several DIY plumbing jobs that you can accomplish with just a little know-how. You can easily learn to stop a running toilet, unclog a drain or repair a kitchen faucet. These are skills well-worth knowing considering that plumbers charge an average of $45-$200 per hour.