Coupons have been around for a long time, and for good reason, they save you money, and they get you to choose one company brand over another based on savings. It’s important to note that couponing has come a long way in the last while. While you can still find traditional coupons in the grocery store or printable online, there are also apps such as Checkout 51 that are a collection of coupons you can only find in their app. The best part about couponing apps is that you can often stack deals. You can find a $5 item that is on sale for $4 in your local grocery store, and then you find a coupon in-store that gives you $1 off, on top of that, you can find a coupon in the Checkout 51 app that is buy 2, save $4. Now you’ve just got 2 items for the sale price of 1. Coupons are a staple for people who are looking for ways to stretch their budget because they’re easy. I chose this specific article because another great resource on savings is influencers. Coupon Cutie who is featured in this article goes into stores from Costco to Dollarama to show you great ways to save money. When you follow other people on social media who are looking for deals, you’re going to find out about deals you may not have otherwise found on your own.

We’re in a digital age and have been for a long time. There are subscriptions for so many different things these days, TV, newspapers, music, gaming, cloud storage, fitness apps, the list goes on and will continue to grow as more and more of the world becomes digital. Subscriptions can seem insignificant from the surface, $7.99/month here, and $2.99/month there. Now look at everything that you’re subscribed to add it up for the whole year, including taxes, and you’re well into a few hundred dollars, if not over $1000 a year, just in subscriptions. This is why looking at what you’re subscribed to and deciding if it’s something you truly need is so important. Using these tips and applying them to all your subscriptions is a great way to stretch your budget and cut out things you don’t need. Phone and internet companies will sometimes offer free subscriptions to customers, so the next time you’re renegotiating your cell phone contract, you might just be able to get Crave or Disney+ for free.

I selected this website because thrifting is a staple for a lot of people who are shopping on a budget. Not only are you saving money, but you’re helping save the planet by giving new life to old items. People who are new to thrifting might think that you’re just going to find old sweaters from the 80’s with shoulder pads and beer logo t-shirts with unexplained stains on them. The reality is that items that end up at thrift stores can be anything from vintage Gucci loafers to brand-new 3-ring binders. You spend more time shopping when at a thrift store, but the savings are undeniable.  It doesn’t matter if you have experience or are new to thrifting, these tips will help anyone find what they’re searching for.

I wanted to highlight how we can be tricked into buying items we don’t necessarily need, just because it’s on sale. Just because there’s a sale, it doesn’t mean you're saving money. You’re really only saving if you truly need an item. You might see a plain black t-shirt on sale for $5 and it just so happens plain black t-shirts are something you wear often, so you buy 2. Do you need those T-shirts now, or will you need them in the future? You could have spent your money wisely and invested that $10 instead because those black T-shirts will likely be on sale again in the future.

I chose this video for 2 reasons, one is because it demonstrates how easy it is, and how you can make your birthday feel extra special while still being affordable. This just scratches the surface of items that are available to you for free on your birthday. The second reason is that when you are trying to save your money and stretch your budget, this is a great way to treat yourself to things you have avoided like specialty coffee or going out for ice cream.

I chose this website because it’s important to remember that not all entertainment is expensive. When we think about budgeting, the main category that takes a hit is usually entertainment. The logical decision is to pay for the important things first, and entertainment is usually last to add to the budget, which means this category can sometimes be limited in options. When you start to look at all the free activities in your region, you start to realize that you can still have lots of fun while being conscious of your budget. The library is another great resource to find free entertainment, besides borrowing books, movies, and music, some libraries rent passes to places like museums or art galleries. Keeping an eye on your community pages on social media is also a great way to find out about free events in your area.

By featuring this video, I wanted to show people that when it comes to stretching your grocery budget, there are more ways than just using coupons. While coupons are great, they often don’t apply to fresh fruits and vegetables or meats. With apps like this one or TooGoodToGo, you can stretch your budget and get something that you might not be able to afford. A steak is much more affordable when it’s 50% off. Food bank use is on the rise, so for some people, this might be an option that keeps them from lining up at a food bank. Not only are you saving money, but you’re also helping save the environment it’s a choice you can really feel good about.

The following video shows people that they have options when it comes to earning a little extra cash. Maybe you really like your job, but it’s not the most well-paid. Maybe you want to make a large purchase and just need something temporary to help with that additional cost. The examples listed here range from common skills to specialty skills. The great thing about a side hustle is that you get to choose when you work and can fit it around your schedule. Keep in mind these types of jobs are typically harder to do full-time but are a great way to add a little extra income.