Kiwis share how they are saving money this year

Saving money might feel like something some people already on extra tight budgets can't do but, if you look closely, there's always a dollar or two that can be taken out of the weekly expenses - and those savings multiply quickly.

In the spirit of making small lifestyle changes that'll bring in big savings in the long term, Kiwis are sharing the small ways they're trying to keep some more money in their accounts this year.

A thread on the Cheaper Living (NZ only!) Facebook group asks people what one thing they are doing to live cheaper at the moment.

Some of the responses are pretty specific and some take frugality to a whole new level but there are tips to suit all incomes.

Even if you already do some (or most) of these things, you might find yet another way you can save yourself a dollar or two every day.

1. Drink tap water
2. Drink instant coffee over "real" coffee
3. Grow your own vegetables
4. Go to the dairy if you only need a thing or two. Those two things might cost slightly more than in the supermarket but you might come home with fewer articles as there'll be less temptation
5. Driving halfway to work, parking the car and walking the rest of the way (this one has the added bonus of being good for your health as well)
6. Look into cheaper phone/internet plans
7. Make gifts for people instead of buying them
8. Make the most out of your leftovers ("it's amazing how much you have [in the fridge] when you start looking," one user comments)
Do not buy a new mobile phone (no matter how attractive the shiny new model is)
9. Have "no spend days" (days when you purposefully spend no money) to avoid buying things you don't need
10. Buy fruit and veg every few days. ("I buy less at a time more often, so that it doesn't go off before we eat it all," a group member said.)
11. Resist buying things just because they're on special. "Save 100% instead of 50%" as a savvy shopper pointed out.
12. Buy 1kg of yoghurt and put them in individual containers rather than buying smaller ones for school lunchboxes and snacks
13. Make preserves out of excess vegetables
14. Make your own butter
15. Make a meal planner for the week
16. Take up running instead of paying a gym membership
17. If you drink alcohol and don't want to give it up completely, consider having alcohol-free weeks (or months, if you're strong enough)
18. Look into whether shifting power companies can help you save
19. Make bulk meals and freezing them
20. Only buy things you can't make yourself
21. Look into whether changing insurance providers can save you money
22. Stop keeping up with fashion trends
23. Turn leftovers into small savoury pies
24. Swap the comfort of your car for public transport whenever possible
25. Buy budget brand cleaning products for your home

via GIPHY