If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, then you know I’m frugal! I like to save and rarely like to spend–especially since we’ve been working so hard on paying off our student loans!

But it’s not realistic to never buy anything. In fact, I would rather buy new than used–but with a deal of course! Here are some affordable items that I have bought that have actually saved me money!

1. Amazon Fire TV Stick – $39.99

Rather than spending over $100 a month on cable, we got an Apple TV. We’re able to stream Netflix, and use my family’s cable log in for our additional favorite shows. Getting an Apple TV or Amazon Fire is a great alternative to traditional cable.

We were gifted the Apple TV (which we love) but the Amazon Fire TV Stick is less than $40! Spend on it now to save in the long run.

2. LED Energy Efficient Light Bulbs – $14.49 for pack of 6

We’re coming up on fall and winter, which means that it’s colder, darker, and your electricity bill is sure to be higher.

When Jacob and I lived in our apartment, we replaced all our apartment bulbs with energy-efficient ones. Because of this, we were spending about $50 a month on electricity for the coldest winter months. Invest in some of these LED Energy Efficient Light Bulbs for less than $15 and you’ll be sure to save money this season!

3. Glass Phone Screen Protector – $6.95

Who plans to buy the iPhone 8 or X this fall??

Why would you ever want to drop $1,000 on a phone to have the screen shatter when it falls? Spending less than $7 on this Glass Screen Protector is cheap insurance when it comes to one of your most expensive items.

4. Crock-Pot Slow Cooker – $20.65

Getting ready for fall and making all kinds of hot dishes? A crock-pot is your best friend. Buying a slow cooker saves you in your food category and even your electric bill!

Making meals in a crock-pot is so easy. Just dump everything in, go to work, and come back to a hot meal ready to eat! This prevents you from eating out when you get home from a long day of work. You’ll save hundreds on your food budget by making easy crock-pot meals instead of visiting the local restaurant.

Cooking in a Crock-Pot Slow Cooker also saves money on electricity! By heating a smaller volume, you save in comparison to cooking in a whole oven.

5. Motor Oil – $22.88

If you have a car, it’s important to keep up on routine car maintenance. I’m lucky to have a husband who’s into cars and takes care of this for me. 🙂

Changing your oil in your car when it’s ready will help keep your engine happy and healthy. If you end up with engine issues, your wallet will not be happy… Invest in routine oil changes with Mobil 1 Motor Oil (Jacob’s recommendation :)) to save your car in the long run!

What are items that you have bought before that help save you money??

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