Ever sit back and wonder where you money goes? Or maybe perhaps you know where your money goes but you feel trapped because there are just so many bills to pay. Money comes in and money goes out. The only two ways to improve your financial situation are to either increase your income or decrease your expenses. In this post, I’d like to discuss a couple of DIY financial hacks that can help you decrease your expenses. These are a couple of areas that I find helpful in my own life, and you may or may not also find them helpful. I’d love to hear any other ideas you may have!

1. Forgo dry cleaning ($2-$5 per shirt, more for other articles of clothing): Sure we all like our outfits looking fresh, and for some of us, that means weekly trips to the dry cleaners. I know it’s easy; just drop them off then pick them up a few days later. At a couple bucks a shirt doesn’t seem like much but it can really add up! Learn how to iron and properly wash your clothes and save yourself some money!
2. Change your vehicle’s oil. Going to the quick lube shop always involves spending more money than I plan. They draw you in with $19.99 oil change specials, only to realize your car takes a different type of oil and that your car requires more than the 4 quarts allowed by the $19.99 special. Oh and there’s always a wiper blade or air filter that needs changing, and our uneducated minds can’t say no every time! Don’t judge but I think I spent like $130 last time I got my oil changed. Changing your own oil is relatively easy; you drain the old oil out, put new oil in and change the filter. It takes maybe 30 minutes to accomplish. There will be an upfront investment involving perhaps a small ramp and some tools, and the oil/filter itself isn’t free, but in the long run it could really save you some money! Also – check out my article on car secrets from a mechanic! 
3. Cut your own grass. I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of cutting my yard. It’s always hot, seems to take too long and certainly isn’t easy. I don’t have the size yard (or money) to buy a sweet riding mower and therefore am stuck pushing around my lawn mower. If you own a house, you probably share some of my pain. As tempting as it is to pay someone, I just can’t bring myself to do so. The yard truthfully needs mowing about once a week and even the cheapest option for hired labor would charge about $20, and that’s a good deal. $20 even twice a month is more than I can stomach paying out, and therefore most weekends in the summer I’m out there sweating and cutting my yard – but hey, money saved is money saved!
4. Stop eating out. I’m probably beating a dead horse here, but am just as guilty as anybody. Sometimes you just don’t feel like staying in and it’s so easy to go out to eat. But hey, $10 here, $20 there can really add up. I’ve found that with a little planning and research, it’s not that difficult to make gourmet meals at home! Start the week by planning your meals (i.e. pasta on Monday, salad on Tuesday…) and then you’ll know if there’s anything to prepare the night before. You’ll also be less tempted to deviate from the plan and stop at Chick-fil-a on the way home. As with most things that you want to learn, the internet is a powerful tool. Often just googling the ingredients you have can yield a tasty recipe. There are tons of online resources out there – just start looking!
5. Grow your own food/herbs. Sure this isn’t all that feasible for people without much green space (although you can make it happen with a porch/balcony or even window sill. Growing some of your own vegetables/fruit/herbs can save money in the long run – as well as giving you the peace of mind of knowing your food is free of who knows what the grocery store or food processors put on it.

These are just a couple of ideas that can help save you some money. Take inventory of your daily routines and look for ways to cut costs; sometimes by learning how to do new things!