It pays to have certain skills. Many of us spend money paying others to do things we could do ourselves. Even if you don’t possess some of these skills right now, you can learn them. Here are 10 skills that will save you money.
10. Cooking
Cooking may be the greatest lost art of all. It’s convenient to buy prepared or fast food. However, inflation is making that harder to afford. By cooking at home, you can save 50% of the cost of takeout and around 75% compared to food delivery, according to CNET. You can learn to cook by watching YouTube videos or televised cooking shows.
9. Sewing
It’s shocking how many people throw away clothing because of a tear. With expensive clothing, they’ll usually pay for a repair. However, sewing is a simple skill to learn. You can save money by buying clothing at thrift stores and altering it to fit. And if you have children, learning to alter clothing can help it last longer.
8. Cutting Hair at Home
You don’t have to be a trained hairstylist. Once you have a certain cut done, you only need to maintain it from there. Trim off the split ends and maintain the length. Train others to help you and you can save a lot of money. Women spend an average of $228 annually on haircuts, while men spend $168.
7. Changing Your Vehicle’s Oil
This is a lost skill. On average, people spend between $35-$75 for an oil change. All you do is place a large container (oil pan) capable of holding about five quarts of liquid under your vehicle and remove the plug. Some vehicles might need a specialized wrench. You’ll need to find out where to safely dispose of oil in your community.
6. Baking
People spend a lot of money on bread, pastries, and desserts. These items are way cheaper to bake yourself. Baking is easy to learn and nothing tastes better than bread and treats fresh out of the oven. Plus, many baking ingredients are shelf-stable and will last a long time. Learn to bake by watching YouTube videos and televised cooking shows.
5. Gardening
The cost of fresh vegetables rose 7% in 2022. Food prices shot up another 2.5% in 2024 compared with 2023, according to the USDA. If you have an area on your property that has well-draining soil and receives full sun, and you can water or get plenty of rain, you could save a lot of money by growing vegetables.
4. Home Canning
To make the most of the food from your garden, it helps to learn home canning. Most home gardens grow more food than can be eaten before the vegetables spoil. The solution is to can the extra vegetables. Make sure to learn the tried-and-true canning methods and take the proper safety precautions to avoid botulism, which can be deadly.
3. Basic Plumbing
The average cost of a plumber in 2024 was $45-$200 per hour. However, the average person spends around $335 when calling a plumber. Some plumbers may charge higher amounts for rush jobs or after-hours work. Minor plumbing jobs are something the average person can do, such as unclogging a drain, repairing a faucet, or fixing a running toilet.
Read More: 15 Ways to Reduce Expenses
2. Shopping Wisely
Shopping wisely is a learned skill. The first discipline is avoiding impulse purchases. From there, a wise shopper discovers and uses every strategy available. Use coupons and discount apps, cash-back credit cards, grocery price-comparison apps, and subscribe and save for frequent purchases. Buy in bulk and split the cost with another person. Plan meals around grocery store sales.
Read More: 10 Money Myths Most Likely to Sabotage Your Finances
1. Bartering
Bartering is trading goods or services with someone else without money involved. For example, you might cut someone’s hair and they might repair your faucet. You might trade eggs from your chickens for someone’s garden vegetables. You might trade carpentry skills for a vehicle repair. It’s always wise to write a contract when making deals and each sign a copy.
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