12 True Money-Saving Stories That’ll Make You Go “Huh,” Then “Sure!”

Save with Cricket Wireless, and you'll be able to call, text, message, and email everyone about it.

1. Youngster-Size Me

Famveld / Getty Images

"I buy kids meals almost everywhere I go. They're usually under $5 and include a drink, sides, and some kind of healthy snack. Annnnnnnd most importantly, it's usually the correct proportions for an adult. Win-win."

—Ashly P.

2. Next-Level Recycling

Lengar79 / Getty Images

"I don't buy garbage bags. I use plastic or paper bags from the grocery store as garbage bags."

—Victoria

3. Double the Cleaning, Double the Fun

Sasiistock / Getty Images

"My mom cuts dish sponges in half."

—Emily C.

4. Talk to the Secondhand

Viewapart / Getty Images

"I also go to vintage stores in rich neighborhoods. In Los Angeles, you can get crazy nice, barely worn items for like nothing. "

—Eileen

5. Grounding Your Credit Card

Nicoletaionescu / Getty Images

"Sometimes, if I'm going out or shopping or whatever, I'll get cash out and the leave my cards at home so I can only spend a certain amount."

—Kemi

6. Brushing Up on How to Save

Yamtono_sardi / Getty Images

"I use ALL of my toothpaste. ALL of it. I squeeze the heck out of it. I might also use old toothbrush heads to clean things."

—Emily O.

7. Saved by the Site

Pinkypills / Getty Images

"Ordering clothes online probably saves me money in the long run as it's more impulsive buys which means I'm less committed/much more likely to return it.

"Gives you the thrill of new clothes without the tedium of being in a shop/actually buying them/having to make small talk with overenthusiastic sales reps."

—Dan

8. But First: Savings

Webking / Getty Images

"While I was saving up to move overseas, I took every small bill I got and put it in a money tin. Made me think twice about using them for a coffee or something small, because I knew it would mean I'd have to put the change away.

"After a year, I had about $500!"

—Liz

9. Auto-Pay Is the Way

Poike / Getty Images

"I set my credit card auto-payment to a super-high amount so I literally have no extra money to buy anything, and it helps pay off my balance faster."

—Eileen D.

10. Keep Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Leezsnow / Getty Images

"Hi! I say this many times, ROLL YA CHANGE.

"Keep your change in cups, jars, anywhere around the house that you could deposit it, fill them all up, and roll it baby!"

—Emily B.

11. Good, Clean Savings

Choness / Getty Images

"When my soap dispenser gets really low, I add a bit of water and shake it up. That way, I use every last bit of the soap."

—Kirby

12. The Trial Guy

Bee32 / Getty Images

"I'm all about 'free trials' for, like, everything. Fancy toothbrushes, newspapers, streaming services — anything, really. As long as you put a notification in your calendar to cancel your subscription when the trial is up, baby, you just got some free stuff!"

—Tim

If you're looking for less strange ways to save (or simply another way to save more), use Cricket Wireless.