Your money-saving hacks and tips
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
We recently asked our San Diego readers for their money-saving hacks and tips, and they delivered.
The big picture: With costs of everything from housing to burritos on the rise, locals sometimes need some creativity to make ends meet.
Zoom in: Readers had a range of suggestions, including:
🧵 Switch to AT&T fiber – Reader Richard says he will save 30% monthly and get faster Internet and TV.
💅 DIY your nails – Skip the $65 salon manicures for $10 press-ons that last two weeks, according to Janet.
🥕 Order a local farm box – Katy suggests farm boxes' fresh produce, surprise ingredients and lower grocery costs.
🤝 Join a Buy Nothing group – Trade clothes, food, pet supplies and more with neighbors.
🍽️ Eat out rarely – When you do, stick to places that offer good value (think $15 meals), reader Dianne said.
🛍️ Donate & shop smart – Give to Goodwill, shop at discount or dollar stores, and skip trendy fast fashion.
☕ Ditch fancy coffee – Brew at home and watch the savings stack up.
📺 Cut subscriptions – Trim streaming, apps and magazines to lower monthly bills.
🧼 Find a cheaper dry cleaner – Shop around when rates rise.
🚗 Drive your car longer – Maintain an older vehicle instead of upgrading — reader Dianne said her neighbor's is 17 years strong!
🛒 Grocery hack – Shop discount stores. Even HomeGoods has non-perishables sometimes.
✂️ Stretch salon visits – Space out haircuts and cut back on personal care expenses.
📚 Use your local library – Free kids' reading programs and book rentals save money.
🍋 Neighbor swap – Share fruit, extras, or essentials with nearby friends and return the favor.
Tell us, what San Diego items have gotten the most expensive? Email us at [email protected].