Sooner or later, we all learn that money doesn’t grow on trees. More times than not, it happens when we’re left to our own devices to care for—as well as pay for—ourselves and/or others. That’s when we also learn just how expensive some things can get, and just how important saving money is. (A penny saved is a penny earned, after all!)

One woman, a TikToker going by the name of ‘juliaa120230’, has recently gone viral for her tips and tricks regarding money saving, some of which might be considered rather…unconventional. Or even unethical or unhinged.

But if you want to learn more about Julia’s—as well as other netizens’—money-saving hacks, scroll down to find them on the list below. And if you feel like sharing the best tricks up your own sleeve, feel free to do that in the comment section.

#1

Goodwill and thrift in the rich areas. They say it gets distributed but it does not.

Image credits: Ponies and Rocketships

#2

Create an email address specifically to share with family members for sharing streaming services memberships like to Sam's Club, anything like that that cost money on a monthly basis that you can share with your family. That way there's never any back and forth about can you check your email for the code? I just had it sent to your email. Blah blah blah. You don't have to worry about waiting on other people. It's just always gonna be there.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#3

Anytime you're out to eat somewhere, grab extra condiments, bring them home, put them in your fridge. Forget they're there until you need them later.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#4

Find out when the rich neighborhoods have their trash day and then drive through the night before to pick up everything that the rich people have decided is junk but can actually be resold for a lot of money. Or just keep it for yourself. Of course that was the mid 2000, so adjusting for today's standards. Infiltrate their Facebook groups, find the neighborhood Facebook groups, and keep alerts on for when somebody posts curb alert. Because usually it's gonna be something nice.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#5

College move out days have the best free dumpster stuff.

Image credits: Kristin Williams

#6

I took all the textbooks out of donation bins at move out and sold them. The signs said they wouldn’t accept the books so I figured better in my pocket than the trash. Also dumpster diving veteran

Image credits: hiitsalexis13

#7

I know a lot of people who turn off their HVAC system when they leave to go to work for the day because they don't wanna heat their house or cool their house when it's empty. Your HVAC system is going to have to work so hard to come back up or down to temp when you get home. Doing that is going to cost you way more money long term. Same exact thing goes for the water heater. Do not turn it off just because you don't need it.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#8

Cut your sponges in half.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#9

Lots of tools have lifetime warranties like Craftsman, Dewalt, um, and I think rigid is another good one. But they have lifetime warranties so you can just take them right back to Home Depot and exchange them right then in there.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#10

Sometimes when I email compliments to companies they send coupons for freebies or discounts.

Image credits: AnnaDreamsArt ????️ us.

#11

ALSO call your phone company or internet and say you want to cancel, if they try to get you to stay, say ok if you lower it to $x a month, be strict though!!

Image credits: gluuumiii

#12

switch car insurances every 6 months (actually call an agent though) because they have “competition” price deals and you could keep getting cheaper and cheaper car ins everytime

Image credits: gluuumiii

#13

when you are bored make sure the offers on the app for fast food/ restaurants are a better deal than coupons you get in the mail or a promotion they are running.

Image credits: ABCiDiVlogs

#14

In the winter, after you cook something in the oven, leave the oven door wide open and it's like Free heat

Image credits: juliaa120230

#15

Measure liquid laundry detergent with measuring cups. Don’t just pour

Image credits: Kimmee314

#16

Thrifting during Feb-March, when the most elderly people pass away. ????????

Image credits: HeyHiHello

#17

If you get an email about buy three bathing suits, get one free but you've already got 10 bathing suits, you aren't saving money by getting a free bathing suit. You are spending money on 3 4 bathing suits that you didn't need in the first place. It's a waste of money.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#18

Hand washing your dishes instead of using the dishwasher. The dishwasher is going to save you more money long term because it's going to take far less water and it's going to take far less energy to heat up the water.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#19

Get a folder to save all your receipts in, especially ones for bigger purchases. And then if that big purchase goes on clearance at a later date, buy it and then return it with the old receipt and then you'll be able to pocket the difference.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#20

get a part time job at a fast place. when they toss food, workers can get it. i worked at panera and quiznos and when food exspired, employees slpit the left overs.

Image credits: ☁Druid of Dastardly Deeds☁

#21

1) dumpster diving furniture 2) get a serving job and eat leftover food 3) get a library card

Image credits: bethijay????????

#22

Getting chickens to save money on eggs. I cannot emphasize this enough. Chickens are expensive. Their feed is expensive. If you don't have a big yard where they can forage and Take care of themselves. Chickens are going to cost you so much more money long term than paying for eggs at their inflated price.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#23

Go to the brand websites for all the products you consume (Cheez It, Windex, etc). Find the Contact Us page & fill out the form w/ a complaint about the product…they send u coupons for free products.

Image credits: ShopGothique

#24

When you go to the multi billion dollar fast food companies, definitely do not go into the bathroom and grab the brand new toilet paper and paper towels that will be under the sinks. If that's too much for you, you can save money on paper towels by just getting an 18 pack of face cloths from Walmart and using those as paper towels instead. I like to buy the white ones and then I can just bleach them all at once.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#25

If you have to park at the airport or any parking place for multiple days in a row when you're leaving, hit the lost ticket button instead of paying for multiple days. Because usually the cost for a lost ticket is the cost of one full day.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#26

Instead of paying to go out, go to art gallery shows and drink free wine and eat free snacks

Image credits: rhymeswithbowie

#27

Here’s one: tour several apartment complexes and go for a tour. Oftentimes there will be snacks, beverages, accessories that you can take. Also check the bathrooms for toilet paper etc

Image credits: Dawn Allen

#28

If one of your household products breaks and it's outside of the warranty time and you can't return it to the box store you got it from, email the company and it's almost guaranteed that they will send you a replacement, especially if it's been within the year.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#29

If ur a college student join a club, or start a club and ask for funding. we’ve been buying dinners for all our friends for weeks and writing them off as “marketing meetings”

Image credits: alexivory.02

#30

If the store dosent want to do the return rebuy the item in CASH. out the broken item in the box and return it. Only at big chains tho

Image credits: Certified girlie

#31

If your eyesight isn't truly terrible, only wear one contact lens at a time.

Image credits: juliaa120230

#32

IKEA has a 365 day returns process. If you are going to need something for a short time you can return it within that year for your money back even if it’s been opened and used.

Image credits: katie Salmon

#33

You can buy the little plastic "keys" for most toilet paper/paper towels dispensers for a couple bucks. Partially used rolls will be smaller and less obvious. Just don't leave a stall with nothing, that's rude and can draw attention when someone goes in and complains that it was empty.

Image credits: singular.jame

#34

Find a nearby hotel that offers free breakfast. Walk in, go up the elevator to the fifth floor, go back down to the first floor and go get your breakfast. Nobody's paying that close of attention to who's actually a guest and who's not.