Hey, it’s James from SurvivalPunk.com, and it’s a chilly 45-degree morning out here — perfect weather to talk about one of my favorite survival topics that applies to everyone, every day: saving money like a prepper.

Because the cold truth is this: everything costs more, wages haven’t kept up, and if you aren’t intentional, your money will evaporate faster than a Taco Bell taco in the hands of a 90s kid.

Today we’re hitting three big money-saving pillars straight from my own life:
cutting your own hair, eating at home, and never paying retail.
These simple habits save me thousands every year — and they’ll do the same for you.

This whole episode started because I needed a haircut. I got a coupon in the mail — $12. And you know what? That used to be normal. Now haircuts are routinely 20 bucks, 30 bucks, and sports-themed haircut chains are selling $50 “premium” haircuts like they’re spa days.

Here’s the reality:
Haircuts are becoming outrageous.
But you don’t have to play that game.

During COVID, when barber shops closed, I bought a pair of clippers and started cutting my own hair again. And guess what? It works. It’s not a complicated haircut — just short, clean, and functional.

If you’re a guy, you can absolutely learn to do it yourself. Even George Clooney cuts his own damn hair with a Flowbee. If it’s good enough for Batman’s older cousin, it’s good enough for us.

Saving breakdown:

$25 every two weeks = $50/month = $600/year
Do that for 10 years? $6,000 saved.

That’s not tiny money. That’s debt freedom money.

I’m not anti–fast food. I grew up in the 90s. Taco Bell was the promised land.

But the price today?
Holy shit.

My wife, daughter, and I stopped for a tiny snack at Taco Bell — we’re talking a quesadilla, two crunchy tacos, some chicken strips, and chips and cheese.

The total? $25.
For basically nothing.

McDonald’s?
Restaurants?
Take your family and you’re dropping a hundred bucks without blinking.

And the food quality? Worse. The oil? Sunflower oil — and the taste hits like a slap from a vegan with an essential-oil diffuser.

Eating out simply isn’t worth it anymore.

When you cook at home:

Ingredients are cheaper

You control the quality

You can cook better than most restaurants with a little YouTube learning

YouTube chefs (especially the UK Michelin-star guys) will show you tricks that instantly level up your home cooking — for free.

You get better food for a fraction of the price.

This one’s simple:
Retail is a scam.

My daughter’s Christmas present this year is a Nintendo Switch — but we bought it refurbished from Walmart.com. It works perfectly, cost way less, and she’s 6. She won’t notice the difference, and even if she did… who cares? It’s smart.

Same with her iPad. Refurbished. Perfect.

Same with tools, gear, clothing, electronics — if you can get it second-hand, refurbished, or marketplace-sourced, do it.

Ways to avoid retail (and taxes):

Facebook Marketplace

Craigslist (if it still exists…)

eBay

Yard sales

Classifieds

WhatNot (if you avoid the gambling-style scams)

Paying retail + paying taxes = financial suicide.

When you can get something used AND avoid taxes?
Double win.

And yes, bartering counts too. If money doesn’t change hands, neither do taxes.

Saving money isn’t a sacrifice — it’s a survival skill.

Cut your own hair.
Eat at home.
Never pay retail.

These aren’t just frugal hacks — they’re prepper habits that give you financial breathing room, reduce stress, and help you survive everything from inflation to job loss to surprise expenses.

This has been James from SurvivalPunk.com — DIY to survive, and keep your money where it belongs: with YOU.

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