These “Weird” Money-Saving Habits Helped Me Quit My Job at 24

People have called me weird for years because of the extremes I go to save money. But those so-called weird habits gave me the freedom to leave my job at 24 and they might just help you do the same.

1. Look poor (even if you’re not)

One of the most effective hacks I’ve found is looking poor. Most people base their choices, such as cars, clothes, homes, on what others think. I flipped that mindset. 

I wear plain black clothes without logos, drink from a worn-out mug, and make decisions based on function, not fashion.  The less you care about appearances, the more you save. Most people trying to look rich are actually broke.

2. Negotiate everything — always

Instead of waiting for bills to balloon, I make it a habit to constantly review and renegotiate. Don’t wait until your phone bill hits $120 a line to start questioning it. 

I look for better deals before it becomes urgent. It’s not a once-a-year thing, it’s a lifestyle. This keeps expenses in check before they spiral out of control.

3. Chickenomics: chickens as investments

Yes, chickens. We ran the math, and after the initial coop cost, which I built with my dad, we’re looking at $100/month profit once everything’s running. That’s a 70% ROI over two years. 

Compare that to the stock market’s 11% average, and suddenly chickens sound like a smart investment. Plus, they give us fresh eggs, food security, and income if we decide to sell.

4. Berry smart with fruit

We eat a lot of berries, and they aren’t cheap. So we planted blueberry and blackberry bushes, apple trees, and strawberry beds. 

It's a one-time investment that pays off every season providing us with higher quality, better tasting, and cheaper fruit than from the store. Especially with kids who inhale berries like air.

5. Back up your home (and wallet)

I used to think solar was for doomsday preppers. Now, I’m all in. I use EcoFlow’s Ocean Pro system. It predicts weather trends, stores power, automates usage, and saves me hundreds during hot summers. 

It syncs with smart devices, handles full-house loads, and even beats Tesla’s Powerwall in almost every category. It’s saved us money and kept the lights on more than once.

6. The free stuff hack

When I wanted a sauna and cold plunge but couldn’t justify the cost, I asked: How could I get it for free or even get paid? I started a YouTube channel, reached out to 40 brands, and eventually got one sent to me. 

That single freebie turned into a dozen more, plus tens of thousands in income. It started as a hustle for free stuff and turned into a legit business.

7. Everything is a business expense

If I’m buying something, I find a way to make it a business expense. The Tesla? Used for content creation, so it was a tax write-off. Health products? Bought and reviewed.

Even my house functions as a studio. I run multiple YouTube channels and businesses not just to make money, but to save it. Even if a side hustle doesn’t earn at first, the tax advantages alone make it worth it.