I've eaten on $2 a day and tried living on an $8.15-an-hour salary in New York City — here are my 10 best tips to save money

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In January, I completed the Elon Musk Challenge, spending just $60 on food for the month.

More recently, I simulated the lives of millions of Americans who earn minimum or nearly minimum wage and lived on an $8.15-an-hour salary for 30 days.

After completing these challenges in one of the most expensive US cities — New York — I've learned a thing or two about how to effectively stretch a limited amount of money. While both of these scenarios were extreme, many of the strategies I used can be applied to my everyday life — and perhaps yours.

If you're looking to save more and spend less, here are my 10 best tips.

Use cash

When you have to stick to a tight budget, ditching your plastic cards for cash can make a world of difference. Simply withdraw a predetermined amount of money for the week and commit to spending just that amount. (Leave your credit cards at home if you'll be tempted to swipe them.)

The cash-only diet forces you to stay at or below budget — once your wallet is empty, you're done spending for the week (or however long you planned your cash to last). It also gives you a better idea of exactly how much money you're spending and how much you have remaining in your budget. Plus, there's something about physically handing over bills — watching your money disappear right before your eyes — that causes you to value it more.

Track your expenses every day

I take five minutes at the end of each day to record everything I bought in an Excel spreadsheet. I've found that this habit is just as effective as it is effortless, for a few reasons:

1. It allows me to notice how easily expenses can add up. You don't quite realize how quickly you can blow through cash until you start writing down each purchase. The action of recording everything provides a new awareness that keeps me in check when shopping and has helped me become more deliberate with every purchase.

2. It holds me accountable. The last thing I want to do at the end of each day is have to record unnecessary or silly expenditures.

3. It challenges me to lower my costs each day, week, and month. Recording expenses becomes a game, and you start to see how many days in a row you can spend $0, or under $5.

Where you grocery shop (and what you buy) matters

Your grocery bill is entirely under your control — you're not locked into a contract like you are with your cellphone or internet — and chances are, you can find ways to cut back.

I stayed away from luxury or organic grocery stores and did all of my shopping at the famously affordable Trader Joe's. I also stuck with the basics, quite literally: During the Elon Musk Challenge, I purchased nine items, such as peanut butter, pasta, and oats.

The Elon Musk Challenge was extreme (and not entirely healthy), but it is possible to eat healthy on the cheap. You just have to know what to look for. Check out the healthiest foods at the grocery store for the least amount of money and 19 ways to eat healthy on a budget.