In an age where venture capital funding is celebrated on the front page of news media, it might seem like you need millions of dollars to run a startup.

The truth is, many startup founders started with very little capital and bootstrapped their way up to success.

If you’re an entrepreneur who’s just starting out, here are nine finance-related tips to help you make the most of your budget.

1. DIY As Much As You Can

When you’re starting out with little cash, you have to do things on your own without the help of a team.

Online marketing expert Amy Porterfield has a podcast episode about the five areas in your business which you should DIY when you’re just starting out.

Porterfield listed the five areas as your website, copywriting, marketing, Facebook Ad campaigns and money.

Going beyond the benefit of saving money, Porterfield talks about how focusing on these areas will help you understand your business better before you start handing it off for outsourcing.

If you don’t have the skills for the five areas, see if there’s another entrepreneur at the same level as you and if you two can barter services. Don’t make this a habit though as you still need to be paid for your work.

2. Save On Office Rental, Work From Home

Don’t be tempted to rent an office space to “legitimize” your business. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and many other billion-dollar businesses started out of garages.

Working from home is just as legitimate, though you’ll need to carve out a space just for work to minimize distraction.

For extroverts who crave human interaction or those with slightly more budget, co-working spaces are more conducive for running a business and networking than working at a cafe.

3. Save On Software And Services

Many of the business-grade productivity softwares are available on on a freemium model. (Free to use but you pay a premium to upgrade the capabilities.)

Google’s G Suite is a good substitute for Microsoft Office suite, and especially good if you’re collaborating with others.

Instead of expensive long-distance calls, use Skype or Google Hangout to communicate with clients and vendors.

4. Know What You Can’t Skimp On

Related to the tip above, there are some items that you cannot be stingy with.

Email address is one. Stop using email addresses ending in “@gmail.com”, “@yahoo.com” or “@hotmail.com”.

If you already have a website host, find out how to set up a custom domain email (@yourdomain.com) and how you can access the emails with your existing email accounts.

Having the right Paypal account is another. You might be tempted to stick to using your personal Paypal account to receive payments but a Paypal for Business account lets you set recurring payments and has other useful functions.

Also, you’ll be keeping your personal and business finances separate. (See Tip #5)

5. Keep Your Personal And Business Finances Separate

As a startup founder, it’s easy to mix your personal and business expenses together. Don’t do this as it will complicate matters during finance and income tax reporting. Remember to pay yourself a salary too but not too much.

6. Pump The Money Back Into Business

Though paying yourself a salary is crucial, don’t overcompensate yourself.

If you need a frame of reference for how much you can afford to spend, these Singapore-based startup founders reported that they spend around S$250 a week.

Instead of overpaying yourself, pump the money back into the business. In this Forbes article, this husband-wife entrepreneur team said the money they invested back into their business would double or triple, compared to earning less than 0.1% interest in the bank.

7. Save On Education

While you might be tempted to attend classes to gain knowledge, many courses are available for free.

Besides education platforms such as Coursera, Khan Academy and Future Learn, you can learn specific skills on Google Adwords through the official Academy For Ads and online marketing through HubSpot Academy.

8. Save On Food

Eating out and getting food delivered might be convenient but they rack up your expenses.

Try meal preparation (or “meal prep”). Make a huge batch of food before the week starts, keep them in the fridge and warm them up before eating. This will save you time and money.

Preparing food at home also means you can be sure of the nutritional value of your food.

9. Save On Entertainment

All work and no play makes Jack and Jill dull children. You might be tempted to pour all your heart and soul into your new business but do take time off to relax to avoid burnout.

Meet up with your friends (you can have parties at home to save on food cost), join Meetup Groups to find new activities and meet new people, or go to cheap or free shows to wind down.

Try out these ideas and let us know what you think in the comments!

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