돈을 절약하는 것은 두 부분으로 구성된 방정식입니다. 이것이 바로 제가 여러분에게 제공하려는 250가지 비용 절감 팁이 각각 다음 두 가지 범주 중 하나에 속한다는 것을 알게 되실 것입니다:
이것은 매우 다른 두 가지 사항입니다. 마지막 식료품 영수증 하단에 $16.02를 "저축"했다고 적혀 있다고 해서 저축 계좌의 잔액이 자동으로 늘어나는 것은 아닙니다.
돈을 늘리려면 실제로 16.02달러(그리고 훨씬 더 많은 금액)를 저축 계좌에 넣어야 합니다.
우리는 구매 시 많은 돈을 절약하고 저축 계좌에 더 많은 돈을 저축하는 두 가지 모두에 도움이 되는 방법에 대해 이야기할 것입니다.
으아… 여기저기 클릭하고 잠시 기다리세요!
이러한 많은 돈 절약 팁을 실제로 동시에 실천하는 것 외에도, 내 Bank It을 사용하면 많은 돈을 빨리 절약할 수도 있습니다! 방법입니다.
은행은 무엇입니까! 방법은?
식료품점, CVS 또는 쿠폰 및 할인 저축 금액을 알려주는 곳에서 영수증 끝부분에 저축한 돈이 보이면 실제로 해당 금액을 저축하십시오(은행에 저축하세요!).
이는 "절약액"을 귀하의 계정에서 실제 절감액으로 보지 않고 이제 가능하게 되므로 많은 돈을 빨리 절약하는 데 효과적입니다. 이를 통해 예산 범위 내에서 예산의 지출 범주에 있는 돈을 저축 계좌에 집어넣어 현재 가능한 것보다 훨씬 빠르게 돈을 절약할 수 있습니다.
이것은 돈을 절약하기 위한 일회성 팁이 아닙니다. 이 팁을 사용하면 매달 비용을 절약할 수 있습니다(그리고 종종 지속적인 비용 절감을 위해 한 번만 조치를 취한 후에도 마찬가지입니다!).
이제 돼지 저금통을 키우는 재미있는 방법이 되었습니다.
저는 주택 소유자 보험을 더 저렴하게 받기 위해 개인적으로 사용한 9가지 전략을 가지고 있습니다(하나). 팁만으로도 $1600를 절약할 수 있었습니다!).
잠깐만:더 저렴한 주택 소유자 보험 상품을 쇼핑하는 방법은 다음과 같습니다.
저는 17가지의 상하지 않는 식사 아이디어에 대한 기사를 썼습니다. 상하지 않는 디저트, 저녁 식사, 반찬을 만나보실 수 있습니다.
규제가 완화된 에너지 시장에 속해 계십니까? 전기 공급업체를 바꾸면 상당한 금액의 잔돈을 절약할 수 있습니다. 더 좋은 점은 무료로 쇼핑할 수 있는 에너지 검색 엔진이 있으며, 귀하의 사용 패턴에 따라 어떤 플랜이 가장 저렴한지 알려줍니다. 좋아요!
작년에 저는 시간을 내어 조사한 후 0.75%의 이자를 받는 계좌에서 1.4%의 이자를 받는 계좌로 예금을 전환했습니다(따라서 매달 이자가 거의 두 배로 늘었습니다).
그리고 1년 뒤? 그 비율은 현재 2.35%입니다(몇 년 후, 4.40%입니다).
즉, 추가 작업을 하지 않고도 매달 이자 수익이 3배로 늘어났다는 뜻입니다(원래 계좌에 있던 계좌는 여전히 이자율이 1%에 불과합니다). #승리
전자 장치가 연결되어 있으면 여전히 에너지를 빨아들이는 것입니다. 사용하지 않을 때는 가전제품과 물건의 플러그를 뽑아두는 것이 좋습니다. (쉬운 방법은 엔터테인먼트 센터를 하나의 멀티탭에 꽂은 다음 잠자리에 들기 전에 플러그를 한 번 뽑는 것입니다.)
아파트에서 전기 요금을 낮추는 방법과 오래된 가전제품을 돈에 팔 수 있는 방법에 대한 최고의 팁 중 하나입니다.
캐시백을 수표로 교환하여 저축 계좌에 입금하세요.
힌트:신용카드를 사용하면 실제로 더 많은 돈을 지출하게 될 수 있습니다. 따라서 우리처럼 신용카드 사용에 대한 하이브리드 접근 방식을 사용하여 보상을 극대화하고 추가 지출을 최소화할 수 있습니다.
주문 크기를 늘리는 것을 중단하고 대신 주문 크기를 줄이세요(이것은 까다롭습니다. 패스트푸드 레스토랑에서는 자동으로 중간 크기를 원한다고 가정하므로 대신 "소형"이라고 말해야 합니다).
무료 평가판을 신청하고 잊어버리셨는데 이제 매달 요금이 청구되나요? 계정에 원하지 않는 반복 수수료가 있는지 확인해보세요.
힌트:Trim 앱이 자동으로 이러한 항목을 찾아 제거합니다.
이 비용은 매달 지불하므로 건강 보험료를 절약하는 방법을 꼭 살펴보세요.
남편은 과속 위반 딱지를 받고 벌금 전액을 지불하는 대신 방어 운전 코스를 수강하기로 결정했습니다. 그렇습니다. 우리 자동차 보험 회사에서는 이 강좌를 수강한 것에 대해 여전히 월간 할인을 제공했습니다!
자동차 보험 비용을 절약할 수 있는 10가지 방법은 다음과 같습니다.
달러 스토어 쇼핑에 관해 이야기해 보겠습니다. 항상 좋은 거래는 아닙니다. 하지만 어떻게 하면 좋은 거래가 될 수 있는지 알아낼 수 있다면 이를 저축 전략에 추가해야 합니다.
개인적으로 한 번, 두 번, 어쩌면 세 번만 사용할 제품이 필요하면 달러 스토어에 갑니다. 거기서 저렴하게 구입한 제품이 그만큼 오래 지속될 가능성이 매우 높습니다.
계속해서 사용할 무언가가 필요하다면? 저는 더 높은 품질을 추구하며 초기에 몇 달러를 낭비하지 않습니다.
보험 대리인에게 전화하여 매달 청구서를 지불하기 위해 월별 추가 요금/수수료가 청구되는지 확인하십시오. 그렇다면 6개월 또는 1년 단위로(월 수수료 납부를 중단하기 위해 필요한 금액만큼) 보험 비용을 절약하십시오.
실제로 케이블 요금을 완전히 버릴 준비가 되셨나요? 걱정하지 마세요. 지금은 몇 가지 멋진 대안이 있습니다. 좋아하는 프로그램을 스트리밍하기 위해 처음 몇 달 동안 얻을 수 있는 프리미엄 할인을 사용하여 Roku와 같은 제품을 구입하세요. 또한 이 HDTV 안테나는 가격이 저렴하고 수신율이 매우 높습니다(신호 부스트 기능 포함).
저는 Verizon을 월 $83 정도에 사용했습니다. 그런 다음 Virgin Mobile로 전환했습니다. 휴대폰 요금은 이제 월 $39.99(세금 후)입니다. 그뿐만 아니라 Verizon에서는 가질 수 없었던 모든 것을 무제한으로 사용할 수 있습니다. 어쨌든 비용을 절감하고 결국에는 더 나은 결과를 얻을 수 있는 멋진 방법입니다.
차 대금을 지불하자마자 차를 보관하세요. 본질적으로 매달 수백 달러를 주머니에 다시 넣게 될 것입니다. . 더 좋은 아이디어가 있나요? 다음 차량 구입을 위해 현금으로 지불할 수 있도록 그 돈을 향후 몇 년간 자동차 기금 저축 계좌에 넣어 두십시오.
자동차 대출 이자 납부는 이제 안녕!
여기에서 내 비터 자동차에 대해 자세히 알아보세요.
내가 제공한 이 방대한 아이디어 목록을 실행에 옮기는 데 매달 한 시간만 투자했다면 비용 절감 능력이 놀라울 정도로 향상되는 것을 볼 수 있을 것입니다. 그러면 내년에 귀하의 저축 능력이 더욱 향상될 것입니다!
이번 달에 하고 싶은 일이나 갖고 싶은 일이 무엇이든 Google에서 검색하세요. (개인적으로 저는 보상 포인트를 적립하고 Paypal에서 현금으로 전환하기 때문에 Swagbucks 검색 엔진을 사용합니다. 하지만 그건 저입니다.) 무료라는 단어를 더해 검색하세요. 말 그대로 무엇을 발견하게 될지 전혀 알 수 없습니다.
앞서 우리는 돈을 관리하기 위해 현금과 신용카드를 혼합한 전략을 사용한다고 언급한 적이 있습니다.
제가 또한 언급하고 싶은 점은 더 많은 캐쉬백을 얻기 위해 정기적으로 현재 신용 카드에서 추가 제안을 받는다는 것입니다(예를 들어 지금부터 다음 달 말까지 일반 보상 포인트의 3배를 얻을 수 있습니다). 꼭 가입하세요. 무료입니다.
자신이나 자녀를 위한 새 옷을 원하거나 필요합니까? 먼저 옷장과 서랍을 뒤져 재판매 가능한 옷을 모두 꺼내세요. Plato's Closet, 지역 위탁 상점, 기타 상점에 가져가서 현금을 받을 수 있습니다(일부는 판매 후). 그런 다음 그 현금을 사용하여 새 옷장에 자금을 조달하여 어쨌든 지출할 돈을 절약하십시오. Thred-Up을 확인해 볼 수도 있습니다.
보너스 팁:다가오는 계절이 바뀌기 전에 이 작업을 수행하고 따뜻한 날씨의 옷이나 추운 날씨의 옷을 준비하세요.
갑자기 유행이 되는 정말 훌륭한 영양소가 엄청나게 많이 있으며 이를 얻으려면 특정 제품을 구입해야 한다고 생각합니다. 다른 사람들이 떠들썩한 동일한 영양소(오메가-3, 오메가-6, 완전 아미노산 등)를 다양하고 저렴한 공급원에서 얻을 수 있다는 것이 밝혀졌습니다.
힌트:Dollar Tree에서 이러한 재료 중 일부를 쇼핑할 수도 있습니다! Dollar Tree 식사 계획, Dollar Tree Charcuterie Board 아이디어 및 Dollar Tree 점심 아이디어를 확인해 보세요.
Groupon.com, LivingSocial.com 등을 검색하실 수 있습니다.
절박한 순간에 자동 저축 인출을 끄는 것은 다시 켜는 것보다 훨씬 쉽습니다.
그러므로 그렇게 할 생각을 할 때는 주의하십시오. 대신 예산을 효율적으로 활용할 수 있는 다른 방법을 찾아보세요.
아이들에게 새 장난감을 사주는 대신 이웃/친구/가족 엄마들과 함께 장난감 교환을 준비하세요. 모두가 상점에 갈 필요 없이 몇 달에 한 번씩 새 장난감을 가지고 나갈 것입니다.
내 휴일 예산 전략의 일부는 집에 선물용 찬장을 두고 일년 내내 찾을 수 있는 좋은 물건으로 채우는 것입니다. 휴일 동안 연중 내내 쇼핑하면 돈을 절약할 수 있을 뿐만 아니라; 연휴의 스트레스가 정말 해소됩니다.
같은 사람을 위해 중복 구매하지 않도록 정기적으로 모든 것을 확인하고, 가을이 오면 구매해야 할 선물 목록을 작성하는 것이 좋습니다. (힌트:과다 구매한 경우 일년 내내 생일, 아버지날, 어머니날에 선물을 사용할 수 있습니다) .
매일 밤 데이트를 하는 대신, 하루 밤의 데이트를 선택하세요. 걱정하지 마세요. 부부가 함께 집에서 데이트할 때 사용할 수 있는 정말 재미있는 자료가 몇 가지 있습니다(TV 제외).
힌트:밖에 나가고 싶다면? 달러 매장 데이트 아이디어 중 하나를 시도해 보세요.
1년에 한 번씩, 몇 년 연속으로 우리 가족(남편의 모든 형제자매와 자녀들)은 크고 아름다운 해변가 집을 빌렸습니다. 우리는 약 3-4일 동안 바다에 있었고 비용은 가족당 몇백 달러에 불과했습니다(식비 포함 – 우리는 부엌에서 번갈아가며 식사를 요리했습니다).
이것은 주말 동안 해변에 집을 마련하는 것보다 상당한 비용을 절약하면서 돈을 모아서 여행을 떠날 수 있는 멋진 방법이었습니다.
잠깐만:숙박을 고려해 볼 수도 있습니다. 멋진 호캉스를 계획하는 방법은 다음과 같습니다. , 그리고 11가지 가족 겨울 휴가 아이디어
사람들이 휴일/생일에 귀하 또는 귀하의 자녀에게 무엇을 줄 것인지 물을 때 전략적으로 생각하십시오. 매달 돈을 절약할 수 있는 물건을 요청하거나 어쨌든 구입해야 하기 때문에 돈을 절약할 수 있는 물건을 요청하십시오.
예를 들어, 우리 시누이가 크리스마스 선물로 우리 꼬마에게 무엇을 사줄지 물었습니다. 나는 그녀에게 어쨌든 구매할 것이라고 두 가지 제안을 했습니다. 앞으로 몇 달 안에 필요한 신발 사이즈와 4T 바지 사이즈였습니다. (힌트:물론 요청을 받은 경우에만 제안을 제공하세요!) .
과거에 빠듯한 예산으로 돈을 절약할 수 있는 좋은 방법이 없다고 생각한 적이 있나요?
다음 월급을 받기가 어려울 때 저축 계좌에 돈을 저축해 두는 것은 말할 것도 없고 그렇게 느껴질 수 있습니다.
하지만 저는 자신감과 경험을 바탕으로 여러분이 한 봉급에서 다음 월급까지 살아가고 있고 다음 달에 새로 자녀를 위한 비용이 어디서 나올지 확신이 없는 경우에도 여전히 돈을 절약할 수 있는 방법이 많다는 것을 말씀드릴 수 있습니다.
아래에서 이러한 전략 중 25가지를 공유하겠습니다.
예, 집주인과 아파트 단지 모두와 임대료를 협상할 수 있습니다. 임대료 협상 방법에 대한 9가지 (테스트된) 전략은 다음과 같습니다.
잠깐만:제안된 요율 인상 6%에서 2% 인하 협상을 성공적으로 마쳤습니다. 아휴!
업무 비용을 직접 지불하고 환급금을 제출해야 하는 경우 지불을 기다려야 합니다.
이는 당신이 이 돈 없이도 해당 월급 주기의 청구서나 그 달의 청구서를 처리했음을 의미합니다(이미 지출했고 시간이 지났기 때문입니다).
따라서 돈이 들어오면 바로 저축 계좌로 보내세요.
응, 내 말 잘 들었어. 다음 수술(긴급 상황은 아닙니다. 저는 탈장 수술 비용으로 이 수술을 했습니다)을 위해 비용을 아끼지 않는 방식으로 수술을 받을 수 있는 곳이 어디인지 알아보기 위해 몇 가지 가격 비교를 해야 합니다.
이것은 약간의 시간 동안 수백 달러를 벌 수 있는 정말 쉬운 방법입니다(새 계좌를 개설하고 가지고 있는 다른 저축 계좌에서 자금을 조달하세요. 돈을 옮기기만 하면 됩니다).
신혼여행 저축을 시작하기 위해 $250 보너스가 있는 계좌를 개설했을 때와 같이 저축 목표를 시작하는 데 이 방법을 사용했습니다! 보너스 금액을 받으려면 은행에서 알려준 기간(예:90일, 3개월, 6개월) 동안 새 저축 계좌에 돈을 보관해야 합니다.
은행 개설 보너스가 그만한 가치가 있는지 알아보는 방법에 대한 자세한 정보는 다음과 같습니다.
18세 이상이며 미국 시민이고 저축 계좌가 있고 온라인 뱅킹을 사용하며 유효한 이메일 주소가 있으면 SaverLife.org에 가입하실 수 있습니다!
이들은 자신의 저축 계좌에 넣은 돈에 대해 포인트를 부여하여 돈을 절약하도록 장려하는 비영리 단체입니다(새 은행 계좌에 가입할 필요가 없습니다. 추적 목적으로 SaverLife의 플랫폼에 연결하기만 하면 됩니다).
그런 다음 포인트를 상품으로 교환하고 현금을 얻을 수 있습니다. 점수!
잠깐만요:SaverLife 전체 리뷰는 다음과 같습니다.
담당 의사 진료실에 전화하여 현재 가지고 있는 약 중 하나를 대체하기 위해 복용할 수 있는 일반 약이 있는지 문의하여 처방약 비용을 절약하세요(더 높은 자기부담금을 지불해야 함).
당신이 나와 같다면 크리스마스 선물을 사야 할 아이들이 약 15명 정도 될 것입니다(일년 내내 생일 선물은 말할 것도 없고).
가족에게 다가가 이번 휴가철에 이름을 정하고 싶은지 물어보세요. 이는 휴일 예산 책정에 도움이 될 것입니다.
무언가를 만드는 데 능숙해지고 다음 휴가를 위해 많은 사람들을 위해 만들어 보세요. 예를 들어 친구가 집에서 만든 로션/집에서 만드는 데오도란트/집에서 만드는 립밤 등을 만들어서 여러 사람에게 선물했어요.
그들은 정말 훌륭했고 전혀 화학물질이 없었습니다! 어느 해에는 와인 차머 세트를 여러 개 만들어 선물로 나눠줬어요. 이렇게 하면 휴가를 간편하게 보낼 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 비용도 절약할 수 있습니다.
리베이트가 제공되는 제품을 구매하는 경우 예산 범위 내에서 구매하세요. 그런 다음 리베이트 수표가 우편으로 오면 저축 예금에 입금하십시오.
이는 주어진 예산 내에서 필요한 제품을 계속 구매하고 이제 그 돈을 'For Keeps(보관용)' 계정으로 보낼 수 있기 때문에 빠듯한 예산에서 더 많은 비용을 절약할 수 있는 방법입니다.
모든 여분의 잔돈(아이들이 주기적으로 소파를 들여다보게 하고 카시트 아래를 살펴보게 하세요)을 한 곳에 모아두세요. 6개월에서 1년에 한 번씩 은행에 입금하세요.
나는 새로운 요리법을 시도하는 것을 좋아합니다. 하지만 제가 찾은 것은 매 식료품 주기마다 3~5가지의 새로운 레시피를 시도하면 결국 해당 레시피에만 필요한 "일회성" 재료를 구매하게 되고 청구서가 훨씬 더 높아진다는 것입니다.
이제는 매 식료품 주기마다 1~2개의 새로운 요리법만 시험해 보는 것으로 제한합니다(우리는 격주로 식료품을 쇼핑합니다).
매장에 더 많이 방문할수록 구매할 물건과 그러한 유혹에 빠질 물건에 더 많이 노출될 것입니다. 그뿐만 아니라 격주로 식료품을 쇼핑하는 것만으로도 식사 계획을 세우게 됩니다(이는 돈을 절약하는 또 다른 좋은 방법입니다).
작년에 우리 저축 계좌가 있는 멋진 은행(PurePoint Financial)에서 추천 링크가 포함된 이메일을 보냈습니다. 계좌를 개설한 우리가 추천한 모든 사람에 대해 그들은 우리의 저축 계좌에 200달러를 주고 그 사람은 200달러를 받게 됩니다! 얼마나 놀라운 일입니까?
최대 6명까지 추천이 가능했습니다. 자신의 은행에서 이와 같은 기회를 찾으십시오. 친구나 가족을 추천하여 저축한 돈을 벌 수 있습니다. (Oportun.com에도 추천 프로그램이 있어 계좌를 개설한 사람에게 추천할 때마다 저축 계좌에 5달러가 추가되는 것으로 알고 있습니다.)
도서관 상호 대출을 이용하면 Netflix를 통해 원하는 대부분의 DVD를 구입할 수 있다는 사실을 알고 계셨습니까(Netflix 구독을 중단하고 대신 해당 금액을 은행에 보관)? 무료 대체품으로 또 무엇을 찾을 수 있나요?
저는 가족 비용을 절약하기 위한 방법으로 이 차를 진지하게 생각하고 있습니다. 남편과 저는 현재 1년 넘게 차 한 대를 운전해 왔습니다(두 차 모두 허리케인 Harvey로 인해 침수되었고 3주 후 돌발 홍수가 발생했습니다). 나는 매일 그를 직장에 데려다주고 밤에 그를 데리러 가면서 매일 그와 함께 2시간의 추가 시간을 제공합니다.
우리는 또한 비터 자동차가 사망하기 전에 한 번에 몇 달 동안 자동차 한 대 가족이었습니다(그 당시에는 두 가지 다른 직업을 가지고 있었음에도 불구하고). 그렇게 하면 보험, 일부 가스 비용, 일부 오일 교환 비용을 절약할 수 있으며 이 모든 비용을 저축 계좌에 투자할 수 있습니다.
Swagbucks.com에 가입하고 이를 통해 인터넷을 검색할 수 있습니다. 주기적으로 Swagbucks를 획득하면 이를 실제 현금으로 상환할 수 있습니다(PayPal 이용). 5,000포인트마다 PayPal 현금으로 50달러를 받을 수 있고, 2,500포인트 또는 10,000포인트로 현금화할 수 있습니다. 이 돈을 저축 계좌에 넣어두세요!
MoneySavingMom.com과 같은 사이트에서는 귀하가 필요로 하거나 원하는 고품질 제품과 품목에 대한 멋진 거래를 하루 종일 아주 좋은 가격에 게시합니다.
필요한 것을 저렴하게 또는 무료로 얻을 수 있도록 이러한 곳에 자주 가고 싶습니다.
실제로 그녀는 자신의 사이트에 공짜와 경품만을 제공하는 섹션을 갖고 있으므로 잠시 동안만 그 섹션을 고수할 수 있습니다!
잡지 구독을 공유할 수 있습니다(항상 읽은 잡지를 나눠드립니다!), 같은 학교/어린이집에 카풀하는 등의 작업을 할 수 있습니다.
다음 생일을 앞두고 생일 경품(예:원하는 대로 무료 스타벅스 음료, 무료 배스킨라빈스 아이스크림 한 스쿱 등)에 등록하세요. 보석상에서 진주 귀걸이 세트를 무료로 받은 적도 있습니다! 그렇다면 스스로 무언가를 구매하는 대신 생일 선물로 그 간식을 사용하세요.
저는 과거에 온라인 야드 판매로 어느 정도 성공을 거두었습니다. 본질적으로 우리 물건을 살펴보고 Facebook 판매 그룹을 위해 사진을 찍고 가격을 책정하는 것이었습니다. 비용 절감을 위한 좋은 시작이 될 수 있습니다.
어딘가에서 저축한 돈을 벌어야 합니다. 따라서 주변을 둘러보고 정기적으로 소비하는 품목의 목록을 작성하세요.
그런 다음 목록을 하나씩 내려가서 가격 쇼핑을 해보세요. For example, start by price shopping your pet food/medications/needs, then price shop your prescriptions (yes, different pharmacies charge different prices! Also, check out what the heck gag clauses are – it could save you money), then price shop oil changes, then price shop whatever is next on your list.
Three places to check are the cost of buying it online (check out these 19 online shopping tricks and hacks), buying it in bulk (like at a membership store), and buying it at a competitor’s store. Small changes, over time, will add up to big savings!
There are some awesome no-spend challenges out there, whether you want to do a no-spend weekend, no-spend week, or even a no-spend year!
You should involve your kids in the money-saving process. Not only will it help get everyone onboard, but they need to learn about how to stretch money from somewhere, right?
Might as well let them help you save it by doing things like scanning in your receipts to cash-back apps (I used to use CoinOut, but now I LOVE iBotta and Fetch), have them hang up laundry on the laundry line (here are way more tips on how to save money on laundry), give them a small bonus each time they don’t leave the lights on (or charge them $0.25 every time you find a light left on), etc.
My husband and I made a weekly date night a priority in our marriage after our little guy was born, and it’s been a game-changer. We don’t go out often (probably just 1-2 date nights out a month) – most are at-home date nights.
However, couples from our church group let us know that they used to do a childcare ring for date nights, where each couple took a turn watching another couple’s kids so that everyone got to go on date night without paying $30+ to a babysitter. Nice!
If you could get rid of two unhealthy things from your diet, while simultaneously saving money, would you do it?
How about you nix two of any of the following completely from your home – soda, chips, ice cream, frozen meals, crackers, etc.?
The stats are in, and it’s well known now that if you use credit cards (or plastic, in general) to pay for things, you will spend more money.
It’s because parting with actual dollar bills is harder to do than swiping a card.
Don’t believe me? Go one month with paying in cash, and then compare your spending with the previous month. We did and decided to use a hybrid spending strategy with cash and credit from here on out.
아직도 있나요? 엄청난! Because we've still got 200 ways to save money to go!
Many purchase decisions have to do with the household. There are groceries, clothing, home repairs and renovations, Pinterest projects, toiletries, and probably 237 other transaction points that all take place within/around the household.
So, we’re going to dedicate 50 of the 250 money-saving tips to this specific category.
I can’t believe how well this tip has worked (without any “side effects”). On many of the household items that we use, I simply just decided to use half the amount I had been.
This meant doing things like cutting dryer sheets in half, using half the laundry detergent that’s recommended (it’s true! Still cleans), making half recipes (or if we use the whole recipe, freezing half for another meal later), etc. Try it out!
There are TONS of reward programs/loyalty programs out there. If you take the time to sign up for each, get the cards/apps downloaded, and then read through how to use them, then you can save a bundle off of everyday purchases over the next years.
We did this for years until our little guy came along. WOW do you save a ton of money. In fact, check out all the different ways for how to save money on laundry.
My friend, Aurora, and I were discussing this – we are voracious readers (as is my husband), yet we buy fewer books than you’d think.
We get by this by using our library’s Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system to get our hands on almost any book we’d like, Overdrive to download books on our phone to borrow from the library, free eBooks, free full-length audiobooks, and Paperback Swap. Why not resolve to do this for the next year?
Each month, check out your spending by category. Then ask yourself, “Did I receive satisfaction and value in proportion to life energy spent?” This is from the book Your Money or Your Life , a must-read!
This one is a bit harsh, because by setting it up – you could find yourself getting your debit card declined at checkout (BUT, you won’t be charged the $30 overdraft fee).
Opt out of overdraft protection at your bank. 기간.
It means you will be denied at a cash register in the event that there is not enough money in your checking account to cover your purchase — which could be embarrassing — but at least you will not be allowed to spend money you do not have (and incur a hefty charge for doing so).
There are items you own that require maintenance (at additional costs), and items you CAN own that won’t require additional maintenance. Own more of the items that don’t require maintenance.
For example, do not buy dry-cleaning-only clothing – eliminate that maintenance cost.
We’ve saved hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the years (as well as saved our neighbors as much) by finding nearby people to feed our cats while we travel.
Leftovers are great for dinners, and lunches, and then to make your own freezer meals that you can reheat months later. For example, we hosted Thanksgiving, and after 4 days of eating leftovers, we were over them.
So, I simply put the rest into two freezer meals, and in late December, we enjoyed them again!
Also, when I make a meal with a sauce, there’s generally enough sauce left over to make that same meal again. I’ll then freeze that sauce and label it, and that part of the meal’s made the next time.
Here's how to reuse leftovers.
Don’t renew your magazine subscriptions, and instead, read free digital magazines.
I never (or ALMOST never) eat my entire restaurant meal in one sitting. I typically take half or even ¾ home and have an awesome lunch or meal for the next night.
It cuts down on the costs, and time/energy of preparing a new meal.
My husband and I LOVE going to the movies. But they didn’t have these awesome monthly movie passes before we had our little guy (re:we don’t get to the movies that often anymore).
Renting out unused portions of your home for storage, or for renters is a great way to increase cash flow and dedicate that to your savings account.
Trust me on this one – you’ll score hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of free toiletries by playing the drugstore game.
My husband’s Timberland boots (over a decade old) started flapping in the wind. To replace them was a staggering $139. Instead, we took them to a shoe hospital and had them professionally repaired for $16.
See what you can get repaired!
You’ll need a discounted newspaper subscription, and a coupon site (like the Coupon Mom site) to save with coupons. This lady pairs together all of the coupons to the sales every 12 weeks to give you a double whammy of savings, for FREE!
You only eat from your pantry/freezer/cupboards (except maybe milk and bread and eggs, or something like that) for a period of time. Like this lady did.
Every time you’re about to make an online purchase, take the total amount in the cart, and ask yourself if you’d rather have that amount of money in savings for XXX GOAL instead? Shop accordingly.
Psst:here's 47 cool things to save up for, how to prioritize savings goals, plus 7 free S.M.A.R.T. financial goal worksheets.
One of my favorite places to shop at our grocery store is the clearance section in the butcher’s area.
This is because organic, grass-fed meats are marked down severely, and as long as we go home and freeze them for future use, and then use them the same day we defrost (which is normal for us to do), we’re good to go.
I kept my last smartphone for 6 years. The one before that was at least 5 years old. They still worked, though perhaps a bit slower. 하지만 그거 알아요? I saved lots of money by not buying the latest and greatest.
if you know your A/C unit is out, then get it repaired in the winter. It’ll be cheaper! Same for your heater (get it repaired in the summertime), or other appliances/items.
I can’t tell you how many times I saved hundreds of dollars by not taking the first repairman quote I got for repairs on our home.
I go into detail here about how to find an honest car mechanic, which can save you thousands over the years.
My friend, Aurora, gave me this tip – they keep buying Subaru cars because they learn how they work and can do minor repairs/oil changes/etc. on the car themselves instead of paying a mechanic.
Try to get some free wood to burn in your fireplace for the winter (or wood stove). If a neighbor is cutting down their tree, ask if they are going to keep the wood. Heck, we’ve even found great free wood on big trash day.
If you find you eat out a lot as a family, then you’ll want to do once-a-month (or even less often) freezer meal cooking days. It’ll decrease the temptation to hit up the drive-thru on the way home.
Do you travel for work? Use this time as a vacation by extending the end of it and adding a few days to the place you’re at. This can substitute for your own vacations.
Next time you’re going to go out to dinner or for lunch, go to your local grocery store instead. Pick foods from their prepared foods section, and save money (plus no tip!).
Have you ever heard of karmic yogis? They’re people who clean up part of a yoga studio, and in exchange, get a free membership. Where else could you volunteer to get free access (a concert? Fundraising event? The zoo? etc.)?
I love to read stories of extreme frugality. Not because I want to do what those people are doing…but I find it inspirational when trying to stretch my own frugal muscles.
We were fortunate in that we got the $8,000 first item homebuyer’s tax credit (the one you didn’t have to pay back!).
When you have a big purchase of any kind, do a quick search online to see if there is any tax credit available for buying it a certain way (like, an appliance with a certain amount of efficiency).
If you’re buying anything online, make sure you do a quick search for an online coupon for that site. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with this over the years.
Read this about when to buy all different kinds of items in order to find the best deals.
I’ve got loads of ideas for cheap things to do with your family at home family activities that will still allow you to engage and bond.
I know several people who continually spend $50+ on lottery tickets each month (for decades now). Just stop. Instead, dedicate that money to savings. You’ll get to what you want faster.
My husband and I are voracious readers. The way we afford to be so is by using both Interlibrary loan (ILL), Overdrive to borrow books on your phone, and Paperback Swap.
Do you smoke, or drink a good bit? These vices cost a lot of money.
My husband quit smoking during our marriage, and we are saving $100 more each month because of it. Deprioritize your money going to vices and prioritize your savings instead.
Turn one of your takeout nights/month into a CopyCat Recipes night where you make your family’s favorite restaurant dishes at home.
Before you think about replacing something, look at your warranties (you’ll want to keep a warranty file in your filing cabinet). Like getting your Tupperware replaced after all these years (here’s our Tupperware replacement experience).
We have lots of experience with disputing medical bills (because we were wrongly charged). It can save gobs of money!
Here’s how to negotiate medical bills over the phone.
I want you to take the time and strategies needed to financially prepare for the next big thing in your life – so that you don’t end up getting it/doing it too soon and not being able to save any money (because money is too tight).
I detail here how much signing up for freebies has meant to us financially over the last several years.
If I know something is going to expire before I can use it, I freeze it. That way, I won’t have to re-buy the ingredient when I want to make a dish with it later.
Can you imagine how much more you can save in your savings account each month without a mortgage? Here’s how to pay off your mortgage faster.
Here are ways to save money off your water bill.
Did you know there are checking accounts that will pay you interest on your money?
You’ll want to know whether a family membership is worth it or not, and I’ve got how to do that here.
You can use gasbuddy.com (and get your kids to help if you’d like!).
You want to periodically clean out these areas in your kitchen because you’ll find lots of food that needs to be eaten (before it expires…or you missed it already and you’ll be more aware of what will get eaten in your household in the future).
Things are about to get a bit more interesting – I’ve got 25 creative ways to save money that will help stretch your resources way further than you thought possible.
I successfully fought our property taxes and had our home’s appraised value lowered by 3.9%. Sounds like something you wouldn’t want, right? But it doesn’t affect market value and will reduce the taxes you’ll owe.
Here’s how to fight property taxes.
My friend recently introduced me to Buy Nothing Facebook Groups.
It’s a local community of like-minded people who all want to save one another money plus help the environment by getting their consumption needs met through each other instead of through Amazon or at the store.
Talk about a creative way to save money (by not spending it!). Simply type in “Buy nothing groups near me” in the Facebook search bar, and see if you can find one.
Got health insurance? Then you also get a free annual physical with your doctor. That’s the perfect time to get refills on medication or to ask a few (simple) questions.
Granted, you might need to schedule a follow-up appointment if your question entails more than just a minute. But you never know – you might get what you need without having to pay a copayment.
There are some fun saving money games for adults out there people play in order to save more than they thought they could – like saving every single $5 bill that comes into their wallet.
I also love this idea about “tipping” yourself, or the One Percent Challenge, or the 52-Week Dice Game.
Remember college drinking games? Choose to save a buck every time something happens (like, $1 every time someone on The Bachelor says “It’s me, not you”.)
Rosemarie from the Busy Budgeter has an awesome idea that's helped her to save money each week:she gives herself an incentive to do so.
She sets a budget, and then 20% of whatever she doesn't spend from that budget becomes hers to spend on what she likes. She calls it her blow money.
She even keeps a list of things she wants so that she knows what her reward will be.
The other 80% of the money she saved from their budget? Gets to be applied toward her family's savings or debt goals.
Brilliant!
I really like mystery shopping. You get the assignments from your email at home (take what you want, leave what you don’t want), you do the reports at home, and you get to try out new places/buy things/experience things on someone else’s dollar.
For example, we mystery-shopped a date night at a local Irish pub, and a horse race at a racing grounds (we even got to place bets!), and I mystery-shopped our oil changes for a few years. Companies I’ve personally worked for include Intelli-Shop.
Nix the cost of hotels or even Air BnBs by setting up a house swap for your next vacation with family and friends. Choose the same dates, and either drive or fly to each other’s homes with your family. Leave a list of any instructions + local attractions to check out, and clean up after yourselves when you’re through.
I challenge you to take your spending on entertainment down to $0 for a year. There are TONS of free things to do if you live in a city and tons of things around your home that are just waiting for you to explore.
On top of that, if you have parents or family members who ask what to get you for the holidays (like we do), as for experience gifts (such as movie theater gift cards, restaurant gift cards, a cooking class, a foraging hike, etc.).
Then, use them one by one throughout the year as your entertainment.
Each time a family member does something against a family rule, make them pay a dollar (or whatever you’d like) – parents included. Then, deposit this money into your vacation savings fund or any savings fund you’d like.
Are your property taxes really high (here's how to fight property taxes if you're already locked in)? You could purchase a home to get into a lower-tax district. Just be sure to research ahead of time and see if you can send your child can apply and enroll at different schools (in case the lower-taxed area does not have a good school district).
For example, here in Houston, you can apply to enroll at whichever paid or “free” school you’d like – you don’t have to stick with the one you’re zoned to.
And, of course, you’ll want to take closing costs on selling your home and purchasing another one into consideration when figuring out if the move is worth it (so, how much tax savings will you see, and how many years will it take to live in the new place to essentially make a profit from the move and start adding that tax money to your savings account instead?).
Weird, right? But after reading American Wasteland , I set out to take pictures of the food that we purchased and didn’t get to eat before it expired/rotted/etc. so that I could write about it on this blog.
I was amazed! Just having that awareness meant we spent less money on groceries, used what we had in our pantry more, and saved money.
For your next vacation, use travel hacking to get your airfare for free! We’ve done this. Most recently, we got $900 in free Southwest gift cards.
A few years ago, we made it to Michigan for my family’s Thanksgiving dinner, saving $1,281 on airfare by using travel hacking. Here’s a beginner’s guide.
We all love to reward ourselves in different ways. But what I have found is that it’s typical (even in my own life) to up the ante over the years.
Suddenly, rewarding myself with a $2.50 ice cream for a job well done isn’t good enough, and now I set my sights on one in the range of $25.00-$35.00. I like to call this rewards inflation and keep my eye on it.
How has rewarding yourself changed over the years? Are you spending a lot more on a reward than you used to?
You might want to CD ladder your money to get paid higher interest rates than in a regular savings account.
Don’t rush out and buy new things (new books, new electronics, new exercise equipment, new DVDs, etc.). Instead, be patient, and buy them used from the first wave of people who had to get their hands on them.
You’ll pay SO much less.
Getting on the same page with your partner about money is CRITICAL to increase savings, get the things you guys want, pay off debts, and so many other things.
Stop working against each other and start working towards your savings goals with my page on marriage and money.
Shamelessly pursue your pleasures, but also stop mindless consumption. If you do both, then your quality of life will go up (not to mention, your savings account!).
This year? Take this sage advice about going deeper with the belongings you already have in your life, rather than going wider (by purchasing a bunch more).
I’m talking between rooms, and between homes. Sometimes our sisters-in-law are just “done” with the décor they’ve had in their home, and they offer them up to others in the family.
Also, I love taking décor that feels stagnant in one room, and putting it into another room – it gets a whole new life. Give it a new look, even, by changing it up.
For example, you can take a bunch of old, tired picture frames, and paint them all the same color. Suddenly, they pop!
I once took a whiteboard that was quite stained and simply painted the white part with chalk paint. Now, I’ve got an awesome chalkboard for my office.
Keeping up anything that is “extreme” for the long haul is usually going to backfire. But little extreme sprints here and there? Totally doable.
Specify an amount of time – could be one weekend, one week, one month, six months, etc. – where you are going to be extremely frugal + put all of the extra money you then have into your savings account.
At the end of that time period, you can go back to your “norm”, but with a bit of a bigger savings account.
Remember – the key is to not deprive yourself so much during this time that you go haywire in spending (the elastic-band effect). That’s why you should pick a duration of time that won’t drive you nuts.
Did you know you can actually shop around for surgeries (not the emergency kinds)? I did this with hernia operation costs and was pretty amazed at the difference in prices.
You know how sometimes you have to pay for work expenses on trips and such out of your own wallet, and then you get reimbursed? Do this using your debit card, and submit your expenses, but then when the money comes rolling in a month or so later, send it to savings instead of just to your checking account.
After all, you made it through the month without that money – so this can feel like extra.
While we’re talking about shuffling some of your spent money around, let’s talk about the rebate shuffle.
Do the same thing as above – spend money within your budgeted categories on products that will give you a rebate. Submit for the rebates, and then when the money comes in, send it to savings.
I use this cool savings app called Oportun.com – an app whose algorithm automatically sends small deposits from my checking to savings without me even noticing – and each time a referral of mine signs up, I get $5.00.
The thing is – you don’t have to be a blogger to get this referral. You can sign up for this service, love the dickens out of it, and then refer your family and friends.
Keep all the money earned in your savings account through the app, and use that towards your savings goal.
Do you have a savings goal that hasn’t been a priority, but would benefit everyone? Make it a family savings goal to get there faster, plus model for your kids how to actually save money for a goal.
Mindlessly entering sweepstakes and giveaways is probably not a good use of your time. But entering ones where you have greater odds?
Well, that’s just smart. Even on my own blog – when I’ve hosted giveaways, maybe 12 people have entered. That means your chance of winning is WAY higher than if you enter big cash giveaways.
This category covers action steps to take ONCE, that will continue to save you money month after month after month.
We’re all about upgrading, right? How about downgrading your cable package, your internet package, your Netflix account, etc. to save money each and every month?
Every six months, or once a year, call your insurance companies (homeowners, auto, etc.) and try to negotiate for a lower price (psst:you'll definitely want to check out my article on 9 strategies for scoring cheaper homeowner's insurance ).
I’ve had much success with this over the years.
Habits are something we do daily, weekly, and monthly. If you can replace just one habit with something that costs nothing, you’ll automatically increase your monthly cash flow.
In our own household? This could include my 3 times/week Starbucks’s Iced Chais.
In yours? Perhaps your habit of getting takeout food on grocery shopping night (because you’re too tired to cook), or eating out three lunches per week, or waiting for twice the length of time in between getting pedicures.
Try to incorporate one of these 17 daily frugal habits, instead.
Every month we consume tons of products. But there are tons of products available now that are reusable instead of disposable. For a bit of extra money upfront, you’ll save yourself hundreds and even thousands over the years.
In our own household, we purchased the Reveal mop instead of the Swiffer because you can put the mopheads in the washing machine instead of having to buy disposable ones, we substituted cloth diapers for regular diapers (we lasted a year), cloth wipes for baby wipes, we use a hybrid of dish towels and paper towels instead of just paper towels, etc.
I can’t believe how many people rush into “buying” a new car as soon (or even before) their old one is paid off. Of course, this is coming from a gal who’s never – in her 36 years on this earth – had a car payment.
I’ve always paid cash for my beater cars, and then run them into the ground. Do yourself a favor, and once you pay off your car, keep it for another 5 years. 진지하게. Or longer.
And what do you do with that $200-$500 you’re paying each month? You put it in a car savings fund as if you were paying a car payment. After 5 years, you’ll be able to pay for your next car, in cash (without paying any interest).
Psst:you might also consider becoming a one-car family until you ca save up enough cash for that second car. That's what we did for 2.5 years!
Do you pay PMI (private mortgage insurance) in your monthly mortgage payment? It’s because you had less than a 20% down payment when you purchased the home.
Did you know you can get that removed once you reach 20% equity in your house? Figure out how much more you would have to pay on your mortgage in order to get rid of your PMI (it’s money you’ll never get back that you’re paying out each month). Consider paying that off, then read this about how to physically get rid of your PMI.
Once a year I audit my monthly biz expenses.
I generally uncover up to $80/month I’ve been spending where the services no longer make sense, or that I can combine two services into one and get rid of a service. Those are the savings I see every month for the next year.
Don’t take the bank’s preapproval offer as sound advice for how much you SHOULD spend. Trust me – you’ll likely feel house-poor if you do. Instead, purchase a home that will cost less than 30% of your take-home pay.
Want to really rock your savings each month + leave flexibility for future lifestyle design? Then buy a house that is less than 30% of just ONE person’s pay.
We have a gym membership because it’s at a community center and is actually a cheap form of childcare.
So, I’m not completely against gym memberships. But to save money each month, you might want to ditch yours.
Don’t go it alone – there are some really awesome workout gurus that you can follow and it feels like they’re in your living room, cheering you on. Two of my favorites are Yoga with Adriene and Natalie Jill.
While we’re on the subject, see if you can swing a “hybrid” form of childcare. Instead of paying for 5 days somewhere and working, could you do a few days somewhere and a few days with grandparents?
Could you sign up for a community center and work in their café while you get 90 minutes of “free” babysitting (included in our $99/month cost) once or twice per day? Can you sign up for a childcare co-op, and volunteer a few days a month using your + your partner’s vacation days, then have your child taken care of the rest of the days?
What about partly working from home?
Do you work in an office, and find yourself at the vending machine each day? That can get expensive.
Save money by bulk-purchasing the snacks you like from a membership store (like Costco or Sam’s Club), then filling the bottom drawer of your desk with them.
I know someone whose circle of friends does potluck game nights several times a month. Each person takes turns hosting, and everyone brings food. The host offers up their board games (here are 19 free printable board games for adults) – it’s a lovely time, and I’ve gone twice myself!
Ever heard of the Danish term, hygge? It’s a way of life – about coziness, warmth, getting rid of annoyances, etc.
Set your life up with this in mind, and not only will you increase your happiness, but you’ll be less likely to turn to spending money for comfort.
Many years ago, I started to shop in clearance sections of stores – clothing stores, discount stores, grocery stores, etc. – FIRST instead of last. Makes a big difference.
In summer, turn your thermostat up just one degree. In the winter, turn it down just one degree. Experiment with this.
You may make automatic bill payments, which is convenient. But be sure to periodically check this month’s cell/internet/electric bill rates against the ones about a year ago.
Have they gone up? If so, it’s time to call your service provider and get them reduced.
Are you a Starbucks Junkie (hey, hey – no judgment here). Then check out your signature drink and find a copycat recipe to make it at home instead.
Figure out how much the ingredients cost per drink, then subtract from the cost of that same drink at Starbucks. Bank the savings each day you choose to make your own!
You’ll want to read what extreme couponers know about couponing that you may not.
If you’re only frugal during the hard times, then you likely aren’t saving enough money to put money into your savings account. Be frugal during the cash-flush times in your life as well, and bank those savings!
Borrowing works best when it flows both ways – you borrow from others when you need things, and others borrow from you when they need things. Then everyone saves money, and everyone is happy to continue the reciprocity.
You’ll want to read up on how to get paid to walk.
There are all kinds of ways how to save money on electricity bills.
Save money on your next smartphone purchase by finding the best place to sell your used cell phone.
I am THRILLED to introduce you to The Dating Divas, a site (and a group of married gals) that offers some of the coolest free and paid printables for date nights that you could ever imagine.
You will LOVE these guys – not to mention, both nurture your relationship AND save money while doing so! Some of my favorites include the
We routinely enjoy free zoo days (first Tuesdays of the month here in Houston), free art museum dates (Thursday nights), free open gymnastics times, etc.
Take half an hour or so to look for the free nights/days for local attractions where you live (this will be easier if you live in a city), and then mark them on a list or in your calendar to actually take advantage of it.
Alright…you want the best tips for saving money? I’ll add in this section the tips I think are the absolute best from above (plus a few more for good measure).
So far, we’ve discussed tons of ways to increase your monthly cash flow by decreasing your monthly spending. But this section? We’re dedicating it to figuring out the logistics for how to save money from your salary, and then how to increase those savings.
Lots of employers offer 401(k) plans with matching contributions. Commit to (meaning, do the paperwork) saving a percentage of each paycheck you get into your 401(k).
Bonus:save the amount you need to get your employer’s maximum contribution they’re willing to give.
Up your 401(k) contribution by just 1% – something you’ll hardly notice – to set yourself up for bigger retirement savings over the years. 더 나은가요? This is a percentage.
So, the amount you’re setting aside for retirement automatically increases each time you get a raise, without you having to do anything else. Score!
Did you know that many companies will allow you to split your paycheck’s direct deposit into more than one account? Go ahead and automatically have a percentage of your paycheck deposited into a savings account.
Here's a bunch of other ways for how to save for multiple goals at the same time.
You want to take advantage of an FSA for the tax advantages (you get to pay for eligible childcare and healthcare expenses with pre-taxed dollars). Then bank those tax savings.
This is your secret weapon to saving even MORE money from your salary. In fact, I’ve saved an extra $4,215.37 using the Oportun app over the last two years. That’s amazing!
Does your employer offer a matching 529 college savings plan? Take the time to sign up for it to get the full match (and if not the full match, start with half)!
My husband’s company has a wellness health program where each person – the employee, plus their spouse – can earn up to $450 in gift cards per year by doing things that they likely do already (such as getting your physical, annual woman’s exam, etc.).
This past year? We got $900 in Southwest gift cards! Even cooler – you can use the money to decrease your health insurance premiums for the year.
Make a rule for yourself that any overtime pay you receive will go straight to your savings account. It might get you super-motivated to take on more work!
Any tax return you receive this coming year? Resolve to set 50% of it into your savings account.
If you’re paid bi-weekly, then you actually have two months in the year where you get three paychecks. Since your budget is set up to be covered by two paychecks, you can just bank them (if you’re diligent).
Take a calendar and work out when your paydays are so that you can clearly see which two months this coming year you’ll be receiving a third paycheck. Then be sure to bank it!
Typically, a person’s income rises over their career. So, if you resolve to save a percentage of every paycheck, then when your income rises, the amount you save will also rise.
You can do this through HR if they allow you to split direct deposits between two accounts (so, your checking and then a savings account). From the forms I’ve seen, you get to put a percentage of pay that goes into each account.
Got two people working in your household? How about you save an ENTIRE paycheck each month (or their entire salary)?
My husband and I did this for several years – the amount of money that we were putting into retirement and savings accounts equaled my monthly pay.
To start, you might want to try just one entire paycheck a month, or the entire salary of the person who makes the lesser amount of money each month. What a challenge!
I’ve set up a strategy here for how to save for your retirement, by getting double tax benefits.
Ever heard of paying yourself first? It means, putting some money into your savings account (your “for keeps” savings account) FIRST, and then paying out your bills and living on what’s left.
It’s one of the best ways to ensure you actually put money into savings (ever notice by the end of the month there just doesn’t seem to be a lot left, if any, to send to savings? This should fix that).
Set up an amount you’re going to save, automatically, through your savings account by associating your checking account to your savings account and filling in the details online. Much more info on this in The Automatic Millionaire .
If you make a rule now when you make less income, that you will save 50% of every pay increase you ever get…well, you don’t have to do any math to see that you’ll really increase your savings over the years.
What I like about this, though, is that you also will still get more money to spend each month as well! It’s a win-win.
Lifestyle inflation is the idea that as we age and earn more money, we also spend more money. Once our consumption levels rise, it’s hard to come down from them (think about it:would you go back to living like a college student? Maybe, but it would take some sacrifices).
BUT, what if instead of allowing your lifestyle to inflate with each pay raise, you experience savings inflation? Food for thought.
When my husband and I first married, we took a look at both of our health insurance plans to see how much it would cost to insure the other.
It turned out, it made sense for us to keep our plans separate. Then when he got another job, it made financial sense for me to go on his insurance.
If both you and your spouse are working, periodically check to see whose health insurance is cheapest to go on.
Savings Account 623839394 is really boring. But if you name your online savings account after what you want to do with it – like the Margaritas in Mexico account or the House of Our Dreams fund – then you’ll be more likely to actually, well, fund it.
You’ve heard that portfolio fees can eat away at your retirement savings, right? Yet, if you’re like me, you have 7-8 different retirement accounts (from moving jobs).
It’s hard to know how many fees you’re paying each year. That’s why I like to use the free tool, Empower, to tell me how much in fees I pay across my portfolio and investment accounts. If you have a 401(k) with your company, you should know they’re notorious for having lots of fees.
It’s worth checking into, and possibly rolling your money over into an IRA (while you’re still employed there).
I use this free tool to track my net worth, and then each year I figure out what our personal savings rate was. What do I do with this awareness? I use it to up the ante for next year. If our personal savings rate was 19% for the year, I’ll calculate how much we’d need to save to get to 22% next year.
Here is plenty of motivation to save money.
Do you know that you’re 33% more likely to meet your savings goal by just writing it down?
In order to save money, you need to either earn more money than your expenses, or spend less than you earn (they sound like the same thing, but they’re not, exactly).
But, what if you both earn more money AND cut expenses?
You’ve now widened the gap even more between your income and expenses, and that’s all beautiful money to set aside into savings.
For each of your paychecks, ask yourself, “How do I spend the least amount of money out of this paycheck while still obtaining what I need/desire so that I can keep the most amount of money for my savings?”
We paid for our honeymoon to Austria mostly from cash that was not from our salaries. Check out how.
You might think I should stop at 200 saving money tips. But to be honest, not only do I know way more tips for saving money than 200, but I also want to give a wide variety of tips so that you’ll find lots of ideas for how to get more of your paychecks into your savings account.
Wait…you want 50 MORE money-saving tips and ideas?
알았어, 알았어. You want it, you GOT it!
We got both our refrigerator (stainless steel) and our washing machine/dryer at the Scratch N Dent store in Houston.
Both were half off! The dents are a little noticeable…but you know what’s even more noticeable? That $1,000+ in our savings account.
You know how Subway and other places offer a Buy One Get One Free coupon? Go once, get two subs or whatever you’re buying, then eat one today and the next tomorrow for lunch.
A super easy tip to save money on groceries is, while you’re unloading your groceries and putting everything away, just put the old product on top of or in front of the new one you bought.
Like, if you have two old yogurts, and you bought 6 new ones, put the two old ones in front of the new ones so that you eat those first. Waste not, want not!
RewardSurvey.com is the EASIEST place to get free magazine subscriptions that I have found (magazines.com comes in a close second). You just take a survey here and there, and get $15-$30 at a time to “spend” on magazine subscriptions.
I get Oprah’s magazine, I’ve gotten Martha Stewart’s, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, and all kinds of other subscriptions – I even get free subscriptions to give to my in-laws and grandmother!
We have a beauty school about ten miles away from us, and you can get a free haircut or even a pedicure from them. You do, generally, still tip them a few bucks.
Does your company or your husband’s offer corporate discounts for everyday products and cell phone plans? Take the time to look around the website they give you, and see if you can take advantage of any deals.
Does your credit card offer price protection (as in, if you find something you just purchased within 6 weeks or so drop in price, you can get a refund of the difference)?
I’ve done this twice with our credit card for sneakers and was pleased with how it all worked.
If you look up airplane tickets ahead of time, then make sure you erase your browser’s cookies before looking them up again a few days later. This is because sites know you want those tickets, on those exact dates, and by the time you come back to buy them they can put up the price (there’s demand).
Are you paying for a roadside assistance subscription when your car insurance company actually offers it within your insurance package? Double-check your coverage with your insurance agent.
If you shop at CVS but don’t want to play the drugstore game, let me show you just one trick you can use to save a lot more. Take your transaction, and divide it into two. In your first transaction, pay for items that will earn ExtraBucks rewards. Then, for the second transaction, partly pay for it USING those ExtraBucks rewards. BOOM.
Many plan providers charge less during non-peak hours, and more during peak hours (meaning hours when everyone is trying to use electricity). Give your provider a call and find out when the cheapest times are for you – then do things like all your laundry during this time period.
Psst:here's how to lower electric bill in old house.
Have you SEEN how large some restaurant’s appetizers have grown? And how yummy they are? Order 3 appetizers for a dinner out instead of two meals.
You can still spend money on the areas that are important to you AND save money at the same time…but probably only if you do conscious spending.
Off the top of my head, over the last several years we’ve eliminated paper towels (we use dish towels and wash them each week), baby wipes (man, it’s easy to get addicted to them! They’re so convenient), diapers (gotta love potty training!), dryer sheets (though we live in humid Houston), and Swiffer Mops (we use the reusable Reveal Mop instead).
We also just don’t wash our beater cars (though for Mother’s Day, my husband and son gave ours a hose down!). Eliminating items entirely off your list will save you money.
One of the reasons why I think people love going to Starbucks all the time (and I’ve had my own stints with it, especially after the baby came!) is because you have such a nice coffee cup/cup to carry around a drink in.
Just a theory!
SO, what I did to cut back on my own use, was spend the money to buy a nice tumbler that I would then love to put a drink into.
It kind of uplevels the whole experience, causing me to not feel like I’m missing out by skipping the drive-thru. If you use it to replace designer coffees/iced coffees/teas, then it’ll pay for itself very quickly.
If you’re still building your family (or not sure if you want a second/third/fourth/etc. child yet), then you definitely want to ask for + buy gender-neutral baby and toddler clothes. This could save you a bundle for the next little bundle of joy!
I fall for this one WAY more than I’d like to admit – buying something that’s not 100% suited for me, just because it’s really low-priced.
I could actually buy something very high-quality if I stopped spending the $5 here and $10 there on things I don’t end up using (listen to your gut!).
This is especially true in the blogging world, but I have found it to be true in real life as well. There are tons of courses free information, and free things out in this world. But if we get something without paying for it, the tendency is to take it for granted/not use it to its full potential because it’s not worth as much in our eyes.
Stop this thinking!
I’ve gotten some of the best business advice of my life through free courses and articles, and have implemented them as if I had paid $1,000 for the information (most online courses for businesses range from $497-$997). Where are you undervaluing something just because you got it for free?
Check out this article on 51 places to score birthday freebies.
Why not stop buying so much stuff, and instead spend the saved money towards buying back some of your time (such as meal planning help, getting your home cleaned, and childcare)?
I know it sounds weird, but this is part of the conscious spending above. You can totally buy these services and still save money in your account; you just have to then stop buying in other areas.
The time you gain? Use it to save even more money (plus, well, you know, enjoy your life!).
Here are my thoughts on time vs. money.
I shopped around for a random vet service once to prove a point and was BLOWN AWAY by how different the prices are for the same service. Make sure you do this.
If you can work from home for any number of days in the week, then do it. It’s less gas costs, less temptations to spend on lunch or at stores, etc.
We always get the most gorgeous gift bags, and I feel like it would be such a waste to not reuse them! This tip alone has probably saved me over $100 in the last few years. Just don’t give them back to the same person.
Do you make $54,000/year or less? You could qualify for free tax return help.
I could kick myself at how long it took me to take the time to figure out how to use gas rewards at our grocery store.
Once I did it the first time, I routinely saved $10 or so each month on gas (and the price there was always a few cents cheaper than other gas stations anyway).
If you’ve lost your job, or ever lose your job, you should know there are other options for health insurance (you also don’t want to lapse) than the really expensive COBRA. Read about health insurance without a job.
Your library has a collection of DVDs for you to borrow, PLUS, you can use the interlibrary loan system to get your hands on just about any DVD you want.
Do you live near a college? My college used to have community events every month – such as film festivals – where people in the neighborhood could come for free or cheap. See what your local college offers!
Keep the kids busy by doing a free park crawl – do a search for all the different kid’s playgrounds and park areas within 20-30 minutes of you.
Each day you need something to do, go to a new one. Have your kids put pushpins in a map (if it gets them excited).
Be the person who volunteers to take the next flight since yours is overbooked…and save those travel vouchers for future trips!
You might also want to check out my article on how to save on weekend getaways.
Do you know your airline passenger rights? Knowing them could get you a decent chunk of change the next time you miss a flight, your flight gets canceled your luggage gets lost, etc. GetAirHelp will even go after any money owed to you from the airlines, on your behalf.
Do you need some savings inspiration? Perhaps some books will stretch your thinking on just what you can achieve with your current income? I always love to read survive-and-thrive stories from others who have been in worse situations than myself.
I can’t tell you how many times this has caused me to change my perspective and break through to another level of savings. Specifically, I love to read about how people survived the Great Depression.
We all are influenced by the people we hang out with, and we influence others as well. Make sure you’re hanging out with people who are gung-ho about saving money – even if it’s just online.
Finding Facebook Groups of frugal savers will teach you tons of techniques you hadn’t thought about, plus keep you on the path to high savings. Trust me when I say it’s nice to talk to like-minded people sometimes.
Three FB groups I’m personally a member of include Money Saving Mom’s Deal Seekers, Rachel Cruze’s group, and Your Money and Your Life’s Group (run by NPR).
Have you ever listened to the Serial Podcast? I was about two years behind on hearing about it. But once I listened to the first one (there are 3 seasons)? I was hooked.
I opened up my laptop while cooking each evening, and listened to an episode (which was super helpful because at the time I had an infant). 완전 무료입니다. What other awesome podcasts can you consume for free instead of, say, an audiobook?
Take advantage of back-to-school sales by actually restocking your OWN office with office supplies. Bonus savings if you can get these items tax-free, as well!
Every time one of our expenses goes up – such as a rise in our flood insurance premiums, an increase in gas costs, or an increased service cost – I play the zero-sum expenses game.
This means I need to take the increase and find out how to save that amount of money (or more) on something else in our budget. That way, our spending still stays the same (hint:this is a really great thing for when you get raises at work – if you keep your expenses the same, then you’ve widened the gap between income and expenses, and saving becomes easier) .
See if you can save money on a prescription using a prescription discount card, like GoodRx.com.
One of the best times for you to buy things you need for around the house is in the post-Christmas sales. The problem is, that most people don’t save any money to spend around this time of year, so they miss out on these incredible sales.
Don’t let that be you next year! Make a list of what you’ll get at 50-75% off, and then go get it during the sales.
Got buyer's remorse? It might be a little inconvenient, but go get your money back on purchases that just weren’t right for you. You can do this all in one fell swoop, or one at a time over lunches during the work week. If it’s been a long time, and you still have the receipts and tags? Many stores will give you credit to the store.
If you’re not using a credit card or can use another one that has the same or better perks, then get rid of the card with fees.
FYI – you’ll likely take a hit to your credit score when you do this, so don’t do it if you’ll need your credit soon (like you’ll be buying a home with a mortgage, or car with a car loan, soon).
Take the time to email a brand that you love, and tell them why you love their products (be specific). Many brands have been known to send out coupons and free products to big fans!
My Aunt used to take her old truck to the local vo-tech (Vocational-Technical) school to get routine maintenance + repairs done. She just had to pay for the supplies and didn’t have to pay labor.
Valentine’s Day and Anniversaries are both all about love! You can save some money on your anniversary gifts by shopping the clearance after Valentine’s Day.
Not only will you save lots of time and energy (which are worth money), but using your crockpot to cook food will keep you out of the drive-thru, and use up less energy than using your oven. Plus, there are bound to be leftovers (unless your family is Duggar-sized. If they are? Check out these 16 money-saving tips for large families).
We did this 7 years ago. Over the life of the loan, we’ll be saving an astounding $103,000 off of interest payments (going from a 30-year down to a 15-year mortgage). Read more about refinancing our mortgage.
Here’s a secret my family probably has not even noticed – I substitute ingredients for recipes all the time. If I have every ingredient I need to make a recipe for dinner, except the shallots, I’ll use any kind of onion we have in the pantry, instead.
I’ll substitute cheeses for one another, almond milk for regular milk, etc. I’ve even used garlic powder in place of garlic in a pinch (though we cook from scratch with real ingredients almost all of the time).
Anything that will keep you out of that extra run to the store!
It’s easy to just not make a purchase for something – especially for us ultra-frugal. But I have found that delaying a purchase now can sometimes lead to having to pay MORE later.
For example, if your roof is leaking, not fixing it now means that you might have an insulation/wall/painting issue later. Or certain car repairs, if not made now (like getting the brakes checked *ahem*) could lead to more repairs later (like getting into a minor fender-bender that costs $1,000 PLUS the original brake repair – I'm talking to myself, here).
There are savings accounts where you get entered into a prize drawing each month for saving money! For example, one such account enters you into a drawing for every month you save at least $25.
Sometimes, I can be very black-and-white. If I don’t get near my savings goal for the week or month, or my spending is out of control, I just throw in the towel.
Don’t do this – give yourself a clean slate at the beginning of each week or month. You CAN and ARE a success, even if last week or last month didn’t look so hot.
If you know your kids are watching you do things like use coupons, comparison shop, and make deposits at the bank, then chances are you will get better at saving money. Model how to do it for their sake, and increase money in your savings account faster at the same time!
You can keep a swap in the family – just tell your brothers and sisters to bring 10 items they no longer need/want in their house, and you do the same. At your next family gathering, everyone gets to swap!
So here’s my silly confession of the month:I always thought that you needed an ice cream maker in order to make homemade ice cream. Not only is that not true, but there are recipes that you can make for many things that don't require things like bread machines, ice cream makers, or popcorn makers.
I've enjoyed ones like Martha Stewart’s Sugar and Spice Popcorn recipe, and the awesome master artisan bread recipe that the book Artisan Breads in 5 Minutes a Day is based on.
I’ve got one bonus idea for you on how to save money fast, on a low income.
If you’ve got a low income, then you likely will qualify for a savings match program. These are programs sponsored by Nonprofits, the government, and banks/organizations with the purpose of helping you achieve substantial savings goals on little income (such as saving up for a down payment on a home, paying for job training, paying for college tuition, or even building an emergency fund savings. On top of the financial help where you get free money for saving your own money, some programs offer free financial training.
There are loads of saving money challenges out there that you can join to really boost your savings performance. A few of my favorites are the 52-week savings challenge and the $1,000 in 30-days challenge. Got a small budget? Check out these 9 mini savings challenges.
Amanda L. Grossman is a writer and Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI®), Plutus Foundation Grant Recipient, and founder of Frugal Confessions. Over the last 17 years, her money work has helped people with how to save money and how to manage money.
She's been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger, Washington Post, U.S. News &World Report, Business Insider, LifeHacker, Real Simple Magazine, Woman's World, Woman's Day, ABC 13 Houston, Keybank, and more. Read more here or on LinkedIn.