Have you ever heard the saying, “A goal without a plan is just a wish?” It suggests that daydreaming and wishful thinking rarely produce accurate results. You can apply this saying to many aspects of your life, but it’s beneficial for learning how to budget and save money. If you’re ready to start planning, we can help you make one. Here are the most realistic ways to save money with little effort.
Key Takeaways
- Set up automatic transfers that move money into savings without thinking about it.
- Look over and cut out any subscriptions, outings, and impulsive purchases you do not need.
- Plan a grocery list and buy food items in bulk –– especially for single households.
- Use energy-efficient appliances, reduce peak-hour usage, and unplug devices to lower utility bills.
- Employ budgeting applications to create a simple monthly budget that includes your savings goals and financial needs.
- Use cashback credit cards, loyalty programs, and digital coupons.
- Do minor home repairs and sell items you don’t use to make extra money.
- Plan holidays, traveling, and other significant expenses in advance to avoid debt situations.
What Are the Best Ways to Save Money?
Saving money is rarely a one-size-fits-all strategy. The key is to develop a method that works for your financial situation and goals. The tips below will help get you started on a path toward financial security:
1. Automate Your Savings
You probably already have a checking account with your bank, so adding a savings account to your banking profile is a quick and easy way to help you allocate some funds to savings. Try automating transfers that put a certain amount of your paycheck directly into your savings account, reducing your urge to spend it. Even small, consistent transfers like $50 per paycheck add up over time.
Plus, traditional and online banks’ savings and money market accounts typically have better interest rates. So you can earn more money from your account balances.
2. Cut Back on Monthly Spending
Even the wealthiest people in the world look for ways to save money. Your monthly expenses are too high if you cannot save as much as you like. If you are spending more and saving less each month, its time to take a hard look at your expenses.
3. Review Monthly Subscriptions
From streaming services to monthly memberships, losing track of your subscriptions is easy. Review all your recurring charges and remove the ones you barely use — especially the ones that renew automatically. If you want to keep certain subscriptions, consider downgrading to a less costly plan. Also, family plans on platforms like Netflix can be cheaper when split between users.
4. Use Coupons and Cashback Apps
One of the lesser-known but clever ways to save money is using digital coupons. The Honey and Camelizer extensions unlock digital coupons and automatically apply savings codes during checkout. You can also look into cashback programs like Rakuten to earn money on travel-related purchases, food, clothes, and more.
5. Cook at Home More Often
Whether you prepare meals or write a grocery list that helps you eat most of your meals at home, creating a food plan enables you to avoid impulse purchases and minimize restaurant spending. The National Institute of Health found that individuals who planned their meals were likely to eat healthier and significantly reduce food waste, putting more money in their pockets.
6. Buy in Bulk
Buying bulk from stores like Costco and Sam’s Club can help you save money on items you use because it often lowers the cost per unit. This can be helpful for everyday needs such as toiletries, household supplies, and snacks.
Map out your larger purchases — appliances, furniture, cars, and cellphones — by waiting for discounts and annual sale periods. You can avoid paying full price on big-ticket items during item off-seasons or recurring deal days like Black Friday or Labor Day. Enlist the help of your deal-tracking and couponing apps to ensure you get the best deal.
Note: Bulk buying is a clever way to save money, but you should still apply the 24-hour rule to ensure you only buy items you’ll use.
7. Become More Energy-Efficient
A large part of learning how to save money is adjusting your lifestyle. You can reduce your energy bills by making significant and minor changes to your home to make it more efficient. Install energy-efficient appliances, such as dishwashers, laundry machines, and water heaters. Unplug devices when you aren’t using them (many electronics draw power even when turned off). These are just a few ideas you can incorporate into your day-to-day routine.
8. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Replace old bulbs with LED or CFL ones. Though they are an expensive investment, these bulbs pay for themselves by living longer and consuming less electricity.
9. Set Realistic Savings Goals
Determine specific, achievable targets that can help motivate you to save. Whether it’s a short-term goal like establishing an emergency fund or a long-term goal like saving to buy a home, start small and commit to consistency. Then, gradually increase your savings contributions as your financial situation allows.
10. Account for Saving in Your Budget
Treat savings like a monthly expense. By prioritizing it in your budget — $100 for entertainment and $100 to put toward your high-yield savings account — you ensure that saving money becomes a habit rather than an afterthought.
11. Pay Off Debt
High-interest debt can be a significant bottleneck to saving. First, focus on reducing debt from credit cards and other outstanding accounts. Once you’ve trimmed your expenses, you can set more money aside for future goals.
Automating your budgeting process with budgeting apps can help you monitor spending, set goals, and track progress effortlessly, making it easier to stay on top of your finances and cut back as needed.
13. Set a Monthly Food Budget for 1
Create a food budget that is unique to you and your needs. Track your meals and limit spending on restaurants and eating out.
14. Reduce Energy Usage at Peak Hours
Many utility companies charge lower rates for off-peak usage hours. You can lower your monthly energy consumption by doing laundry, running the dishwasher, or charging devices during these times.
15. Unsubscribe from Marketing Emails
Avoid temptation by unsubscribing from promotional emails. This reduces impulse buying, keeping you from spending money on items you don’t need.
16. Try a “No-Spend” Challenge
Focus only on one month’s essential expenses like rent, utilities, and food. Doing this will boost savings and help you become more mindful of spending habits.
17. Download Money-Saving Apps
Apps like Mint, YNAB, and Acorns help track expenses, invest spare change, and budget effortlessly, making it easier to build savings with minimal effort.
18. Opt for a High-Yield Savings Account
Choose a high-yield savings account to earn better interest on your savings. Online banks often provide higher rates than traditional banks, helping you save quickly.
19. Plan Travel and Book Flights Early
Book several months in advance, use incognito mode for searching and consider budget airlines when figuring out how to save money on flights. Flexible travel dates can also help you find cheaper fares.
20. Embrace DIY for Household Repairs
Minor home repairs like leaky faucets or simple painting jobs can be done on your own and save you lots of money in the long run. Use online tutorials to help you tackle easy projects without hiring a professional.
21. Shop with a List
Grocery lists help prevent impulse purchases, so sticking only to essentials can help you figure out how to save on groceries in the long run.
22. Sell Unused Items
Declutter your home and earn extra cash by selling unused items on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. It’s a quick way to save while organizing your space.
23. Plan for Holiday Expenses Early
Start setting aside monthly funds for holiday gifts, decor, and travel. This makes holiday expenses manageable and helps avoid credit card debt in December.
24. Choose Affordable Hobbies
Hobbies can get expensive, so choose low-cost options like reading, hiking, or creative DIY crafts to save on leisure activities.
25. Negotiate Bills
Call your service providers and negotiate for better rates. From the Internet to insurance, many companies are open to lowering costs to keep customers happy.
26. Consolidate Debt
If you have multiple high-interest debts, consider consolidating them into one loan with a lower interest rate. This helps you save on interest and pay off debt faster.
27. Buy Generic Brands
Those fancy brands cost far more than the off-brand options and generally are the same in quality. Opt for the cheaper brands, and your wallet will thank you.
28. Use Library Resources
Check out your local library instead of buying books, movies, or magazines. Many libraries offer free digital downloads, saving you money on entertainment.
29. Share Subscription Services
Share streaming services, food delivery memberships, or other subscriptions with family or friends to reduce monthly costs.
30. Track and Limit Small Purchases
Every small purchase adds up. Even that $5 coffee each morning. Track your smaller purchases and limit them as much as possible.
31. Set Up a “Fun Fund”
Allocate a small amount each month toward something enjoyable. This helps satisfy spending urges in a controlled way, preventing larger, impulsive splurges.
32. Practice “Planned Procrastination” on Purchases
When tempted by non-essential purchases, wait at least 48 hours before buying. This cooling-off period helps avoid impulse spending and encourages mindful decision-making.
33. Use Cash Instead of Cards
For discretionary spending, withdraw a set amount of cash each week and use that instead of cards. Physically seeing the money leave your hands can help curb overspending.
34. Set a Savings Challenge with Friends
Make saving social by challenging friends to see who can save the most within a month. A friendly competition adds motivation and accountability.
35. DIY Gifts and Homemade Cards
Instead of purchasing gifts, make personalized, homemade items for birthdays and holidays. Not only is it cheaper, but it’s often more meaningful.
36. Turn Off “One-Click” Purchases
Disable quick checkout options on shopping platforms. By forcing yourself to go through the full checkout process, you’ll have extra time to reconsider purchases.
37. Start a Garden
Even if it’s a small indoor herb garden, growing your own herbs and vegetables can cut down on grocery expenses, especially for fresh herbs and greens.
38. Calculate Purchases by “Hourly Wage”
Before making a discretionary purchase, calculate how many hours of work it would take to pay for it. This perspective can help you rethink expenses that aren’t truly worth it.
39. Limit Celebratory Dining Out
Reserve dining out for special occasions or limit it to once a month. This makes outings feel more special while keeping costs down.
40. Borrow Instead of Buy for One-Time Needs
For items like tools, party supplies, or books you won’t need long-term, consider borrowing from friends or using local sharing libraries to save on one-time expenses.
41. Avoid Bank and ATM Fees
Stick to ATMs within your bank’s network and use accounts with no monthly fees. Over time, these small fees add up, so cutting them out helps retain more of your money.
42. Experiment with “Meatless Mondays”
Dedicate one day a week to plant-based meals. Vegetables, beans, and grains are generally cheaper than meat, so this habit can cut grocery costs over time.
43. Use the Envelope System
Assign each spending category a set amount of cash in its own envelope each month. Once an envelope is empty, avoid spending in that category until next month, which promotes disciplined spending.
44. Avoid Pre-Packaged Foods
Opt for whole, raw ingredients over pre-packaged or pre-cut options, which are often more expensive. This small change can lower grocery bills significantly.
45. Create a “Rainy Day Fund” for Small Emergencies
Separate from your main savings, this small, dedicated fund can cover minor unexpected expenses without derailing your long-term goals.
If you think saving money is out of reach, think again. You can implement numerous tactics immediately to start building up your savings. From automated deposits to buying things in bulk, this guide helped make saving money a realistic goal.
