Most people aren’t sure where to start when it comes to saving. It’s easier than most people think to start saving a little at a time and let it add up. Here are 50 quick and easy ways to save big money.
- Save change in a piggy bank or a large container of some sort instead of losing it in the couch cushions.
- Clip those coupons out of the Sunday paper. It’s possible to walk out of the grocery store with incredibly low cost or even free groceries and household items.
- Carpooling with friends and co-workers is a great way to save money on gas and keep vehicles running longer.
- Use less expensive brands to cook meals at home. Many of the store brands available at the local market cost much less and taste just as good.
- Stop wasting energy when no one is in the room. Everyone in the family needs to be sure to turn off lights and electronics when they leave a room.
- Lease a room or get a roommate to help share the cost of rent.
- Start a garden in the yard or even in an apartment, most gardeners save big money and get the best vegetables and herbs available.
- Eat at home at least five nights per week.
- Cut out expensive habits such as smoking or drinking. Cigarettes easily add up to about one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars per month.
- Sign up for reward cards at stores, gas stations, and even online.
- Fun can be free. There are lots of fun activities that don’t cost a thing, look online or in the newspaper to find some local events.
- Make freezer meals by purchasing the ingredients, making the meals, and then freezing them.
- Generic prescriptions are one of the most recommended ways to save money. Some prescriptions cost hundreds of dollars, unless the generic alternative is available.
- Buy quality not quantity for major or minor purchases. Buying a quality product that will last is much more affordable than buying cheap items that just need to be replaced sooner.
- In home water filters will save hundreds of dollars in no time versus purchasing bottles of water.
- Hang clothes to dry rather than running an electric dryer.
- Take advice from finance experts by either reading blogs or subscribing to one of the many newsletters for finance advice.
- Use a credit card with cash back for everyday purchases.
- Be careful with financing such as credit cards. Even though it’s possible to earn cash back there is interest on credit cards.
- Sell collections such as old electronics to make money and clear up some clutter.
- Say No whenever an expense doesn’t seem vital. A little self-control can go a long way and could be very rewarding in the long run.
- Stay home rather than going out. A night of binge-watching Netflix can be just as fun as going out with friends.
- Drink water rather than soda or energy drinks. A well-hydrated body not only feels better and water is much less expensive.
- Low energy appliances and electronics save hundreds for most homeowners.
- Shop around rather than making convenient purchases. It’s almost always possible to save money by looking for the best deal around.
- Plan ahead with family members and significant others. Being prepared and thinking ahead for expenses makes it a lot easier to avoid mistakes or prevent financial flubs.
- Revise your plan once in a while, make sure everything is on track and there are no adjustments that should be made.
- Be patient let the deals come to you. Waiting until after Christmas to buy gifts for next year leads to some pretty great savings.
- Shop local rather than going to the mall or boutiques where items are overly expensive.
- Use the ten-second rule by stopping for ten seconds to ask whether you really need an item.
- Use a visual reminder of bills and other expenses to stay on top of payments and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
- Bring lunch to work rather than spending ten dollars at the nearest cafe or restaurant.
- Repair rather than replace. There are lots of Instructables and tutorials for making household repairs available online or from books.
- Buy in bulk when it comes to items that will definitely be used. Laundry soap and some food items are a great way to start.
- Use benefits from work such as student loan assistance to help get out of debt. Most employers have detailed information about the benefits they offer.
- Ask about waiving fees when signing up for a new bank account or other services.
- Get in shape to avoid illness and reduce the cost of medical care.
- Eliminate entertainment costs by connecting a computer to the television and streaming media rather than paying for cable.
- Learn from mistakes instead of getting frustrated when there’s a financial slip-up. These lessons will pay off in the future.
- Buy a deep freezer and stock up on food and drinks. Most items stay fresh for as much as a year in a freezer.
- Reuse groceries by making meals from leftovers.
- Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating a good breakfast means less snacks throughout the day.
- Volunteer at your local community center to help reduce student debt and have fun without spending a penny.
- Craft gifts rather than buying them. Handmade gifts mean more and cost less.
- Buy used when possible. When a used item is in good condition there’s no need to spend on extra on a new item.
- Cancel subscriptions that aren’t being used or don’t live up to expectations.
- Turn to family and friends for support when possible. Having a backup system for stressful times will help in unexpected ways sometimes.
- Stress spending can be devastating to someone trying to save money. With a little support that habit can be broken for good.
- Don’t one-stop shop, making several stops might be less convenient but it can save money when bargain hunting.
- Program the thermostat to shut off when no one is home.
