Everyone wants to save money, but it’s not always easy to do. Learn some of the best ways to save money with these easy tips.
Explore this Guide:
Generally, when we think about a savings plan we think about all the sacrifices we need to make—no more morning coffee, no more eating out, or biking to work in the rain.
But saving money is more dynamic than the typical financial sacrifices we think about. There is so much more you can do to save money than simply depriving yourself of a simple item like morning coffee.
Ultimately, there are two ways to save money—by increasing your paycheck or by decreasing your spending.
Money Saving Tips to Increase Income
By increasing your income you’ll be adding to the amount of money you have available each month. Adding to your income can be the key solution to financial shortages that keep you from saving more.
Tip #1: Ask for a Raise
Asking for a raise from your boss can be intimidating. Try setting up a meeting with your boss to discuss the raise. Then practice your talking points beforehand with a friend or in front of a mirror.
It also helps to do a little research beforehand to see what the current market rates are like in your area and your job field. This will help you understand how much you should be making.
Tip #2: Find a Better-Paying Job
If you can’t get a raise at your current job, it could be time to start looking for a new and better job. The change may be necessary and worthwhile if it will give you a better financial situation.
Tip #3: Start a Second Job
A side hustle to bring in some extra income each month could be just what you need to make your monthly finances more comfortable. There are so many things you can do like freelancing, driving for a rideshare, or starting your own small business or online shop.
Tip #4: Sell Your Stuff
If you have things in your house you want to get rid of, make good use of them by selling them. You could have a yard sale or use an online service like the Facebook marketplace.
Tip #5: Set Up Passive Income
Passive income is the type of earnings people get from things like owning rental properties or shares in a company or business partnership. You could invest in a rental property, invest in a business, or become a partner in a business venture to start earning passive income.
Tip #6: Start Investing
Investing can be a great way to start receiving passive income or make high returns and profits for the future.
Tip #7: Grow a Garden and Sell the Produce
By growing your own produce garden you can both make and save money. Depending on how big your garden is, you can sell your garden produce to friends and neighbors.
Tip #8: Get Rid of Debts and Loans
The more debts you have the less you have for yourself each month. By getting rid of debts and loans you’ll have more income each month for necessities, fun, and the future.
Money Savings Tips to Decrease Spending
By decreasing your spending you’ll also increase your monthly income. You’ll have more money to put toward getting rid of debts and building your savings and emergency funds.
Tip #9: Cancel Subscriptions
Subscriptions can add up to be a lot if you aren’t careful. End as many subscriptions as you can to save that monthly fee for yourself.
Tip #10: Join Family or Group Subscription Plans
Don’t want to say goodbye to that subscription? That’s ok! Another thing you can try is starting a family plan with friends and family to split the cost of the subscription.
Tip #11: Cancel Memberships
Some memberships can be really useful, like a membership to Costco where you can buy in bulk and save more in the long term, or a membership to a gym where you can work out and stay healthy.
But if you can, cancel your memberships and find free or cheaper alternatives, like a cheaper gym or running in your neighborhood instead.
Tip #12: Switch to a Cheaper Phone Plan
Phone bills can get really expensive, especially when they include paying off expensive new phones. While it’s really nice to have a great phone and a great phone plan, there might be cheaper options out there for you to take advantage of.
Tip #13: Eat at Home
Eating out is usually more expensive than eating at home. By baking and cooking at home you can save more money and potentially eat healthier and more wholesome meals.
Tip #14: Meal and Grocery Plan
Prepare for grocery shopping before you go to the store and prepare for making meals this week before the week starts. This will help you eat home on a regular basis and keep you from overspending while out at the store.
Tip #15: Pack a Lunch for Work or School
We all need to eat during the school or work day. Save money while taking better care of yourself by packing healthy meals instead of eating out during your lunch break.
Tip #16: Switch to Cheaper Generic Brands
Brands tend to come with a price tag of their own. Choose wisely and avoid paying extra simply for a name brand.
Tip #17: Plan Free Activities
When it’s time to have fun choose activities that don’t involve your wallet. Plan a staycation, go hiking, plan a camping trip, play games, or watch the movies you already have at home.
Tip #18: Save on Transportation
Save your wallet while helping save the planet! Use public transportation, walk, ride your bike, or carpool to save on gas costs.
Tip #19: Reduce Utility Bills
Spend less on your utility bill by using less power each day. Run less water, keep the AC off on nice days, and turn lights off when not in the room. You could even want to look into more inexpensive energy solutions or providers for your utilities.
Tip #20: Invest in Reusable Products
Reusable products can save you lots of money in the long term. For example, buy cloth towels instead of rebuying paper towels or get reusable tupperware and ziplock bags instead of rebuying plastic wrap and plastic ziplock bags.
Tip #21: Use Coupons
Watch out for deals and keep an eye on the coupons that are out there whenever you go shopping. Apps like honey can help find deals no matter where you shop online. Don’t miss out on deals that will save you money!
Tip #22: Do It Yourself
We can’t all be masters of everything, but when you do find an opportunity to do something yourself and save money, take it!
Tip #23: Save Extra Money Instead of Spending It
Control the urge to spend when you get extra money like a raise, a bonus, or a tax refund. By putting that money aside instead you can build up a much larger fund.
Tip #24: Build an Emergency Fund
An emergency fund will save you money in the future when a financial emergency arises, and you are already prepared with a family savings you’ve set aside just for emergencies.
Tip #25: Automate Your Spending
You spend less the more you are able to control that spending. The most effective way to control spending is to automate it as much as possible. Automating expenses like your bill payments can also sometimes get you discounts, better rates, or rewards.
Tip #26: Buy in Bulk
Keep an eye on the price per unit to make sure you’re actually getting a better deal when buying in bulk. If it is cheaper to buy that item in bulk, then you could save lots of money and be more stocked up and prepared in the long run too.
Tip #27: Buy Bundles
Many service providers now offer bundled packages that can help you save more while you get more. You might be able to bundle things like your insurance, streaming services, or cable and internet plans.
Tip #28: Create a Better Budget
If the budget you have now isn’t working then it might be time to throw that budget away and try something new. One thing you might try is the cash envelope system, or diligently recording all your spending for a whole month to really learn your money habits and track down the problem.
Tip #29: Set Shopping Rules
Set rules for yourself, your partner, and anyone else involved in the household finances. These rules might be things like spending limits, stricter allowances with reloadable prepaid cards, or practicing a spending freeze.
Tip #30: Use Prepaid Cards
Do you want to know how to save money fast? Set hard limits on spending by getting a reloadable prepaid card. These cards are easy to use and they won’t let you overdraft or spend more than what you’ve put on the card to be spent.
In Conclusion,
An efficient savings plan is all about learning how to spend less and figuring out ways to earn more. With these how-to-save-money tips, you’ll end up with more money on your side each month and more financial freedom because of it.
written by Kimber Severance, Check City Finance Writer
