With prices rising from the grocery store to the pump, many are left looking for ways to cut back on their spending.
In these times, it’s hard to know where or how you can even begin to stretch your dollar.
This is why you need an extensive list of 101 of the best and often easiest ways you can save a little more money in the coming year.
101 Ways To Save Money
Grocery
1| Have a plan when you shop and stick to it.
Diverting from your grocery list can easily add impulsive choices to your shopping bill. Without a list, you may also find yourself purchasing food in quantities that are unnecessary to your needs, or even things you might not actually need.
2| Don’t shop on an empty stomach.
A study showed that those who shopped while hungry could spend up to 60% more than other shoppers. Try and plan your grocery trips after a fulfilling meal to reduce cravings.
3| Buy in bulk.
Food and other household products are usually discounted as the quantity or size increases. Look for deals like this when you can, being sure that you’ll actually be able to use or store the remainder to avoid wasting the product.
4| Be strategic with your meals.
Finding ways to use grocery items across multiple meals helps stretch the value of those items a bit more and will also help you to avoid products spoiling before your next round of meals.
5| Find saver clubs.
Where you live will dictate the places you can go for savings but be sure to research the options closest to you. Sometimes a membership fee is worth the price if you can determine you’ll save money in the long run. When free savings memberships are offered, be sure to sign up and use whatever benefits you can towards your shopping.
6| Reduce the number of trips.
The more you have to drive to the grocery store, the more time and gas money you will be spending. If you’re currently shopping 2 times a week, consider consolidating down to 1 to reduce a little bit more of the travel costs.
7| Mark expiration dates in bold sharpie.
Things like meat and dairy products have a habit of spoiling before we get the chance to consume them. Often, we just think that we’ll have more time. When the expiration date of an item is readily available, it’s far easier to prioritize that food first.
8| Don’t pay for the brand.
Not only are generic or store-named brands great, but many of these items are actually produced by the same big names that we know and love, packaged and distributed separately.
9| Use the self-checkout.
Standing at the register idly actually leads to far more impulse temptation than people recognize. In comparison, using self-checkout keeps one busier and therefore less likely to grab that extra bag or two of candy.
10| Freeze some food.
Purchasing a ton of food at a great deal, only to watch it spoil on the shelf or in the fridge, can completely ruin the point. Some items, such as meats, milk, bread, and many others can be stored in the freezer for at least a month or more to be sure it’s good when you need them.
11| Consider frozen vegetables and fruits.
These frozen alternatives will last longer than some fresh produce, keeping you from wasting money on spoiled/moldy food.
12| Shop on Wednesday.
It’s become a rather common practice for grocery stores to begin their sales on a Wednesday. These mid-week deals could be highly beneficial, while also allowing you to save time by avoiding the common weekend rush.
13| Meal prep on Sundays.
During a busy week, it can become harder to prepare meals, which may lead to eating out more often than you ought to. Instead, try to prep your entire week’s meals on Sunday when you may have more time to utilize them.
14| Pick up a reusable k-cup.
Maybe you’ve traded in the convenience of coffee shops for the convenience of k-cup coffee. Did you know they make reusable k-cup filters? This way, you’re able to save money by buying grounds in bulk and packing your own easy k-cup.
Vehicle
15| Join the gas rewards at your local stations.
Almost every modern gas station will offer some form of incentive for you to save. Sign up and be sure that no matter where you have to fill up, you’re getting some form of reward for it.
16| Find the lowest gas prices before you go out.
There are great resources online to see where the lowest gas prices are in your area, helping you to find the best deal possible.
17| Pay with cash or debit.
Depending on your gas station’s pricing, paying with cash or debit can actually save you more money than most gas-related reward credit cards will earn you back, ultimately making this the best method of saving money at the pump.
18| Check your oil.
Refusing to change bad oil will reduce the efficiency of your car and likely create larger financial problems in the long run. However, you may not always need to change that oil as soon as that sticker on your windshield tells you. Be sure to check your own oil and familiarize yourself with a proper change schedule that works for your driving habits.
19| Go easy on your brakes.
Impatience can lead people to drive more aggressively, moving faster and relying more heavily on their brakes. This will of course lead to wearing out your brake pads and potentially even your rotors, both of which you should want to get as much life out of as you can.
20| Keep the speed limit.
The time you save speeding is typically negligible, while also posing danger to your wallet. Speeding not only costs you money by reducing your car’s average miles per gallon, but also presents the danger of a costly traffic violation, worn tires, brakes, or even an unfortunate accident.
21| Fill your tank halfway.
The additional weight of a full tank could be costing you a few cents per gallon. Consider only filling up your tank halfway for standard commuting purposes.
22| Don’t use A/C with your windows rolled down.
You’re going to lose gas mileage efficiency with your A/C on, or your windows down, so try to choose only one.
23| Monitor your tire pressure.
Determining the recommended tire pressure for your car’s wheels will reduce unnecessary friction, maximizing how far you can stretch a gallon of gas.
24| Change your car’s air filter.
Some studies claim you could be saving up to 10% on your gas mileage by keeping your car’s air filter clean. Check and change yourself, avoiding the unnecessary premium of fast oil shops.
25| Find a trusted local auto shop.
The quick shops that offer oil and other small car repairs will charge you an inflated rate for what ought to be relatively simple issues. Instead, find a local auto shop and schedule routine appointments a month or two in advance to prioritize car upkeep.
Entertainment
26| Look for bundles.
Bundles can often provide multiple of your needs, cable, internet, phone, etc. for a discounted rate. Figure out what bundles might include the current options you use.
27| Take advantage of free trials.
If you’re patient enough, companies are always offering up free trials for their service. Even if there are no promotions going on for a service you’d like, it doesn’t hurt to reach out to customer service to see if they’d offer you a short trial before you commit.
28| Rotate your streaming services.
It can be costly to have several streaming service payments at once. Instead, consider rotating through the services, and pausing your subscription as needed. Surprisingly, if a service provider believes you’re canceling you might even find that they will offer you discounted rates, or even free months, as an incentive to stay on.
29| Set up automated billing.
Auto-pay and even going paperless can often reduce your monthly billing. Be sure to check your phone and subscription services to take full advantage of these savings.
30| Purchase by the year.
If you know you’re going to keep a service over the course of an entire year, consider subscribing yearly versus monthly. Oftentimes, companies will offer discounts for paying upfront as opposed to the repetitive billing cycle.
31| Share services.
While this may get more complicated with time, there are still opportunities to share the cost of entertainment subscriptions with close family and friends.
32| Go to a drive-in.
Many drive-ins will throw in more than one movie for a standard ticket price, while also giving you free rein to bring your own snacks/food.
33| Find Groupons.
If you’re already planning on a specific event, be sure to check Groupon for deals that could not only save you money but potentially even add to your experience.
34| Attend free events in your area.
Free festivals, concerts, etc., can be great ways to get out of the house without having to spend money to do so.
35| Order water when eating out.
Drinks are an easy way for restaurants to pad out your dining bill when the same items can be consumed for far less at home. Focus on the food and stick to water when eating out.
36| Take up low-cost hobbies.
While some activities can become a financial burden, others require very limited investment if any at all. Research and find things that you would be interested in doing to help fill your time.
37| Stick to the ad-supported options.
Impatience can push us to pay an extra premium to avoid ads, but the reality is that these breaks really don’t take up a substantial amount of time, and in avoiding them you could be spending far more money across several services.
Finances
38| Use a cash budget.
Shopping with a card makes it far easier to overspend. When you put yourself on a cash budget, you’re able to physically see the money you’re spending, and the limit you’ve set.
39| Save the change.
If you put yourself on a cash budget, save the change. After the trip to the store, take that leftover change and throw it in a jar. Over the course of the year, you’ll be able to save with very limited effort.
40| Use the Acorns app.
Acorns is a handy investing app for those who shop with credit or debit cards, that allows you to round up all your purchases to the nearest dollar, taking that change and investing it in a portfolio personalized to you.
41| Consolidate high-interest rate debt.
If you’re currently paying on high-interest rate debt, consider refinancing this debt with consolidation offers like a personal loan through your local credit union.
42| Check for friends and family discounts.
It helps to know what your friend and family do for work, and what incentives they may have for “friends and family,” from products, to subscriptions, to cars! Be sure to check with close ones before a big purchase to see if there are any deals you could be utilizing.
43| Sleep on it.
Cut back on online impulse buying, by forcing yourself to wait. Start by adding a product you want to your cart, but deliberately wait till the next day to make your purchase decision. This can help weed out the true desires from the momentary ones.
44| Use credit cards intelligently.
Not only will this help you build credit (which is good for getting low rate borrowing in the future). Most credit cards will offer great cash back or point incentives for your daily purchases. For instance, monthly spending of $2000 could earn you $40 on a 2x rewards program. Just always be sure to pay off your balance before it’s due to avoid ever paying interest.
45| Use card miles.
Some travel credit cards will offer incentives to join. If you plan a vacation well enough in advance, you may be able to save a good chunk using these offers. Before the annual fee comes around, some companies will even allow you to drop down to their fee-free credit card programs.
46| Utilize a financial tracking application.
Know where your money goes. It’s easy to lose track of how much money we’re spending on a specific area of our lives. Sometimes we’re paying on subscriptions we’ve completely forgotten about. Applications that categorize your spending can help you to take a more proactive approach when saving your money.
47| Avoid ATMs.
Getting charged ATM fees might feel negligible at the time, but if you find yourself pulling out money regularly, you should avoid the ATMs altogether. Instead, set aside time to visit your bank, or one in-network, where you can pull out a lump sum for the month.
48| Set calendar reminders for bills.
If you’re someone with several financial accounts or bills, it can be difficult to keep track of them all. If autopay isn’t an option for you, be sure to set reminders on your phone, or write it into your calendar to avoid any late fees or interest.
49| Don’t spend your tax returns.
If you get sizable tax returns, it can be exciting to think of the many ways you could spend this. However, you should always opt to either save and invest or pay down high-interest debt with this money.
50| If you get charged a late fee, ask for a one-time waive.
Most financial institutions are more interested in keeping your long-term business, as opposed to collecting a rather minor one-time fee. Reach out to a representative if you’ve had a late fee, explain your situation, and ask if they can provide you with a one-time waiver.
51| Occasionally treat yourself.
Saving money is a journey of a hundred different steps. At times it might feel exhausting, which is why it’s important to budget some money for your enjoyment. If you can avoid burnout, you’ll be far more likely to stick with these practices in the long run.
Shopping
52| Shop resale.
Quality clothing options can be found more and more these days at your local clothing resale shops. Before heading to the mall, consider trying to grab your essential pieces here.
53| Ask about sales.
If you see an item you’re interested in, try asking an associate about potential sales or discounts that might be available now or in the future.
54| Buy holiday items on clearance.
If you know you’re going to be buying something for next year’s holidays, be sure to check out the day-after-sales that stores will use to clear merchandise off the shelves.
55| Go to the library.
Libraries not only offer free books, movies, internet use, music, and video games, but often also organize free events and workshops.
56| Make coffee at home.
Prices for artisan coffee seem to rise every year, while the cost to make these beverages at home stays relatively cheap. Investing in quality but well-priced coffee makers can be an easy way to avoid overpaying.
57| Unsubscribe from commerce emails.
Avoid being tempted into shopping for something you don’t need by eliminating these e-temptations from your favorite stores.
58| Use online shopping savers.
Browser extensions like Honey can be used to automatically find discount codes or rewards for your usual online purchases.
59| Abandon your online cart.
Retailers that collect your e-mail information will often offer discounts for abandoned carts, hoping that these savings will draw you back in. So, strategically leaving your carts full and waiting could reduce your bill.
60| Avoid food delivery.
Sometimes food delivery may seem like the easiest option, but you’ll most often find yourself paying a hefty price for this perk, even with a membership/subscription.
61| Clear your “cookies” when shopping online.
These digital footprints let retail sites know that you’ve been checking around and can easily begin to raise prices on you. Before you begin to shop, clear your cookies to be sure you’re getting the best deal.
62| Keep an eye out for drops in hotel prices.
Some hotels will honor a price match if you’re able to find a cheaper price elsewhere, even after you’ve already booked. Make sure you grab a screenshot for proof, call up, and see what they can work out for you.
63| Don’t exchange your propane tanks.
There are more places than you might think that offer propane refills at a cheaper price than you’re going to pay for the “convenience” of an exchange.
64| Check online marketplaces first.
Facebook Marketplace can be a great option for finding used items in your local vicinity. Stick to local when you can in order to save money on high shipping costs and avoid scams.
65| Try an occasional spending fast.
In the same way that people take a set amount of time to abstain from other indulgences, you can “fast” from spending. Maybe every month you plan out a week where you refuse to spend any money outside of necessities.
66| Shop garage/yard/estate sales.
These sales can carry items you may be in the market for, at a fraction of the price. Not only can this save you money, but it can also be a fun way to spend an afternoon
Home
67| Dress in layers at home.
Instead of bumping the heat up or kicking the A/C on, consider throwing on or removing an unnecessary layer first.
68| Insulate your windows in the winter.
If you live in cold climates, use window insulating kits to slow down the transfer of heat through windows or even unused doors.
69| Put electronics on a power strip.
A common entertainment center might have several electronics trickling power even when you’re not home. Putting these on a power strip allows you to easily toggle this power off when you are about to leave the home for the day.
70| Invest in a smart thermostat.
These thermostats often have eco-mode programming that can reduce your home’s heat or A/C usage when you’re not around.
71| Throw potlucks.
If you’re spending too much on parties, you might be doing too much. A potluck is an easy and fun way to allow the financial burden to be shared among the attendants while being sure there’s still enough food to go around.
72| Ditch paper and plastic.
It may feel more time effective to use a paper plate, plastic fork, and napkin, but all these options are costing you money. Opt for reusable kitchen dishes and utensils, as well as reusable towels.
73| Don’t be afraid of the dishwasher.
Many of the modern dishwashing appliances can actually save you money on water usage over standard handwashing.
74| Avoid peak electricity usage times.
Morning hours, from 7-9 am, are among the costliest for electricity usage due to the sudden surge in demand. Stick to late-evening and even night hours for things like your dishwasher and dryer.
75| Set an alarm for your washer.
Forgetting a load of clean clothes in the washer, forcing you to run it again, can waste time, cleaning products, electricity, and even water. Use an alarm to avoid forgetting when you need to transfer these clothes to the dryer.
76| Use energy star rated light bulbs.
These new bulbs can use at least 75% less power than older bulbs, saving you money on your monthly power bill.
77| Upkeep your expensive appliance.
Proper cleaning and home maintenance will extend the life of your more expensive home appliances, such as your fridge, washer, dryer, water heater, furnace, and dishwasher.
78| Utilize old shirts as cleaning rags.
Do you have to retire a shirt due to a rip or stain? Cut this shirt into squares for a simple cleaning rag you can use for wiping down your table and counters.
79| Close vents in your less-used rooms.
If you have an office or “storage” room in your home, you can consider closing the vent to avoid sending heat or cool air to a portion of the house you don’t use.
80| Join Nextdoor to find local opportunities.
You never know when someone near you is willing/needing to get rid of something.
81| Use smart outlets/switches.
Smart bulbs can be costly to replace, instead, use a smart outlet/switch. Set timers on your lights to not only save money on your energy bill but also extend the life of these items.
82| Eliminate PMI.
PMI stands for private mortgage insurance, and if you bought a home with less than 15% down, you’re likely paying this monthly. Some mortgages will remove your PMI after meeting the minimum down, while others will force you to pay it for the life of the loan, in this case, you may need to refinance in order to remove it.
83| Shop online for a high-interest savings account.
Many of the newer online banks (who avoid physical locations) tend to offer higher interest rates for your savings. Avoid low-interest savings accounts, checking accounts, or situations in which you are paying a monthly fee to keep your account open.
84| Rent out a room.
Do you have a spare room you never really use? Consider renting this room out to travelers to help easily cover a portion or the whole cost of your rent/mortgage.
Health
85| Use in-network healthcare providers.
These providers not only take your insurance but at the best level of coverage.
86| Ask for generic medicine.
Generic alternatives come at a lower cost to you. Also, if you do not have insurance (and even if you do) you can look into programs like GoodRx for the biggest discounts on these prescriptions.
87| Keep up regular examinations.
Your yearly visits to the doctor’s office will typically be either low cost or free and will potentially help prevent small issues from becoming larger more expensive problems.
88| Ask for itemized receipts.
Some individuals have found success in lowering their costs by asking for itemized receipts of their care, due to the potential of hospitals adding unnecessary charges for the insurance companies.
89| If you don’t have insurance, tell them before the visit.
Doctors must provide good faith estimates to those without insurance, helping you to avoid extra charges that you don’t need or can’t afford.
90| After-hours, consider urgent care before the emergency room.
The first will be far cheaper than the latter and can often deal with most issues that people attend the emergency room for.
91| Exercise.
Taking small but consistent efforts to exercise and stay active will keep your body healthy and less prone to costly medical care later down the road.
92| Eat a healthy diet.
Just like exercising, a healthy diet will pay off big in the long run by helping you avoid preventable diseases caused by a lack of good nutrition.
93| Take advantage of trial visits at local gyms.
Your typical gym is willing to offer a free workout or two in an attempt to get you signed up for their membership. If you’re willing to listen to an occasional sales pitch, you can circle through your local gyms without ever having to pay their fees.
94| Utilize your memberships.
Outside of working out, many gyms, fitness clubs, and recreational centers offer a myriad of activities and resources included in your membership. Take time to familiarize yourself with the perks available to you.
Work
95| Invest with your employer-sponsored 401k.
Most companies these days will offer 401k matching up to a certain maximum every year. Maxing out this benefit stretches your retirement dollars even further than you could do on your own.
96| Utilize your employee benefits.
To encourage recruitment, businesses create all sorts of deals with outside vendors to provide discounts and benefits to their employees. These deals could save you money on auto insurance, your phone bill, travel expenses, and many others. Check and see if there are any ways you could make your job work for you.
97| Pack your lunch.
Even spending $10/day going out to grab lunch can add up quickly over time, while packing a lunch makes sure to use the food you’ve already paid for at home.
98| Buy specialty creamers and drink the break-room coffee.
If you have a communal fridge at work, bring along a few coffee cream flavors that you enjoy. Instead of going out and spending $6 on a coffee down the street, make something you enjoy for next to nothing!
99| Carpool.
Commuting to work every day can become costly. Odds are, if you’re at a medium to large business, there are others who live in your general area. Create a carpool network and trade off the drive into work, reducing the amount you have to spend on gas and car maintenance.
100| Stock snacks at work.
If you’re able to, purchase some snacks to keep at work. If you hit a point in your day when you feel tempted to go out and grab something from a nearby store, resort to these snacks to keep your costs down.
101| Set aside money from your pay-check for savings.
Some workplaces can set up your pay-check so a portion goes to your primary bank account, while a set percentage goes to another. If you struggle with overspending, having money automatically sent to a savings account you don’t ever touch can be an easy way to keep it out of sight and out of mind.
Final Thoughts
These are the 101 best ways to save your hard-earned money during these times of uncertainty. As prices rise, you can retain peace of mind knowing that your healthy financial habits will mitigate any loss of purchasing power. Over time, these seemingly small acts of frugality can add up to serious savings, giving you the security you need to fully enjoy the best that life has to offer.
