There are many reasons to save money. It’s good to have some extra cash in case of an emergency or a needed repair comes up unexpectedly. Its also pretty handy if there’s an item you’ve been eyeing and it goes on sale. It’s a great habit to pick up and strengthen over time. It can become a game you play with yourself to see how much money you can save over a given period of time only to grow it some more later.
Below are some fairly uncomplicated ways that are without question worth implementing into your routine to save money.
Make your own coffee. If you frequent a local coffee shop, you’re likely overspending on your caffeine habit. Aside from the amount of trash you can cut back on bypassing the disposable cups, making coffee at home can save a wild amount of money and time. This budget 12-cup programmable coffee maker is sturdy and gets the job done. Plus it has a sneak-a-cup feature that adds to its appeal.
Don’t forget the reusable filter.
Shop at thrift stores or browse online second hand apps like Offerup and Letgo. Sometimes you can ask the seller for a lower price than what’s listed and while you’re flexing your bargaining muscle, you can get a good idea of what type of person you’re dealing with. Just remember to use caution when meeting up with someone. Never go alone and always meet in a public place after you’ve informed a friend or family member as to where you will be and when. Take one of these personal safety alarms with you!
Evaluate your monthly and annual subscriptions instead of paying for services that you don’t use regularly. I like to keep my costs low by creating free playlists on YouTube and Spotify. If you have some more motivation than to just sit back and listen, this site is a simple way to make a few extra bucks reviewing new music.
Keep track of renewal dates for subscriptions and pay attention to when those companies charge you. Some might charge your payment method a few days before the actual due date so it’s useful to know the company’s policies and be prepared in advance.
Pay attention to your credit card’s billing cycle and don’t charge more in that timeframe than you can pay off in full. Interest rates quickly add more to your balance due and it’s more than worth it to avoid them. It might even help your credit score. There are quite a few cards to consider when looking for an account to use, but this is our top pick for customer service, locations accepted and overall ease of use.
Cutting back on eating out by making food at home is all around healthier and knowing what’s in your food can save costs on healthcare, especially in the long run. The mental benefits of creating your own culinary fare are immense. I can’t get over how easy Walmart’s grocery pick up service is. The app is easy to navigate and checking out is quick. Sign up here to receive a $10 credit!
Use coupons or promotions when you do splurge and eat out. Making a quick purchase on Swagbucks can link you up with cash back after you buy a Restaurant.com gift card. You can check for a whole list of discounts and coupons at your local eateries using Groupon and LocalSaver.
Use power strips and surge protectors to plug in electronics while protecting them from any electrical surge, and turn off lights when you’re not in the room. For more tips on saving electricity, click here.
Stop yourself from making impulse purchases. A trick that always works for me is to wait a few days or even weeks to purchase something that isn’t necessarily a need. I’ll watch the price and research the product while considering different ways I can use the item. If it doesn’t interest me after all that or I decide that the research isn’t worth my time, then the product obviously isn’t worth my money. It’s money saved and less clutter or reduced calories in my life.
Comparing prices not only saves money but helps to slow down spending. It’s helpful to make a list of the stores you want to price check and have your planned spending amount handy before getting started. And you can do this by checking each store’s site individually or you can snag one of these two browser extensions that will check the prices out for you.
Minimizing food waste will literally stop you from throwing money away. You can easily turn your compostable food scraps into something of use with a small counter compost container. For more ideas about cutting down on food waste, click here.
Opening a CD Account is an unchallenging way to make some extra money with your money. You generally need to agree to lock up a certain amount of cash for a set amount of time while it earns a higher interest rate than a typical savings account. The more money in your CD Account, the more interest you can earn. Capital One 360 has no minimum dollar requirement for you to get a certificate of deposit account started and it only takes minutes to set up.