Saving money isn't always easy. Lots of unforeseen stuff pops up on a monthly basis, but here are some fairly painless ways to save a little more money starting this month.
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Can't cut the cord completely? Try going to a more basic service or switching providers. The competitors are almost always running 12 month introductory prices to entice you to switch.
If you don't have cable and you're rockin' the Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime (or possibly all three), maybe get rid of one of them. Or all of them. Get out of the house, start a hobby... like reading or macramé (they're both due for a come back).
Equally, don't sign up for a 2 year contract just to get a slight discount on a new phone—most contract plans figure the cost of that "nearly free" phone into your service, so you basically end up paying the full price. Keep your older phones as long as you can stand it & you'll end up paying nearly the same amount on the big brand services as you would on the discounted services.
We've been using Verizon for the past 4 years. We started out with two "new" phones and a 3 Gig data plan and were paying $140 a month. We let our contracts run out & are now month to month. We opted not to upgrade our phones and now pay $80 a month. I know there are cheaper plans, but I use this to illustrate that we reduced our bill by $60 a month just by holding on to our older phones & not upgrading or renewing our contracts.
Even better, find a savings account with a higher annual percentage rate (APR). A quick internet search for "high yield savings account" will reveal several online banks that offer anywhere from 1.0-1.40+% with low opening balances.
We save between $25-$35 a week ($100-$160 per month) by packing lunch vs. spending $5-$7 a day for lunch at the nearest fast food place.
It gives you 5% off your purchases and draws directly from your checking account, so you don't have to worry about qualifying for and paying off a credit card. The amount you'll save is directly related to the amount you spend, but last year we saved almost $100 and it didn't cost us a cent to sign up.
Second hand still too expensive for your tastes? Check out your local Free-cycle, the Craig's list free section, or see if you live near a recycling center. Some recycling centers and city dumps have a "free" area set up for items that they want to keep out of the landfills or recycling streams.
Likewise, when our microwave panel stopped working, a Youtube video showed me how to take off the panel and reconnect the loose wires—cost: $0.
This holds true for everyday items, like groceries, too. Know what a good price is, so when you see it you can take advantage of it.
Homemade bread, whether you have a bread machine or bake it in a loaf pan in the oven, is cheaper (& healthier) than the stuff you buy at the grocery store (or even the day-old bread store). Likewise, you can easily make your own yogurt, mozzarella, or ricotta cheese with a half/gallon of milk and a stock pot. Tortilla chips, veggie chips, kale chips, etc. can be made in your oven. Soup stocks can be made with leftover vegetables (including the parts you'd normally discard when you prep). Granola is just baked rolled oats, oil, brown sugar or honey, and nuts.
You can save money on little things and eat more healthily at the same time.
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1. Stop paying for Cable
Either you have cable or you don't. If you do, why not just chuck it? It annoys you anyway with all the channels and commercials and nothing's ever on... and you can probably subscribe to ESPN or BritBox online for way cheaper (& with fewer headaches).Can't cut the cord completely? Try going to a more basic service or switching providers. The competitors are almost always running 12 month introductory prices to entice you to switch.
If you don't have cable and you're rockin' the Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime (or possibly all three), maybe get rid of one of them. Or all of them. Get out of the house, start a hobby... like reading or macramé (they're both due for a come back).
2. Switch cell phone carriers
There are a number of discount providers that use the very same cell towers and networks that the big name providers do: Republic Wireless and Ting are two providers that offer discounted services, but if you're on a contract, you can also opt for a slightly lower data plan on whatever provider you're currently using.Equally, don't sign up for a 2 year contract just to get a slight discount on a new phone—most contract plans figure the cost of that "nearly free" phone into your service, so you basically end up paying the full price. Keep your older phones as long as you can stand it & you'll end up paying nearly the same amount on the big brand services as you would on the discounted services.
We've been using Verizon for the past 4 years. We started out with two "new" phones and a 3 Gig data plan and were paying $140 a month. We let our contracts run out & are now month to month. We opted not to upgrade our phones and now pay $80 a month. I know there are cheaper plans, but I use this to illustrate that we reduced our bill by $60 a month just by holding on to our older phones & not upgrading or renewing our contracts.
3. Cancel gym memberships
I don't go to the gym, but I hear some people do. If you don't mind that there's no one around to see you pumping iron and making that weird "I'm lifting a cow and can't be bothered with how my face contorts" expression, then maybe walk / run around your neighborhood or a local park. Do yoga in your living room, or work in the yard (if you have one).4. Drink filtered water from the tap
Unless you live in Michigan, or some place where fracking is big, or pipelines leak oil into the water table, or coal ash is dumped by utilities into river ways—tap water is completely safe to drink. And it's much cheaper than soda or juice—and better for you (knock on wood).5. Stop eating out
Easier said than done, but try to at least curb your eating out habit. Even one fast food meal a week can add up.6. Buy generic
If you're not concerned with brands, why not go for the generic or bulk food versions of your go-to foods. These days store brands even have organic alternatives to the name brands and are (usually) cheaper.
7. Move your money out of checking and savings accounts that charge you fees
Even better, find a savings account with a higher annual percentage rate (APR). A quick internet search for "high yield savings account" will reveal several online banks that offer anywhere from 1.0-1.40+% with low opening balances.8. Make coffee at home
Instead of buying coffee out—make it at home for a fraction of the cost. OR try your hand at tea, it costs even less than coffee.
9. Take your lunch to work
We save between $25-$35 a week ($100-$160 per month) by packing lunch vs. spending $5-$7 a day for lunch at the nearest fast food place.10. Use the Honey or Ebates app when shopping online
Both apps will search for coupon codes and best deals. The Ebates app just started searching for better deals on the internet (not just on the site you're searching). Honey will also look for the best deal when you're on Amazon.com. And they both figure in shipping to the final cost.
11. If you shop at Target, apply for the Target debit card
It gives you 5% off your purchases and draws directly from your checking account, so you don't have to worry about qualifying for and paying off a credit card. The amount you'll save is directly related to the amount you spend, but last year we saved almost $100 and it didn't cost us a cent to sign up.12. Use store apps for extra savings
Target, Joann's, Walmart, Michael's, etc. Most stores these days have their own smart phone apps with store-specific coupons and deals. Last year Target's Cartwheel app saved me an extra $30 in coupons. Not a bigly amount over the course of the year, but it's nothing to shake a stick at either.13. Use store rewards
Almost every grocery store has a rewards program & it's free to sign up. Some stores will have special sales or give aways for reward members only. And they may even give you 5¢ back if you bring in your own grocery bags.14. Save your loose change
Each week I dig through my wallet, the bottom of my bag, my car, etc. and collect the loose change. I keep it in a goofy jar with a lid that counts the money as I drop it in. (Very rewarding.) It's been a fairly painless way to save $60 so far this year (about $10 a month). Of course, rolling it up and taking it to the bank will be another story.15. Shop second hand
Thrift stores and yard sales are great places to get excellent deals. Get to know the best thrift stores in your town for clothing, tools, and kitchen items. If you're buying bigger ticket items, consider buying used. eBay and Craig's List are great sources for discounted items—just do your homework and listen to your gut if it's telling you something's off about the purchase.Second hand still too expensive for your tastes? Check out your local Free-cycle, the Craig's list free section, or see if you live near a recycling center. Some recycling centers and city dumps have a "free" area set up for items that they want to keep out of the landfills or recycling streams.
16. Learn to DIY / fix it yourself
Youtube has a huge library of people showing you how to fix stuff—from coffee pots & microwaves to cars & tractors—it's saved my beans a number of times. Instead of replacing the $800 dishwasher that came with our house (which I wouldn't have been able to afford), I did a little Internet snooping and figured out that it just needed a $35 part & Youtube showed me how to install it. It's been right as rain ever since.Likewise, when our microwave panel stopped working, a Youtube video showed me how to take off the panel and reconnect the loose wires—cost: $0.
17. Keep track of prices
You've DIYed all you can, but you've come to the realization that you'll have to eventually bite the bullet and buy a new washing machine. Start shopping around now to get an idea of what a good price might be, then start a little savings jar (or account) to stash money away for the purchase when the time comes.This holds true for everyday items, like groceries, too. Know what a good price is, so when you see it you can take advantage of it.
18. Take stock of your pantry & make a meal plan
By knowing what foods are in your cabinets and fridge, you can more easily plan meals and use up what you have on hand. Knowing that you have the ingredients for a pasta sauce means that you don't have to go out and spend extra money on a jar of Prego. Sure Prego is easier, and only $2 on sale, but if you have the ingredients, why not save the $2 and give homemade sauce a try?19. Eat your leftovers
Food waste is a big money suck. We buy something and don't eat it before it goes bad, or we make a meal and instead of eating the leftovers, we toss them. The simplest way to stretch your budget is to eat the food you have before it goes bad & to take advantage of leftovers-as ready-made meals.20. Make your own...
Are you big bread eaters? Maybe you really like yogurt or granola, or you go through a bag of tortilla chips & a jar of salsa every other day. Instead of buying these things at the store, make them yourself.Homemade bread, whether you have a bread machine or bake it in a loaf pan in the oven, is cheaper (& healthier) than the stuff you buy at the grocery store (or even the day-old bread store). Likewise, you can easily make your own yogurt, mozzarella, or ricotta cheese with a half/gallon of milk and a stock pot. Tortilla chips, veggie chips, kale chips, etc. can be made in your oven. Soup stocks can be made with leftover vegetables (including the parts you'd normally discard when you prep). Granola is just baked rolled oats, oil, brown sugar or honey, and nuts.
You can save money on little things and eat more healthily at the same time.
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