Want to develop habits to keep more money in your pockets this year? I know I do!
With everything being outrageously expensive nowadays, we have to be so much more intentional about how we’re saving and spending money.
This all starts with making small and simple adjustments to how we live.
Here are some of my favorite ways to save money in everyday life.
25 Money-Saving Tips
1. Never carry a balance on a credit card
It’s good practice to only spend what you KNOW you can pay off at the end of the month. Don’t get yourself into hot water having to pay insane interest rates!
2. Thrift shop
You never know what gems you can find at a second-hand store, and for super cheap. Of course, there are certain things you wouldn’t wanna get second-hand…I’m sure you can think of a few. But anything you can put through a washer or give a good wipe-down to is fair game.
3. Buy in bulk
Toilet paper and paper towels never go to waste and never spoil, so why not save a little bit long-term by buying them in bulk?
4. Do your own nails
Yes, it’s nice to go out and get pampered sometimes (and you SHOULD). At the same time, keeping up with your nails is expensive and not a great use of money if you’re trying to be more frugal with your money. Once you get past the learning curve, you can never go wrong with some good old-fashioned polish or press-on.
5. Eliminate food waste by utilizing the smell test
Sell-by dates are more guidelines than anything. Depending on the food item, they can last longer than what it says on the bottle or can. Generally speaking, if it passes the smell test, and isn’t moldy or discolored you’re probably good to go.
6. Shop with a list
Going to the store can be hard because let’s face it, those “want, not need” items will be calling your name. That is why if you shop with a list, you can tell yourself that you’re on a mission to get JUST the things on your list. This will help you cut down on unnecessary, in-the-moment spending.
7. Meal prep
If you have the time to meal prep once or twice a week, it’ll help you skip a lot of the guessing about what to make for lunch or dinner…(and thus cut unnecessary spending on meals).
Having a solid meal plan can also free up time for other things during the week and help you keep your health on track!
8. Limit takeout/meals out
Don’t get me wrong. Ordering out and getting to skip the dishes is the perfect gift to give yourself at the end of a long busy day. But it should be kept in moderation because getting too much takeout can add up quickly. Do your best to be conscious about only ordering out once or twice a month and you’ll save lots of $$$.
9. Make a budget
When you’re conscious about your finances, and know exactly how much money you have…You can be more concrete about your wants vs your needs and set yourself up for money-saving success!
If you don’t take the time to budget, you’ll end up “accidentally” spending the money you had good intentions of saving.
10. Cancel subscriptions you don’t use that much
It’s good practice to audit your subscriptions from time to time and evaluate what you can go without. If you’re not using a subscription, or it isn’t helping you in some way…Cut it out of the budget so it’s one less bill you have to pay.
11. Reduce your energy costs
Another way to cut costs and save money is through being more intentional about your energy spending. Washing your clothes in cold water, turning off lights when you leave a room, and limiting your time in the shower are all ways to cut back on your monthly energy bills that can add up over time.
12. Make coffee at home
Coffee is one of those things that can really add up if you’re careless with it. I know we all have our guilty pleasures, but don’t let it destroy your wallet. If you’re spending $5-$7/day on coffee, it’s costing you an extra $150-200 per month. Get yourself a Keurig and start brewing at home!
13. Don’t waste food
Wasting food makes me sad, so I try to avoid throwing things out at all costs. There’s really no reason why we should be wasting food (unless you botched a recipe and that meal is just totally inedible lol). Being conservative about making sure your food is used up is a great way to keep cash in your pocket and eliminate waste in general.
14. Stuff some cash envelopes
If you have a certain amount of money you know you want to save by the end of the year, consider doing a cash envelope-stuffing challenge! Write a cash amount on 52 envelopes; one for each week of the year. Then pull one once per week, and stash away the amount of money written on the envelope! By the end of the year, you will hopefully have collected the cash to reach your goal!
15. Get a library card
I love ordering books in the mail, but just like anything else…It can add up fast. One way to combat overspending on books is to get a good old-fashioned library card. It can be refreshing to walk around a library and have the motivation to read a book by the return date!
16. Do a no-spend weekend/month
Frequently doing no-spend challenges can save you hundreds if not thousands or dollars over time.
To do a no-spend challenge: Only allow yourself buy what you need to survive and nothing else. No fluff, no excuses. Cutting out all of those non-essentials will help you identify the unnecessary purchases you make in your day-to-day life.
17. Drink water
Water is amazing, and cheap. There’s nothing wrong with indulging in a special drink every once in a while, but it’s better for your wallet (and your body) to stick to water whenever you can.
Consider investing in a water filter and a reusable cup so you can quit spending money on plastic waterbottles, and eliminate waste at the same time!
18. Buy men’s toiletries
Companies charge more for female toiletries. Yes really. Opt to buy men’s deodorant, soap, and razors to save a little bit of money.
19. Say “no”.
No, I don’t want to go out for drinks. No, I will choose my own charities to donate to. No, I don’t want to take a flight to attend a bachelorette party.
If you’re a people pleaser, this can be a little tricky at first… However, if you’re serious about having more control over your time and finances, you must learn to say no. If you’re constantly saying yes to people, you’re spending money on stuff you never really wanted to spend in the first place!
20. Freeze your bread
Bread gets moldy before we have a chance to eat it sometimes; so getting into the habit of freezing your bread will prolong its life! It tastes perfectly fine after popping it in the toaster for a few minutes.
21. Get rid of cable
Let’s be honest, you’re probably watching almost everything on Netflix or HBO anyway. Cut out the cable!
22. Buy the generic brands
Name brand stuff is almost always super overrated. Okay… Some things are worth the money, but certainly not most. Many times you’re paying for the name and the branding, not necessarily the quality of the product. When you go shopping for essentials, test out some generic brand items instead of splurging on the name brand. If the generic stuff doesn’t do it for you, then go back to using what you like!
23. Wait before making expensive purchases
Impulse buying can seem like a good idea in the heat of the moment, but it’s something you may regret later. By putting off expensive purchases for at least 30 days, you’ll have time to let the idea marinate in your head. And more time to evaluate how important that purchase really is.
24. Get gas at superstore centers
Gas prices are no joke these days! Prices vary everywhere but superstore centers tend to have the cheapest gas prices you can find. We try to plan our gas refills when we go to BJs or Costco to cash in on a discount.
25. Host a yard sale
You probably have a lot of stuff floating around your house that you don’t want or need anymore. Why not kill two birds with one stone and make a little money while you declutter your home?
Thanks for reading this post, I hope it gave you some fresh ideas on things you can do to help you save money in 2025!
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