200+ Best Ways to Save Money in 2025

You’re about to read our list of over 200 of the best ways to save money in 2025.

We’ll go through saving money in your finances, housing and utilities, food and groceries, transportation, and tons more. It’s important for you to start with a couple methods for saving money and then once you implement those habits, try adding more until you become a saving machine!

A good personal finance strategy should be a mix of making money and saving money in various ways so this article is perfect for anyone looking to save money.

If you’re looking for an article on making money, check out our list of over 200 side hustles you can start today!

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Save money in your personal finances

1. Set specific savings goals: Looking to save for a down payment on a car or a house? Whatever your saving goal, set savings reminders on your phone and make notes around your house to encourage you to keep a saving money mindset.

2. Use round-up apps to save spare change: Apps like Acorns are perfect for rounding up your purchases so you automatically save without having to think much about it. Get started by downloading the app, linking your card, then choosing the settings of when you want your transactions rounded up.

3. Pay down high-interest debt: If you have high-interest debt like credit cards or payday loans that you pay interest on, focus all your efforts on paying that down wherever possible before saving for other purchases. Most credit cards range from 19.99% to 29.99% so paying that down is like an instant Return On Investment (ROI) that you can’t get anywhere else!

4. Track all expenses: It’s easy to think about a large furniture payment that costs you $2000 but the smaller purchases add up quickly too. Apps like Rocket Money help you to be more conscious about your expenses by allowing you to put items into spending categories. In one month did you spend too much on impulse purchases? Focus on reducing that amount in the next month.

5. Create and maintain a budget: A budget helps you assign max spending caps to each of the categories that you need to spend on. A good budget template is all you need to get started with tracking your spending, net worth, your income sources, and much more. Getting your financial picture in one spreadsheet is essential to getting on top of your finances.

6. Use cash or debit: If you know that you won’t be able to pay at least the statement balance on your credit cards each month, you could consider using cash or your debit card on your purchases. This will force you to check your bank account so you’re more aware of where your money is going and how much you have left to budget across your spending categories.

7. Do monthly financial check-ins: It’s essential for you to do monthly financial check-ins so you have a complete picture of your finances. Some people prefer to create their own graphs but I find the best way to do this is to set a reminder to fill out my budget spreadsheet on the last day of the month. It takes me 20 minutes a month to go though my card statements, my spending, and where my income is coming from and to plug it all in my budget. Then, I can track exactly where my money is going and what my net worth is (with colorful graphs!)

8. Do no-spend challenges: Start small with no-spend challenges by choosing a week each month where you won’t spend in one or a few of your spending categories. Set a reminder on your phone that alerts you each day to not spend and you’ll be amazed at how much money you have left over by the end of the month!

9. Avoid bank account fees: Even though bank account fees might be low, they do add up over the year. You could try online banks such as Ally or Sofi that offer no-fee checking and savings accounts and they also offer a lot of the same benefits as larger banks.

10. Use low-cost or free tax filing methods: Tax time can be stressful, especially if you know you’ll owe money back to the government. Instead of paying hundreds for tax preparers or big-name software, I’ve been using FreeTaxUSA for the past few years and my taxes cost about $35 (I get audit defense for peace of mind) and they take about three hours to file. It’s very similar to Turbo Tax with way less overall cost and a robust documentation portal to guide you through many tax situations. While I usually file in February, I find that I get my refund quicker than any other tax filing method I’ve used before.

11. Switch to a credit union or online bank with no or low fees: Unless you have a specific reason for needing a physical brick-and-mortar bank, you could avoid a lot of banking fees with switching to an online bank such as Sofi or Ally. Both have all the same options that you’re used to and they reimburse ATM withdrawal fees up to a certain amount per month. I’ve found their phone support extremely quick and resolving any issues (which have been very few) and their savings rates are competitive since they don’t have the overhead of maintaining physical locations.

12. Set up automatic transfers to savings accounts: Most banks allow you to set rules such as having a direct deposit land in your account and to automatically transfer part of the deposit to your savings account. You should “pay yourself” to your savings first as much as you can and then distribute payments for your other expenses.

13. Improve your credit score: Your credit score is used for loans, some employers request it, and various other applications and having a higher score can save you thousands of dollars. When you can, you should do things like pay at least the statement balance on your cards each month and keep your overall credit utilization low across your cards to improve your credit score.

14. Avoid card annual fees: A lot of credit cards have annual fees to offset the benefits that they offer. However, you can often get some or all of the same benefits such as cash back and discounts with free cards if you shop around and pick a good card.

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Save money with your housing and utilities

1. Get a roommate or house hack: Getting a rental with a roommate or renting a room in your house (house hacking) is a great way for you to save a ton of money. Living is typically the highest spending category for people so if you can find trustworthy people to help you out with that cost, it could save you thousands each year.

2. Downsize housing: Think about if you really need the “nice” amenities like a pool and garden in your rental space. Or if you actually need a $700k house when a $450k house will more than fit your lifestyle and budget. By downsizing your housing, you’ll be saving money and you’ll be able to pay off your housing and other debts more easily so you can upgrade later on if you want!

3. Shop around for mortgage lenders: Even a 0.25% less interest rate can save you tens of thousands of dollars off your mortgage so you should shop around for lenders from online retailers, banks, and credit unions.

4. Refinance your mortgage: Unless you caught the low mortgage rates from a few years ago, you could explore refinancing your mortgage if your current rate is higher than the market rate. If you have a higher credit score, you’ll qualify for lower rates so work on that as much as you can to save thousands over the life of your mortgage!

5. Make mortgage payments twice per month: If your mortgage lender allows it, you should try to pay mortgage payments twice per month or more to lower your overall interests costs by tens of thousands.

6. Shop around for lower utility rates: Most people stick with the current utility providers that the previous renters or owners had since it’s easier. However, shopping around for lower rates could save you thousands per year. It will also get you to think about your current usages in water, electricity, internet, and more to see if you can downsize any of them.

7. Negotiate your utility bills: When you’re shopping around for lower utility rates, you can use any lower rates you find to negotiate your current rates. Most utility companies would rather have you as a customer even though you might be paying less so they’ll still offer a discount if you ask.

8. Use a programmable thermostat: Instead of constantly adjusting your thermostats throughout each season, you could look into an adjustable thermostat in each floor of your house. Set temperature schedules so that you don’t use excess energy when you’re not home or asleep.

9. Get a home energy audit: If you notice that some areas in your house or rental aren’t weather proofed or you feel drafts, getting a home energy audit could be a good idea. The audit will test the places where you could improve weather proofing, which could save you thousands over time for only a small investment.

10. Seal windows and doors: Weatherproofing tape and caulking costs less than $50 and if you apply it to doors, windows, and any other area that faces the outdoors, you could save thousands in energy costs.

11. Use fans and portable heaters: Try setting your thermostat a few degrees warmer or cooler in each season and then using fans and portable heaters to make up for the difference. This can often make a noticeable impact in your utility bill!

12. Do your own maintenance: There are a lot of people that pay for simple fixes around the house. You can save a lot of money by looking up guides on cleaning your dishwasher drain, fixing a leaky pipe, replacing light bulbs, cleaning dryer vents, and more. Don’t go over your physical abilities though – medical costs aren’t worth the trade off between paying someone to do these tasks for you.

13. Air-dry laundry: Whether you have an energy-efficient dryer or not, a dryer can still eat up a lot of your utility usage. You could consider buying a drying rack or two and air drying your clothes inside, or outside if possible!

14. Use cold water for laundry: Warm or hot water for laundry can use a lot more water and electricity than you would expect. You could use cold water wherever you can to watch your savings pile up!

15. Use off-peak times for heavy appliance use: Utility companies usually have lower off-peak rates later at night and early in the morning. If you do your laundry, run the dishwasher, or turn on your sprinklers during these times, you can save a significant amount on your bill!

16. Turn off unused lights and power strips: Items connected to power strips can still draw power and turning off the power strips can contribute to your utility bill savings. Likewise, turning off lights you’re not using can have an impact on your bill as well.

17. Use LED bulbs: If you’re looking for long-term savings, using LED bulbs in areas where you keep the lights on a lot can add up to big savings over time.

18. Use rechargeable batteries: Non-rechargeable batteries cost a lot of money and they always seem to die when it feels like you haven’t used them much. Try getting a couple packs of rechargeable batteries (Energizer are my favorite) and a battery recharger for all your needs.

19. Install water-saving shower heads: If you have a full house with people who sometimes take multiple showers per day, installing water-saving shower heads can be a great way to reduce your water bill over time.

20. Collect rainwater for outdoor plants: Instead of running your sprinklers or using your hose to water your outdoor plants, you could put large garbage bins or pots outside and water your plants with the water from those when it’s not raining.

21. Use reusable cloths instead of paper towels: Even if you buy paper towels in bulk, they always seem to run out quickly. Try buying reusable cloths that you can roll around a spool and then when you use them, you can put them in a bin and wash them later. A bonus is that it’s good for the planet!

22. Rent or borrow items: You can rent or borrow household items like tools, lawn mowers, ladders, and more from libraries, neighbors, or friends to save a lot on buying your own!

23. Buy cheaper blinds: Some people think they must get blinds installed in their house, which often amounts to thousands of dollars for all the windows. You can buy cheaper blinds at big-name retailers for a fraction of the cost and install them yourself with a drill and screws.

24. Get quotes from multiple service providers: If you have work you need to do on your home, whether that be a repair or a new addition, you should get quotes from at least three service providers for the job. Try to avoid companies that you see advertising on TV as their costs will generally be higher.

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Save money with your food and groceries

1. Buy groceries and cook instead of eating out: Eating out multiple times a week can also quickly eat up any savings you have. It’s alright to splurge a bit on special occasions but buying groceries and cooking will almost always be cheaper than eating out.

2. Create weekly meal plans: Plan a day such as Saturday or Sunday where you buy your groceries for the week ahead. Plan meals that share ingredients to save on costs and to reduce waste.

3. Cook in bulk and freeze meals: If you don’t have a lot of time or motivation to cook during the week, try buying ingredients and cooking meals in bulk so you can freeze meals and have them throughout the week.

4. Store food properly: To avoid waste, you could use a vacuum sealer or freezer bags and split your food into meals that fit your lifestyle. For example, if you buy meat in bulk at Costco or Sam’s Club, split it up into different freezer bags and then pull out each bag as you get ready to cook your meals.

5. Develop meals around what you already have: Before shopping for groceries, you should look at the ingredients you have so you don’t buy more. This will also give you ideas on what meals you can make by using what you already have!

6. Use a slow cooker: If you buy vegetables, meat, and broth, you can put all the ingredients in a slow cooker, set it to cook all day, then have meals for at least a few days. Plus, cleanup is easier and you can pair slow cooker meals with cheaper items like rice and different types of bread.

7. Make your own coffee: Making your own coffee at home instead of stopping to get one each day is the classic saving money tip. Even though it seems like just a few dollars each day, that can add up to hundreds over the year. Try limiting yourself to stopping once or twice a week if you must and then bring that down until you’re not stopping for coffee any longer.

8. Shop with a list and stick to it: After you look at all the food you have and you create a list with items you need, make sure you stick to your list when you’re out shopping.

9. Buy in-season produce: Depending on where you live, out-of-season produce can cost 5 times or more than in-season produce, which usually tastes better and lasts longer.

10. Grow your own produce and spices: If you have the space and the patience, making a small garden bed and starting to garden can be a great hobby and can literally provide you fruits for your labor.

11. Use Buy-One-Get-One deals: If you know you’ll need an item, using BOGO deals are great for getting double what you pay for. Some states also have mandates that allow you to only buy one item from the BOGO deal for half the sticker price if you only need one.

12. Host potlucks: If you’re looking for a reason to save money and for getting people together, you could host a potluck where everyone brings a dish and shares the food. You’ll likely end up with a ton of leftovers that people will leave at your place that you can use throughout the next week!

13. Skip alcohol at restaurants: Alcohol at restaurants and events is often marked up double or more than if you bought what you want at your local store. If you know you’ll want to drink when you’re out, try bringing some with you in a water bottle or try pre-drinking at home before going out.

14. Build your grocery list around coupons: Stores always have various items on sale and most larger retailers have apps where you can directly load the coupons and also where you can pay for your items at checkout.

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Save money with your transportation

1. Carpool, bike, or use public transport: Buying a bus pass, getting a bike, or carpooling can save you thousands of dollars in gas and maintenance each year.

2. Buy a used, 2-3 year old vehicle: Vehicles typically lose a lot of value once they’re driven off the lot and as soon as the first year passes so if you can find a lightly used, 2-3 year old vehicle, you’ll likely save thousands off the price of purchasing one that’s new. You can often negotiate for lower prices as well since dealers and private sellers want to get rid of older stock.

3. Keep your tires properly inflated: Use the sticker on the inside of the driver’s side door to see what the optimal tire pressure is for your tires. You can also get a portable air pump for abut $20 at your local retailer to make it easier to keep your tires properly inflated and to save money on gas and replacing tires.

4. Shop around for cheaper car insurance every 6-12 months: Use sites like coverage.com to compare rates for your demographics and vehicle information from multiple providers every 6-12 months. I recently switched providers and saved 49% on my vehicle insurance rates with good driver discounts and with bundling services!

5. Bundle insurance policies: If you know you will need insurance for your rental, home, vehicles, pets, or anything else, see if your insurance provider will offer you discounts for bundling all those services with them.

6. Raise your insurance deductible: If you know you can cover your deductible (how much you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in), you could raise it and save hundreds of dollars every year.

7. Pay insurance over longer periods: Most insurance companies give you discounts for paying for six months or a year at a time. If you can cover the payment, you could save a lot off the total cost.

8. Maintain your vehicle: Doing the recommended maintenance for your vehicle will keep it from breaking when you need it most and will give you the longest lifespan from it.

9. Wash your own car: A hose or bucket, car soap, and water and microfiber towels are all you need to wash your car yourself instead of paying for a wash or getting sucked into a subscription.

10. Use apps to find the cheapest gas on your route: If you know which route you’re going to take and that you’ll need gas, use apps like GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas station along your route.

11. Batch errands to save fuel and time: Try to tackle errands in the same area at the same time so you can save yourself time and fuel from multiple trips!

12. Do a safe driver’s course: Taking a 3 hour safe driving course online can save you hundreds of dollars in discounts on your vehicle insurance. Ensure you check which courses are accepted by your insurer first!

13. Remove roof racks or heavy items: Roof racks and heavy items either in your vehicle or being towed by it will reduce your gas mileage and will also put more wear on your vehicle. You could keep those items around only when you need them and not while you’re using your vehicle for general transportation.

14. Use public or employer charging stations: If you own a hybrid or electric car, you can save in electricity costs and time by using public or employer charging stations.

15. Share parking passes: If you have to commute into the city where rates can be higher than $30 a day for parking, you could share passes with others if people only need them part of the week.

16. Look for cheaper parking spaces: People in condo buildings in cities will sometimes have a parking space included with their rental but they won’t have a vehicle. Other people may have a driveway that you could rent and then either walk or bus closer to your workplace. Try asking in local groups if anyone knows of these spots!

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Save money in your relationships and with your family

1. Educate partners about financial-savviness: I’ve had many people tell me that the biggest contributor to their financial standing has been their partner’s financial savviness. If you both are committed to saving money where you can and investing it to ensure you keep making money for years to come, you’ll see a noticeable difference in your accounts!

2. Make gifts instead of buying them: Birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day… it seems like holidays never stop, and with them, the need for gifts! Instead of buying gifts that can add up over time, try making some or all of your gifts. Many people appreciate a home-made gift more than store-bought gifts too.

3. Buy gifts during year-round sales: If you have to buy gifts, try noting down what people mention they need or want throughout the year, then buying those things on year-round sales. Check out the save money while you’re shopping section below for more tips!

4. Do date nights with free or low-cost local events: There are plenty of ways to do date nights for cheap or free using local events. They’ll also give you unique experiences that you’ll remember for longer than an expensive dinner!

5. Do weekly or monthly financial check-ins: Making sure you’re on top of your financial picture regularly means you can prevent bad habits like wasteful spending creep up on you and your family. Aim for a check-in with your family (include your kids too!) at least once a month where you review spending, income, and ideas on where you could make and save more money.

6. Ask for hand-me-down kids clothes from family and friends: Odds are good that your family or friends have tons of clothes from their kids that they could give you, which could save you hundreds over the years in buying kids clothes.

7. Buy family memberships to attractions: Museums, zoos, circuses, and many other attractions offer family discounts which can be a great way to save money on an experience that your family will remember and enjoy!

8. Use Groupon or discount sites for local date ideas: Many companies know that they have a good spot for date nights so they’ll advertise deals through sites like Groupon to get more people coming to them. Look out for these deals to try new experiences with your significant other!

9. Join parenting groups or co-ops: Parenting groups and co-ops are great for extra resources, discounts, and other deals to save you money on all your parenting costs.

10. Buy school supplies during sales: Instead of waiting to buy school supplies two weeks before school starts, you could pick up items over the year during sales when the supplies may not be marked up for the last minute sales.

11. Limit extracurriculars to one per year: It’s a great idea to get your kids into extracurriculars but they will often want to try many things to see which ones they like. You could limit them to one extracurricular per year to save on equipment costs and which will also give them enough time to really make sure they don’t like it before switching.

12. Host play-dates at home or at free parks: Instead of hosting play-dates at entertainment venues, you could propose to have them at home or at local parks to get the kids outside and to save everyone money as well.

13. Rotate toys: To make it seem like your kids are getting “new” toys, you could put some away and then rotate them with the ones that are already out.

14. Teach kids personal finance early: Teaching your kids how to save and make money in any economy will show them a useful skill that most public schools won’t teach them. This will save you and them money in the long run as they realize how much each dollar is worth and how it can be saved or spent.

15. Set gift budgets: If you have a budget for gifts, it will make your kids and others more creative in making gifts instead of buying them and it will save you a lot of money as well.

16. Make your own baby food: If you have a blender at home, you could make your own baby food. Try searching for “baby food recipes” in your favorite search engine and get creative with your baby’s tastes!

17. Breastfeed to save on formula costs: If you can, breastfeeding can save you hundreds of dollars in formula costs. If you can’t, look into assistance programs such as WIC, which usually covers part or all the formula cost.

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Save money with your travel

1. Travel during off-peak seasons: Booking your flights, hotels, and other costs will overall be cheaper if you book during off-peak seasons because companies are still trying to bring in as much business as possible so they’ll usually offer discounts. Plus, you won’t have nearly as many people around you so you can finally get that picture without a thousand tourists in the way.

2. Get the right credit cards: Many people sign up for credit cards because of the rewards. However, unless there’s a specific reward that other cards don’t offer, you would likely be better off with either the Freedom, Preferred, or Reserve from Chase or with the Amex Gold or Platinum. Both of these cards have excellent travel points rewards and they transfer to other airlines easily.

3. Use credit card points: If you can find a better deal with your credit card points than by paying in dollars, you could save hundreds of dollars on your travel expenses. You should aim for getting at least 2.5 cents per point (cpp) or more when you book travel. An easy calculation to remember is [(cost in dollars – taxes and fees) / cost in points]. If the result is less than 2.5, you’ll be better off paying in dollars for the flight. Otherwise, if you have enough points, use them!

4. Travel on mid-week days: If you can schedule your trip to where you fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you could save hundreds of dollars on your flight cost. Booking your tickets on these days is almost always cheaper as well since most people travel on weekends and airlines jack the prices up.

5. Use flight searching tools: Using tools like Google Flights or Kayak to find flight deals is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. Other great sites for finding hidden deals with credit card points include point.me or seats.aero as well.

6. Use flexible dates: Kayak is the best site I’ve found to first put in a starting airport, then second to search for anywhere, anytime. The map will show you the best deals to any destination in the world up to six months in advance so you can see new places while also saving a ton.

7. Use review sites: Using Google listings, Expedia, or other review sites is a great way to avoid hidden fees and to ensure you’re getting the best experience possible.

8. Use positioning: Most cities are hubs for specific airlines, but those airlines won’t always fly directly to your destination, or if they do, they’ll offer inflated ticket prices. Instead, you could fly out of your local airport to another city closer to your destination (positioning yourself) and then book a ticket to your destination from that city. Use your favorite search engine for “flying from <your city> to <your destination>” and you’ll find people on sites like Reddit who describe the best cities to fly into and out of for your trip to save you the most money, points, and time.

9. Use your credit card benefits: You could be missing out on free checked bags, discounted or upgraded tickets, or in-flight benefits if you book your travel with your credit card. Always check your benefits before you book your tickets!

10. Consider layovers: If you have more time available, you could consider a layover, which will usually save you money overall. You may find that your layover city has a ton of things to explore as well so you might find a new travel destination!

11. Use different methods of transport: Depending on your destination, it can sometimes be much cheaper to fly to a city that’s close by and then take a train, bus, or boat to your destination. Always check other methods of transport and you might be surprised at the savings, but also that you found a new place that’s worth exploring!

12. Stay with friends and family: If you have friends or family that you would like to visit, try to plan part or all of your trip around staying with them and exploring the country on day trips.

13. Pack snacks and meals: While you should take advantage of local cuisine where you can, the costs can quickly add up. You could bring or buy snacks and cheaper meals and you could limit yourself to eating out once per day, for example.

14. Don’t always book lodging directly with one site: Use sites like Hichee to compare rates across Airbnb, Vrbo, and more to ensure you’re getting the best deal. If the accommodation is rented from a company, you could even message the company directly for a better rate.

15. Document your rentals with videos: Whether you’re renting a vehicle or a place to stay, you should always do an initial and final video showing the condition of the rental at both times. In the video, ensure to state your name and the date in case the company claims that you damaged the rental.

16. Avoid checking a bag: If you can manage to pack light and to only use a carry-on, you could save hundreds of dollars in checked baggage fees.

17. Stay in hostels, guest houses, or short-term rentals: If you’ll be in the same place for awhile or you can use it as a base, you could save thousands of dollars by finding local hostels, guest houses, or short-term rentals instead of hotels.

18. Try overnight buses or trains: If you have to travel to various places, you could book an overnight train or bus which will save you lodging costs and will also give you more time during the day to explore your destination!

19. Sign up for hotel loyalty programs: If you know that you’ll need a hotel, you should sign up for the hotel’s loyalty program so you earn points that can be used towards free nights or things like breakfast vouchers.

20. Book lodging with free breakfast: A lot of places will include breakfast, especially if you’re a loyalty member. They usually include to-go items as well so you can snack on those throughout the day and then do a late lunch or dinner to save on a meal.

21. Get city passes or bundles: If you have a few days in a city and you’re looking for things to do, you should look at the city’s pass or bundle that gets you into different attractions for cheaper than buying them individually.

22. Use an international SIM card or eSIM: Instead of using your local carrier’s phone plan for roaming, you should look into getting an international SIM or eSIM which can be bought online. They’ll only activate when your phone connects to your destination’s carrier network so you’ll end up saving a ton in roaming costs!

23. Use no-foreign-fee credit cards or travel debit cards: If you can get a card with no fees when you travel abroad, you could save hundreds of dollars in foreign exchange fees on your purchases!

24. Always pay in the local currency with card machines: When you pay for purchases with your card and the machine asks you to choose between the destination’s local currency or your home currency, you should choose the destination’s local currency. This way, your card is charged in the local currency and your bank will usually have a better exchange rate than the merchant to convert that local currency to your currency.

25. Avoid airport currency exchange: You will usually get the best currency exchange rate at your bank if you need cash so avoid airport currency exchanges that often have higher rates since they know travelers will be in a rush.

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Save money with your shopping

1. Stop buying things you don’t truly need: It’s one thing to buy things like food and gas but if you don’t truly need that new blender, don’t buy it! Or, try waiting for sales like Black Friday and put aside money each paycheck to buy the things you want.

2. Buy generic instead of name-brand products: Grocery and large retail chains sell generic brand items that are as good, if not better, than the name brand items. Try making the switch to generic products in one or two categories and then building on it!

3. Buy in bulk: For things like toilet paper and meat, buying in bulk at Costco or Sam’s Club can save you hundreds. I’ve found that the annual membership fee pays for itself once you factor in gas, car maintenance, and buying goods, all of which you can get for a lower cost than other places!

4. Use cashback and rewards sites: Sites like Rakuten give you cashback in various categories which can be stacked with your card’s rewards as well! If you’re looking for a particular item, odds are good that the store will appear in Rakuten and then you can make some of your purchase back!

5. Set a 24-hour rule before large purchases: If you want something that’s going to be a big purchase for you, try waiting 24 hours before buying it. You’ll be surprised at how often this simple trick can give you some time to think through the purchase and to see if you really need it.

6. Use price comparison tools: If you’re buying items especially in big sales like Black Friday, check price comparison tools such as CamelCamelCamel for Amazon to ensure that you’re actually getting the lowest price.

7. Ask for discounts: Whether your shopping online or in-store, you should ask the retailer’s support or customer service if they have any discounts you could take advantage of. Even if you don’t fall into a specific group like students or active military personnel, you can still sometimes get the same discount if you ask since some stores authorize their cashiers and salespeople to give discounts.

8. Shop at discount stores at the changing of the seasons: Spring or fall are usually great for buying everything from clothes to household items but each turn of the seasons will usually have its own sales at discount stores. For example, shop for summer clothes that you know you’ll need in the Fall and Winter.

9. Subscribe to newsletters to take advantage of discounts: If you’re buying anything online, try waiting up to 24 hours with an abandoned cart after putting in your email into the checkout process. Odds are good that the store has a “return” sequence of emails that will give you discount codes for checking out. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the online retailer’s newsletter to get a discount and then ensure you unsubscribe afterwards.

10. Buy used or refurbished items: If you’re looking for clothes, furniture, or other household items, you could use Facebook marketplace or other local groups to buy refurbished or used items for much cheaper than new items.

11. Don’t buy the newest phone every year: It can be tempting to buy the latest phone or device every year, especially with trade-in and pre-order deals. However, you’re still likely paying the new device off each month which can add up to hundreds of dollars over the year and for each person on your plan. Try waiting until a major release or every 3-5 years to upgrade your devices. You could also get last year’s model for significantly cheaper.

12. Buy products out of season: You can usually get steep discounts for products like lawn chairs, clothes, and other household goods that are out of season or that are about to go out of season.

13. Wait until large sales: If you can wait to make your purchases until large sales, you can usually save a lot of money instead of buying them during the year.

14. Search for and use coupon and promo codes: Sites often give out discount codes to members of different organizations but they don’t always change the codes. Try searching for “<retailer> coupon (or promo) code” to see if the site has codes or if people in communities such as Reddit have codes that work for them. You should avoid the generic websites that promise a code will be applied when you click the link to the retailers site because the generic sites usually won’t have a code and they’ll just make affiliate commissions instead.

15. Buy discounted gift cards: Raise is a great platform for buying discounted gift cards that people list because they don’t want them but they do want cash back.

16. Use receipt reward apps: Ibotta and Fetch are just two of the many rewards apps where you can upload your receipts to get some cash back for your purchases!

17. Take advantage of member discounts: Many retailers offer discounts for students, military, police, fire fighters, and other causes they support. If you’re a member of any of these groups, you can often save 10% or more on your purchase!

18. Use Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services: If you know that you’ll have the funds to pay off your purchase but you want to break it into multiple payments, using Buy Now Pay Later services will sometimes also give you a discount on your purchase.

19. Use 0% APR cards: If you have larger purchases, using a 0% APR card is a great way to pay off your purchase over many months and it can even get you a discount at some stores.

20. Delete saved cards from auto-fill: To put a barrier before your impulse purchases, you could stop your web browser from saving your card details so for each purchase, you need to hold the card in your hand and think about if you need that purchase.

21. Skip dry-clean-only items: If you have the option to buy clothing items that don’t need to be dry-cleaned, that can save you a large amount of time and money on dry-cleaning over the year.

22. Buy more expensive items that you need to last longer: Items like furniture and appliances can cost more in the long run if you have to replace them every few years. You should research larger purchases to see if buying the more expensive option will actually cost you less by having it last longer.

23. Shop around at different retailers: Some retailers will offer price-match guarantees or they’ll beat the price that you find at other retailers. If you’re looking at a larger purchase, it’s always worth looking at the prices at various retailers.

24. Shop for kids clothes a few seasons ahead: If you know that your kids will need clothing items, you could take advantage of seasonal sales to buy clothes for a few seasons at a time.

25. Buy long-lasting shoes: You may need different shoes for work, for play, and just for walking around the house. If you buy quality shoes, they could last years longer than other, more higher priced shoes. Many shoes brands offer sales throughout the year combined with group discounts, which could save you hundreds of dollars.

26. Use contractor pricing: Most hardware stores have contractor pricing which is much lower than the regular price for goods because contractors usually purchase in large quantities for their business. If you’re a contractor or you work with handypeople, you could get the contractor pricing!

 

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Save money with your entertainment and technology

1. Reduce subscriptions: Apps like Rocket Money will help you see all the subscriptions you have and they can even cancel them at the click of a button. Think about if you need all those streaming and magazine subscriptions or if you can live without them.

2. Borrow books and movies from the library: If you’re looking for things to do, you could swing by your local library for physical books and movies, or most libraries also allow you to rent eBooks and stream movies online. Plus, library cards are free!

3. Attend free local events: Many towns work with local businesses and groups to put on free shows throughout the year. Check your town’s event calendar for a fun outing and the chance to explore something new, for free!

4. Cancel or downgrade cable: If you’re using streaming services or you’re exploring other entertainment options, you could cancel or downgrade your cable. Most streaming services also allow you to purchase cheaper packages for big games or TV shows if you just want to watch those too.

5. Share streaming services with friends and family: Most streaming services offer discounted rates to have additional profiles under one account, even with home sharing restrictions. If you have friends or family you could join up with, you could save hundreds over the year!

6. Rotate free trials: If you’re looking to reduce your subscription service usage, you could use free trials and rotate the subscriptions each month. For example, Amazon does regular Prime discounts and free trials and you could sign up, purchase what you need, then use calendar reminders to cancel at the end of the trial period.

7. Trade-in old gadgets: If you have old iPads, Android phones, or other gadgets lying around that you’re not using for other side hustles, you could trade them in with your next new phone purchase or for extra cash with sites like BackMarket.

8. Attend matinee or discount nights at the movie theater: Many movie theaters have discount days and nights where there’s often less foot traffic and where they show the same movies as other times during the week. If you want to see the latest movies with less people around you, these are the days and times to go!

9. Share subscriptions with family and friends: Subscriptions can be cheaper for everyone in your social circle if you’re willing to share accounts for streaming services, restaurant delivery, Amazon Prime, and many others.

10. Switch to a cheaper phone service: There are plenty of cheaper phone services that piggyback off the major carriers’ infrastructure. Make sure to do your research by looking for reviews and coverage maps in your area once you find a cheaper service to ensure you won’t sacrifice too much quality by switching.

11. Go to events and attractions on discount days: Many events and attractions have discount days or discount seasons where you can get huge savings and with less people at the places as well.

12. Sign up for birthday freebies: Many restaurants, move theaters, and other attractions offer birthday freebies that you can take advantage of on your birthday instead of attending more expensive events.

13. Use family plans for music, storage, and gaming subscriptions: Subscriptions such as Spotify, Google Drive, Office 365 (Word, Excel, etc.), and Xbox Game Pass offer discounts for signing up more members of your family.

14. Repair your current technology before replacing it: New phones and other devices cost more than $1000 after trade-ins. If you can fix your current phone’s screen for $150, you’ll still be well ahead if you keep your phone until you absolutely need to upgrade.

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Save money with your school and education costs

1. Take online classes: Some schools will provide discounts for taking online classes because they don’t have the overhead costs of using space and paying professors to be physically present. Online classes often count for the same credits and they won’t show on your transcript. Plus, online classes can save you time and money to get to your classes!

2. Borrow books from your library or online: Most professors use books that are widely available online for you to borrow, or your local library may also have a few copies to lend out for a lot cheaper than buying the books yourself. I got away with spending less than $300 over my degree by doing this and the other methods in this section.

3. Share costs with classmates: If you know that you’ll have to pay for books or other class materials, you could share costs with your current classmates or your other friends who have taken the class previously.

4. Use free services like Coursera or YouTube to upskill: To ensure you pass your paid classes, you could also take free courses online through many providers that will reinforce the concepts you’re learning. In some cases, you can gain credits for online classes and you only need to pay the exam or certification fees.

5. Use employer-sponsored tuition: Some employers will reimburse you for tuition costs if you’re taking classes related to your job. For example, I did a paid internship for a year and I also took classes at the same time, but my employer paid part of the tuition cost as well as my salary.

6. Use discount book stores and events: Discount book stores and book bargain events can be a great way for you to find textbooks as well as books that you like reading.

7. Live at home: If your school is close enough for you to live at home, you’ll see huge savings in housing, food, transportation, and more. Just remember to help out around the house as much as you can!

8. Apply for financial aid each year: Financial aid programs can get backlogged and it’s best to apply for it early if you know you’ll need it throughout the year. You can also sometimes request more throughout the year if you can demonstrate why you need it.

9. Take AP or college-level classes in high school: If you have the grades and the opportunity to take AP and college-level classes while you’re in high school, you should take advantage of them! Some classes in college may cost $1000 or more so if you can take them for a reduced fee or for free, you’ll save thousands of dollars and you’ll also have more room in your college schedule for other classes.

10. Attend a smaller community college and then transfer: If you can attend a smaller community college for the first one or two years of your degree to get any core or cheaper classes out of the way, then you could transfer to your preferred college in later years. A lot of more prestige schools have a more streamlined transfer program as well so the acceptance rate may be higher than if you applied out of high school.

11. Apply for scholarships early and often: Wherever you can, you should apply for scholarships through scholarships databases or from simple searches for your criteria. For example, if you have done any sports, if you have any certifications, or even if you’re left-handed, you can find specific scholarships tailored to your skills and features.

12. Take notes on a device: Instead of buying paper, notebooks, and writing and highlighting items, you could do all your note taking on free note taking apps.

13. Use student discounts on tech: Retailers from Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon among many others all offer student programs so you can purchase the tech you need for school at deep discounts.

14. Take advantage of free software: Many software companies offer student discounts on software. Check out this huge list of student discounts that you could take advantage of!

15. Apply to be a Resident Advisor (RA): An RA gets free or really cheap rooms and meals on campus. The trade-off is that you’ll need to be the floor “police” for the lower year students but the savings you’ll get are more than worth it.

16. Use ride sharing and discount groups: Look on Facebook and other local groups for people offering ride shares to and from your school and for other student discounts.

17. Take extra credits: By taking extra credits in the summers or the semesters, you could cut off a year or more off your degree which could save you thousands.

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Save money with your employment

1. Take advantage of employer matches into 401(k) plans: If you get any kind of employer match when you set aside money for your 401(k), you should take advantage of it because it’s free money.

2. Automatically contribute to retirement plans: Many people find it hard to contribute to savings and investments when they have the money in their bank accounts. The solution? Set aside the money from your paycheck and invest automatically in your accounts so you never have to face that decision!

3. Work remotely or hybrid: Obviously this doesn’t work for some professions and employers, but if you have the opportunity to either work remotely or work hybrid, you could save time and thousands in transportation, meals, and other costs over each year.

4. Use employer perks: A lot of employers have perks such as an on-site gym, they pay for your phone and/or internet bill, gym and fitness equipment reimbursements, free food or snacks, and more. Take advantage of all these freebies to save hundreds each year!

5. Pack your own lunch and snacks: Making your own lunch and avoiding vending machines and going out for lunch every day can save you thousands over each year. Try limiting yourself to once a week if you already go out more frequently and then reduce that amount further.

6. Contribute raises to saving and investments: If you got a raise, congrats! Now put that money to work by either paying off debt or by putting it in your savings or investment accounts!

7. Switch jobs: Moving to a new job can be a scary step but in most cases, you can negotiate a raise that’s higher than your current job, which you can use to save more money. In addition, you may save money in transportation costs if you work remotely or you live closer to work. You may also get more benefits like tuition or certification reimbursement and fitness subsidies. Research positions on Glassdoor or Levels.fyi to get a range of salaries that you can use in the negotiation.

8. Review your benefits each year: Employers constantly change benefits including insurance, discounts, and reimbursements. Ensure you check on your benefits every year so you take advantage of them!

9. Shop for work clothes during sales or at second-hand stores: Shops like TJMaxx, Ross, Marshall’s, and other second-hand stores are perfect for most of your work clothes needs. If you need suits, you can often find major suits retailers have regular sales, as well as sites like TheRealReal and Poshmark if you want nicer suits with a lower price tag.

10. Track work-related expenses: When you go on work trips, make sure you keep receipts and track all your purchases so you can expense them through your finance department.

11. Limit spending during and after work: It’s easy to get caught up in going out to lunch or for drinks with your colleagues during and after work. Instead, try limiting yourself to once a month and make and bring your own lunch.

12. Aim for no tax return: If you can get your W2 tax withholdings to the proper amount so that you don’t owe but that you also don’t get anything come tax time, you’ll be in a good place to ensure that your money stays yours. The IRS tax withholding estimator is a great way to quickly get the amount that you should be withholding for taxes.

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Save money in your health and wellness

1. Exercise regularly: Exercising at least 4-5 times a week has been proven to increase lifespan by as much as 20 years because of its health benefits. Once you get into the habit of exercising, it gets a lot easier to work it into your routine and it will ultimately save you in most healthcare costs as you age. Start by doing something active for just 10 minutes, one day a week. By week three, ramp it up to 20 minutes for three days a week. Over time, your body will adjust and you’ll look and feel great!

2. Exercise at home or outside: Aside from being difficult to cancel, gym memberships can quickly eat away at your savings. Try setting aside some money to buy the equipment you need and create a home gym which will save you money in the long run and will also motivate you to exercise more!

3. Drink water: Our bodies are made up of about 70% water so drinking it and avoiding sugary drinks is a great way to keep you healthy and make you feel good. If you crave soda or other drinks, try limiting yourself to special occasions and always keep a water bottle with you to remind you to drink water.

4. Get regular sleep: Sticking to a regular sleep routine where you get enough sleep for your age group is essential to your health. Not getting enough sleep can lead to other problems and more health costs down the road.

5. Eat healthy: Along with exercising and getting regular sleep, eating healthy completes the trifecta of the things to keep on top of. Try to cut out snacks and sugary foods and drinks by not keeping them in the house. Instead, check the meal plan section above and keep cheap but healthy staples like rice, chicken, and bread around your house.

6. Brush and floss your teeth: Flossing at least once a day and brushing twice a day are key to ensuring your teeth and mouth stays healthy. I’ve found that a tongue brush and mouthwash are also great ways to reduce bad breath. Start by trying to floss part of your mouth, and brush your teeth once a day, then build up to flossing the rest of your mouth and brushing twice a day.

7. Quit smoking or drinking: Habits like smoking and drinking cost a lot of money and cost your overall health as well. Try to slowly stop those habits or avoid them altogether!

8. Use FSA/HSA accounts: If you meet the requirements for Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts, you should definitely use them for their tax benefits. If you can, try to pay for medical expenses out of pocket and leave the money in your FSA or HSA accounts to grow with your investments.

9. Use discount dental and vision plans: There are many providers that offer discounted dental and vision services that start as low as $10 a month. While there will be restrictions on some services and the providers you can choose from, this can be a great way to ensure your dental and vision health stay updated.

10. Ask for itemized bills: Hospitals and other care providers will often put highly-inflated costs on your bill. Always ask for an itemized bill to ensure that you’re not over-paying for services and ask about specific line items if you’re not sure.

11. Call the hospital financial department for discounts: Some hospitals offer discounts if you call their finance department, especially if you can demonstrate that you can’t pay the full bill. They want to at least get some of the bill amount back so they’re often willing to knock 20% or more off the final bill amount. That could translate to thousands of dollars for a simple phone call!

12. Compare prices before filling prescriptions: A lot of doctors in the US are paid to force subscriptions on their clients, even if there are cheaper options available that will give you the same care and benefits. Always ask about your options when you’re filling prescriptions!

13. Cut your own hair: This won’t work for everyone, but if you get the same hair cut every time or if you just need a few inches trimmed off, you could buy a DIY hair cutting kit for less than $30, watch a Youtube video on your specific hair cut, then attempt to cut your own hair in front of a mirror.

14. Do your own nails: It can be nice to get a manicure and pedicure but try limiting yourself to how much you go and instead do your own nails at home.

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Save money in your mindset and habits

1. Define your “why” for saving money: Some people save for retirement, others for a house, and still others for their dream car. Whatever your goal is, it’s important to note it down and stick it to your desk, fridge, or wherever you will look often. It will give you that extra boost to keep saving for it!

2. Surround yourself with frugal people: Frugal people, or people who are more money-minded, are generally more likely to invite you over for dinner, suggest activities at home or for lower costs, and will remind you of good saving habits. Try surrounding yourself with these people and your accounts will thank you!

3. Read personal finance materials: Personal finance is a big category and the best information changes frequently as accounts and laws change. You can keep updated with the best strategies through our site, communities like Reddit’s r/personalfinance, and the Boglehead forums.

4. Don’t spend $1 bills or change: If your coffee costs $5.50, pay with a $10 bill and then make sure you put the three $1 bills and the 50 cents you get as change into one bucket for the bills and another bucket for the coins. Some banks will take the change and deposit it into your account but they may require that you use rollers to separate it first. You can also use Coinstar machines with the gift card option for low or no fees.

5. Think in hours, not dollars: Thinking about expenses in terms of how much time it will take to make back that money is a great way to ensure you don’t overspend, especially if you don’t need the item.

6. Think of frugality as freedom: Get into the mindset of being cost-conscious wherever you go so that you can save more and reach your financial goals faster.

7. Celebrate your savings with yourself and others: When you hit part or all of your savings milestones, make sure you celebrate with yourself and with others! Don’t go too crazy but a small gift to yourself is perfect to ensure you stay motivated to keep saving!

8. Visualize your overall savings goal before large purchases: A key part of your savings mindset is to always keep your overall goals in mind. When you’re facing a large purchase, before going for the most expensive option or getting more than you need, visualize your overall goal and you might be more inclined to choose the option you actually need!

9. Adopt an abundance mindset: If you think about how much you already have and that you don’t need more things or how you can re-purpose and re-use your current items, you’ll be developing your abundance mindset. Many people spend impulsively because they want things instead of actually needing them. See if you can wait until you save money over time to get the items you want!

10. Give every dollar a “job”: If you give every dollar (or bundle of dollars) a “job” or a purpose, you’ll be more likely to only spend it on that purpose. This will make you think twice about impulse spending when you could be saving those dollars.

11. Reframe savings as buying time back later: If you think of saving money as how you’re buying your time back later in life, you’ll be motivated to save more wherever you can. This is especially true if you have a family who you want to spend more time with.

 

Did you find new ways that you could save money from this post? If you have any comments or ideas on more ways to save money that aren’t in this list already, let us know in the comments below!