How to Save Your Money: 101 Stupid-Easy Tips Anyone Can Do

Do you know how to save your money? It’s not easy, but if you work hard, it will pay off in time.

When I was younger, I wasn’t the best at saving my money. I didn’t understand about investments, savings, or interest. For me, it was just something old people talked about. I wanted to have fun and live for the moment!

That is until I married my accountant husband. Boy, was I in for a big shock. But after a while, I learned his tricks.

Then I was a believer.

I realized that some of the things we did really weren’t that bad after all. In fact, it became a game to see how much I could ratchet down the price of something.

Here are the 101 pain-free ways to save your money each month. I have listed ways for you to save your money in different areas for easy reference.

RELATED: 3 Incredible Reasons For Being a Stay at Home Mom

How to Save Your Money on Food

1. Stop buying coffee/drinks when you go to work in the morning. Make it at home.
2. Stick to your grocery list when buying groceries.
3. Don’t go to the grocery store when you are hungry or stressed.
4. Eat up what you already have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry before you go spend more.
5. Shop at the least expensive grocery store around you. Avoid specialty food stores.
6. Use apps that have rebates, coupons, rewards or cut paper coupons.
7. Plan your meals for the week using the grocery flyer.
8. Avoid fast food eating.
9. Buy generic when possible.
10. Take your lunch to work.
11. Don’t order anything but water to drink when you go out to eat. Save alcohol for at home.
12. Eat out once a week and use coupons.
13. Plan your date night with a budget in mind. Have a  picnic, go to the dollar movie, walk around a pretty area. Talk!
14. Make food gifts instead of buying gifts to save your money.

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How to Save Your Money on Clothes

1. Shop at thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army for clothes and toys. (Find thrift shops near wealthy areas as they are the recipients of their cast-offs.)
2. Shop at discount stores such as Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, etc.
3. Buy and sell at resale shops.
4. Garage sale for kids toys and clothes.
5. Swap clothes and toys with friends and family.
6. Pass clothes, shoes, toys, and decor down to younger kids instead of buying all new things for each child.
7. Repair items instead of buying new ones.
8. Check out Macy’s. They have great coupons, sales, and rewards.

RELATED: Making Money As a Stay at Home Mom: 8 Stupid-Easy Ways To Earn Cash

How to Save Your Money on Banking

1. Don’t use any ATMs or check cashing places that charge a fee.
2. Use banks that don’t charge a fee or keep the minimum balance in the account to avoid fees.
3. Start a savings account. Auto-draft a set amount every month. Take it out first thing.
4. Cut up your credit cards if you can’t pay them off every month.
5. Get a credit card that earns something like frequent flyer miles, cashback, free things, hotel stay. Whatever it is you will use.
6. Look for hidden fees with any bank or money management services

How to Save Your Money on Services

1. Trade labor instead of cash to save your money.
2. Swap babysitting with neighbors or create a babysitting club.
3. Need extra help? Hire a mama’s helper that is around 10yrs-12yrs old or so.
4. Cancel memberships and subscriptions you don’t use. Gym membership anyone?
5. Pay your child or a neighborhood kid to do your lawn or yard work if you don’t have time to do it.

How to Save Your Money in the Home

1. Set heat and air to the highest and lowest you can comfortably live with.
2. Use fans instead of the AC.
3. Fix up old furniture with new paint.
4. Check out DIY videos on YouTube for small repairs.
5. Buy appliances that are a bit damaged (dent or ding) and ask for a big discount.
6. Paint your house instead of using a painter.
7. Fix up your house instead of buying it new or remodeled, if cost-effective.
8. Take care of your own lawn, landscaping, and pool.
9. Use For Sale By Owner, Craigslist, Nextdoor App., or Facebook when selling your house.
10. Once a year, shop around for the best electricity rate and insurance rates on car and house.
11. Cut cable/satellite and use Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, etc.
12. Cut the landline and use cell phones only.
13. Shop at Homegoods, Ross, Target, or TJ Maxx for home decor.

RELATED: 15 Biblical Keys To a Successful Marriage That Are Powerful

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How to Save Your Money on Travel

1. Travel off-season when kids are little. Disney is cheaper for sure.
2. Use a discount site when booking hotels, cars, even cruises.
3. Airbnb is great for getting a bigger space for about the same price as a hotel. Get a kitchen to save on food.
4. Ask the hotel or homeowner for a discount on your stay. Use their rewards program.
5. Don’t go into debt to go on vacation.

RELATED: 4 Awesome Reasons to Be a Stay At Home Mom: Is It Right For You?

How to Save Your Money on Cars

1. Buy fuel-efficient cars.
2. Wash your own car.
3. Go down to one car and use mass transit or find a carpool.
4. Map out your errands and save your money on gas.
5. Use a gas app to show the best places to fill up.

How to Save Your Money on Pets

1. Groom your own pets.
2. Use pet mobile services for vaccines instead of a brick-and-mortar vet. (Many large cities have mobile vets.)
3. Buy flea and heartworm meds online. It’s much cheaper.

RELATED: 17 Ways to Save Money on Pet Expenses

How to Save Your Money Each Month on Health*

1. Practice good health habits to avoid excessive doctor trips. (Exercise and eat healthy.)
2. Buy contacts online instead of through the eye doctor.
3. Use the nurse at the CVS Minute Clinic instead of going to the doctor for minor issues.
4. Get immunizations or shots at Sam’s Wholesale, CVS Minute Clinic, or another walk-in clinic outside the doctor’s office.
5. Use a health sharing plan instead of a traditional health care plan. You will save THOUSANDS.
6. Order your prescriptions through a Canadian pharmacy.
7. Have day surgery in a surgery center outside the hospital, if an option.

*check with your doctor before you do any of these health suggestions

How to Save Your Money on Sports/Band

1. Be very careful about the amount of money you spend on club sports. It will suck you dry with little return.
2. Buy used workout equipment and create a home gym.
3. Private lessons are expensive. Pay or barter with a friend who has knowledge in a sport or musical instrument.
4. Buy used sports equipment for your kids. Buy online or go to a resale sport’s shop. Upgrade only if they stick with it for a long time.
5. Buy a used musical instrument. Use Amazon, Next Door App, Craigslist, etc. Upgrade if your child plays it more than a year or two.

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How to Save Your Money on Beauty Products

1. Use grocery store products instead of department store products when at all possible.
2. Buy bar soap instead of a body wash.
3. Buy large bottles of shampoo and conditioner instead of the smaller ones.
4. Ask your hairstylist if she can buy hair products, curling iron, hairdryer for you cheaper.
5. Color or do root touch-ups at home.
6. Do your own manicure/pedicure.
7. Make your own body scrubs.

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Buying Habits Guide

1. Check FB, Neighborhood App, Craigslist for free, or used items.
2. Instead of buying books, CDs, or movies, go to the city or church library and borrow them.
3. Trade out books, CDs, or movies with family or friends.
4. Wait for sales when buying big items. Price compare.
5. Return things you should not have bought, if still returnable.
6. Put your money in an envelope. When it is gone, there is no more.
7. Save receipts so you can return things that break or have poor quality.
8. Record your spending for a month so you know where your money is going. Make adjustments.
9. Choose the top 3 stores you love and get on their email list. Use every reward, coupon offer, sale, and promotion available.
10. Don’t buy anything that is going to draw interest. It will multiply the cost of your product exponentially.

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How to Save a Ton of Money Every Month

1. Stop collecting stuff, and start selling unused things on Craigslist, Amazon, Facebook, Neighborhood App., or garage sale.
2. Donate items you can’t sell. Itemize each item for a tax deduction.
3. Use a coupon for everything you can.
4. Get rid of any storage units you have. Sell or donate the stuff. If you aren’t using it now, you probably won’t later.
5. Change your mindset. Learn contentment.
6. Practice delayed gratification. Don’t buy it if you don’t have the money.
7. Tithe 10%. You will be surprised at how God multiplies your money when you give generously.
8. Run the numbers before your spouse works outside the home. Many jobs don’t pay enough for daycare, meals out, sickness, wardrobe, car costs, etc.
9. Pay down debt!
10. Pray for favor when buying.
11. Don’t dip into your savings unless there is a huge emergency.
12. Make a budget you and your spouse can live by. Stick to it.
13. Don’t ignore small savings. It adds up!

Did you learn how to save your money? What do you do? Comment below. 

Got Family Problems? There is Help and Hope!

Are you experiencing family problems or have a family estrangement? Do you feel shame, anger, or rejection? Check out my book Estranged: Finding Hope When Your Family Falls Apart on Amazon or at your favorite digital store. 

This book not only talks about my seven-year estrangement (and reconciliation) from my Christian family but also gives solid tips to help you with your family problems. Break free from your pain. Allow God to heal you no matter what has happened in your family of origin. There is hope when your family falls apart.

Creating Family Memories Book

Get Creating Family Memories. This book will help you manage your family in a way that allows more time to be intentional with your kids.  It includes a schedule too. You can get it at your favorite bookstore.

Join the group Christian Family Living on Facebook

Continue the conversation on Facebook and join the group Christian Family Living. This is a place for Christian women to freely talk about parenting, marriage, faith, family, and culture. Being a Christian is hard! Let’s do it together. Most of all, a sense of humor is required. Got memes? Bring it on!

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