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.
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How to Save Your Money on Food
- Stop buying coffee/drinks when you go to work in the morning. Make it at home.
- Stick to your grocery list when buying groceries.
- Don’t go to the grocery store when you are hungry or stressed.
- Eat up what you already have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry before you go spend more.
- Shop at the least expensive grocery store around you. Avoid specialty food stores.
- Use apps that have rebates, coupons, rewards or cut paper coupons.
- Plan your meals for the week using the grocery flyer.
- Avoid fast food eating.
- Buy generic when possible.
- Take your lunch to work.
- Don’t order anything but water to drink when you go out to eat. Save alcohol for at home.
- Eat out once a week and use coupons.
- Plan your date night with a budget in mind. Have a picnic, go to the dollar movie, walk around a pretty area. Talk!
- Make food gifts instead of buying gifts to save your money.
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How to Save Your Money on Clothes
- 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.)
- Shop at discount stores such as Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Ross, etc.
- Buy and sell at resale shops.
- Garage sale for kids toys and clothes.
- Swap clothes and toys with friends and family.
- Pass clothes, shoes, toys, and decor down to younger kids instead of buying all new things for each child.
- Repair items instead of buying new ones.
- Check out Macy’s. They have great coupons, sales, and rewards.
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How to Save Your Money on Banking
- Don’t use any ATMs or check cashing places that charge a fee.
- Use banks that don’t charge a fee or keep the minimum balance in the account to avoid fees.
- Start a savings account. Auto-draft a set amount every month. Take it out first thing.
- Cut up your credit cards if you can’t pay them off every month.
- Get a credit card that earns something like frequent flyer miles, cashback, free things, hotel stay. Whatever it is you will use.
- Look for hidden fees with any bank or money management services
How to Save Your Money on Services
- Trade labor instead of cash to save your money.
- Swap babysitting with neighbors or create a babysitting club.
- Need extra help? Hire a mama’s helper that is around 10yrs-12yrs old or so.
- Cancel memberships and subscriptions you don’t use. Gym membership anyone?
- 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
- Set heat and air to the highest and lowest you can comfortably live with.
- Use fans instead of the AC.
- Fix up old furniture with new paint.
- Check out DIY videos on YouTube for small repairs.
- Buy appliances that are a bit damaged (dent or ding) and ask for a big discount.
- Paint your house instead of using a painter.
- Fix up your house instead of buying it new or remodeled, if cost-effective.
- Take care of your own lawn, landscaping, and pool.
- Use For Sale By Owner, Craigslist, Nextdoor App., or Facebook when selling your house.
- Once a year, shop around for the best electricity rate and insurance rates on car and house.
- Cut cable/satellite and use Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, etc.
- Cut the landline and use cell phones only.
- Shop at Homegoods, Ross, Target, or TJ Maxx for home decor.
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How to Save Your Money on Travel
- Travel off-season when kids are little. Disney is cheaper for sure.
- Use a discount site when booking hotels, cars, even cruises.
- Airbnb is great for getting a bigger space for about the same price as a hotel. Get a kitchen to save on food.
- Ask the hotel or homeowner for a discount on your stay. Use their rewards program.
- Don’t go into debt to go on vacation.
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How to Save Your Money on Cars
- Buy fuel-efficient cars.
- Wash your own car.
- Go down to one car and use mass transit or find a carpool.
- Map out your errands and save your money on gas.
- Use a gas app to show the best places to fill up.
How to Save Your Money on Pets
- Groom your own pets.
- Use pet mobile services for vaccines instead of a brick-and-mortar vet. (Many large cities have mobile vets.)
- 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*
- Practice good health habits to avoid excessive doctor trips. (Exercise and eat healthy.)
- Buy contacts online instead of through the eye doctor.
- Use the nurse at the CVS Minute Clinic instead of going to the doctor for minor issues.
- Get immunizations or shots at Sam’s Wholesale, CVS Minute Clinic, or another walk-in clinic outside the doctor’s office.
- Use a health sharing plan instead of a traditional health care plan. You will save THOUSANDS.
- Order your prescriptions through a Canadian pharmacy.
- 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
- Be very careful about the amount of money you spend on club sports. It will suck you dry with little return.
- Buy used workout equipment and create a home gym.
- Private lessons are expensive. Pay or barter with a friend who has knowledge in a sport or musical instrument.
- 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.
- 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
- Use grocery store products instead of department store products when at all possible.
- Buy bar soap instead of a body wash.
- Buy large bottles of shampoo and conditioner instead of the smaller ones.
- Ask your hairstylist if she can buy hair products, curling iron, hairdryer for you cheaper.
- Color or do root touch-ups at home.
- Do your own manicure/pedicure.
- Make your own body scrubs.
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Buying Habits Guide
- Check FB, Neighborhood App, Craigslist for free, or used items.
- Instead of buying books, CDs, or movies, go to the city or church library and borrow them.
- Trade out books, CDs, or movies with family or friends.
- Wait for sales when buying big items. Price compare.
- Return things you should not have bought, if still returnable.
- Put your money in an envelope. When it is gone, there is no more.
- Save receipts so you can return things that break or have poor quality.
- Record your spending for a month so you know where your money is going. Make adjustments.
- Choose the top 3 stores you love and get on their email list. Use every reward, coupon offer, sale, and promotion available.
- 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
- Stop collecting stuff, and start selling unused things on Craigslist, Amazon, Facebook, Neighborhood App., or garage sale.
- Donate items you can’t sell. Itemize each item for a tax deduction.
- Use a coupon for everything you can.
- 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.
- Change your mindset. Learn contentment.
- Practice delayed gratification. Don’t buy it if you don’t have the money.
- Tithe 10%. You will be surprised at how God multiplies your money when you give generously.
- 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.
- Pay down debt!
- Pray for favor when buying.
- Don’t dip into your savings unless there is a huge emergency.
- Make a budget you and your spouse can live by. Stick to it.
- Don’t ignore small savings. It adds up!
Did you learn how to save your money? What do you do? Comment below.
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This advice was practical and well formatted so it was easy to follow. LOTS of useful info – thank you for your summation!
Hannah, I am glad these tips were easy for you to understand. It is not easy saving money when there is so much pulling at us just to live. Especially if you have kids. Thanks for your comment.
Some great tips here – thanks for sharing. I confess that sticking to my grocery list can be a challenge – even when I don’t go hungry. I remember things that I forgot to put on the list when I see them in the store. But, I always put an estimate on what items will cost and if I can save enough then I add the other items to my list.
Kathryn, that is a great tip to help save money. I do that too. I forget what I need until I am there. I actually like browsing. It’s kinda fun to get out of the house. I have to be disciplined no to go crazy when I go off-list! Thanks for your comment.
There are so many amazing and practical ways to save money on here! Everyone should read this post for great tips!
Jessica, thanks for saying this. There are definitely lots of ways to save money.
So many great ideas in one list! We cut the cable cord a few years ago and I’ve never missed it. We actually watch better tv now with all the apps than we did when we had a zillion channels and the savings is significant.
Amy, that is such a good way to save money. Cutting the cable is not too bad with all the other ways available to get programming.
I have trouble finding coupons for in-store purchases but I always do a quick Google for a coupon when I buy online. Sometimes it takes a few minutes to find a code that works but the savings really do add up!
I have trouble sometimes too. I like Wikibuy. It works pretty well for online shopping. Thanks for your comment.
Such a handy guide to save our money. You have done a great research on this. A must read for all the moms!
Thanks, Akansha. I hope it will help you save money.
Great list! There are little things that we can do every day that most of us just don’t think of! Going to have to keep this pinned so that I remember!
Sabrina, yes, it takes a little thought, but you can save money on all sorts of things with a few habit changes.