Ever feel like saving money is too overwhelming and you never get started? The best time to start to save money each month is now. You can always get a part time job online to help get more income each month.
But…
Some of the most helpful ways to save money are simple to do. Why not start there. You’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner!
Try these simple tips to save money each month. Think of the thousands of dollars you’ll save within a year from now.
Assess your Monthly Auto-payments
Have you checked your monthly automatic payments lately? This is the easiest and fastest way to save to money each month.
Chances are that some of the stuff you are paying for each month you don’t even use!
I went through all my auto-payments at the start of the year and canceled over $200 worth of services that I don’t use.
For example, I was paying $14.95 per month for an Amazon Audible membership but I wasn’t using it enough to justify the cost.
Like many things, I signed up for free at some point and forgot about it!
I found other “memberships” that I joined and wasn’t using the services. That cut down my monthly expenses in a big way!
Go through your autopayments and find things to cut out to save money. I’m sure you’ll find a few.
Stop Buying Bottled Water
Bottled water can get expensive. It doesn’t seem that way when you buy it, but it adds up over a year.
It certainly is convenient but if you buy even a case of water per week, that can cost you $20 per month or more depending on which water you purchase.
Better to invest in a good water filter and reusable water bottles that you can take with you.
I was buying cases of water and storing them in the garage. I would grab one for the car on the way out. It only takes a minute more to fill a reusable bottle with filtered water and take it with me!
Cancel Your Cable TV and Save Big
How much are you paying for cable TV each month? Back in 2012, I was paying about $120 per month. That’s was over $1400 per year!
The typical cable bill for American households is over $100 per month! Think of how much you can save if you diverted that $100 into your savings each month.
That is a lot of money. I canceled my cable back in 2012 and never missed it a bit, especially the monthly bill. It was one of the fastest ways to save money.
Instead, I use alternatives like Hulu which costs about $7.99 per month. That costs me just $96 per year compared to what I paying for cable costs, over $1400!
I invested in an Amazon FireTV Stick for $39.00 and I can access tons of free apps for TV viewing.
It’s a great alternative to cable and you can watch some of the networks for free.
Use Free Veterinarian Clinics
Pet checkups and annual vaccines can really add up, even if your pet is healthy.
My cat gets about 3 vaccines each year and an annual checkup, especially since she is aging now.
Some pet stores host free clinics either a couple of times a year or once a month. You’ll save big if you get vaccines and checkups at these clinics.
If you can’t find one in your area, check with the Humane Society for information.
Look for Deals in Grocery Stores
I love shopping at my local grocery store. Each week they have “buy one get one free deals” on stuff I actually need!
For example, I love drinking Suja juice but it’s expensive. I never pay full price of $3.99 per serving.
They go on sale for buy one get one free and I stock up.
There are plenty of healthy items that you can find great deals on. It’s been the best strategy for me to save money. Even though I spend a little more on the specific shopping trip, I end up spending less over a period of time.
You can also use apps where you can redeem offers for items you already buy. I use Ibotta. Here’s how it works:
- Find Offers (believe me, you’ll find plenty of stuff you already buy)
- Go Shopping
- Redeem by Taking a Photo of your Receipt in the Ibotta App.
- Get Cash Back (seriously!)
You can either join for free from your computer and then download the app. Or just download the app. Either way, use my code nxtwphf and you can get a Welcome Bonus of $10 just for joining.
Look for Coupon Codes Online
Before I purchase anything online, I always look for promo codes. There are tons of savings to be had depending on where you shop online.
Of course the best way to budget and save is to not shop online, but if you must, look for those coupons!
Just go to a search engine and type in the store name or item along with the phrase “coupon code.” There will be plenty to choose from!
Fix Things Yourself
Sometimes fixing something on your own can be daunting. But some things are super simple and will save you a lot of money.
When my car was being maintenance, I was told that I needed a new cabin air filter that would cost $75 for the filter and labor.
What?
That seemed outrageous to be.
It was worth trying to replace it myself.
I found a YouTube video showing exactly how to do it. I purchased a cabin air filter for $9.99 online with free shipping.
It took me 5 minutes to install it and it was super easy. I saved $65 by doing it myself and it was very doable!
Make your Own Coffee at Home
If you frequent coffee shops, that can get expensive. You might be spending $3 to $7 per coffee drink!
Wow. That can really add up.
I used to do that too and when I saw how much I was spending each month, I nearly lost it.
Instead, I brew my own coffee at home using a French press coffee maker (which makes incredible coffee.)
I find great deals on coffee at the buy one get one free in the grocery store.
I save a ton of money and invested in a coffee to-go mug so I can take it with me.
Just think: that’s an average savings of $80 per month (based on buying coffee 5 days a week.)
Conclusion
There are lots of helpful ways to save money each month that don’t have to be overwhelming. The fastest way to save money is to assess your monthly auto-payments.
I hope you found these tips helpful. How much will you save this month?
Need more money saving tips? Dave Ramsey shares the best way to budget and save. His book Total Money Makeover can help you get financially fit!
WOW I am impressed with you fixing the cabin air filter yourself with a youtube video! I am going to need to start using these advices because right now I am in panic with my finances! I have a $300,000 college loan and I live check by check. Can anybody share more specific tips and ways to use coupons? I kind of messy with that, between forgetting what I have and buying things that I don’t need because I have a coupon!
Hi April. Little by little, keep moving forward. I added my favorite grocery shopping app to this blog post – where I only buy the things I normally buy. Check it out.
hi, Lisa Thank you For sharing the Great article and this article is very helpful for me. we follow this technique in my activities to improve and I have learned a lot from you
A helpful list here! I personally have cut back on take-out coffee and have saved a lot! Starbucks is nice, but an expensive luxury – was spending like $25/week. Plus, sometimes we would have “coffee runs” to get over the day’s hump… then you have to buy for everyone in the office. Making coffee at home, or using the office’s coffee machine, and just buying fancier creamer, is way cheaper than doing coffee runs.