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Are you struggling with cutting down your expenses and saving money? Don’t worry, here is a list of 62 ways to save more money! Try these genius tips for 2020 so that you will have the best year ever!
SHOPPING
1. Use Ebates when you shop online
With Ebates, you will earn cash back for all your qualifying purchases made online! You get paid just for shopping. How cool is that?
2. Use Honey when you shop online
Honey is another site that gives you cash back when you shop online!
3. Unsubscribe from store newsletters
I know that I get tempted every time my favourite retailer sends me an email about a sale. I have since unsubscribed from all newsletters to avoid impulse purchases. Out of sight, out of mind!
4. Buy used
I try to buy used whenever possible. This has literally saved me thousands of dollars. I like to search for deals on Craigslist, Kijiji, and eBay.
5. Use coupons when you go shopping
Coupons.com is a great place to find coupons for your favourite stores!
6. Buy in bulk
Buying in bulk is almost always the cheaper option. I always buy essentials such as toilet paper and laundry detergent in bulk.
7. Stock up during a sale
If there is a sale on an essential item that you know you will need, why not stock up? I only do this with non-perishable items. You don’t want to stock up on something that will expire in a few weeks’ or months’ time. If you don’t end up using it all, then you’ve actually wasted more money.
8. Invest in high quality items
I’ve stopped buying cheap items and instead started investing in more expensive, high quality items that last longer. This makes the cost per use actually much lower.
Related: Where To Put Your Money: 5 Things Not Worth Saving Money On
FOOD
9. Use a meal plan
A meal plan can help you save hundreds on your grocery bill. Instead of scrambling around trying to figure out what to buy, the meal plan will lay out all the ingredients you need. This saves you both time and money!
10. Go grocery shopping on a full stomach
Going grocery shopping when you’re hungry causes you to indulge and buy more fatty, high-calorie food. Usually, these foods are also more expensive! So next time, do yourself (and your waist) a favour and eat before you head to the grocery store!
11. Pack your lunch
Packing your own lunch is usually the healthier option. And as a bonus, you can save yourself $5-10 everyday.
12. Stop buying coffee
Although coffees only cost about $2-3 per cup, the expense adds up. Let’s say you drink 2 cups per day, that’s over $100 a month on coffee! Make your own coffee, your wallet will thank you for it 🙂
13. Eat out less
I know it’s tempting to eat out, especially when you’re too lazy to think of what to prepare. Next time, just resist the urge! Eating out is expensive – not only do you have to pay more for the food, but you also have to pay for the food service. I have opted to not eat out anymore and I am saving myself hundreds a month by just preparing meals at home.
14. When eating out, take home the leftovers
Restaurant portions tend to be large. If you don’t finish the food, instead of letting it go to waste, ask for a doggy bag. You can reheat the food and eat it the next day for lunch or dinner.
15. Ask for tap water
Instead of ordering a beer or soft drink when you’re out for a meal, ask for tap water instead. Drinks are expensive in restaurants, while water is totally free.
16. Drink more water
Did you know that if you drink more water, you will feel more satiated and therefore eat less?
17. Buy and prepare food in bulk
If you’re someone who doesn’t have time to cook every day, then try preparing bulk meals and freezing it for the rest of the week. This is what my mom loves to do on Sundays.
18. Go to a discount grocer
I love shopping at Aldi and Lidl. I can find the same quality food for sometimes half of the price of other grocery stores.
19. Eat less meat
Meat is expensive. Try to have more vegetarian meals a few times a week. This will save you big on your grocery bill! I stopped eating meat after I moved to Switzerland and I was able to cut my grocery bill in half!
20. Skip the drinks
I know it’s tempting to go for happy hour after work and socialize with colleagues. Or to watch a game and share a few drinks with friends. Sure, it’s fun, but it really does put a strain on your wallet. Try to have fewer nights out, or drink less while you’re out.
21. Make your own snacks
Buying pre-packaged snacks is expensive. I have started to buy snacks in bulk and prepare my own snacks. I use my own reusable snack containers
22. Use a reusable water bottle
I stopped buying bottled water and started using a reusable water bottle. S’well water bottles
If the idea of tap water leaves you feeling uneasy, you can always opt for a water filter
23. Save leftovers
Don’t throw away leftover food. Instead, save it and eat it the next day.
24. Buy products in season
Products are priced the lowest when they are in season. Learn more about which fruits and vegetables are in season through the seasonability table.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
25. Cut your own hair
Haircuts are very expensive in Switzerland and my hair grows at an extremely fast pace. I started cutting my own hair, and I think it looks pretty nice. And it saves me $70 every time 🙂
26. Wash your hair before going to the salon
If you don’t dare to cut your own hair, I get you. But at least do yourself a favour and wash your hair before going to the salon for a haircut. That way, you can avoid them charging you for washing your hair! Hey, it’s a few dollars!
27. Buy the generic brand
Generic brands are just as effective as the name brand.
28. Use less shampoo and toothpaste!
I started using less shampoo and toothpaste and have not noticed a difference in my overall hair or teeth quality.
Did you know that you only need a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for each time you brush your teeth?
29. Cancel gym memberships
If you don’t go to the gym, you might as well cancel the membership. I prefer exercising to online videos and going for a walk instead.
AROUND THE HOUSE
30. Turn off the lights
Turn off the lights when you’re not using them. Anytime you leave a room, get into the habit of turning off the light. This will help you cut down your monthly utilities bill.
31. Unplug electronics that are currently not in use
Did you know that your electronics still consume electricity even if they’re not switched on? That is why you should unplug anything that is not being used.
32. In the winter, turn the heat down a notch. In the summer, turn the A/C up a notch!
If you decrease the temperature on your heat by a few degrees, you can save big on your monthly bill. Same goes for the air conditioning in the summer – turn up the temperature slightly to save on your monthly bill.
33. Cut your cable
There are a lot of free TV stations available. And these days, everyone seems to be on Netflix anyways 🙂
34. Cut your home phone
If you already have a cell phone, you probably don’t need a home phone too. This expense is redundant. I haven’t had a home phone for years.
35. Find a cheaper cell phone plan
How much are you paying for your phone plan? Chances are, probably too much. Call your provider and try to negotiate a cheaper plan. Or, switch to a cheaper plan with another provider.
36. Install a low-flow shower head and dual flush toilet
You can save on water by installing a low flow shower head
37. Cancel magazine subscriptions
I stopped subscribing to magazines and started reading the very same articles for free on the magazine’s web sites. If you like having the physical copy, you can also borrow magazines from the local library!
38. Air dry your clothes
I have stopped using the dryer. Instead, I bought myself a laundry rack
39. Use cold water for laundry
I only wash my laundry in cold water. The laundry is not any less clean when I put the settings to cold water. The only difference is that I pay less for my monthly bills now 🙂
40. Use hand towels
I stopped using paper towels and strictly use reusable hand towels. It’s cheaper, and I’m throwing away less waste now.
41. Use the fan instead of the A/C
Unless it’s unbelievably hot, I try to use a fan for some natural circulation rather than turning on the air conditioning.
42. Close your blinds during the hottest part of the day to avoid humidity
During the hottest part of the day, I close all the blinds to keep the sun out. This helps me to prevent my room from getting too hot, and therefore, I can avoid turning on the A/C!
43. Google or YouTube how to fix something yourself instead of hiring somebody!
Instead of hiring someone to fix something for me, I’ve started trying to fix it myself by searching on Google/YouTube. It’s great because I save money, and I also learn a new skill!
44. Use LED lightbulbs
LED light bulbs
45. Wear your clothes more than once
Instead of washing your clothes after every wear, try to wear them a few more times before doing your laundry. Chances are, your clothes don’t get too dirty/smelly after just one use. You can reduce the amount of loads of laundry you do per week, and your clothes will last longer too.
46. Do only full loads of laundry
I know it’s tempting to turn on the laundry machine even just for half a load, but wait until you have a full load before running the machine. If there are any items that you absolutely need to wear the next day, then wash them by hand.
47. Skip the softener
If you use a good quality detergent, chances are that the softener won’t make too big of a difference to your clothes’ softness. I have stopped using a softener for years and my clothes still come out soft.
48. Don’t buy dry clean only clothes
Going to the dry cleaners is expensive and also time-consuming. I have stopped buying dry-clean only clothes and ONLY buy clothes that can be washed at home. This has saved me so much time and money over the years.
ENTERTAINMENT
49. Go to the library for books and movies
The library has just about anything – books, movies, and magazines available. And it’s all free with a library card. Next time you want to watch a movie, don’t spend $20 going to the cinema, just go to the library and borrow a copy.
50. Watch TED Talks or other free videos online!
I love watching TED Talks. The videos are inspiring and I always learn something new. Otherwise, I usually watch videos on how to learn a new skill.
51. Attend free events
Look up what is happening in your local community and attend any free events going on. Summers are great for music festivals, concerts, conferences, etc.
BANKING/FINANCES
52. Cut your credit card(s)
I stopped using a credit card and it’s helped me to stop spending thousands per month! Instead of spending money that I didn’t have, I just use cash now.
53. Use a no-fee bank account
There is no reason to pay banking fees when you can get it for free!
54. Refinance your debt (mortgage, car loan, student loan)
You can literally save thousands on interest just by financing your debt!
TRAVEL
55. Walk or take the bike or public transit
Instead of taking the car, try to walk, or take the bike. This makes for great exercise. Or you can take public transit.
56. Carpool
Carpooling is great because you can save money on gas, and you can make your commute more enjoyable by sharing it with other people.
57. Unload your car
Chances are, you are carrying a lot of extra weight in your trunk. Unload anything that you don’t need (do you really need that stereo in the back of your trunk?) and you will save more money on gas.
58. Check for cheap gas
GasBuddy.com let’s you know where the cheapest gas station in your area is!
59. Travel off season
Travelling off season means cheaper flights, cheaper hotels, and usually the tourist attractions are available at a discount price as well. I love travelling off season because it means I can avoid the crowds and the high expenses of travelling during high season.
60. Book flight errors
I started following SecretFlying and it’s basically the only time I ever book a flight anymore. SecretFlying posts heavily discounted or error flights. In the past, I had flown round trip to Thailand for $300.
61. Use Airbnb
I stopped staying in hotels and solely stay at Airbnb. I always find rooms that are cheaper than hotels and much more comfortable. On top of that, the hosts are usually very friendly and will tell you the best local spots to check out!
BUDGETING
62. Start a budget
Start a budget. It will help you to keep all your finances in order and identify areas in which you can save more money. Learn more about how to start a budget.
Related: 5 Reasons Why You Need To Start A Budget Today
Key take-aways
Congratulations on making it to the very end of this long list! Now what are you waiting for? Start saving money today!
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Recommendations for you
- Free Guide to Starting Your Own Blog! - This is a free guide I wrote to help you start your own blog!
- Free Resource Library! - I started this library for subscribers and I will be adding more to it every month. Free downloads for blogging, budgeting, moving abroad, etc.!
- Ebates - Get cash back for shopping online! Get $10 back when you spend your first $25!
- Airbnb - I love Airbnb and it's how I afford to travel so much without breaking the bank! Sign up for $40 off your first trip!
Free workbook!
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Great list! Some new things I didn’t know yet, like booking error flights, and some other good reminders!
Thanks for dropping by Marisa!
Eating out is a big bite to a budget. I carry a kleen Kanteen (or two) with water and ice tea, then refill at a water fountain. We have an antenna for tv, 26 clear channels and netflix. Expanding our garden with vegetables and fruits to can and freeze. Berries are my favorite, but are expensive, I smile when I pick a few quarts of blueberries from my garden that would have cost me $50 in the store, and mine taste better. Hubby is the family barber and stylist. He gives my boys their monthly haircuts, and I take a seat every other month to get my locks trimmed to remove splitz, damaged ends and keep my hemline neat. Saves me hundreds a year with no bad haircuts. Hubby does nice work and my mom and best friend have him cut their hair for them. They like getting free haircuts with great results.
You are living an amazingly frugal life! Wow! You’re lucky that your hubby is good at giving haircuts. My mom used to cut my hair for me when I was young and it always turned out like a bowl cut… haha.
Excellent tips – except “wash your hair before going to the salon” – hey, having my hair washed by the salon girl is part of the experience, and I’m OK paying for it.
Also I try not to deprive myself of going out with friends because it’s expensive. Life is short and no-one said I had to order a handful of expensive fancy drinks, I’m perfectly happy with one Cüpli per night 🙂
Hi Tamara,
I agree, it’s all about balance. When I am trying to save money I will deprive myself of some things but I will also splurge on myself once in a while 🙂
I’m totally with you on so many of these, especially relating to food and eating out in Switzerland. We rarely do it. Although, I’d love to hear your thoughts on getting the cheapest health insurance! 😉 That’s such a big killer.
I am lucky because I’m a foreign student so I got a heavily discounted plan for expats (less than 100 francs a month). I don’t know how “regular Swiss” people find cheap insurance deals, I don’t think it exists!