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1. Downsize Your Home (Without Losing Comfort)
Big houses look great on TV, but in real life? They eat your money alive.
You pay more rent or mortgage, more utilities, more cleaning, more everything.
Do you really need three extra rooms you never use, except when your cousin shows up once every two years? Nope.
The secret is this: a smaller space doesn’t mean less comfort. It means smarter comfort.
Small Spaces Save Big
A smaller home forces you to get rid of the clutter, organize better, and live lighter.
You stop paying for useless space, and you start actually enjoying the home you live in.
Think cozy, not cramped. Think minimal, not miserable.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a rent calculator on sites like Rent.com or Zillow to compare costs between your current place and a smaller one in your area, then decide if moving could cut hundreds off your monthly bills.
2. Cook at Home Instead of Eating Out
Listen, eating out is fun… until you check your bank account and realize the pizza delivery guy owns half your paycheck.
Restaurants are basically charging you triple just to hand you food you could’ve made yourself in 20 minutes.
Even those “cheap” fast-food runs add up faster than you think.
Home Cooking Equals Freedom
When you cook at home, you control the ingredients, the flavor, and the price.
It’s not about becoming a five-star chef. It’s about throwing some pasta in boiling water and saving $20.
Even better, you avoid that sneaky extra soda, appetizer, or dessert they tempt you into ordering.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download a free meal-planning app like Mealime, plan 3–4 easy recipes for the week, buy the groceries, and keep them ready so eating at home becomes automatic.
3. Always Drive A Used Car
New car smell? That’s just the scent of your wallet crying.
The second you drive a brand-new car off the lot, it loses value faster than your gym motivation in February.
Dealerships love you for buying new. Your future self? Not so much.
Used Cars Are Smarter Cars
Buying used doesn’t mean buying junk. It means letting someone else pay for the depreciation while you swoop in and grab the same model for thousands less.
Cars last longer than ever today. With regular maintenance, a used car can outlive your Spotify subscription phases.
Plus, your insurance and taxes are lower. Double win.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use Kelley Blue Book or Carfax to find reliable used cars with a clean history, then compare prices to see how much you’d save compared to buying brand-new.
Bonus: Grow Your Savings Without Stress
Okay, so you saved money by skipping that shiny new car.
Now comes the fun part. Making that extra cash actually work for you.
You don’t want it sitting in a boring checking account where it does nothing but gather dust.
Let Your Money Build Itself
This is where using a smart investing tool comes in.
Apps like Betterment give you an easy way to start investing automatically, even if you’re not some Wall Street genius.
It’s built for people who want their money to grow in the background while they’re busy living life.
And here’s the kicker: millions already use it to build wealth over time, so you’re not experimenting alone. You’re joining a proven path.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Sign up with Betterment, set a small recurring deposit (even $10 a week), and let it automatically invest for you so your savings grow without you having to babysit them.
4. Buy Generic Instead of Name Brands
Do you think your body can taste the difference between the generic ibuprofen and the “fancy” one? Spoiler: it can’t.
Most generic products are made in the same factories as the name brands. The only difference is the logo. And the price tag.
Stop paying extra for packaging you throw away in two seconds.
Generic Wins Every Time
Whether it’s medicine, pantry staples, or cleaning supplies, the savings stack up fast when you go generic.
In blind taste tests, most people can’t even tell the difference. And those who say they can? Yeah, they probably can’t either. 🙂
This one’s all about pride vs. practicality. You don’t get bonus points for flexing that you paid double for toothpaste.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Next grocery trip, swap 3 of your usual brand-name items (pasta, cereal, or dish soap) for the store brand, track the price difference on your receipt, and watch how quickly the savings pile up.
5. Cut Back on Streaming and Subscriptions
You think you’re paying $9.99 a month for Netflix, $6.99 for Disney+, $14.99 for HBO… but add them up and suddenly your “cheap” subscriptions cost more than your car insurance.
And be honest. Are you actually watching all of them? Or are you stuck in the same comfort-show loop on one platform anyway?
One Or Two Is Enough
Most subscriptions prey on the “set it and forget it” trap. You sign up, you forget, they keep charging.
Cutting back doesn’t mean you live without entertainment. It means you choose wisely.
Rotate your subscriptions every couple of months. Binge what you want, then cancel and move on. Simple.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your Rocket Money app or check your bank statements for auto-renewal charges, cancel the ones you rarely use, and keep just one or two at a time.
6. Shop Secondhand for Clothes and Furniture
New doesn’t always mean better.
Most of the time, “new” just means more expensive.
That $80 shirt at the mall? Somebody wore the same thing once, got tired of it, and dropped it off at Goodwill.
Secondhand Saves You Cash
Thrift stores, online marketplaces, and resale apps are full of gems.
You can grab high-quality clothes, furniture, and even décor for a fraction of retail prices.
And half the time, the stuff is barely used. Some people buy things, regret them, and toss them out practically brand new.
Why pay full price when you can scoop up the same thing for 70% off?
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check apps like Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, or your local thrift shop for deals, then make a rule to look there first before buying anything new.
7. Plan Meals to Avoid Wasting Food
You buy groceries. You forget about them. They rot in the fridge. You feel guilty. Sound familiar?
Food waste is basically tossing money in the trash can.
Every wilted lettuce head and moldy bread slice is your cash disappearing.
Planning Keeps You on Track
When you plan meals, you buy only what you’ll actually eat.
You save money, avoid waste, and stop staring into the fridge wondering what to cook.
Meal planning also helps you skip those last-minute, expensive takeout runs.
It’s like giving yourself a mini roadmap for the week, and your wallet loves you for it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a simple weekly planner to list meals and groceries, buy only what’s on that list, and stick to it so nothing spoils unused.
8. Walk or Bike Short Trips Instead of Driving
Not every trip requires firing up your car like you’re heading to Daytona.
Driving a mile to grab milk? That’s money burned on gas, wear and tear, and parking headaches.
Walking or biking not only saves money but also makes you feel healthier.
Short Trips Add Up
Most people don’t realize how many tiny drives they take.
Each one eats away at your gas budget.
Replace even a few of them with walking or biking, and the savings pile up.
Plus, you get fresh air, less stress, and maybe a tan if you’re in Miami like me.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Track your trips for a week, then swap 2–3 short drives for walks or bike rides using a free step counter app for motivation.
9. Cancel Gym Memberships and Exercise at Home
How many people do you know paying $50 a month for a gym they haven’t visited since January?
That’s not fitness. That’s financial weightlifting.
Home workouts are free, effective, and way more convenient.
Fitness Doesn’t Need a Gym
Push-ups, squats, planks. You already have all the equipment you need.
YouTube is packed with free workout videos that cover everything from yoga to strength training.
And if you actually enjoy weights, secondhand equipment is everywhere.
No excuses, no commute, no wasted cash.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Search “20-minute bodyweight workout” on YouTube, hit play, and start sweating without paying a dime for a membership.
10. Borrow or Rent Items You Rarely Use
Do you really need to own a power drill you’ll use once a year?
Or a fancy suit you wear to one wedding every decade?
Buying stuff you rarely use is basically hoarding money in the form of dust collectors.
Borrowing Is Smarter
Libraries lend more than books now. They offer tools, games, and even electronics in some cities.
Friends and neighbors are often happy to lend if you ask.
And renting big-ticket items costs far less than buying them outright.
You don’t need to buy everything. You just need access.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check out sites like Fat Llama or your local library’s lending program, or set up a borrow-and-share circle with friends for occasional-use items.
11. Switch to a Cheaper Phone Plan
Why are you still paying $80 a month for unlimited data you don’t even use?
Carriers love trapping people into overpriced plans.
But guess what? Plenty of cheaper options give you the same coverage for half the cost.
Lower Bills Without Sacrifice
MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) like Mint Mobile, Visible, or Tello run on the big networks.
You get the same signal, just without the extra fluff you don’t need.
And switching is way easier than you think. Usually just popping in a new SIM card.
Cutting your bill by $30–$50 a month adds up fast.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Compare plans on sites like WhistleOut, switch to a low-cost provider like Mint Mobile, and keep the same number while slicing your bill in half.
12. Automate Savings So You Don’t Have to Think About It
Saving money feels hard… until you make it automatic.
When your savings leave your account before you even see the money, you never miss it.
It’s like tricking your future self into being richer.
Set It and Forget It
Most banks let you set up recurring transfers straight into savings.
Apps like Acorns or Rocket Money can round up your purchases and stash the change.
The beauty is, you stop relying on willpower.
Your savings grow without you lifting a finger.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set up an automatic $25 weekly transfer from your checking to a high-yield savings account like on Betterment, and let the stash build quietly in the background.
13. Limit Impulse Purchases with the 24-Hour Rule
Impulse buys are sneaky.
You see something online, your brain screams buy it now, and before you know it. Boom. Your card balance is heavier than your grocery bags.
The cure? Pause.
Waiting Saves Your Wallet
The 24-hour rule is simple: wait one full day before buying anything non-essential.
Most of the time, you’ll realize you didn’t need it after all.
It’s like giving your wallet time to breathe.
You’re not saying “no” forever, just “not right now.”
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Next time you want to buy something impulsively, add it to a wishlist on Amazon (or your notes app), wait 24 hours, and check if you still want it tomorrow.
14. Use the Library for Books and Movies
Buying every book you want to read is noble… and expensive.
Streaming subscriptions add up, too, remember?
Your local library is sitting there, loaded with free stuff you probably forgot existed.
Free Entertainment Everywhere
Libraries now offer ebooks, audiobooks, movies, and even free access to platforms like Kanopy.
It’s like Netflix and Audible had a baby and decided to charge you nothing.
And if you like the “vibe” of owning books, borrow first and only buy your absolute favorites.
That way, your shelf and your wallet stay happy.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download Libby or Hoopla, connect it with your library card, and instantly borrow free ebooks, audiobooks, and movies without leaving your couch.
15. Make Coffee at Home
Yes, coffee again. But stay with me.
That daily $6 latte isn’t just caffeine. It’s a silent tax on your future.
Over a year, that habit can burn through more than $2,000.
Home Brew Wins Every Time
Making coffee at home costs cents, not dollars.
And it’s faster than waiting in line with ten other sleepy people.
Buy a decent coffee maker once, and it pays for itself in weeks.
Plus, you can experiment with flavors and styles until you nail your own perfect brew.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Grab a $20 French press on Amazon, buy whole beans from your local grocery store, and make café-level coffee at home for pennies a cup.
Hi! I’m the founder of Money Vice and a passionate personal finance enthusiast. I started this site to help people across America save more with the least difficulty, get rid of debt, and to start putting their money to work (in the easiest way possible).
