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1. Start a “No-Spend Weekend” Challenge
Weekends are when your wallet screams for help.
So flip the script and see how much fun you can have without spending a dime.
It’s surprisingly addictive when you realize how creative you can get.
Try these wallet-friendly swaps:
Movie night at home: Stream something free, grab popcorn, and skip the $40 theater bill.
Free family activities: Parks, beaches, and community events don’t charge admission.
DIY projects: Finally fix that drawer, repaint furniture, or organize your closet instead of shopping.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Block off one weekend a month as a no-spend challenge and plan free fun ahead of time.
Make It Easy: Use a chalkboard wall calendar to schedule your no-spend weekends and track how much you saved.
2. Use Cash for Daily Spending
You spend differently when you feel the money leave your hands.
Cash hurts in the best way possible.
It’s the simplest way to control impulse spending before it happens.
Here’s how to make it work:
Set limits: Take out only what you plan to spend for the week.
Label envelopes: Separate cash for gas, groceries, and fun money.
Stick to it: When the envelope’s empty, you’re done. no “just this once” swipes.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Withdraw a week’s worth of cash every Sunday and organize it by category in envelopes.
Make It Easy: Get a budget wallet with labeled cash sections to stay organized and mindful while shopping.
3. Automate Your Savings Every Payday
Saving money shouldn’t rely on motivation. It should run on autopilot.
Because let’s be real, you’re not transferring it later if Target emails you first.
Set it and forget it, and you’ll watch your savings grow without trying.
Here’s how to make it automatic:
Split direct deposit: Send a portion straight into savings before you even see it.
Use percentage-based saving: Even 10% adds up fast when it’s consistent.
Make it invisible: Treat your savings like a non-negotiable bill.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your bank and set up an automatic transfer from checking to savings every payday.
Make It Easy: Open a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to automatically grow your savings with higher interest.
4. Cook in Bulk and Freeze Leftovers
You know what’s more expensive than groceries? Takeout.
Cooking once and eating three times is a mom superpower that’ll save you serious money (and sanity).
Plus, your future self will thank you when dinner’s ready in two minutes flat.
Start with these easy wins:
Batch cook favorites: Double up recipes your family loves and freeze portions.
Use freezer-safe containers: Label and date meals for stress-free nights.
Plan “lazy nights”: Schedule one freezer meal night per week to skip cooking chaos.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Choose one day to cook in bulk. like Sunday, and fill your freezer with go-to meals for the week.
Make It Easy: Try a set of reusable freezer meal containers to keep your leftovers organized and fresh.
5. Cancel Subscriptions You Forgot You Had
You know that gym you “swear you’ll go back to someday”? Yeah, it’s stealing your cash.
Subscription creep is real. And it’s sneaky.
Cutting even a few unused ones can free up hundreds a year.
Here’s how to stop the silent money drain:
Check your statements: Find old or double-charged subscriptions.
Cancel on the spot: If you didn’t use it this month, it’s gone.
Review quarterly: Subscriptions love to quietly renew, so stay alert.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pull up your bank statements, highlight every recurring charge, and cancel anything that doesn’t spark joy or savings.
Make It Easy: Try Rocket Money to find and cancel hidden subscriptions automatically.
6. Switch to a Cheaper Phone Plan
If you’re still paying premium prices for average service, you’re basically donating to your phone company.
Most people overpay without realizing that cheaper plans do the same thing.
A quick switch can save you hundreds each year. without losing your number.
Here’s how to trim the bill:
Compare providers: See if smaller carriers offer the same coverage for less.
Cut data limits: Most of us never use what we pay for.
Ditch extras: Skip insurance or features you never use.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Call your carrier, ask about current promotions, and downgrade to a simpler plan that fits your usage.
Make It Easy: Pick up a dual-SIM unlocked phone so you can easily change carriers anytime.
7. Bring Your Lunch to Work or School
Buying lunch daily sounds harmless until you realize it costs more than groceries.
Packing your own is an easy win that adds up faster than you’d think.
Plus, you’ll eat healthier and waste less.
Here’s how to keep it simple (and tasty):
Plan lunches on Sundays: Prep ahead so you don’t cave midweek.
Use leftovers: Yesterday’s dinner can be today’s lunch hero.
Add variety: Mix up sides and sauces to stay excited.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Prep your lunches for the week every Sunday and store them in portioned containers.
Make It Easy: Get a set of glass meal prep containers that make lunch look so good you’ll skip takeout.
8. Buy Secondhand Instead of New
You don’t need “new” to get “nice.”
Between Facebook Marketplace, thrift stores, and consignment apps, great deals are everywhere.
You’ll pay a fraction of the price and still get quality stuff.
Here’s what’s worth buying used:
Furniture: Solid wood lasts longer and costs less secondhand.
Kids’ clothes: They outgrow outfits faster than you can wash them.
Tools and equipment: Most are barely used and half the price.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check local buy-sell apps before buying anything new. You’ll be surprised by what’s out there.
Make It Easy: Keep a foldable trunk organizer in your car for hauling secondhand finds safely.
9. Set a Weekly Spending Limit
If you’re tired of watching your bank balance mysteriously shrink, this one’s for you.
Giving yourself a weekly limit creates boundaries that actually work.
It’s budgeting made simple.
Here’s how to take control:
Decide your number: Pick a realistic spending cap for the week.
Withdraw it in cash: Seeing it helps you pace yourself.
Track as you go: Keep tabs so you don’t accidentally blow it by Wednesday.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Decide on a weekly amount for flexible spending and stop once you hit that limit.
Make It Easy: Use a mini wallet with a built-in cash divider for each week’s allowance.
10. Cut Back on Takeout and Fast Food
Your favorite drive-thru might be convenient, but it’s also quietly draining your savings.
Cooking at home a few extra nights a week can easily save $100 or more a month.
And no, it doesn’t have to mean boring dinners.
Here’s how to make cutting back realistic:
Plan quick meals: Keep 20-minute dinners on standby for busy nights.
Freeze extras: Always have backup meals so “no time” isn’t an excuse.
Treat, don’t depend: Save takeout for a special night instead of a default dinner.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Plan one takeout night per week and stick to cooking the rest at home.
Make It Easy: Use a magnetic meal planner board to map out your weekly dinners.
11. Pay Off Your Debt With The Highest Monthly Payment
Debt is like an uninvited guest that eats your leftovers and never leaves.
Focus on knocking out the biggest payment first. It’s the fastest way to feel lighter.
Once that’s gone, roll the payment to the next debt and keep the snowball rolling.
Here’s how to attack it smartly:
List your debts: Write them all down with balances and due dates.
Target the highest payment: Knock out that heavy hitter first.
Stay consistent: Don’t slow down once the first one’s gone. momentum is magic.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pay extra on the debt with the highest payment this month, and apply that freed-up money to the next one after it’s gone.
Make It Easy: Use Undebt.it to create a personalized snowball plan that keeps you on track automatically.
Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: stretching a dollar and talking about stretching a dollar. I created Money Vice after one too many grocery trips where I watched my total climb and thought, "There's gotta be a better way." Spoiler: there is. Think of me as your money-savvy friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand).
