🔎 Disclosure: WE DON’T SELL ANY COURSES. Money Vice is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The ideas presented on this site are opinions and are presented for entertainment purposes only. We’re not licensed financial advisors. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.
1. Start a “No-Spend Weekend” Challenge
You know those weekends where your bank account basically cries by Sunday night?
Yeah, this challenge is how you stop that madness.
A no-spend weekend means you challenge yourself to spend zero dollars. Yep, nothing. On anything unnecessary.
You’ll quickly realize how much fun you can have doing free stuff, like hitting the beach, having a game night, or just chilling without buying random junk.
By Monday, your wallet feels heavier, and your mood feels lighter.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Mark two weekends a month as “no-spend,” delete delivery apps for 48 hours, and use free event sites like Eventbrite for fun local plans.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
2. Use Cash for Daily Spending
Ever notice how swiping your card feels painless, but handing over cash feels like ripping off a piece of your soul?
That’s because when you pay with cash, you actually see your money leaving.
It forces you to think twice before dropping $15 on a fancy iced coffee that tastes just like the $4 one down the street.
Using cash is one of those small tricks that makes you more mindful without needing to track every penny.
It’s like a built-in spending speed bump that your digital wallet will never give you.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pull out your weekly spending money in cash and keep it in an envelope system. Grab a simple cash envelope wallet on Amazon and watch how fast you start saving.
3. Automate Your Savings Every Payday
You know how “I’ll save what’s left” usually turns into “there’s nothing left”?
Automating your savings fixes that in one shot.
You set it once, and the money moves itself into savings before you even see it.
You don’t rely on willpower. Because let’s be honest, willpower disappears fast when you spot a sale.
You start saving consistently without thinking about it, which is the real cheat code to building wealth.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use your bank’s auto-transfer feature to send a fixed amount to savings the moment your paycheck hits.
Bonus Tip: Make Your Savings Work While You Sleep
So you’ve got your savings automated. Money quietly slips into your account before you even notice.
That’s the first big win.
But here’s where you level up: let that money start earning money while you sleep.
Instead of letting it sit in a regular savings account doing absolutely nothing (lazy, right?), you can use Betterment, an investing platform that helps your cash grow automatically through smart portfolios built for you.
It’s perfect if you don’t want to deal with confusing charts or “finance bro” jargon. Just set it, forget it, and let time do its thing.
People love it because it feels effortless, like your money’s out there grinding for you while you’re living life.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a Betterment account, link your savings transfers, and watch your cash start compounding into something way bigger. without you lifting a finger.
4. Cook in Bulk and Freeze Leftovers
Cooking every day sounds like torture after a long day, right?
But when you cook in bulk, you save money, time, and sanity. All in one shot.
You make a big batch of food once, eat fresh that night, and freeze the rest for later, like a future-you gift.
This move also kills the urge to order Uber Eats when you’re too tired to cook.
Plus, frozen homemade food tastes way better than anything microwaved from a box.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick two easy meals a week, batch cook them on Sunday, and store them in freezer-safe glass containers from Amazon for grab-and-go dinners.
5. Cancel Subscriptions You Forgot You Had
Remember that free trial from last year? Yeah, it’s still charging you.
Most people pay for at least three subscriptions they haven’t used in months.
Streaming, fitness apps, mystery monthly boxes. If you’re not using them, they’re basically quiet money leaks.
Canceling them feels like finding free cash under your mattress.
And once you start trimming the excess, you’ll see how easy it is to live without half that stuff anyway.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a tool like Rocket Money to automatically find and cancel unused subscriptions or check your app store settings manually. Your wallet will thank you later.
6. Switch to a Cheaper Phone Plan
You probably pay for unlimited data you don’t even use.
Seriously, when’s the last time you hit your data limit? 2018?
Most people get trapped in overpriced plans just because switching sounds annoying.
But swapping to a cheaper plan can easily save you hundreds a year with zero difference in service.
You’ll still scroll TikTok just fine, but your bill won’t make you cry.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check carriers like Mint Mobile or Visible, compare data usage in your settings, and switch to the lowest plan that still fits your lifestyle.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
7. Bring Your Lunch to Work or School
Buying lunch daily is like lighting a $10 bill on fire. Slowly.
When you pack your own, you control what you eat and what you spend.
You’ll save serious cash without giving up flavor or satisfaction.
And once you get used to bringing your own, the idea of paying $14 for a sandwich starts to feel ridiculous.
Plus, reheating your own leftovers feels kind of victorious. Like beating the system.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Make an extra portion at dinner, pack it in a reusable lunch container from Amazon, and stash it in the fridge overnight.
8. Buy Secondhand Instead of New
Let’s be real. Brand new stuff loses value faster than a melting popsicle in Miami heat.
Thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, and resale apps are gold mines for cheap, quality finds.
You’ll find furniture, clothes, and gadgets that look brand new for half the price.
It’s also a vibe. Saving money and saving the planet? That’s a two-for-one special.
And hey, you’ll look smarter and richer without even trying.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check sites like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace before buying anything new, and set local alerts for deals that pop up.
9. Set a Weekly Spending Limit
If you’ve ever ended the week wondering, “Where did all my money go?”, this one’s for you.
Setting a simple spending cap gives your budget structure without feeling restrictive.
You get to enjoy your money without the guilt trip later.
It’s like putting training wheels on your finances. You’re still moving, just with control.
Once you see what you actually spend, you’ll never go back to winging it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick a number that feels realistic (say, $150), track your purchases in the Notes app, and stop when you hit your limit. No exceptions.
10. Cut Back on Takeout and Fast Food
Fast food is sneaky. It’s cheap until it isn’t.
A couple of “quick bites” a week adds up faster than you think.
Cooking at home even twice as often can save you a shocking amount each month.
You’ll also start eating healthier and feeling better, which is a nice bonus.
And when you do go out, it’ll feel like a treat, not a habit.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Plan your weekly meals on Sundays, keep quick snacks at home, and use Google Maps to find deals or coupons when you do eat out.
11. Pay Off Your Debt With The Highest Monthly Payment
Debt is like that one bad friend. You keep giving it attention, and it never gives back.
Paying extra toward your debt with the highest monthly payment first saves you money in the long run.
It’s simple math. The faster you kill the expensive ones, the more money you will have available in the future every month.
Watching those balances shrink feels ridiculously satisfying.
It’s one of the fastest ways to take back control of your money (and your peace).
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: List all your debts, focus on the one with the highest monthly payment, and automate an extra $20–$50 monthly payment through your bank.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it, baby…
🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
