🔎 Disclosure: Heads up, babe: some links here are affiliate links, which means you might throw a tiny commission my way if you buy (zero extra cost to you). Only things you’d actually use and love get shared on this site.
1. Reduce Housing, Food, and Transport Costs
You don’t need a bigger paycheck. You need smaller bills.
Cutting the “big three” expenses gives you the biggest bang for your buck.
Here’s how you can make a dent fast:
Housing: Downsize, negotiate rent, or find a roommate to share costs.
Food: Shop store brands, meal prep, and skip pricey takeout runs.
Transport: Carpool, use public transit, or drive less to save on gas.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one of the three and cut its cost by at least 10% this month.
Make It Easy: Use a budget planner notebook to track savings from each category.
2. Make a Simple Budget You Can Stick To
Forget those 17-tab Excel sheets. Nobody has time for that.
A simple, realistic budget beats a perfect one every time.
Here’s why simple works best:
You’ll actually use it, because it fits your lifestyle.
You’ll know exactly where your money goes each week.
You’ll feel calmer, knowing you’re in control again.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: List your income, subtract essentials, and give every leftover dollar a purpose before the month starts.
Make It Easy: Get a magnetic budget board to keep your plan visible on the fridge.
3. Stop Paying for Things You Don’t Use
Let’s be real. Half your subscriptions are probably collecting digital dust.
Canceling them is the fastest “raise” you’ll ever give yourself.
Here’s where the money hides:
Streaming services you forgot you signed up for.
Gym memberships you haven’t used since January.
App subscriptions are quietly renewing in the background.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check your bank statement right now. Cancel at least two things you don’t use anymore.
Make It Easy: Let Rocket Money identify and cancel unwanted subscriptions automatically (you’ll be shocked at what it finds).
4. Save a Small Emergency Fund First
You don’t need $10,000 sitting around to start.
Even $500 can stop you from falling back into debt when life throws a curveball.
Here’s why it matters more than you think:
You stay calm during unexpected expenses.
You stop relying on credit cards for every emergency.
You feel progress the moment that first $100 is saved.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a separate savings account and auto-transfer $20 every week into it. No excuses.
Make It Easy: Set up automatic deposits with a Betterment Cash Reserve Account so saving happens while you sleep.
5. Plan Your Meals & Cook at Home
Your kitchen is your biggest money-saver. You just need a plan.
Cooking at home saves hundreds every month without feeling like punishment.
Here’s what meal planning really gives you:
Less food waste, since you know exactly what to buy.
More money left for your goals (and your morning coffee).
Healthier meals, which cut future doctor bills, too.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Choose 3 dinners to rotate weekly. Buy only what you need for those meals.
Make It Easy: Use a magnetic meal planner board on your fridge to plan.
6. Avoid Using Credit Cards for Daily Stuff
Using credit for groceries or gas might feel convenient, but it’s a sneaky trap.
You’ll end up spending more than you think. because it doesn’t feel like real money.
Here’s what happens when you stop:
You stay mindful of every purchase.
You cut back naturally because your cash runs out, not your limit.
You avoid debt from everyday “little things” adding up.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use your debit card or cash for daily spending and save credit for true emergencies.
Make It Easy: Grab a cash envelope wallet to separate spending categories like groceries or gas.
7. Spend Less Eating Out
Takeout is fun until you realize you’ve eaten your savings.
Cooking at home even half the time can save you hundreds. without giving up your favorites.
Here’s what cutting back really gives you:
You save big by skipping overpriced drinks and delivery fees.
You eat better since you control the ingredients.
You feel accomplished, not guilty, after every meal.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Limit eating out to once a week. Make it special instead of default.
Make It Easy: Use a reusable lunch container set to prep your meals easily.
8. Buy Used Instead of New
There’s no trophy for buying everything brand-new.
You can get the same quality for way less if you shop smart.
Here’s why secondhand wins:
You save money without sacrificing quality.
You find deals on furniture, clothes, and kids’ stuff that barely look used.
You help the planet, too. Bonus points for being eco-savvy.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check Facebook Marketplace or local thrift stores before buying anything new this month.
9. Put Money Into Savings First
If you wait to save what’s left, there’ll be nothing left.
Paying yourself first is how people actually build savings that last.
Here’s why this mindset works:
You make saving automatic, not optional.
You prioritize your goals over random spending.
You feel progress every single paycheck.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set an automatic transfer to savings the same day your paycheck hits.
Make It Easy: Open a Betterment Cash Reserve Account and schedule weekly auto-saves.
10. Use Cash To Spend On the Fun Stuff
When you pay with cash, you feel every dollar leave your hand. And that’s powerful.
It helps you enjoy the fun stuff without the guilt hangover later.
Here’s why cash spending keeps things balanced:
You stay intentional, knowing what’s worth your budget.
You avoid overspending, since once it’s gone, it’s gone.
You enjoy treats guilt-free, because they’re already paid for.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Withdraw your “fun money” in cash at the start of each month and use only that.
Make It Easy: Keep a small leather envelope pouch labeled “Fun Money” in your bag.
11. Say No to Impulse Shopping
You know that “just browsing” moment that somehow ends with a Target bag? Yeah, that one.
Impulse shopping gives you quick happiness and long-term regret. usually on your credit card bill.
Here’s why stopping it feels so good:
You save more simply by waiting before buying.
You break emotional spending habits that drain your goals.
You keep clutter low, saving space and sanity.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Wait 48 hours before buying anything that’s not a necessity. Mosturges disappear by then.
Make It Easy: Use a wishlist notebook to write down wants instead of buying instantly.
12. Stop Financing Things
If you can’t afford it now, financing doesn’t magically make it affordable. It just spreads the pain.
Those monthly payments quietly eat your paycheck before you even touch it.
Here’s what happens when you stop financing:
You gain freedom from monthly obligations.
You save interest, keeping your money where it belongs. with you.
You think twice before big purchases, making smarter choices.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Save for what you want first. Buy it only when you can pay in full.
Make It Easy: Use Betterment Cash Reserve to set up short-term sinking funds for big buys.
13. Reward Yourself in Cheap Ways
You don’t need a shopping spree to celebrate your wins.
Small, meaningful rewards keep you motivated without wrecking your budget.
Here’s how to make rewards work smarter:
You reinforce good habits by pairing progress with joy.
You stay consistent, knowing celebration doesn’t mean overspending.
You enjoy guilt-free treats that still feel special.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Treat yourself with free or low-cost rewards. like a beach walk, favorite snack, or home spa night.
Make It Easy: Keep a “feel good” jar of affordable reward ideas to pull from.
14. Don’t Compare Your Life to Others
Comparing yourself to someone else’s highlight reel is a shortcut to feeling broke.
You don’t see their debt, their stress, or their sleepless nights. just their shiny purchases.
Here’s what happens when you stop comparing:
You focus on your own goals, not someone else’s timeline.
You feel gratitude for what you already have.
You free your mind from financial FOMO that leads to overspending.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Every time comparison hits, list three things you’re thankful for instead.
Make It Easy: Start a gratitude journal to rewire your focus on progress, not perfection.
15. Save Every Windfall or Tax Refund
Unexpected money is a golden chance. not an invitation to splurge.
If you save it, you speed up your goals without changing your lifestyle.
Here’s why this simple habit works magic:
You build savings faster, pain-free.
You create momentum that keeps you motivated.
You protect yourself from surprise expenses later.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Anytime extra money shows up, like bonuses, gifts, or refunds, save at least half immediately.
Make It Easy: Deposit windfalls directly into your Betterment Cash Reserve Account to grow 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).
