🔎 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. Downsize Your Home (Without Losing Comfort)
A smaller home means fewer bills, less clutter, and, honestly. less cleaning (a win already).
You don’t need a mansion to feel cozy; you just need smart use of space.
Here’s how downsizing saves you real money fast:
Lower rent or mortgage equals instant monthly savings.
Reduced utilities because smaller spaces use less power.
Less furniture and décor to buy or replace later.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Look for a smaller place within your city or rent out unused rooms to cut housing costs.
Make It Easy: Use a space-saving furniture set to make smaller homes feel open and functional.
2. Cook at Home Instead of Eating Out
Cooking at home is basically paying yourself with every meal.
Even a $10 takeout habit adds up faster than you think.
You’ll feel the difference when you:
Batch cook meals and freeze extras to avoid last-minute orders.
Plan weekly menus around what’s on sale at the grocery store.
Use slow cookers or air fryers for easy, budget-friendly meals.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one night a week to meal prep your lunches or dinners for the next few days.
Make It Easy: Get a multi-purpose slow cooker so cooking at home actually feels effortless.
3. Always Drive A Used Car
A new car loses value faster than ice melts in Florida.
Used cars save you thousands upfront and usually cost less to insure.
You’ll get more value by:
Buying certified pre-owned, so you still get warranties.
Paying in cash, avoiding interest altogether.
Keeping maintenance records, which helps the resale value later.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Skip the dealership upsell and buy a reliable used car with a clean service history.
Make It Easy: Use Insurify to compare and lower your car insurance rates fast.
4. Buy Generic Instead of Name Brands
You’re not paying for better quality most of the time. just fancier packaging.
Generic items often come from the same factories as name brands, just without the logo markup.
You’ll save on every trip when you:
Compare ingredients, not labels. It’s usually identical.
Buy store-brand medicine, snacks, and cleaning supplies.
Stick to generics for items you use daily.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Next grocery trip, swap three name-brand products for store brands and compare your total.
5. Cut Back on Streaming and Subscriptions
You only need one or two subscriptions. not twelve you forgot existed.
That $9.99 here and $14.99 there? It’s stealing your savings quietly every month.
You’ll free up easy cash when you:
Audit all your subscriptions. Cancel the ones you barely use.
Share accounts with trusted friends or family.
Rotate services instead of paying for all at once.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check your bank statement for recurring charges and cancel what doesn’t spark joy, or views.
Make It Easy: Let Rocket Money cancel and manage unwanted subscriptions for you automatically.
6. Shop Secondhand for Clothes and Furniture
Buying secondhand isn’t about being cheap. It’s about being smart.
Why pay full price when someone already broken it in for you?
You’ll find gems when you:
Browse thrift stores for quality furniture and clothes that last.
Use local marketplaces to score like-new items for half the price.
Repurpose old finds, giving them a fresh look for less.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Replace one new purchase this month with a secondhand alternative and see the savings pile up.
Make It Easy: Keep a fabric shaver and cleaner handy to refresh thrifted clothes and make them look new.
7. Plan Meals to Avoid Wasting Food
Throwing out spoiled food is like tossing cash straight into the trash.
A little planning turns waste into savings. and way fewer fridge surprises.
You’ll save big when you:
Plan meals weekly around what you already have.
Store leftovers properly to extend freshness.
Freeze extra portions for busy nights.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Before grocery shopping, check your fridge and build your week’s meals using what’s left.
Make It Easy: Try a set of reusable silicone food storage bags to keep leftovers fresh longer.
8. Walk or Bike Short Trips Instead of Driving
You don’t need to fire up the car just to grab milk.
Walking or biking saves gas. And it’s basically free exercise.
You’ll love this switch when you:
Save on fuel, parking, and car wear-and-tear.
Get daily movement, even on lazy days.
Enjoy fresh air, something your car can’t give you.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Swap one short drive this week for a walk or bike ride to nearby errands.
Make It Easy: Get a lightweight foldable bike for quick, gas-free trips around town.
9. Cancel Gym Memberships and Exercise at Home
Let’s be honest. Most gym memberships end up being fancy donations.
You can stay fit for free without the guilt trip of unused visits.
You’ll stay healthy (and richer) when you:
Use free YouTube workouts, no equipment needed.
Build a mini home gym, one item at a time.
Make it part of your routine, like brushing your teeth.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick two bodyweight workouts to do this week. No treadmill required.
Make It Easy: Grab a set of resistance bands that fit easily into any drawer.
10. Borrow or Rent Items You Rarely Use
You don’t need to own everything. You just need access.
Borrowing or renting saves money and closet space.
You’ll simplify your life when you:
Rent tools or equipment, instead of buying for one-time use.
Borrow from friends, like party supplies or camping gear.
Use local apps, where neighbors share stuff for cheap.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Before buying something you’ll use once, check local rentals or ask your circle first.
Make It Easy: Try Fat Llama to rent tools, gadgets, and equipment from locals near you.
11. Switch to a Cheaper Phone Plan
Most people pay way more than they need for cell service.
You can get the same coverage and save big just by switching providers.
Here’s where you’ll see the savings instantly:
Compare prepaid plans, which often have identical data and call limits.
Drop extra lines or features you never use.
Look for discounts through work, family, or bundle offers.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Review your last phone bill and see if you can downsize your plan or provider this week.
12. Automate Savings So You Don’t Have to Think About It
Saving money is a lot easier when you remove the decision part.
Automation helps you build savings even on lazy days (and we all have those).
You’ll love this trick when you:
Set automatic transfers every payday into a savings account.
Use round-up tools to stash spare change automatically.
Treat savings like a bill, so it’s always paid first.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Schedule an automatic weekly transfer to a separate account labeled “Future Me.”
Make It Easy: Open a Betterment Cash Reserve Account to automate and grow your savings passively.
13. Limit Impulse Purchases with the 24-Hour Rule
Impulse shopping is fun for about ten minutes. Then regret moves in.
Giving yourself a day to think before buying changes everything.
You’ll stop overspending when you:
Wait 24 hours before buying anything nonessential.
Add it to a wish list, not your cart.
Recheck your budget. Most of the time, you’ll skip it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: The next time something tempts you online, walk away and see if you still want it tomorrow.
Make It Easy: Use a cart-saving browser extension that holds your items for later review.
14. Use the Library for Books and Movies
Why pay $20 for a book you’ll read once when it’s free at the library?
Libraries are like underrated treasure chests of entertainment (and free Wi-Fi).
You’ll get more for less when you:
Borrow books, movies, and audiobooks without spending a dime.
Use library apps to download eBooks instantly.
Attend free classes or events offered at your local branch.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Get a library card and explore their online catalog. You’ll be surprised by how much they offer.
Make It Easy: Use Blinkist to get book summaries if you’re short on time but love learning.
15. Make Coffee at Home
That $6 latte habit adds up faster than you realize.
Homemade coffee tastes just as good (and costs pennies by comparison).
You’ll save hundreds yearly when you:
Brew your own coffee using a simple drip or French press.
Buy beans in bulk, not daily cups at cafes.
Treat yourself occasionally, but only as a reward.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Brew your morning coffee at home for one month and track how much you save.
Make It Easy: Get a programmable coffee maker that has your cup ready when you wake up.
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).
