"Why haven't I tried this already?" —You after reading this post
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Saving money can sometimes be a little daunting — especially when there are so many different methods and strategies that all feel overwhelming. But being money-wise doesn't have to be! Even small changes can have a huge impact in the long run.
So we devised a list of tips that'll pretty much make you feel like a whiz at saving money.
Just keep in mind that what might work for one person may not work for another— no financial advice is one-size-fits-all. Be sure to take your personal circ*mstances and needs into consideration, and do what works for you.
1. Keep your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account so your money can grow a lil faster.
2. Take a look at your checking account balance daily and move the dollar value of the last digit into your savings account. You'll have a nice lump sum of money saved after a year of doing this basically on autopilot.
3. Or, use the Digit app to automatically save a little money every day — those small amounts can seriously add up over time!
4. When grocery shopping, take advantage of as many rewards incentives as you can.
5. And avoid extra trips to the store by using these tools to find recipes you can cook with ingredients you already have at home.
6. If you're in college, you can try to negotiate your tuition.
7. And if you work for a company, see if your employer can help you make student loan payments.
8. Negotiate your rent for a lower monthly payment or perks.
9. Take advantage of streaming service bundles so you can watch more for less.
10. Use Rakuten to get cash back on online purchases — the money adds up quickly!
11. Don't save your payment info on websites — especially not the ones where you tend to overspend.
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Keeping your credit card or other payment info in autofill just makes it waaaay too easy for you to make spur-of-the-moment purchases. But when you have to actually get up and fish your credit card out of your cluttered handbag or go into another room to get it, you might think twice about whether or not the item is really worth getting up for.
And if you can, try to sit on a purchase for at least a few days before you pull the trigger on ordering. This'll give you some extra time to figure out if you actually need it or if you just like the idea of having it.
12. Start saving for holiday gifts at the beginning of the year.
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Holiday shopping can leave you in a bit of a squeeze when you find that you ended up spending more money on gifts than you initially intended. Instead of waiting till November to budget for gifts, start saving your gift money throughout the year. Setting aside just $20 per month can boost your gifting fund to $200 by November. So when it comes time to shop, you can use what you saved instead of digging into your wallet.
13. When shoe shopping, see if there's a kids size equivalent before moving to the adult section.
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Kids shoes are often cheaper than the adult equivalent, especially when it comes to big name brands. If you're shopping in stores, tell the associate your adult size and ask if they can help you find the kid's equivalent for a particular shoe. Or online, you can check a shoe size conversion chart — just see what your size works out to in inches and find the big kids size equivalent.
I did this once when I needed snow boots for a trip. The boots were reaaally expensive, and I didn't have much hope that my adult size 9 would translate to a comfortable kids size — but it worked! I ended up saving around $70 by buying a kids style. Just keep in mind that the shoe designs and colors might be a little different, but if you don't mind, you could save yourself a significant amount of money.
14. And remember that you only save money on a sale item if you were going to buy it anyway.
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Few things are sweeter than the glorious sound of a sale. But even when you're getting 30% off cute shoes, a great jacket, or a new appliance for your kitchen, you're still spending unnecessarily if you didn't intend to buy it in the first place. It can be veeeery tempting to snatch it up, but if you've never really considered it for your lifestyle then you might wanna reevaluate the item before you purchase it.
15. Sign up for a gym membership or fitness subscription as a last resort.
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How many times have you signed up for a gym membership, attended diligently for the first two months, and then went in sparingly or not at all after that? Been there, done that! Sometimes, people fail to cancel their membership even long after they've stopped using it, and that means burning through money you don't need to spend every month. Some membership prices are affordable enough that many people don't miss that $15 each month. And, gyms often make it *such* a process to cancel the membership.
But as the last year has certainly proved, there are plenty of free options — like exercising alongside YouTube videos or coming up with your own at-home training circuits — that you can consider before signing up for a local gym or online service. Over time, even investing in fitness equipment for your home can sometimes work out to be more affordable than a long-term gym membership.
Of course, there may be instances where being at the gym is more effective for you —like if you don't have space in your home for the machines you need, or if you need the gym environment in order to stay motivated. Just be sure you weigh your needs and exhaust all other options before you decide to sign up for your next membership.
16. Book a simple hair appointment at a beauty school for a discount.
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Some beauty schools offer what's called guest services. This is where people can book an appointment to receive a salon service operated by a student — usually at a discount. The students don't have licenses, however they perform the services under the supervision of a licensed professional. If you're going for a trim, blowout, or other simple 'do, being treated by a student might make sense for you. But for more complex or experimental services, you might consider going to a licensed professional with a deeper understanding of what needs to be done.
17. And finally, make sure you're using all the perks and discounts you can get — whether it's from your job, being a student, or your insurance.
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If you work for an employer, you might have access to some company discount programs that can give you some good deals. This can make a huge difference in your life financially if, for example, your company offers a higher education tuition reimbursem*nt or a totally free gym membership. If you aren't sure where to look, reach out to your company's HR department or benefits team.
If you have health insurance, you might also be able to get discounts on gym memberships, meditation apps, and more. Some providers even offer gift cards and incentives for meeting daily step goals. Look at your policy and make sure you're not missing an opportunity to save.
And of course, if you're a student, you can get discounts on all kinds of things with your student ID card. Even if a business doesn't advertise student discounts, it never hurts to ask!
What are some clever money-saving tips you've tried? Let us know in the comments below!
If this sounds like music to your ears (and bank account), check out more of our personal finance posts.