Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (2024)

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by Janet 6 Comments

The Ultimate Money-Saving Checklist

Use this list to find many ways to save money. A free pdf of this list is available at the end of the post. Print it and cross off anything you have already done or does not apply to you.

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Take the remaining list and decide the first 5 items to implement now. After the first five, continue through the list starting 5 at a time. You should be able to find some good savings items!

  • Cancel your landline phone and use cell service only.
  • Take your lunch to work instead of eating out.
  • Use a large reusable water bottle, fill it at home and take with you when you go somewhere. This will stop you from buying water or soda while doing errands or other activities.
  • When you need to buy light bulbs, get CFL bulbs.
  • Quit smoking. This is a hard one, but the habit is expensive.
Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (1)
  • Use plastic shopping bags for small garbage cans.
  • Pay your bills online when possible to avoid late fees and postage.
  • When you need to replace your car, consider a hybrid.
  • If you shop at Wal-Mart, use their Savings Catcher program. It’s easy – just scan your receipt and if a competitor has a better price on the same item, Wal-Mart will refund the difference. 2020 Note – Wal-Mart has discontinued its Savings Catcher Program. 🙁
  • Join Honey and save money. Honey is a browser extension that automatically finds coupons and cash back offers.
  • Consolidate debtsif it is a benefit to do so.
  • When going on errands or sports events, take snacks and drinks with you if they are allowed. This will help you avoid the conveniencestore or fast food restaurants.
  • Cheaper is not always the best deal. Consider quality and reliability when making purchases.
  • Use your library for books and magazines. Not only saves money but prevents clutter in your house.
  • Comparison shop when you need to make purchases. Often you can get a better deal online that may also include free shipping.
  • If you often purchase from Amazon, consider Amazon Prime.
  • Buy a water filter pitcher and stop buying bottled water.
  • If you have one around you, use a discount grocery store such as Aldi.
  • Switch to generic brands at the grocery store.
  • Check thrift stores for clothing.
  • Take coffee with you from home. Specialty coffee stops really add up.
  • Drink water when dining out. Restaurants make a killing from their drink offerings.
  • If you use office supplies, the best time to get them is during back to school specials. Also, a lot of states have a tax-free back to school weekend for certain items. In my state that saves almost 10%!
  • Grocery shop with a list. Try the order-online pickup service if you have one available. Wal-Mart offers this free service and you know exactly how much you will be spending. Plus, it saves your time and sanity.
  • If you eat out or have a trip planned, check Groupon.com for deals.
  • Insulate your water heater and adjust the temperature to 120 degrees. The default is 140 from most manufacturers.
  • Install a programmable thermostat. Have the temperature adjusted for nighttime and when no one is home.
  • Keep an eye on your tire pressure. Under-inflated tires and have a negative effect on your gas mileage performance.
  • Buy cheaper cuts of meat and cook in a crock-pot to make them tender.
  • Declutter your house and have a yard sale or sell on eBay.
  • Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (2)
  • Keep a list of things you need, but can wait for. Then keep an eye out for sales.
  • Buy Christmas and birthday gifts all year, taking advantage of sales.
  • Buy Christmas wrap and decorations at after-Christmas sales. Same for other holiday’s.
  • If you eat out often, join the restaurant’s free rewards programs. Just don’t eat out more often just to get a reward later on!
  • Use coupons when you can. Nothing extreme, just for items you will purchase anyway.
  • Create photo books in Shutterfly.com. They have great sales – usually up to 50% off. Order your photo book during these sales.
  • Shutterfly.com also has some great gift ideas; calendars, cups, cards, etc. with your family photos. Again, order during their sales.
  • Comparison shop auto and home insurance policies.
  • Join Ebates and get cash back on purchases.
  • Learn to do your own oil changes and light car maintenance.
  • Buy in bulk for things that you use regularly such as paper towels and bath tissue. Sam’s Club and Cosco are a couple of shopping options.
  • Do simple home repairs yourself. Youtube.com has a lot of instructional videos.
  • Go to movies during matinée times. Avoid the concession which often costs more than admission.
  • Sign up for a Health Care Spending account and 401-K if you have the option through your work.
  • Use RetailMeNot.com for discounts. We always have one when we eat at Ruby Tuesday’s.
  • Cut out fast food. Keep simple meal plans and ingredients available to stop the urge to get fast food for dinner.
  • Make cookies and snacks instead of buying them. Make it a fun task and include the family.
  • When making a casserole that uses meat, cut the amount of meat by 1/2. You will save money and not notice the difference.
  • Wash clothes in cold water as much as possible.
  • Change to low flow shower heads
  • Change heat and air filters as recommended by the manufacturer and the filter brand.
  • Always check online for a coupon before buying something, especially online.
  • Stop drinking soda and expensive specialty drinks.
  • Refinance your mortgage if you can get a lower rate.
  • Create a budget and use it.
  • Have a goal for the money you will save. This will keep you on track!

    Have a financial goal for the money you will save with these 55 money saving ideas. #savemoney #Save #SavingTips Click To Tweet

    Download a pdf version of this list here.

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    Comments

    1. Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (4)Javier says

      These are great and Easily actionable money savers. Was already doing many, but had never thought about some of the others. Thanks

      Reply

    2. Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (5)Javier says

      Theses are easily actionable and great. Already doing many and have now found more ways to save.

      Reply

      • Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (6)Janet says

        Thank you Javier! So much is common sense, but it never hurts to have things in writing 🙂

        Reply

    3. Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (7)Holly says

      Janet, you always have such great blog posts! I love your ideas for how to save money.

      We love our water pitcher with filter and pairing that with our Super Sparrow reusable bottles. It has saved a lot of money and the planet by reducing so much plastic waste!

      I’m also a BIG fan of ordering groceries online using the pick-up at store services. Walmart didn’t do that until very recently here, but I jumped on board immediately. I don’t like shopping at all so this has been a lifesaver for me. Plus, as you say, it really does save time, money and sanity!

      RetailMeNot is a great resource, I agree! I’ve found so many fantastic coupons that saved a lot of cash for us. It doesn’t take long to check and see if there’s one available, so why not?

      You’re awesome Janet. Thanks again! You’ve done a brilliant job at helping us save money! 🙂 God bless you!

      Reply

      • Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (8)Janet says

        Holly, You are SO sweet and made my day! I appreciate your feedback so much and the many tweets you reshare.
        Also, your website is so nice and informative. I am really glad we have become “online” friends.
        Have a Blessed Day!
        Janet

        Reply

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    Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (9)I am a child of God and my faith means a lot to me.

    I have a wonderful husband, 2 children, and 3 grandchildren. Family is very important to me.

    For most of my life, I worked in IT. My last position was a Certified QA Engineer. I really loved my work and was pretty good at it 🙂. Now I am retired and enjoying my family and free time.

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    Ultimate Money Saving List - 55 Tips To Save Money Now (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the 50 15 5 easy trick for saving and spending? ›

    50 - Consider allocating no more than 50 percent of take-home pay to essential expenses. 15 - Try to save 15 percent of pretax income (including employer contributions) for retirement. 5 - Save for the unexpected by keeping 5 percent of take-home pay in short-term savings for unplanned expenses.

    What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

    The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

    How to save up $10,000 fast? ›

    6 steps to save $10,000 in a year
    1. Evaluate income and expenses. To make room for saving, you'll need a meticulous budget that outlines all your sources of income and all your expenditures. ...
    2. Make an actionable savings plan. ...
    3. Cut unnecessary expenses. ...
    4. Increase your income. ...
    5. Avoid new debt. ...
    6. Invest wisely.
    Apr 2, 2024

    What is the trick to saving money? ›

    Save money automatically.

    Set up a direct deposit from each paycheck to your savings account. That way you don't even think about the money you're saving—you're just saving. Start budgeting with EveryDollar today! And if you really want to get serious, use a separate bank from your existing checking account.

    What is the 50 rule for savings? ›

    The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).

    What is the 1 to 50 saving challenge? ›

    Label your envelopes from £1 – £50. The corresponding amount of money will go in each envelope. Then, place the envelopes in the box. Each week pick out an envelope to fill up – you don't have to go in order, some weeks you might have more money left over than others.

    What is the 40 40 20 budget rule? ›

    The 40/40/20 rule comes in during the saving phase of his wealth creation formula. Cardone says that from your gross income, 40% should be set aside for taxes, 40% should be saved, and you should live off of the remaining 20%.

    What is the 30 rule? ›

    Ever heard of the 30% rule? It's the idea that you should budget a minimum of 30% of your gross monthly income (i.e., your before-tax income) for housing costs, and it's practically a personal finance gospel. Rent calculators often use the 30% rule as a default assumption to determine how much house you can afford.

    Does the 50 30 20 rule still work? ›

    Customize according to your situation

    For many people, the 50/30/20 rule works extremely well—it provides significant room in your budget for discretionary spending while setting aside income to pay down debt and save. But the exact breakdown between “needs,” “wants” and savings may not be ideal for everyone.

    How can I save $1000 fast? ›

    11 Easy Ways to Save $1,000 in 30 Days
    1. Create a Budget. ...
    2. Automate Your Savings. ...
    3. Create a Savings Bingo Sheet. ...
    4. Negotiate Your Bills. ...
    5. Separate Wants From Needs. ...
    6. Plan Your Meals. ...
    7. Buy Generic Brands. ...
    8. Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions.
    Sep 26, 2023

    What is the 3 saving rule? ›

    This model suggests allocating 50% of your income to essential expenses, 15% to retirement savings and 5% to an emergency fund. This plan allows you to meet your immediate needs and plan for the future before you spend on anything else.

    How to save little money every day? ›

    Daily Savings
    1. Brown Bag It.
    2. Brew Your Own.
    3. Join Supermarket Loyalty Programs.
    4. Score Senior Discounts, Perhaps Sooner Than You Think.
    5. Get Student Perks.
    6. Charge It to a Cash-Back Card.
    7. Shop for Home Telecom Service.
    8. Consider Switching Mobile Services.

    How do I stop living paycheck to paycheck? ›

    Remember your why.
    1. Get on a budget. First things first. ...
    2. Take care of your Four Walls first. When you first set up your budget, you write down your income. ...
    3. Cut extra expenses. ...
    4. Start an emergency fund. ...
    5. Ditch debt. ...
    6. Increase your income. ...
    7. Live below your means. ...
    8. Save up for big purchases.

    What is the 15 saving rule? ›

    The 50/15/5 rule for spending and saving provides guidelines that could make budgeting a little easier. It allocates 50% of your income to essential expenses, 15% to retirement and 5% to short-term savings.

    What is the 50 25 25 rule in saving? ›

    The 50/25/25 saving rule is an incredibly useful guideline to help manage your finances and ensure that you're putting away enough money each month. This rule suggests that you allocate half of your income to essential expenses, a quarter to discretionary spending, and another quarter to savings.

    What is the 1 5 rule for money? ›

    According to the rule, 50% of your take-home pay should be allocated to essential expenses (housing, food, health care, transportation, child care, debt repayment), 15% of pretax income (including employer contributions) gets invested for retirement and 5% of take-home pay is used for short-term savings (like an ...

    What is the 5 dollar trick? ›

    Stick with swiping your card to get groceries or stock up on toiletries, but pay with cash when you go shoe shopping or out to eat. Any $5 bill you receive in change goes — you guessed it — straight to your savings. The cash envelope system is a good budgeting method for those who use physical cash.

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