Do you want to learn how to save money every day?
Yes, it’s true: you can save money every day, but you have to be intentional about it because it takes dedication. Some people want to save a lot of money in a short time, and while that’s a nice goal to have, it’s pretty hard to not lose track.
I’m a strong believer that you can save money every day if you start small and make tiny lifestyle changes each time you can. A study from 2019 said that the average American spends around $160 per day.
Of course, that includes rent or mortgage, utilities, gas, transportation costs, groceries, and other essential things, but you can always find an opportunity to save some money; you just have to find it.
I tried a few things for the last couple of months, and I noticed that I did manage to save money every day. I know that this might be your financial goal too, so if you want to learn how to spend less and save more each day, keep reading!
1. Unplug your devices
The first thing you have to do to save money every day is to identify the devices that are idle but plugged in and unplug them. They’re also known as vampire energy drainers, and although you might not use them, letting them plug in is going to raise your electricity bill and affect the planet.
So inspect your home and identify if there are any electronic devices such as computer cords, phone chargers, hair dryers, and coffee pots plugged in because they use up a ton of energy.
Believe it or not, you could be saving around 10–20% of your bill each month if you just unplug your devices. This is always a good and environmentally friendly thing to do, but it is even more important when you leave your home for a few days.
Another thing you could do is to use smart power cords and opt for the energy-saving features of your devices, such as sleep mode on your smartphone, laptop, and computer.
This tiny change can help you save up to $25 a month, and while that might not seem like a big deal to some people, it can add on, especially when combined with the other tips I’m going to share with you today.
2. Cold water and laundry
Did you know that you could save money every day if you did your laundry in cold water? Of course, don’t follow this tip if your clothes are covered in mud or any other thing that’s hard to remove. If you just want to freshen up your clothes, washing them in cold water will be more than enough.
You can save even more if you skip putting them in the dryer and hang them instead. Your dryer is probably one of the highest energy-consumer appliances in your home, and you could save over $100 per year by letting your clothes air-dry, especially in the summer.
Have you ever tried to save money every day?
3. Say goodbye to coffee shops
If you love coffee as much as I do, you probably spend a few dollars every day on your cup of java. While coffee is amazing for helping you get out of bed or beat that mid-day slump, it can be pretty expensive to purchase your beverage from a coffee shop each day.
Do you have a favorite barista who knows exactly what kind of beverage you like? I’m sorry to disappoint you, but those dollars spent on coffee and on tipping the employee aren’t necessities, and you could easily live without them.
Believe it or not, studies discovered that the average American can spend up to $1,100 on coffee every year, and imagine how nice it would be to get that much-needed appliance or a vacation with that much money.
Instead of going out to make your cup of java, invest in a high-quality coffee machine that will prepare your beloved beverage each day for you. If you prefer flavored coffee and you’d love to drink it the first moment you wake up, I recommend you get this Nespresso Vertuo, because you’ll be able to save money every day thanks to this (and trips to the coffee shops as well).
4. Daily spending
If you want to save money every day, you have to be mindful of how much you spend each time. You can either use the notes on your phone to keep track of your spending or use a budgeting app. This will help you get a perspective on your daily expenses and identify all the areas you can cut back on.
One of the best things someone once told me is that saving money isn’t hard, especially if you know where your money is going. This might be annoying after a while, but keeping track of your expenses for a couple of weeks or months is going to help you have a better idea of how to set your budget.
We have many other tips on how you could save money every day, so keep reading!
5. Get rid of clutter
Have you ever thought about the fact that you could be losing money just because you have too much clutter at home? You should dedicate 15 to 30 minutes every day to organizing your cupboards, closets, or drawers that might need your attention.
Cleaning your home will help you identify all the items you have and no longer need. Take this as an opportunity to sell the items you don’t use. You might make a pretty decent profit, so don’t waste this opportunity.
6. Wait before you buy
Another way to save money every day is by letting go of impulse buying. While making a purchase that wasn’t planned out before sounds like something fun and exciting, the best thing is to make an effort to break this habit.
I know I’ve talked about this multiple times, but one way to make sure you don’t overspend is by following a budget. However, if there’s something you want to buy but you’re not exactly sure about the purchase, you can wait 30 days before you make a decision.
This 30-day period will help you have a clear idea of whether that potential purchase is a necessity or a simple desire. Do you have any tips on how to save money every day?
7. Put cash aside
Another way to save money every day is to put some cash aside each time you have the chance. You can put $1 in a jar every time you get a bill or two coins that are worth 50 cents each (it doesn’t matter where it’s from).
If you don’t want to put your money in a jar because you’ll be tempted to take it out, I recommend you get this piggy bank. The best thing about it is that you need to break it open, so it will keep you on track. Check it out here!
Financial experts say that saving a small amount of money each time you can is a wonderful way to make some savings. If you put in $1 each day, you’ll have $30–31 at the end of the month. You can also put $5 if you want, but make sure it’s constant so that you have a visual representation of your daily savings.
8. Cook and eat at home
Food is expensive all the time, in both grocery stores and restaurants. So why not save some money every day and cook your meals at home? Even though this habit can be rather hard to form at first, it will help you eat nutritious and healthy foods while on a budget.
You can save more money when you go to the grocery store by only doing it once a week, and don’t forget to buy items in bulk and use grocery coupons whenever you can.
Once your groceries are in your fridge and pantry, make it a weekly ritual to set aside time to prepare your meals ahead of time. The majority of grocery stores have apps where you can see discounts and limited-time offers, so take a look at these local store apps or supermarket fliers to see what’s new. You can then plan your meals for the next week while focusing on budget-friendly options.
This doesn’t mean you have to give up eating out completely, because that can be pretty fun. Make sure you save money every day by cooking your meals at home and saving those going out extravaganza for special occasions, such as the weekends.
9. Carry cash
You probably know about this tip by now, but if you want to save money every day, you might want to start carrying cash. Actively paying the bills when you want to purchase something will make you aware of how much money you have to say goodbye to, and it will surely make you think critically the next time you plan on getting something.
10. No more late payments
If you’ve paid your bills late before, you already know that they come with a fee. Don’t worry, I did that too. If you completely forget about them and you’re way overdue, your credit score might suffer. That means you’ll have to pay a higher interest rate or take out an auto loan in the future.
Even though this isn’t technically a tip on how to save money every day, it will still help you save more and have a good credit score in the long run. With that being said, to avoid any other inconvenience due to late payments, you can set your bills on autopay.
Are you scared that you might hit a cash flow crisis? Don’t worry; set up a calendar reminder for the same credit card’s due date every month and let bills automatically charge that specific card.
11. Remove your credit card information
If you have your credit card information saved on your device or a specific shop’s website, it’s hard to save yourself from making a purchase. Believe it or not, this simple information might seem seamless, but it can lead to more impulse buys.
As I’ve previously said, you can save money every day, but you have to be intentional about it. So un-store your data from your device, and you’ll be asked to add it again each time you want to order something online.
The simple gesture of grabbing your card and then typing in the info might be just enough to quickly think about whether that’s a necessary purchase or a simple desire.
If you want to discover other tips on how to save money every day, we have many other things to talk about!
12. Get a gift card
If you have a budgeted item and you like to splurge on it, such as going out to lunch, and you notice that you’re overspending, take a few moments at the beginning of the month and think about how much you plan on paying for that thing or service you want.
When you have a clear amount, get a gift card for the designated amount. Use that gift card, but only until is depleted. After that, tell yourself that you’re not allowed to make any further purchases. That’s a smart way to save money every day and still feel like you treat yourself.
13. Have no-spend days
Have you ever tried to have no-spend days? Whether you want to try this for a single day, a week, or a month, it’s good to take a break from spending money and analyze your shopping habits. This will give you the chance to rethink your financial goals and commit to them.
Unless you don’t need to make necessary payments, such as going to the grocery store, paying bills, or paying rent, debt, or mortgage, save at least a day a week when you don’t spend any money. It will be like a detox for your wallet, and trust me, you’ll benefit from it!
14. Apps that can help you increase savings
You’ll be happy to know that some apps can help you save money every day. Swagbucks, for instance, is a fantastic app you could download on your smartphone because it will give you cash back for all those shopping sprees.
This will put cash back in your wallet by giving you points each time you shop online. Once you have enough points, you can treat yourself to a gift card at the retailers you like, such as Walmart or Amazon.
15. Unsubscribe from retailer notifications
If you already have a problem with shopping, those app notifications, texts, and emails you might be receiving from your favorite retailers could cause you serious financial issues. They might be telling you everything about the latest discounts and sales, but that could make you tempted to engage in a little shopping spree.
If you can’t avoid looking at those sales and then being sad that you can’t get the things you’ve put your eyes on, it might be better to unsubscribe from all those retailer notifications.
It might be hard at first, but this could be a good thing for you. Making such a dramatic change could also help you save money every day as well as have a better emotional balance.
16. Eat less meat
Another way to save money every day is to be more mindful of the things you put on your plate. Experts say that eating less meat can help you spend less at the grocery store since fruit, veggies, and other plant-based foods are more affordable.
You don’t have to say goodbye to meat, don’t worry, but find a few meals or maybe a day in the week when you could have vegetarian meals that are budget-friendly, affordable, tasty, and still meet your nutritional goals.
Doing so will help you save money every day and spend less time in the kitchen prepping those meals. If you can’t think of amazing recipes, I recommend you try baking your favorite veggies in the oven and pair them with plant-based burgers. Serve them with Greek yogurt, parsley, olive oil, and garlic dip, and it will be your favorite lunch or dinner!
Which one of these tips to save money every day do you think is the most useful? Leave a comment below and let us know! Do you have any other tips on how to save money every day? Share them with us!
If you’d like to read something else from The Price Makers, here’s another fantastic article for you to check out: Think Twice Before Buying These 8 Groceries on Sale
