12 Easy Ways You Can Save Money

Okay, so now that Halloween is over and November has started, it now marks the holiday season, and you know what that means… gift-giving! But what if you are like me and living paycheck to paycheck, well I got ways for you to save money, so you can get a gift for everyone you need to and save some for yourself. Here are easy and simple ways to save money

1. Make a plan and set goals (visual and/or physical notes).

I put this one first because without a visual goal or plan, you might fail and what you are reaching for. Make a note of how much you get paid each month, how much you need for food and gas, and how much you could save. Start with the 50, 30, 20 goal: 50% of your money for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings. Or go above and beyond if you can and switch up the percentage to 50% needs and 30% savings. Once you have figured out how much you make, how much you spend, and how much you want to save by a certain time, you are golden.

2. Pack your lunch and make your food at home for dinner.

Not only is this a healthier option, but it also saves you money! By packing a lunch, you save gas and money that you would spend on food out. With this, you can also make meals at home for dinner. I know sometimes we don’t have time or energy to make a home-cooked meal, but if it saves you money I would suggest trying. Plus, there are websites, apps, and videos on how to cook fast, simple, filling, and healthy meals.

3. Sell anything you don’t need or use online.

Do you have extra stuff lying around your house? Have you gone through your closet yet to get rid of clothes? I would do a fall cleaning (instead of spring cleaning) so you can make room for Christmas decorations and make some money!

4. Keep an eye out for deals and coupons.

Everything that sells has some sort of deal going on at some time, you just have to know when or where to find the coupons. There are apps and websites that help, and just keep a lookout for commercials announcing deals for stores. Never ever buy anything at full price ever again!

5. Eliminate impulse buys.

Before you make your purchase, ask why you're buying it and how often you'll use it. Consider waiting a week before making the purchase to see if you really want it or if the itch subsides.

6. Work from home.

I know this would save me a lot of money! If you are able to work from home, I would highly suggest it, even if it is for only one day a week. That is one day less driving and using gas (plus you are helping the earth).

7. Buy generic brands instead of name-brand.

Even though I am a picky eater I can confirm that generic brand items taste just the same as name brands. And if you don’t have to eat it, why not get a generic brand? I mean Target’s toilet paper is just as good as Charmin toilet paper.

8. Pay extra on monthly payments that have interest.

We all know interest is a pain in our booty, and I know it can be hard sometimes, but it helps so much if you pay more than the minimum monthly payment for something. Whether its for a loan, a car, or a couch, it will help you in the long run, even if it is just like $20 more.

9. Go through your subscriptions.

We all have forgotten what we are subscribed to. I found out earlier that my dad was accidentally paying for two Hulu accounts because he forgot to cancel the one on his old email, and started a new one on his current email. So be cognizant of what subscriptions are tied to what emails and what cards. Also, if you don’t use something, why pay for it?

10. Research free events in your area.

One thing that is hard for me is trying to find free events to do with friends. Sometimes it is hard, so I always try to look to see what free events are happening near me in my area, or if I have to attend an event, I try to do everything I can to spend as little as possible.

11. Create DIY Objects instead of buying.

This is something that pops up all the time on my TikTok all the time! Instead of buying that $5,000 dresser with bamboo, buy a similar one from Ikea and then grab some extra wood from Menard’s and make your own custom version. You get the idea!

12. Buy used instead of new.

Kind of in continuation from the last point you should defiantly check out thrift stores. Whether it’s for clothes, shoes, or furniture there are places to check out! For example, there is a furniture thrift store in Minneapolis that sells used classic furniture (unfortunately I do not remember what it is called). And with that, try buying a used car instead of a new one, or rent machines, tools, cars, etc!

Hopefully, this helped! I feel like there are many other ways, but this is what came to my mind in the moment. Some information was inspired by this post on thefw.com and this article from regions.com.