24 Ways To Cut Your Spending And Save Thousands a Year

Saving money is easy once you become more intentional with your money.

We leave so much money on the table without knowing that a lot of money can be saved. For example, I saved over $290 just by doing #1 below (with screenshots to prove the savings). 

Before we get started, make sure to sign up for my free resource library and get access to exclusive printables related to saving money and building wealth, meal planning, and daily planning!

1. Billshark

Billshark is a MUST for anyone who has a cell phone, cable, internet, or insurance bill and wants to lower their bill.

And trust me, it works because I’ve used it myself on 3 different bills and I’ve saved $290.

Here’s how Billshark works:

1. Send copies of your bills to Billshark. (I did this by uploading an online PDF of each bill).
2. Billshark negotiates all of the bills you send in.
3. You get notified if Billshark was successful. If they are, they take 40% of the savings. Ex. Billshark saved me $290 over the course of 6 months, so I pay them $116. I can do this in a monthly payment plan or all at once.

It’s definitely worth the savings and it was such an easy process. 

You can start lowering your bills with Billshark here.

2. Switch cell phone plans

Fox business recently shared an article that said the average person spends about $57,600 over 60 years for their cell phone plan. That number doesn’t include buying new cell phones, extra equipment, etc.

I tested out a Tello Mobile phone that cost me $19 per month (total). Tello’s goal is to eliminate overpriced wireless plans. They have no contract, no fees, flexible plans starting at $5 to $39, and unlimited text in any plan.

3. Move your money into a high-yield savings account

Are you still using a bank that is offering a 0.03% savings rate? Yep, that’s what my previous bank offers for savings rates, but CIT Bank is different. 

CIT Bank currently offers a high-interest earning of up to 1.70%. 

Applying only takes a few minutes. You can start saving with CIT Bank here.

If you have an emergency fund, why let it sit in a bank account offering 0.03%? My emergency fund is sitting in a high yield savings account and making me money every month.

If you’re not sure what your bank accounts savings rate is, contact your bank and ask. It’s worth it. 

4. Make your cleaning products

Savings: $100+

How to save: Cleaning products can have a lot of dangerous chemicals, which is why I advise making your own not only to save money but to create a safer living environment as well. 

Here is an awesome list of DIY cleaning sprays.

5. Refinance student loans

Refinancing student loans with Credible can lower your interest rate, saving you thousands in interest and allowing you to make monthly payments that pay off your loans even faster. When my boyfriend graduates, we are 100% refinancing his student loans, which will most likely save us thousands of dollars over the course of his loan.

Here are some of the options that may be available to you:

• Pay off loans faster
• Reduce your monthly payment
• Reduce interest charges and monthly payment
• Relieve your co-signer of their obligations

You can get started with Credible here. Sign up takes less than 5 minutes. 

6. Save Money On Food Without Clipping Coupons

Savings: $300+

How to save: Use Ibotta and make REAL cash with the app by redeeming what you want to get at the store, and then taking a photo of your receipt through the app.

It’s not only good for groceries, but clothing stores, and pretty much any retailer.

I’ve made almost $100 on Ibotta so far, largely due to purchasing off Groupon through Ibotta’s app. (I made 40% back one time!)

Get $10 just for signing up here.

7. $5 Meal Plan

Savings: $1000+

How to save: Check out $5 Meal Plan for monthly meal plans, grocery lists, recipes, and a private FaceBook group. (Read below for more information).

It easily pays for itself in one meal by cutting restaurant outings, last-minute fast food trips, and more.

You’ll also eat a lot healthier when meals are planned with whole, nutritious foods.

Save your food receipts for a week and see how much you’re spending at restaurants.

It’ll be a huge wake-up call! 

9. Get free samples 

Did you know you can get free samples by mail just by telling someone what you think about the product?

PINCHme is a website that connects regular people with free samples. All you do is 1) Take a shopper survey and PINCHme will find the best samples for you 2) On Sample Day, choose samples to add to your PINCHme box 3) Samples are free. PINCHme asks for your honest opinion about products.

You can get started with PINCHme here. They’ve given out tens of thousands of samples and have over 500,000 followers on Instagram. People Love PINCHme! I just signed up too to get free samples. 

11. Read finance books and learn what they didn’t teach you in school

Savings: $$$

How to save: Check out The Total Money Makeover, a #1 bestseller and has over 4,000 5 star ratings on Amazon.

Figure out the most dangerous money myths and come up with a plan to pay off your debt for good. 

12. Start a blog that makes money

If your dream is to become a full-time blogger and start a blog, I recommend starting a blog with Bluehost. 

Bluehost has 24/7 support, a money-back guarantee, and makes it as easy as possible to start a blog. 

Start a blog today for just $2.95/month with my step-by-step tutorial here. It’s easy, painless, and takes less than 20 minutes to start a blog of your own. With my link, you get a discount from $7.99/month to $2.95/month.

I started this blog in college and graduated my senior year making $80,000 a year. Now, I work from home, spend time with my family and dogs, and I’m even able to donate monthly to my favorite charities. 

13. Save on travel accommodations

Savings: $1000+

How to save: Check out Couchsurfing, WorkAway, or HomeExchange.

Traveling doesn’t have to be expensive. 

14. Automate savings

Savings:  $$$

How to save: Automate your savings each week or go biweekly.

In your bank account, set up automatic transfers of $100 (or whatever you can do) so that you’ll save without even thinking about it or having to do it manually. 

15. Digit 

Digit is a fun money-saving app that helps you save money for a particular goal.

Say you want to save up for a vacation, Digit will analyze your spending and automatically move money from your checking account to Digit when you can afford it. 

Digit knows exactly how much to save, and allows unlimited withdrawals so you can access savings at any time, and even has a 1% savings bonus.

Get 30 days free of Digit here. 

16. See the world as an au pair

Savings: $2,000+

How to save: See the world as an au pair and save money on accommodations, food, cell phone, and more.

Certain families will pay for your apartment, car, and more.

I was an au pair for two months, and I wouldn’t do it again (I rushed it into and found a random family that I didn’t mesh well with), however, if you found the right family, I’d highly recommend it. 

17. Order pet medications online

Savings: $200+

How to save: Order pet medications on sites like 1-800 Pet Meds.

We have to give our dogs monthly heart guard AND flea medication, which adds up to $50 or so a month at the vet.

On 1-800 Pet Meds, the medication is usually $20 cheaper than the vet, which is some serious savings! 

18. Watch The Minimalists

Savings: $$$$

How to save: Watch The Minimalists on Netflix and get your mind out of consumerism.

We are living in a society that puts happiness on clothing, cars, bigger houses, and other products.

While those things aren’t necessarily bad, we are buying it in excess. 

19. Clothes

How to save: Use Ebates to get cash back on online shopping.

Ebates gives you cash back on online purchases.

Create an Ebates account here. Make an online purchase of $25 and get $10 as a welcome bonus! So easy.

Ebates even has a free browser extension that automatically applies the best coupons to your purchases and activates cash back. There are so many times I forget to use Ebates when I’m online shopping – so the Ebates button reminds me every time I go online shopping. It’s a must. 

20. Wait 24 hours before you make a big purchase

Savings: $$$

How to save: Don’t make impulse purchases, especially on costly items. 

21. Compare phone company prices

Savings: $240

How to save: I switched from AT&T to T-Mobile, got unlimited everything, much better traveling coverage IN 195 countries, and I’m paying $20 less than I was with AT&T.

Switch to T-Mobile if you can. Not sponsored, but wish I was. Haha.

22. Cut the alcohol and smoking habit

Savings: $2,400+

How to save: A weekly $50 alcohol spending habit can amount up to $2,400 a year.

Add in the smoking habit of $15 a week; you’re looking at a total of $5,280 a year.

I quit smoking cold turkey a few years ago and haven’t looked back.

You CAN and MUST do it, if not for saving money, for your health. 

23. Write down your expenses in a budget book

Savings: $$$

How to save: Writing down what you buy is going to be a serious wake-up call, especially when you see how much you’re spending on restaurant outings.

Seeing the numbers on paper will motivate you to start cooking more at home and saving money.

Here is an example of a budget planner.

24. Take your lunch to work

Savings: $2,400

How to save: Going out to lunch every day can amount to $2,400 a year if you’re going out five days a week and spending $10.

That is a lot of money that could be going into savings.

Get a reusable container and start bringing your healthy meals to work.

Don’t forget to sign up for the free resource library and get exclusive access to free printables & planners related to saving and making money, meal planning, and more!

Do you have other savings tips you can share?

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