How to Save Money – 98 Ways to Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month!

In a hurry? Check out SurveyJunkie. Why? Because you can earn up to $150 if you take one of their surveys.

Did you know if you figure out how to cut spending by $13 a day, you’ll save $400 a month and $4800 a year? Pay attention to the little expenses because they really do add up. There are plenty of things to cut out to save money! This is currently the most popular article on The Budget Diet.

Thanks to all the helpful comments. If you’ve read it before, it’s worth a read again… a little frugal living refresher won’t hurt.

Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month!Consider this your frugal living menu with over 98 ways to cut your spending by $400 a month by changing simple spending habits. Don’t miss out on the “Little Things That Adds Up” section below, in it I share few money-saving tips and links on how to start earning extra income too (all legit, no scam or get rich quick schemes). Little things that you can start doing today that can bring in a few hundred dollars extra every month.

I’ve included lots of links to help you find more in-depth information on many of these ways to save money, and even ways to earn extra money to beef up your savings account, so just click on a link if there’s something you want to learn more about.

Please, if you find this helpful, please share it with your friends and if you have something valuable to add, post it in the comments section below. I keep this list updated based on the feedback I receive! Happy Saving!


How to Save Money Each Month:

  1. Little Things That Add Up
  2. Shop Smarter
  3. Cut Food Costs
  4. Reduce Your Bills
  5. Revisit Your Car Insurance Policy
  6. Have Fun For Less
  7. Go Green and Save Some Green
  8. Reduce Health & Fitness Expenses
  9. Travel More, Spend Less
  10. More Ways to Save

Little Things That Add Up

In this section I’ve listed a few ways to save a little extra and earn a little extra by doing some simple things like offering your opinion on surveys. I’ve found these little things here and there to really add up over time to big savings (and I like sharing my opinion on things anyway so these are fun for me to do!)

Top Recommendation: Earn A Little Extra For Your Opinion on Survey Voices or SurveyJunkie

Did you know that you can get paid to give your opinion about products you’re already using? Perfect for anyone who is unemployed, or even a full or part time employee. If you live in the US or Canada, SurveyJunkie is for you! SurveyJunkie is one of the few legit paid survey companies out there (great ratings with the BBB).

[maxbutton id=”1″ url=”/survey-junkie-review-how-does-survey-junkie-work” text=”Read Our Full Review” ]

or Get started using SurveyJunkie

Also be sure to check out our reviews for many other survey sites:

Best Survey Sites that Pay Instantly

  1. The Nielsen Panel is well known for their media data and rely in large part on everyday people like us. The nice thing about this program is all you have to do is install an app meter that automatically sends data to Nielsen to learn lessons on overall internet usage.
  2. *NEW* Pinecone Research is a new paid evaluation system that I’m really leveraging in 2018. The model is similar, but different in that you evaluate products (can get some swag in the process) and get paid for the opportunity. Win, win. A great supplement, especially for full-time employees who get burnt out with the surveys.
  3. Vindale is another legit survey paying company based in New York. I like that that they reward their members with straight up cash (via Paypal or check). They also have surveys that pay out up to $100. It really is easy money, especially if you’re struggling to get by at the grocery store while making minimum wage. 
    I love hearing stories of people (especially moms) that manage to find few minutes to fill few surveys while the kids nap, clothes are in the drier or the food is in the oven. It adds up folks! It can even replace the need to find part-time work when saving money or handling out-of-pocket expenses. If you manage to make it a daily habit of filling a few of the surveys, you can end up making an extra few hundred (or thousands!) of dollars every month! You are probably sharing your opinion on social media with your friends anyway. You might as well get paid for it!
    Hint: Nothing is stopping you from joining all four! Nielson, Pinecone Research, SurveyJunkie, and Vindale. You can do all of these while holding a full-time job.
  4. I’m a big fan of Ebates. It’s a great way to find coupon codes and earn cashback on every purchase you make online! Since I started shopping online, I made over $62,430 cash back from them, so I dare anyone who says it’s scam or it doesn’t work. You can join here. In addition to my review, I also wrote few more articles about Ebates – this last article includes a screenshot of my cash back if you’re a doubter who thinks it’s a scam. You can get a one-time bonus for signing up and regular coupons to apply to your sales.
  5. InboxDollars is another service that allows you to get paid for your opinion. Major brands like Netflix, Walmart, Groupon and more want to recruit people to test new products before they release them to the wider market. You can actually get a FREE $5 bonus by signing up. They are a member of TrustPilot and have an A+ rating from the BBB, which is hard to get for a rewards program!
  6. SwagBucks allows coupons and also allows payouts in both gift cards and PayPal, making it a great way to actually get usable cash back bonuses. You can learn more about my favorite Ebates alternatives here.
  7. Amazon Subscribe and Save. Take a look at your typical monthly bills. Are there consumables that you regularly purchase? Think toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, coffee, etc.. If so, signing up for an Amazon subscription here can save you 5-20% on that order per month! You can also set it for longer periods of time (every 3 months, etc..). This can also be a good reminder to change out certain things like water filters, etc. while conveniently linking it to your credit card.

Shop Smarter

Shopping is the one sure way to spend your money. But getting control over how much you spend when shopping is completely in your control. From deciding you don’t actually need that new thing, to using some tips and tricks to save on how much you actually pay for that new thing, here are some of my favorite ways to save on shopping.

Top Recommendation: Use Rebate Apps like Ebates

Rebate Apps are probably the smartest thing you can do when shopping for new items, clothes, or even groceries. They allow you to make your purchase through a cashback link (when shopping online) or through a form (when shopping in-store) and receive a certain amount of money back, reducing the purchase price.

The rebate apps charge the stores you’re purchasing from, so it’s completely free for consumers like you and me to sign up, use, and start saving!

Discounts & Coupons

  1. Make sure you’re taking advantage of discounts! Check out this list of Military Discounts or Teacher Discounts that you can get today.
  2. Shopping online? Never leave the coupon code box blank again! Sites like RetailMeNot offer free coupon codes for just about any product you’re shopping for… electronics, fashion, home and garden, books and more.
  3. Get in the habit of shopping Groupon and other deal sites. No matter what you’re shopping for, there’s a deal site for you! Sign up to receive the best daily deals that offer a significant percent off your final sale (excluding tax). No matter what you’re shopping for, there’s likely a daily deal site to help you save money! You can also check out some of the alternatives to Groupon to track other promos.
  4. Make sure you’re taking advantage of rewards programs at places you regularly shop like CVS, Kroger, and Petco. If you’re tired of carrying around all those rewards cards, there’s a free app called Key Ring where you can store them!

Gift Cards

  1. Stock up on discounted gift cards for places you normally shop. How does 15% off at JC Penney or Pier 1 sound? Buy discounted gift cards!
  2. Speaking of gifts cards… I like getting gift cards (or cashback) using Swagbucks here. If you don’t mind gift cards, Swagbucks is a great way to leverage the shopping that you are already doing to save money.

Don’t Feel Like You Have To Buy

  1. Stop making impulse purchases! Get in the habit of asking yourself if it’s a need or a want and if it fits your budget.
  2. Don’t keep up with the Joneses. Unless you are the president and CEO of a billion dollar company, constantly competing with your neighbors will put you in debt. Even President Trump probably uses a budget in his personal shopping. No? Moving on.
  3. Patience pays! If you make an effort to plan ahead, you’ll have time to find a bargain! Last minute shopping rarely yields big savings.
  4. Shop garage sales, thrift stores, Craigslist, Goodwill and consignment shops first – you never know what treasures you may find! Once you find a few treasures, you’ll be hooked!
  5. Try swapping instead of shopping. Invite your friends over and swap children’s clothes, toys, books and Halloween costumes. The average family saves $569 a year by swapping children’s clothes!

More Shopping Savings

  1. Do you know the best times of the year to buy for maximum savings? Fall is the best time to buy a grill because stores need to make room for Christmas merchandise. Check out the Best Time To Buy Guide with listings by month.
  2. Consider homemade gifts and homemade Halloween costumes rather than using your credit card and putting yourself in debt over materialism– you don’t have to be Martha Stewart with my ideas!
  3. Get in the habit of buying clothes during the end of season clearance.
  4. Hosting a birthday, graduation or even a wedding? It’s okay to ask for gift cards or in cases cash instead of presents. You can get a beautiful and elegant gift box. It can look great on a nicely decorated table along with a thank you note.
  5. Be thankful for what you have instead of shopping for more!

cut your spending by $400 a month


Cut Food Costs

  1. Always plan meals. Create a meal plan, make a list of food, and try to grocery shop once a week. Food is one of the most expensive out-of-pocket expenses families face.
  2. Buy store brands, this alone will cut your grocery bill by 25 percent!
  3. Shop Costco or Sam’s for staples like milk, eggs, butter, cheese and sugar. This is where the real savings are. Remember, everything is not cheaper at a warehouse club.
  4. Invest in a deep freezer so you can buy in bulk during a big sale.
  5. Stop buying bottled water! A case of bottled water is about $5 per week, $20 a month and $240 a year! Try a refillable bottle instead… Brita makes a refillable bottle with a filter.
  6. Buy seasonal produce for best taste and savings.
  7. Did you know that Kroger sells rotisserie chickens for half price after 7:30? Stock up, chop up, freeze! Check your local grocery for their policy.
  8. Meijer sells all pre-sliced deli lunchmeat for half price after 8:30. See if your local grocery has a similar policy.
  9. Check your local bagel and donut shops, you can likely pick up a bargain after a certain time of the day! Our bagel shop sells 1 dozen for $5 after 2:00, and I’ve heard that Krispy Kreme sells a dozen donuts (the ones in the case) for $1 after midnight…that gives new meaning to a midnight snack!
  10. Eat out for less with deals from Restaurant.com, Groupon.com or buy discounted restaurant gift cards! Discounted gift cards are what I call “no-brainer instant savings.”
  11. Don’t miss out on over 100 Birthday Freebies from restaurants! How’s a $30 gift certificate to Benihanas sound?
  12. Discover all the Kids Eat Free offers.
  13. Are you taking advantage of Report Card Freebies?
  14. Eat in, not out! Those everyday trips to the drive-thru quickly add up – $7 a day for lunch = $35 a week, $140 a month, $1820 a year! Could you brown bag it to work a few days? Check out 5 easy ways to ditch the drive-thru.
  15. Make your own Starbucks and save about $3 a day, $21 a week, $84 a month, $1008 a year!
  16. Plant a garden and enjoy seasonal produce for a fraction of the cost. Make sure your meal plan includes meals you can make from produce purchased at the local farmer’s market.The farmer’s market not only has cheap options, but helps you support your local economy.
  17. Learn to can fruits and veggies as a way of saving money on produce.
  18. Always check out the grocery clearance/managers specials…the deals are amazing!
  19. Cook from scratch… you’re paying way too much for convenience!
  20. Try this classic king of money-saving tips – only order water at restaurants.

Cut Spending


Reduce Your Bills

  1. LowerMyBills.com can help you receive the best bids from companies looking to reduce your monthly payments (debt, auto insurance, and mortgage). The best part is that you don’t have to agree to anything other than to let leading companies BID for your business.
  2. Don’t want to use a third party? Call your utility companies to make sure you’re getting the best rate, and to make sure you really need all the services you’re paying for like call waiting or premium cable channels. A few phone calls usually yields savings of $15 a month.
  3. If you live in a deregulated state, make sure you’re shopping around for the best electricity rate! It’s easy! In Texas, go to PowerToChoose.org, enter your zip code, see rates, read the fine print and choose a provider. The process is similar for all deregulated states, and there’s no interruption to your service.
  4. If you have any student debt, especially with multiple lenders, refinancing student loans can trim hundreds per month off of your payments. This service here offers a good way to get started.
  5. Shop around and compare rates on auto and home insurance. Ask yourself if you could live with a higher deductible or different limits, and make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts and bonuses available to you (security system, good student, student away).
  6. Start using a clothesline and you’ll save about 6% on your electric bill plus your home will be quieter and cooler! Take this a step further and replace all your light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs to save a lot of money without any work.
  7. Invest in a programmable thermostat…it will quickly pay for itself and you can put the money you save into a savings account. Not only will a programmable thermostat help save you a lot of money, but installing a new water heater in an old house usually makes a huge impact on the savings account.
  8. If you’ve had a disruption to your cable or satellite service, call and ask for a refund! We had issues with our cable for a week, and a complaint phone call yielded a $50 credit on our bill. They will provide a small percent of the cost for legitimate complaints, which may also result in a credit on your cell phone or high-speed internet bill.
  9. Speaking of cable, ditch it and opt for streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. Unless you watch a lot of sports, streaming services are a great option. Not only is this one of the many ways to save money, it is a great way to boost productivity. If you don’t want to ditch television entirely, look at budget options like Sling TV.

Revisit Your Car Insurance Policy

Did you know that the average driver can save over $800 a year by comparing car insurance rates? When looking at things to cut out to save money, comparing your current coverage is quick and can provide some major savings.

My favorite go-to resource to save money on my insurance is the Better Insurance tool. It forces insurance companies to compete for your business and takes the hassle out of haggling.

When comparing quotes, make sure to choose a company that has solid reputation for claims service and customer support otherwise saving a few dollars today could cause you a headache in the future.

Save Money


Review Your Home Insurance Policy

A recent study has shown that over 75% of people do absolutely no shopping when it comes to buying their home insurance. This means that more than likely you are paying way more than you should be for coverage that you might not actually need.

If you didn’t shop for coverage there is no way to know exactly what’s being covered in your policy and if your limits match the value of your home.

You can use insurance sites like Simply Insurance to get some detailed quotes or find out how much home insurance you actually need.

This quick review could save you way over $400.00 per month alone, depending on the type of coverage you already have.


Have Fun For Less

  1. Groupon.com is a great source for huge savings on fun things to do in your area like 62% off admission at the Houston Museum of Natural Science! Note: Another option to try is LivingSocial.com.
  2. Try a high school football game or theatre performance for a cheap evening out.
  3. How about breakfast and a movie? AMC theatres offer $6 movies before noon.
  4. Watch your old wedding video and family videos.
  5. Pull out your wedding album on your anniversary.
  6. Have a wine tasting night at home and discover your favorite cheap wine. Simply cover a few bottles with brown paper, taste and rate!
  7. Host a cooking school for your kids – it’s time to stop watching the Food Channel and start cooking!
  8. Game night is a great family tradition to start! For a fun twist, add silly bets like loser does the dishes!
  9. Create your own Wii Family Olympics by playing a different sport each night – ideal for winter break.
  10. Check out FactoryToursUSA.com for a state by state listing of free tours.
  11. Find free events in your city by doing a quick internet search…the results might surprise you! West Palm Beach offers free concerts every week!
  12. Pizza Taste Test – buy assorted frozen pizzas, taste, rate and choose your new favorite.
  13. Start a family tradition of having ice cream sundaes on Saturday!
  14. Try Minute to Win It challenges at home.
  15. Bring back home birthday parties! You really don’t need to spend $300+ for an ice skating party or Build-A-Bear party.
  16. Enjoy the outdoors – take a hike, go for a bike ride, watch the sunset! Mother Nature has a lot of free fun to offer.
  17. If you’re a Bank of America customer, take advantage of free museum and zoo admission the first weekend of the month. Check their website for a listing of participating museums / zoos.
  18. When’s the last time you visited the library? Check out books, movies and enjoy free events. Our library offers free yoga and zumba classes!
  19. Let your kids get involved in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or 4H for affordable fun!
  20. A neighborhood pot luck party is one of my favorite memories, and it’s frugal fun at its finest!
  21. Better yet, why not have fun and make money at the same time? Put up a lemonade stand, have a garage sale, walk pets – choose a moneymaking activity that you enjoy.

Go Green and Save Some Green

  1. The Return of the Clothesline – Start using a clothesline or drying rack, and you’ll save nearly 6% on your monthly electric bill according to the Department of Energy…plus your house will be quieter & cooler! If your city or homeowners association prohibits clotheslines, your best option is a cloths drying rack (available at Target, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond for about $30). If your monthly electric bill is $200, your friend the clothesline just saved you about $12 a month & $144 a year!
  2. Burn Calories, Not Gas – Walking or riding bikes is budget friendly, earth friendly and figure friendly…so, what do you have to lose? Maybe a few pounds???? Let’s here it for pedal power!
  3. Consider Carpools – Could you organize a carpool for work, school or after school activities? You’ll save both time and gas!
  4. Plan Ahead – Are you guilty of running errands every single day or making two trips to the store because you didn’t make a list? There’s more to life than errands, and planning ahead will save you both time and gas money.
  5. Slow Down – Driving 65 miles per hour uses 15% more gas than driving 55 miles per hour – that’s like paying 40 cents more per gallon! Of course, you’ll likely be the only one on the highway going 55!
  6. Pay Bills Online – Save trees, save stamps, save money!
  7. Find a Farmer’s Market – Discover your local farmer’s market, and your budget will love the prices and you’ll love the fresh taste of just picked produce! To find a farmer’s market near you, visit LocalHarvest.org and enter your zip code.
  8. Stop Junk Mail – Save trees, save your sanity! It only takes a minute to visit DMA Choice to remove your name from mailing lists for catalogs, insurance offers and more!
  9. Reusable Lunch Containers – Instead of a brown bag, carry a lunch box. Instead of zip top bags, invest in reusable bags. You’ll spend a little money upfront, but you’ll save money in the long run.
  10. Stop Buying Bottled Water – Bottled water has become the American way, and up until a few years ago…I was guilty of buying a 24-pack every single week! WOW…that’s $4 a week, $16 a month and $208 a year for WATER! Stop buying bottled water and start buying refillable bottles for your family to take to work, school and sports.
  11. Unplug – Phantom Electricity is the electricity that is used when a device is plugged in but not in use. For example…you leave your cell phone charger plugged in all the time, but you only charge your phone every few days…did you know that your charger is still using electricity when it is plugged in but not charging? This is “Phantom Electricity”, and little bits are being used throughout your home everyday hence the name “phantom.” Wasted electricity is not earth friendly, and wasted electricity is wasting your money!
  12. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle – If you’re not recycling, this is a great week to start! The first step is to have a system and make sure everybody in your family understands it! The Budget Diet girl’s system is two trash cans in the kitchen – one for recycling and one for trash. After a few weeks, recycling will become a habit, and your neighbors will be green with envy when you only have one small bag of trash each week!
  13. Homemade Cleaning Products – Make the switch to homemade cleaning products that cost pennies to make and clean just as well without harsh chemicals.
  14. Repurpose – Look twice at things before throwing them away! Could you cut off the fronts of some of your Christmas cards to use a gift tags next year? Could you paint that old piece of furniture or spray paint a chandelier to give it a new life? Save nice glass jars for giving gifts like my 2-ingredient DIY Coconut Sugar Scrub. You’ll never have to buy a box for shipping if you save a stash!
  15. Compost!
  16. Check Craigslist for free plants…you’ll almost always find them!

Reduce Health & Fitness Expenses

  1. Are you taking advantage of your flex plan at work for pre-tax savings?
  2. Save money on prescriptions by avoiding “combo pills.” A combo pill combines more than one type of medication and generally costs a lot of money. For example, Lotrel is a blood pressure medicine that costs $70 a month for generic, but you could get a prescription for the two components (Amlodipine and Benazepril) for $6 each. Health care doesn’t have to be as expensive as we make it out to be.
  3. Ask your doctor about any money saving prescription options…the last time I did this, we were given a bag full of samples! Ask and you just might receive! Alternatively, they might make a recommendation on generic drugs versus brand-name drugs, which tend to cost a lot of money, especially if they are out-of-pocket costs.
  4. Order pet medications online from 1800PetMeds.com.Simply place your order online, and they will contact your vet for the prescription. It’s one less errand you’ll have to run this week, and it’s cheaper than buying the medications from your vet.
  5. Order contact lenses online from DiscountContactLenses.com. It works just like PetMeds.com. Costco, Sam’s and Walgreen’s also offer discount contact lenses.
  6. No dental insurance? Find a dental school in your area for exams.
  7. Want a bargain massage? Try a massage therapy school! In Houston, Memorial Hermann Southwest offers a 1 hour massage for only $29, and tipping is not allowed!
  8. Check out FREE diet websites like SparkPeople.com and MyFitnessPal.com. Simply input your weight, your desired weight, and you’ll get a plan. These sites help you keep a food diary and keep count of calories, fat, protein and carbs. You’ll also find plenty of motivation, tips and support in their online forums.
  9. Get fit for free! A gym membership is a big offender on the list of out-of-pocket costs. Walk, ride bikes, check out my Pinterest Board of at home workouts or try exercise dvd’s. Average savings – at least $40 a month and $480 a year. If you want to try different gym classes, try a drop in rate rather than spending a lot of money on a gym membership you won’t use.

Travel More, Spend Less

  1. Deal first, destination second – this is The Budget Diet’s motto when it comes to saving on travel. It simply means don’t get your heart set on a destination, and then discover the deals don’t exist. Instead, be open-minded about a destination and get excited about great deals.
  2. Did you know that discounted gift cards exist for travel? Recently, Costco had $300 American Airlines gift cards for only $269.99! How’s that for instant savings? Take a moment to peruse the huge selection of discounted gift cards at CardCash.com – you’ll find discounted gift cards for hotels, restaurants, shopping and more!
  3. Save on Cruises with VacationsToGo.com’s 90-day last minute ticker. It’s not unusual to find discounts of 75%!
  4. Consider a home exchange program like HomeExchange.com or AffordableTravelClub.com
  5. A road trip is always budget friendly! Plan a road trip to please everyone – you set the budget and distance parameters, and each member of the family plans a day!

More Ways to Save

  1. DIY – could you make it yourself or fix it yourself? Thanks to YouTube, there’s a video to teach you just about anything! You can even learn to fix a leaky toilet!
  2. Consider swapping babysitting or pet sitting with a neighbor looking for part-time work.
  3. Cut and color your hair at home.
  4. Cut your dry cleaning bill by switching to no-iron shirts. 5 no-iron shirts from Costco cost $79.95, and you’ll save about $250 a year on dry cleaning.
  5. Instead of a coin jar, try a $1 bill jar – you have to adjust for inflation, right?
  6. File your annual income taxes online with free services like Turbo Tax or H & R Block. If you’re lucky their free tax tips might help maximize your refund!
  7. Be pro-active and schedule professional routine maintenance on household items like plumbing and air conditioning systems.
  8. Check out this list of the best months to buy certain things.

How many ways did you find to cut your spending by $400 a month?

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P.S. – Now that you’ve read through this entire article Pin the infographic below to your favorite money savings Pinterest board.

With employees under strain, constant talk about tax cuts, tax reform, discretionary spending, and changes to social security, it can feel like you have no control over your income. Whether you’re one of the full-time employees struggling with minimum wage and relying on tax savings, or a president and CEO of a billion dollar company that takes advantage of a corporate tax rate, you can’t rely on the federal government to make changes to suit you. You will have to adjust your budget, put a certain percent of your income in savings, and do the best you can at the grocery store. You have the power to change your spending habits.

Now that you finished reading and you now know there is a lot that can be done, here’s a much shorter printable Cut Your Spending Checklist. Simply put a check mark next to any money saving tips you’d like to try, and you’ll soon find your family saving at least $400 a month, which could mean cutting your spending in half for some of you! While switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and subscription paper towels might not seem like much, it all adds up! You can also check out more frugal tips here.  Thanks to Kristy W. for helping everyone save paper and ink by putting together this short 4-page printable Cut Your Spending Checklist. After that, why don’t you check out our ultimate guide to setting up a budget as well?

Do you have any money saving tips or things to cut out to save money that aren’t mentioned here? Please leave a comment to add a tip to this list…thanks and happy saving!

In full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links to help support The Budget Diet girl!

Cut Your Spending by $400 a Month

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Janet Vance
4 years ago

This look great.

vona
11 years ago

If you are doing any remodeling or dyi for your home try the Habitat store. They have lots of perfectly good items for a lot less and the money you spend goes for a good cause.

Suzieb
11 years ago

Buy a clothes steamer! You not only save on drycleaning but all you laundry costs. Just steam those jeans, pants sweaters, etc. and it freshens your clothes for another wear. My husband steams his suits, we cut our drycleaning by 50 percent. Also I wash everything except whites and towels in cold water and hang alot of my clothes, saves money and wear and tear on your clothes.

Stacey
11 years ago

Don’t forget about the public library!

Melissa
11 years ago

OK- So I just checked back in with this awesome post. It seems as though people are also doing free activities. Have ya’ll hear about Geocaching? Letterboxing? They are super fun free family activities. Basically a treasure hunt. It is a world wide phenomenon. There are free things in and all around us. Free is my lifestyle. I love it and do not feel poor.
Thanks for the nice response Kristl.

http://www.geocaching.com
http://www.letterboxing.com

Melissa

Sharon
11 years ago

Hello all!
I quickly glanced through many of the ideas and comments, so if this is a repeat, I apologize!
One tip I have and that I know alot of folks do, is save your spare change in a jar or something. When I shop and actually have cash, I will pay only with bills, then take the change and put it in my jar. I have saved alot of money for things I want, and I find a picture of what I am saving for on the jar.

Jen
11 years ago

Great tips! Lemme add a few more: 1) check with the city or county for a weatherization program If you live in an older home, they usually send A couple of contractors to evaluate your home, we ended up getting a new furnace free 2) bill pay your utilities through your grocery store, they only charge 1.00 per bill 3)consider going through a local Internet/ phone company digital voice saves more money than century link plus get a wireless router, everything in my house is wireless We have no cell phones 4)kids: send em outside! Boy Scouts are free, look into 4h in your area, cheaper than sports programs! Shop yard sales and buy 2-3 sizes ahead, jeans are gender neutral and great hand me downs. Cutoff shorts in the summer, use the bottoms for a rag rug (pinterest). Home Depot had a free kids workshop once a month, check… Read more »

Missy C
11 years ago

Kristl, you mentioned in a response not giving up cable because of sports, we had the same concern. So we made an investment in a good (& big) off air antena that we were able to put in our attic & that was about the cost of 1 1/2 months of cable and then we were able to get all of our local stations in HD “off air”. After that we discovered that many of our fave college teams could be streamed through ESPN or Fox sports) while they were happening, we’ve even hooked the computer up to the TV and watched it that way before. Beyond those options we found a good local sports bar with good food prices so that on “big” games we will go there and then we get a night out & the social aspect of watching sports at the same time. We live in… Read more »

Hellscreamgold
11 years ago

“Michele– Coin Star charges a ~10% commission! Instead, take your change to the bank, and get ALL your money turned to paper. ”

Not if you have the system give you a gift card instead. You get full face value if you get an Amazon gift card instead of a cash voucher.

Julie
11 years ago

This is the most ridiculous article ever. I’ve been doing these – common sense – things since the day I was married 25 years ago. Who would have ever thought this list was something new to consider? I just don’t get this world. You people are all crazy!

Brooke
11 years ago

Great list. I had a good ordering experience from Thredup.com, but not great at all when I sent in a bag of items. I wouldn’t do it again. If you’re looking to make money on your used children’s clothing, you’re better of selling it on Craigslist.

Melissa
11 years ago

If you’re already a frugal person, this probably isn’t an issue, but thought I’d mention it anyway….stop taking clothes to the dry cleaners. I have found tha (with a few exceptions) pretty much all clothes can be washed, regardless of what the tag says. I wash everything, but line dry the “dry clean only” stuff. I have never had any issues. Some fabrics wrinkle more, but if you leave the in your bathroom while taking a hot shower, that should help a lot. Just make sure to wash in cold so you don’t risk shrinkage.
If you’re used to having clothes dry cleaned, this can be a huge savings.

Elena
11 years ago

I use bigoven.com to do my meal planning. Getting recipes is free. They have a huge amount of recipes. I use their meal planning features (~$15/year). It also makes my grocery list that I can edit. I’m a working mom and it turned 3 hours of meal planning into a quicker 30 minutes.

Katie
6 years ago

http://www.Shop.com offers a free cashback program. you can also earn 1/2% on referrals to the site.
I save so much on my online shopping – there is a shop buddy attached to the site as well that scans the web for coupons and applies them to your cart – they are soon adding a one stop shopping cart.

Amy
11 years ago

For a coupon stacking site, I would never pay for it! I’m sorry, but if you do a little digging through google you can find many free sites! I also follow them through facebook so I get the latest updates in my news feed 🙂 I mostly follow krazycouponlady.com and frugalcouponliving, also slickhousewives and happyhomemakercindy. Also my husband and I have lived without cable for 4 years now! We have netflix and recently also signed up for Hulu plus to get recent shows. We pay $16/month instead of $60+! Also shop around for your internet! It is not always cheaper to bundle! I also hang dry majority of my clothes, however a warning is to be prepared and make sure you have plenty of hanging space if you tend to do all of your laundry in one day. It takes up more space than you think! But it is worth… Read more »

Lisa
11 years ago

As far as saving money drying clothes outside, I have allergies so that is not an option for me (and our neighborhood does not allow it). My solution was to go to Bed, Bath & Beyond and invest in a heavy duty wood curtain rod that is meant to be mounted between two walls (has metal holders that screw into each wall). This is so it can hold alot of heavy wet laundry. We cut this to size so it fit into our laundry room. We sometimes “fluff” our clothes barely just to shape them and then they air dry in our laundry room. We never ever fully dry them, and I am sure this has saved us a ton of money.

Woody
11 years ago

one little thing… using a discount gift card is more expensive than NOT using one, ie. if you wouldn’t buy anything at all, getting a discount which you have to use to save doesn’t save, it spends

Jazzy Marie
11 years ago

Great list for ideas. I’d also recommend the following:

1. Have themed movie nights by getting new and old movies from the library because they are FREE!!
2. Get a template excel budget spreadsheet and budget up to 12 months.
3. Use fans and space heaters to conserve energy for only the rooms you are using.
4. Have potluck dinners with friends to save money, time and still be with the people you love!
4.

Kathy
11 years ago

I know for sure Lowe’s military discount is given year around.

Gina bucci
6 years ago

Amy’s Ice Cream gives military discounts, saved $1 just by asking 🙂 !

Sue
6 years ago

Hi I just signed up for eBates a month or so ago and just got paid $2.57. Can you explain how in the world you got over $62,000 cash back from them? That’s amazing!!

Jody
6 years ago

Excellent. Thank you for putting all of this information together for the benefit of all. I know that I will be trying some of these suggestions.

Jody
6 years ago
Reply to  Jody

Your comment is awaiting moderation wasn’t supposed to be there.

Mamaof2
7 years ago

Awesome info! I definitely take advantage of gas and store apps. One thing I have done a few times in the past is sit as a hair model at a very high end salon. They are always looking for hair models to donate their time and hair. I have gotten gorgeous cuts and colors for free. Thanks for these super useful ideas to help my family save!

Emma Clark
7 years ago

Great article! I will bookmark it for later use. Thanks!

Adriana
7 years ago

Me gustaría enlaces y tips para el lugar donde vivo . El ahorro se a vuelto algo muy difícil. Soy de Argentina

Cody
7 years ago

Be careful about shopping at thrift stores especially Goodwill. I have gone in there looking for cheap stuff and see them selling used stained clothing for $5. When target had a good sale I can get it for the exact price brand new. I don’t think consignment shops are always that much cheaper with clothing. I have found nice wedding gifts for only a dollar or two though. I also don’t do warehouse membership because I honestly don’t see the savings. Remember to check things per unit price. I had a sams membership this last year I actually got for free for being a new mommy but I rarely used it except for the members mark wipes and gas discounts.

Ann Cromer
7 years ago

Loved this post. I included it in my blog round-up last week. Thanks so much!

eid
7 years ago

Combining clearnace items or store flyer items with a coupon can add up to some big savings on your grocery bill

Kelly McCollough
7 years ago

I absolutely love this article. Thank you so much for your time researching and writing it. I agree that we all need a little money saving “refresher” from time to time. Here are couple things I also do: After Christmas and especially when there’s a store going out of business – I hit up the 50%-90% discounts. It’s only May, and I already have a stash of Christmas gifts for most of my siblings, friends, nieces, nephews, teachers – and I know I didn’t spend more than $5 for each brand name item. I keep all gift-giving occasions in mind during yard sales and flea markets, too – especially when I want to create my own gifts and re-purpose decorative items. I make my own, effective laundry soap to save on cost & for green living. My son has eczema and I hate chemical laden products. My favorite, however, is… Read more »

Kelly McCollough
7 years ago

Oh! One more thing…. we recycle aluminum cans. After saving and smashing several garbage bags full of cans, we take it to a local scrap yard or recycling center and turn it in for cash. We save our own, find them on trails during walks and bike rides and ask our neighbors, family and friends to save for us. It’s not a lot of money, but hey, a hundred bucks is a hundred bucks!

Williamcoag
7 years ago

Thanks again for the forum.Much thanks again. Fantastic.

Rob wagner
8 years ago

Having read through the article and comments, I might add a few tips I use. First, if you or your spouse is a veteran, check for vet’s discounts. I regularly save an additional 10% on every purchase by showing my DD214 discharge papers. Each year on Nov 11, lots of places give discounts including free meals to vets. If you are a senior 50 or older, ask if the restaurant or store gives a senior discount. Many stores feature a certain day they give senior discounts up to 50%. Save hundreds of $ by purchasing the Entertainment Book and planning outings using discount coupons from the book. Sears offers a home warranty policy which can cover up to 20 home appliances even if they are older and not Sears products. Once each Ca lender year you can request a checkup pm on each item covered at no charge. A certified… Read more »

Angie
8 years ago

Hey! Loved reading through this and have bookmarked to come back to as needed! Thank you for this. 🙂
I did want to let you know that the not all Meijers mark down sliced deli meat in the evening. I work at one that does not and I know none in the Southern Region do this. Didn’t want you to be misinformed (and I don’t want angry people yelling at me for this!) 🙂 We do however liberally markdown meat, produce, etc regularly! Plus stores will do special item deals if they over order (always my fave)!
Thank you for all the time you put into this list. My family and I greatly appreciate it! 🙂

Renee
8 years ago

i use a free app on my phone called Flipp, you have all your local fliers in one spot, and you can create your shopping list and see where the best prices are on items you want/need. Works great for price matching with Walmart as well, our family usually meal plans based on the sale items from stores, for example, pick n save/copps have their sale fliers based on meals, along with breakfast items and snacks. We save a lot on our groceries by basing meals on the fliers.

Coffeetime
6 years ago
Reply to  Renee

Wal-mart no longer price matches..

Suzanne
8 years ago

I noticed that no one answered about the Ooma or mentioned Republic Wireless; I hope I didn’t miss it 🙂 The Ooma (www.ooma.com) is a box that hooks up to your wireless router and is essentially the same as a Time Warner VOIP service. You enter your address and it gets sent to an E-911 center should you need it (unlike Skype), and it works with standard telephones. Like other VOIP services, it does not work if the power or internet is out. Our Verizon bill went up two months in a row–we only had the “call across town” service and it was $42/month when I cancelled! Republic Wireless (www.republicwireless.com) has phone cheap phone plans. You buy their phone ($99 for the cheapest) and their software uses the wireless internet when it finds it, and seamlessly switches to Sprint as you walk out the door. It’s $10/month for unlimited text… Read more »

Kathie
9 years ago

It’s JC Penney, not JC Penny.

Italy Anabolic shop
9 years ago

I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but you blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark yokur site to come back down the road.
Cheers

Grecia
9 years ago

I found out with my insurance when my husband was deployed that we could put his car under non operational and it was 50% savings of course you won’t use it but hey at least you r not paying for something you ain’t using.

Joey Plazo
9 years ago

I constantly spent my half an hour to read this webpage’s articles or reviews daily along with a
cup of coffee.

RachaelM
9 years ago

I guess if you are already spending wild amounts of money on useless things then this list will be helpful. But if you are already a low maintenance kind of person/family then this list isn’t very enlightening. And we found that if we spend $40 or less on basics every week and only $15 (or less) on daily needs/food, we saved A LOT more money than if we planned out all our meals and bought them once a week (inevitably we would need something or waste food). The best advice here is to make sure you are getting the best deal on utilities.

Kimberly Dawson
10 years ago

Keep in mind trying it save on the haircuts and colors. Most salons and stylists charge more to fix the home jobs. So seeing that cheap box in the store is going to cost you more in the end. Somethings need to be left to the pros.

LitteBear
10 years ago

This is great, some excellent advice. But I particularly liked the bit about getting donuts half price after certain times of the day especially when only a few lines up it’s talking about planning in advance, “is this a need or a want?”

Because donuts are a need. Every time.

Linda Fraine
10 years ago

Thanks so much for all the info:). I do many if these already but you have ones I never thought of or have forgotten to do:). Excellent!!

Bonnie
10 years ago

Even sports lovers can lose their cable bill. Just buy the online deals offered by streaming service for NFL or NHL Centre Ice, here are two articles with more information:

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-watch-sports-without-cable-2013-3

michelle rice
10 years ago

mickemowsee@yahoo.com. I work for a Fred Meyer owned by
Kroger. We no longer mark down our whole birds at 730 anymore

James Shaffer
10 years ago

In regards to auto insurance, you gotta shop around and be weary! My auto insurance covered by Hartford went from $1024 to $1440 for two cars. When I called Hartford, I was told my State forced the rise. I went to an independent insurance firm that deals with many companies. They got me a better coverage policy with Safeco for half the price. In addition, I switched my home owners as well and saved on that, as well.
For the record, we drive less than 6,000 a year on the two cars and never had an accident or summons in 40 years. I would say Hartford lost a good client.

Patrick
10 years ago

Just saw this link on Twitter- there are some great suggestions here, especially ones I can use at uni. Thanks 🙂

Courtney~Mommy LaDy Club
10 years ago

This is such a great resource! I call in often on our bills, and do research to cut things down, and have shaved off hundreds of dollars each month. The one that killed me though was our phone bill. I shaved off features we weren’t using, etc., but the stupid extra taxes and fees they have on everything there, put it to $10 more. That one really got me! All of that effort for more money/month. I’d say stick to your grandfathered-in contract on your phone, because any new stuff has new hidden taxes and fees everywhere.

eileen at FamiliesGo!
10 years ago

i make a point of calling all my service providers once a year, from utilities, to phone to credit cards to make sure i’m getting the best deal. sometimes I wind up with a cost reduction and sometimes with the same fees but an extra service. it’s worth it!

Dominique Goh@Dominique's Desk
10 years ago

Those are really great tips on how to cut costs. I do shop at different places just to save a few dimes as the prices are different at different stores.

Amy
10 years ago

There are so many great ideas here I can’t take them in all at once. I have bookmarked it so I can refer back to it again and again. Thanks so much for this useful information!

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