25 Easy Ways to Save Money

Are you trying to cut costs? Some unexpected expenses cropped up this year and so I’ve been looking for some easy ways to save money. I have to admit – many of these are ones I followed when my daughter was younger, but as I got older and money wasn’t quite as tight, I kind of drifted away from them. The thing is, I’d like to be able to travel more so why not save all the money I can with these simple tips so I can put more into my travel fund?

25 EASY WAYS TO SAVE MONEY

1. Clean out the trunk of your car. The more junk in your trunk, the more you’re paying in gas. An extra 100 pounds can decrease your fuel economy by 2 %.
2. Use public transportation whenever you can. Having your own car is so convenient but even using public transportation just a few times a week can make a difference. Plus, the commute time can be spent listening to books or podcasts or doing something else more pleasant than dealing with rush hour traffic. A carpool is another option.
3. If you must drive, make the most of your trips. Running out to the grocery store in the morning, then the post office in the afternoon, followed by the pharmacy the next day can add up in unnecessary expenses. Plan ahead so you can combine errands. This is a more efficient use of your time too!
4. Go meat free. Have a meatless meal at least once per week and use more economical and healthy options like beans or legumes.
5. Skip dessert. Dessert isn’t a necessity for every meal. If you are having a special dinner out, skip the dessert and have it at home instead. Or go out only for dessert and coffee after having a budget friendly meal at home. Another option is to go out only for appetizers and drinks and then head home for the rest of your meal.
6. Use your slow cooker. Buy less expensive cuts of meat, marinate them (I put the meat in a freezer bag with the marinade – it’s the quickest easiest and most effective way I’ve ever found for marinating!), and then cook in a slow cooker which uses less electricity than your stove or oven.
7. Skip the coffee shop. At least a few times a week, make your own coffee at home.
8. Pack your own lunch. Again, even if you only do this a few times a week, you will save money. When I was a teacher, a colleague of mine and I took turns twice a week to bring in lunch for both of us. It was a great way to get some variety.  Forget the bottled water – get yourself a self filtering refillable bottle instead. You can even add fruits and vegetables to make flavored water.
9. Wash with cold water when possible. To kill dust mites (I have allergies) I wash my bedding in hot water but for most other laundry, I use cold. Heating up the water uses a lot of energy and therefore, a lot of money. Avoid any clothes requiring dry cleaning when possible. And skip the dryer when you can. Hang clothing to dry.
10. Buy second hand or out of season. Wait for end of season sales or those 50% off days at thrift stores and rake in the savings. When it comes to holidays, purchase items for the next holiday at the after holiday sales.
11. Extend the life of your clothing. I remember getting a small tear (easily repaired) in a pair of pants and my mom throwing them out and giving me money to buy a new pair. Learn to do simple repairs like sewing on buttons, patching holes, and stitching up tears.
12. Attend free events. Most cities have free lectures, workshops, and even free admittance days to museums and other local venues. Look for Facebook pages listing such local events.
13. Rethink subscriptions. Do you really need all of those magazine subscriptions? I know, I know, I’m a magazine fan too but for much less money, I was able to get a subscription to Texture by Next Issue and that provides me with a whole library of magazines each month on my iPad. Bonus – no clutter!
14. Look for alternatives to expensive movies. Matinees or “cheap” nights (Tuesdays around here) are an alternative. In my area, we still have a drive-in. They have double features every night for less than the price of one movie at a traditional theatre and on holiday weekends, they have triple and quadruple features for the same  price. During the week, they have carload flat rate nights too. Bonus here is that we can bring our own snacks with us as well. Also, look for second run movie theatres and those on college campuses for savings. Our local library often runs family movies and in the summer, the city puts on outdoor movies in the park.  If you know you are going to want to own the movie (like us with anything Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars), try to wait until it comes out on DVD. Of course, there are always online streaming options like Netflix.
15. Set up some swaps with family and friends. We used to bring in books and movies and leave them in the staffroom at the place where I worked. You could help yourself to whatever you wanted. Try getting together with family and friends to swap those and CDs, kids’ toys and clothing. Our library organizes swaps sometimes too – they even have garden seed exchanges!
16. Or borrow items. Many libraries lend more than just books and at our local Childreach centre, they loan out toys as well. A lot of cities have rental services for items like home improvement tools, carpet cleaners, and formal dresses too.
17. Cut entertainment costs. Having friends over for dinner? Make a big pot of chili or spaghetti – something economical for a crowd. When your friends offer to bring dessert or something else for the dinner, let them. Or have a potluck or progressive dinner. Invite friends to come watch a movie or a sporting event with you. Serve easy and inexpensive snacks like popcorn. Or how about a “crafternoon”? Get together with your friends to make some handmade items.
18. Cut the cable. With all the online streaming options, do you need cable anymore? Netflix and other such services are much cheaper options and can help you save money.
19. Make your own household cleaners. They are not only more budget-friendly but less toxic too.
20. Ask for discounts. Your place of employment, organizations you belong to, even your age can net you discounts at hotels, attractions, and more.
21. Watch out for bank fees. A bunch of little ATM withdrawals can really add up as can using banks other than your own. Try to plan ahead so you can combine transactions to reduce fees and save money.
22. Keep an eye on deal sites. Groupon, Living Social, and WagJag can really save a lot of money on tourist attractions, accommodations, haircuts, massages, manicures, restaurants, and much more.
23. Cut costs on groceries. Ten tips for reducing your grocery budget here.
24. Save money on children’s clothing. Tips for reducing your clothing budget here.
25. Plan a staycation. Can’t afford to go away? Be a tourist in your own town. Or the next town over. Maybe you can even score a great Groupon and spend a night at a local hotel.

What other money saving ideas would you add to this list? Share them in the comments below.