There ain’t a more strenuous job than saving money. If you’re not naturally inclined to it by birth or something. Some folks possess the gift, some folks don’t. It’s just the way things stand. We dedicate this article to folks who have some trouble coming up with ways to save money fast.
Okay, so what’s the deal here? Well, we’ve gathered 13 creative ways to save money fast in one place. Okay, now 13 might seem like an unlucky number (it’s a common opinion). However, we’re sure you’ll reap some benefits from reading the text that’s below. Therefore, let’s see how you can save money in the fastest manner possible!
Ready to begin, folks?
#1 Try the so-called 30-day no-spend challenge
We bet you love challenges! If that’s correct, you can try the so-called 30-day no-spend challenge. Here’s the concept:
- You challenge yourself not to waste any money. We’re not counting spending money on the essentials: groceries, rent, bills, you name it. Basically, any payment that you can’t ignore isn’t a part of the challenge. Unnecessary spending is the prime enemy that you must beat in this one.
Also, you can encourage other members of your household to join. That way, you can keep each other accountable. As everything else, budgeting is always more fun once done in a team.
#2 Two words to change your spending habits: shop smarter
Now, this one, folks, is something you’d call a no-brainer. We’re all well aware the groceries can add up. That’s really evident if you’re buying much more than usual since most folks spend a lot of time at home. That’s exactly why you’ll want to shop in discount stores and count on generic brands. If you’re worried about the latter, know that the difference ain’t a big one.
Scan your local surroundings for cheaper stores. Also, don’t forget to come up with a grocery list before you head to the store. That way, you can ensure yourself you’re buying only the stuff on the list. All in all: you can save money on groceries, and still eat well.
#3 Try money-saving apps
Nowadays, it’s not hard to stumble upon money-saving apps on the market. Also, some apps will help you get the so-called cashback on purchases you’re already making. Here we’ll list some of the better-known money-saving apps that are completely free:
- Ebates. It’s a service that gives you cashback on purchases you make on the web. As of recently, they also enable you to get cashback on in-store (offline) purchases.
- Acorns. Now here’s an app that connects to your bank account. It will gather up all the spare change on your purchases and invest them.
- Ibotta. You can utilize Ibotta to get cashback on groceries. All that you’ve got to do is upload a pic of your grocery receipt. Here’s the best thing about Ibotta: the app offers cashback on generic brand products. As you might know, you can’t normally find coupons for them.
Okay, let’s move on to other ways to save money in a fast manner!
#4 Turn to ebooks (or join a library)
Nope, we’re not saying you should read ebooks to learn how to save money fast. Although, to be honest, some of them prove a point. Anyway, we won’t talk about that. Here’s the thing:
- If you’re not a paperback fanatic, you might want to start reading ebooks instead of regular books.
That’s because you can rent free books on Kindle. Of course, if you can’t say goodbye to paperback, join a library. That way, you’ll save a lot of money you’d otherwise spend on books which are getting more and more costly.
#5 Attend free events in your area
Why spend money on a concert ticket when you can attend one for free? Not only concerts, but you can also find lots of free activities and events in your town. You simply need to scan through the Facebook events section. There’s a pretty good chance you’ll find something to your liking. For free.
Now, this can be a bit hard if you’re living in a small place with not as many events around. However, it won’t hurt you to try.
#6 Earn some money through paid online surveys
That’s right, you’re able to save some pocket money by answering paid online surveys. If you love voicing your thoughts and opinions on a broad number of subjects, this is ideal for you. You can earn some money just by answering questions.
So, what’s there to know before you begin? First of all, you’ll need to sign-up on a paid online survey platform. Remember to register using the same email address you have on your PayPal account. By the way, that’s exactly how you’ll get paid – through PayPal.
Once you register, you’ll start to receive survey invitations in your inbox. For every completed survey, you’ll get points. Once you reach the payment threshold, the money you’ve earned will find a way to your PayPal account. Simple as that!
#7 Plant a garden
Here’s another way you can save some money on fruit and veggies. If you’re one of the lucky ones, that is. In other words, if you’re lucky enough to possess a home with a yard. If you’ve got a yard, we wouldn’t waste time ignoring the opportunity.
Save money on groceries by growing your own garden & producing your own fruits and veggies. One can imagine how much money can be saved in this manner. If you’re growing easily-frozen veggies, you can save money on food all year round.
#8 See you on Wednesday
You might be wondering what’s Wednesday got to do with anything. Well, most grocery shops launch new sales on Wednesdays. That’s a well-known fact most folks choose to ignore. You, of course, shouldn’t belong to the ignorant.
By shopping on Wednesdays, you’ll get first access to new promotions and discounts. Also, on a Wednesday, grocery stores will sometimes value last week’s discount coupons. Lastly, you’ll avoid shopping during the busiest part of the week.
#9 Track your spending
As they say, you’ll want to “get everything down on paper”. See if you can find out what your spending habits are. See where most of your money is flowing to. That way, you’ll be able to have a decent perspective of your spending habits.
If possible, split the things you’re spending money on into two categories: needs and wants. Once you’re done with that, see if there’s a way to cut down on wants since they’re not necessities.
#10 Join a Buy Nothing group
Ever heard of Buy Nothing groups? If not, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Yup, we’re talking about a group where folks give away things they don’t need or want. There’s a good chance you might want or need some of that stuff. Currently, there are around 7k organizations in 44 countries around the globe. You can either download the app or join a local group in your area on Facebook.
#11 Coin-saving the rescue
Start filling that old piggy bank with coins. Now, of course, most folks pay with cards. You’ll have to endure a good number of cash transactions in order to save some coins. However, it’ll most probably pay off. It doesn’t hurt to try, right? Absolutely right!
#12 Try putting your bills on Auto-Pay
That’s right, you can try putting your bills on Auto-Pay and forget about everything. In a good way, that is. You won’t find yourself missing due dates on your bills. Once you set up auto-pay, you’ll make sure that all of your monthly bills are paid on time.
Needless to say, this will help you avoid paying expensive fees later on. In other words, you’ll save money you’d otherwise spend on, well, nothing.
#13 Stick to your bank’s ATM (don’t cheat)
You’ll save some good money by not paying provisions on ATMs that are not your bank’s. Now, we understand, you might be in a hurry and everything. However, you might want to think about withdrawing more cash if you know you’re gonna need it.
Bonus tip: Quit an expensive habit
We don’t want to guess what it is, just try to quit. Whether it’s smoking or drinking expensive wines – it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you do away with it. We’re quite nasty, aren’t we? Nope, we’re just suggesting what’s good for your wallet.
Lastly, if you’re a college student looking to save money, click on that link. You’ll find out that it’s not as hard as it seems.
Final words on the subject of ways to save money fast
Alright, folks, that’s about it on the subject of ways to save money in a fast manner. Now you have an idea about how to save yourself some funds in the upcoming year. By following the advice we’ve shared with you above, we’re sure you’ll strike gold! At the very least, you’ll realize that life is more than spending money on unnecessary stuff.
For more tips on various money-making and money-saving topics, pay a visit to our blog page.