Today, I’m sharing 5 tips on how to save money without sacrificing or feeling deprived! From realistic money-saving strategies —such as ways to save on food —to embracing no-spending challenges and choosing simple joys like family game nights and cozy evenings instead of pricey outings.
You’ll also discover how to track your spending, cut expenses, and even lower your monthly bills! Use these tips to save for a rainy day, build your emergency fund, or have extra cash for the holidays, vacations, or whatever your goals are. The hardest part is just getting started, so I’ve narrowed it down to five of the easiest and most realistic ways to help you start saving!
When I was growing up, we didn’t have much. My mother died at a young age, and my dad was left with three young girls. He worked hard to provide for us, and money was never just handed out. If we wanted it, we worked for it, which taught us to think about how we spend it.
Fast forward 20 years. I was a young mother, and we didn’t have much left. However, because of those lessons I learned at an early age, we continued to work hard, be responsible with money, and we got through it. To this day, I still live frugally. Saving where you can gives you more for what you need. So when a friend recently asked me for five tips on saving money, I had to think it over. I’ve written several articles on saving money, but here are five of my personal favorites!
5 Tips On How To Save Money
When it comes to saving money, most of the advice you see online is unrealistic and repetitive. A significant amount of information is copied and pasted from other websites or AI tools, and whoever is writing it seems out of touch with reality. Everything I write about on this blog comes from personal experience. I value my money, and I value yours. I genuinely hope these tips help you. As a reminder, I have dozens of articles on saving and making extra money.
Immediately Stop Spending
If you’re researching ways to save money while drinking a nine-dollar drink from Starbucks, that’s nine extra dollars that could still be in your bank account. Nickels and dimes add up, and little splurges will sabotage you. Frivolous spending has to stop.
- Intentionally choose to save money every day. For example, I was starving on my way home yesterday and wanted to stop at my favorite little sushi place, but I didn’t. Those small choices add up to significant savings. I’m also not saying that you should never splurge, but it should be intentional, like planning a nice lunch or date night. It’s the frivolous, mindless spending that can sabotage your budget.
- Put a spiral notebook or expense tracker on the kitchen counter to get your spending in check. Don’t use your phone or any fancy apps where you’ll forget to do it. We used an old-fashioned spiral notebook right on the counter. Every day, write down everything you spend. Whether it’s a Coke from the vending machine at work or lunch at McDonald’s, physically write it in the notebook. There’s something about seeing this daily that helps keep you in check. The first time we did this, we were shocked at how much we had spent. It clearly shows you the areas you need to get in check.
Stay Home + Do Free Stuff
Staying at home is one of my favorite tips on how to save money. By staying home more, you save money by not spending it. However, I realize you can’t stay home all the time, and you don’t have to sacrifice fun when trying to reach your goals. Here are a few low-cost activities.
- Many communities offer free events, such as movies in the park, outdoor concerts, festivals, and more. At these events, there are often free activities for kids. Your children do not care how much money you are spending on them. What they remember is that you were together and having a good time.
- For adults, these events can be just as meaningful. In Nashville, there are numerous free concerts at parks throughout the city. Shannon and I will pack a picnic using whatever we can find at home, bring a blanket, and enjoy a free evening listening to great music and socializing with others. You don’t need to spend a dime to have a great time and make memories!
- Family game nights or hosting a game night at home with friends are one of our all-time favorite things to do. The adults have fun playing games and socializing, while the kids run around the house. Ask everyone to bring a dish, and you have a free or low-cost evening making memories with friends.
 | Income & Expense Tracker Large Ledger Book | 2 Full Years Of Accounting | Large Format & Durable Design | 60-day Money-back Guarantee |
Cut Household Expenses
Review all your subscriptions and cancel any that you don’t use or use infrequently. I do this several times a year. My husband is notorious for signing up for things and forgetting. Those small, automatic subscription payments add up!
- Cut the cable or find an alternative. I recently canceled my AT&T internet service, and my son added me to his T-Mobile account. I pay half the bill—about $22 per month—saving me $88. You also don’t need five streaming services. Pick two or three you use the most, and cancel the rest.
- How long has it been since you shopped around for lower insurance rates? You might be surprised how much you can save, especially if circumstances have changed. When I switched from our small hometown insurance company to State Farm, I saved over $100 a month.
Save Money On Food
Food is a necessity, not a luxury, and it’s usually the most substantial expense for most families. We have several posts about saving money on food, but when it comes to my top 5 tips on how to save money, this area is the easiest to control.
- Cook from scratch. Simple home-cooked meals are cheaper than ordering in or going out. Focus on uncomplicated meals using affordable ingredients. You can draw inspiration from all of the budget-friendly meals I’ve posted. Meals like my easy beef goulash and tuna pasta salad are great examples of inexpensive, delicious meals. Make a double batch and pack the leftovers for lunches throughout the week, which brings me to my next point.
- Pack your lunch. My family loves leftovers, so they never go to waste. When my kids were growing up, they preferred leftovers over packing a lunch or buying the school lunch. It saves money and prevents food waste. Sandwiches are also an easy and affordable choice.
- Ingredients like pasta, rice, and potatoes are some of the least expensive foods and a great way to stretch your meals. For example, a box of macaroni nearly doubles the volume of a pot of chili, or consider adding cooked rice to your favorite meatloaf recipe.
- Plan your menu around what’s on sale. If your family prefers chicken breast, but thighs are what’s on sale, buy the thighs. If you like lean ground beef, but 80/20 is on sale that week, consider purchasing the fattier beef and draining off the grease. You get my point. You have to be willing to compromise if you’re trying to save money.
 | Magnetic Meal Planner + Grocery List Refrigerator Magnetic Notepad With Pen Holder Includes Weekly Meal Planner And Grocery List |
Get A Side Hustle
Remember that a penny saved is a penny earned, and a penny earned is extra money you can save. I’ve written several posts on how to make extra money, and if I needed to save money quickly, one of the first things I would do is find easy ways to earn it.
- My husband has a full-time job, but he’s driven for Uber for years. It’s easy to make some extra cash, and he’s a people person, so he truly enjoys it. Sometimes, he doesn’t drive for three months, and at other times, he goes out a few times a week. It’s very flexible!
- Another quick and easy way to make extra money is to sell stuff on Facebook Marketplace. One of my best friends makes loads of money doing this. We all have things in our houses that we no longer need or want, and one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. I’m constantly amazed by the stuff that she sells that other people want to buy, lol!
That’s my top 5 tips on how to save money. I hope it helps, and I’d love it if you shared your best tips below!
Want to learn how to save