Every Penny Counts: 52 Small Ways to Save Money that Add Up

The saying goes, “a penny saved is a penny earned.” This is definitely true when it comes to your finances. If you can find small ways to save money, you will be in a much better position down the road.

A lot of articles that talk about saving money also suggest a big change to your lifestyle. We don’t think saving money should be uncomfortable or complicated.

After all we are the penny savers!

This article goes over small ways that you can save money that ad up quickly. Obviously there are big steps you can take too, but that’s for another article.

In this blog post, we will discuss some small ways that you can start saving money today!

Bring your own lunch to work instead of buying food. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Bring your own coffee or tea to work instead of purchasing drinks from the vending machine or café.
Cut back on frivolous spending. If you’re constantly spending money on things you don’t need, you’ll never be able to save any money.
Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use to save money on utilities.
Cooking at home instead of eating out. If you eat out 4 times a week, try reducing it to 3 times a week. Not only is it cheaper, but it’s also healthier for you.
Shop around for better deals on groceries and other household items. There’s no need to spend more than you have to!
Automate your finances so that you’re automatically putting away money into savings or investments. This will help ensure that you don’t miss out on any opportunities to save money.
Evaluate your monthly expenses and see where you can cut back. Maybe there are some services that you no longer need or subscriptions that you can cancel.
Make a budget and stick to it! Having a budget will help you track your spending and make sure that you’re not going over your allotted amount each month.
Adjust the thermostat when you’re not home so that you aren’t wasting energy.
Start comparison shopping. Whenever you are buying something, compare prices at different stores before making a purchase. You may be surprised at how much you can save by doing this!
Live within your means. Just because everyone else is spending money doesn’t mean that you have to as well. If you can resist the temptation to keep up with the Joneses, you’ll be in much better shape financially.
Save money on gas by avoiding going out to the store for one item. If you don’t have the exact spice a recipe calls for, do a quick google search for substitute items.
Think about your transportation options. If you live in a city, chances are you have multiple ways to get around without spending a lot of money. Consider taking the bus or subway instead of driving or using ride-sharing services.
Do you really need cable? If you don’t watch a lot of TV maybe cutting off your cable and instead opting for a netflix subscription can be just as good. With smart TV’s you can easily grab any news you want on Youtube.
Do you have 3 subscriptions for streaming apps? Reflect on which one you actually use the most and ditch the other 2. If you have Amazon prime for the delivery benefits, maybe ditch netflix.
Name brand VS generic groceries. Ditch the name and you will find the generic groceries can be just as good.
Do you have amazon prime? If you do you can save money on other subscriptions too. Like what we just mentioned above for streaming services, the same goes for music subscriptions. The amazon music library included with prime subscription is great, why not cancel your spotify and use amazon music instead?
Eliminate unnecessary expenses. Do you use a gym membership? We think your mental and physical health is so important. But if you are one of those people paying a gym membership and go once a month, there are ways to optimize your gym membership. Cancel the membership and pay for drop in classes instead.
Get cash back rewards with your credit card. As long as you follow the golden rule to not carry a balance, you can get quite a bit back each year with rewards programs.
Ask about discounts. You would be surprised by how many times a store might just oblige. Seriously!
Price compare your cell phone bill. A lot of internet providers also offer wifi hubs throughout the city so do you really need that massive data package? Look at your useage and compare to see if you actually need the plan you are on.
Use only your bank ATM. If you are out and need cash, search for your bank’s closest ATM and save on the withdrawal fees.
Rent library books instead of buying them. The library will loan them to you (charge free) for 3 weeks checkout, and you can extend if you need.
Staycation. Vacations are expensive. You can still have great experiences in your own town or area and skip the expensive costs of a hotel. Or maybe take a drive a bit further from home and skip the expensive airport costs. Either way, a cool staycation can be just as rewarding.
Thrift shop. Thrift stores can have so many great bargins. Both for your home or your closet. Then you aren’t contributing to our “fast-fashion” problem and creating excess clothing garbage waste.
Use coupons. Don’t go queenpin on us, but coupons can save you a bunch of money. Often you get them in your email or as junk mail in your post, save those if it’s something you would be buying anyhow.
Sell stuff you don’t use. Take a page from Marie Kondo, and get rid of anything you don’t use or doesn’t bring you joy. Easily post and sell those items on Marketplace to recoup some of your costs on that item.
Save your coins. Put all those coins into a piggy bank, they add up over time and declutter your wallet at the same time.
Upcycle. If you want that super trendy home furniture item, search first for some simple upcycling ideas. You don’t have to thrift shop, there are some amazing ikea upcycling hacks that are also very affordable.
Unsubscribe from tempting marketing emails. If you don’t know there’s a sale you won’t be tempted to buy those promos.
Designate a “no-spending” day once a week.
Avoid interest by paying off your credit cards in full every month.
Switch banks to a fee-free banking option.
Switch to dry beans. Ditch the processed canned beans and try making your own dried beans. On a stovetop is time consuming, but it’s super easy to do with an instant pot.
Buy in bulk. Buying your beans and non-perishable items in bulk can help save you money. As long as you eat it before the expiry date.
Buy in season produce. Out of season produce is more costly and often there is excess inventory of in season produce. Take advantage of those seasonal savings.
Plan your meals in advance and buy only what’s required at the grocery store. Utilizing leftovers and extra items from a recipe for the next day will help reduce grocery costs.
Freeze leftovers. Make a little extra and freeze leftovers for later. This will give you a whole other meal later on.
During the summer, keep your blinds closed to reduce heat and your air conditioning needs.
When you are out for the day, turn down you thermostat. Smart thermostats can help a lot with this!
Weatherproof your home. Stops drafts from coming in and wasting electricity.
Going out to eat? Skip the drinks, stick to water. Drinks are often pretty pricey and one, two or three can add up quickly.
Save on movies. Instead of going to the theatre as a group, host a movie night at home and save on popcorn and movie tickets.
Bring your own bag. Retailers often charge 5 to 25 cents for a bag. Bring your own reusable bag. Plus it’s better for the environment.
Quit smoking. Besides the fact it’s bad for you, it will also save you a lot of money every month.
Avoid extended warranties. Sometimes they have been great. But more often than not I don’t actually use that expensive warranty service.
Save on haircuts. I cut my boyfriends hair each month. It was super easy to learn. We bought a $50 hair cutter and the savings quickly made up for the cost.
Check the refill fee for prescriptions and price shop. Some pharmacies charge way more for filling service and not all of that is covered by your insurance.
Gardening. Growing your own lettuce can be a quick way to grow healthy veggies. You might have an upfront cost the first year but the following years will be very affordable.
Use less water. Install low flow showerheads and taps to optimize your water useage. Do you have a garden? Save money by installing drip irrigation.
Doing a renovation or work on your house? You can save money by doing it yourself. Make sure to only do things you are comfortable with an always read first about safety first how-to’s before you pick up that saw.

Saving money doesn’t have to be difficult! If you make small changes in your spending habits, you will see a big difference in the long run. Start saving today and watch your bank account grow!

Are there any small ways that you save money that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below!