How many times have you complained about money this year? Probably more than a couple if we’re being honest with each other. Money is on everyone’s mind. How much does it cost, wow that’s expense, I need to make more money are all expressions that we think or hear often. But have you ever thought about the small things that you can do every day to save a buck. Below is a small list of everyday things that people can do to save money. You’ll find that they require little to no effort and can really make an impact on your bank account.
Make Your Own Coffee At Home
Everyone loves to claim that they’re addicted to Starbucks. However, constantly going to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, or even small coffee shop for coffee can eat up your money. Instead, buy coffee at the store and make it at home. A bag of coffee can cost anywhere from $3 to $7 which is still cheaper than spending $2-$7 a day. You can even by Starbuck’s brand coffee which cost $6-$8 a bag. And the best part is that with the help of a coffee cup or a thermos you can take it anywhere.
Drink As Much Water As You Can
You can never drink too much water. You’ll you’re drowning. It’s a fact that water is great for our bodies, but it’s also good for our pockets. Drinking water means spending less money on beverages period. It’s a $5 or more saving on your grocery bill. And a $2 or more saving on your bill, everytime you go out. Most places will give it to you for free and there’s always free refills on water. Also, water cools down the body, making you will be less hot in the Summer time. And that means less air conditioning or fans, which will cut down your electric bill.
Drive as Less as Possible
Cars are expensive, gas to maintenance. Try using alternative methods of transportation which are always cheaper. Walking is free. If your destination is less than a mile away and you don’t have to haul anything you should walk or ride a bike. For places that are further, try to see if you can use public transportation. This might be hard in smaller cities or towns, but in places like New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta public transportation is often cheaper than driving. In NYC it costs $32 for a weekly pass unlimited pass. That means you can go anywhere in a for as many time you want for just $32. Instead, of spending $25-$40 once or twice a week to fill up your tank.
Also, you can use car services like Uber or Lyft which are way cheaper than taking a Taxi. These apps usually cost $5-$8 a trip.
Cut Off the Cable
Cable television has become a staple in American culture. So much so that we still pay for it even when we’re really not using it. The internet has enabled us to watch almost anything at any time. Not to mention apps like Netflix and Hulu, which give us everything we want at low monthly prices of $7-$10. So why are people still paying $60-$200 for cable? Nobody knows, but the point is to shut it off and save yourself some money. And watch what you want to watch on your time, and for a very low dime.
Cook Your Own Food
Buying groceries and making your own meals is way cheaper than eating out. You don’t even have to cook every day. Instead, practice weekly meal prep. Do all your cooking on one day and have a variety of meals for the week. This way when you’re hungry just grab a fully prepared meal out the fridge and heat it up. This also healthier.
Go Thrifting
Within the last couple of years, thrifting has become very popular. People now realize that you can find great clothes at low prices at thrift shops. The clothing is also in good condition thanks to the stores, who generally only sell gently used items.
Stop Smoking and Drinking Alcohol
Not much needs to be said about these unnecessary items. It’s pretty much self-explanatory.
Make A Change Jar
Change is money too! And it all adds up to dollars if you have enough. Every time you get change put it into a jar or container. Over time it will be a habit to empty out your pocket change into your change jar or place any random coins around the house into the container. After a while, you can accumulate $50 or more in just coin money.
If you take your coins to a Coinstar machine you can instantly get dollars back. They’re located in certain banks and grocery store. However, they do take a small percentage of your money. If that bothers you, buy coin rolls, which are usually around $1-$3 for a big pack. Roll your coins and take them to the bank to exchange for paper money for free.
Find Discounts
Every little bit helps. Coupons, discounts, sales, all of these things can help you keep money in your pockets while spending it. But don’t just be a sucker for the word discount or sale, actually do the math. Find out the original price and then figure out how much you’re saving. Sometimes there isn’t that much of a difference. Or there isn’t a sale happening at all. They just use the word because they know that people are more inclined to buy if they think a sale is happening.
Everything is Better Free
Free stuff, free food, free events are all good things. Why spend money when yo can get it for free. Instead of going out, look for free events which are advertised online and in local publications. Museums and amusement parks sometimes have free days too. You just have to look. Also, if you’re a member of an organization you can get in places for free. Like certain plays of employment have free entry deals. If you’re a customer of a particular bank, there might be free deals offered to you too. The main thing is keeping your eyes open for the free opportunities that are available to you.
