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30 Clever Money Saving Hacks That People Tend To Overlook, As Shared By Folks Online
With the cost of living rising, people are looking for simple ways to save money. According to a survey by Forbes Advisor, 46% of Americans expect to save more in 2024 than they did in 2023. Gen Z is primarily saving for a car, Millennials and Gen X for an emergency fund, and Baby Boomers say they're focused on retirement savings.
If you're looking into how to start saving more, Pandas, we've got some tips for you right here. We've compiled people's advice from two threads online, where they shared simple but efficient ways to be more frugal. Who knows, maybe you'll learn something new? And if you know any clever ways to save money, share them with us in the comments. Sharing is caring!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This will get lost but hopefully it will help the one person who reads to the bottom:
Carry with you the knowledge that your parents and grandparents didn't magically start out with a house full of bathrooms, stainless appliances, multiple TV's and other electronics. Granite.
Its OK to not have everything, to accumulate your stuff over time.
Don't get suckered in by the lifestyle TV shows or articles online or from your peer group.
Its OK and financially responsible to defer gratification...it will come.
RELATED:
#2
On every payday, I move half of what I had leftover from last pay period over into my savings account. (Paying yourself). Sometimes it's not a lot but it has added up quickly. I also add 5$ to each of my kids savings accounts every payday. They each have over $1,000 and my personal savings has just reached 5 figures. As a single mom, who has always lived paycheck to paycheck, I have surprised myself.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
left over money from a last pay period?! ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
#3
Whenever you feel the urge to buy a non necessity, give yourself a couple of days before you buy it. Often times, the impulse will have passed and you'll be glad to still have the money.
Magenta Blu 1 year ago
Days pass and i spent the money on food anyway.. and still need a pair of shoes that which prize had risen...
#4
Rice. That son of a b***h goes with everything.
Even rice.
#5
- If you are a student - Learn to cook.
- If you are working - Bring lunch to work every day. You'll save a lot of money.
- When you go shopping, especially grocery shopping: make a list and stick to it. And never grocery shop on an empty stomach. Or after a busy day or week. You'll be more inclined to buy bad food and make poorer purchasing decisions
People waste a ton of money ordering food and prepared stuff. Just look up some tutorials and save some real money.
#6
A trick that always works for me is to think about how many hours wages I am spending on something. As someone who previously had a huge spending problem, this has helped me realise that I've worked hard for my money, and I'd rather be working my a*s off for a stress free life financially than living pay day to pay day buying meaningless s**t.
#7
Make as much food as you can. Buying lunch every day at work adds up.
Rayne OfSalt 1 year ago
Yeah, nah. I'll just make my one cup noodle at a time, thank you very much. Only a schmuck prepares cup noodles in advance.
#8
Counterintuitive but buy the best you can afford and take good care of your stuff. Since you know you have the best you can afford you don't have the constant itch to replace and upgrade.
For example, buy quality clothes, get them tailored so that they fit (no stretching to wear them out) and then clean them correctly. Rather then constantly buying/replacing cheap stuff keep good stuff long-term. Same thing with cars, appliances, etc.
Good quality has higher upfront costs but can have long term savings.
Kim Kermes 1 year ago
Shoes! 2 pair of quality shoes worn alternate days will last 3 times as long as one worn daily. Of course, Capt. Vimes boot theory comes in to play.
#9
I pay with credit card for everything I buy. I get points from my credit card. I pay off my credit card in full each month and there are no fees for the card. Essentially MasterCard pays me several hundred dollars a year for using their card
If you are actually good with money and credit
Michael Largey 1 year ago
Rule of thumb. If you're doing well enough financially to not actually need a credit card, it may be safe to use one. It's people who really need credit cards who are the ones who should avoid using them.
#10
Pay your credit card off completely every month. Don't let it accumulate interest. Don't purchase things you don't have the cash for. Too many people get over their heads in credit card debt and its hard to dig yourself out at 18% interest.
Wintermute 1 year ago
You guys are getting 18%?! Damn, which company. My credit score is in the 830s and they just bumped mine to 27%. Fortunately I don't have to use it, but one minor accident and Visa will own my a*s forever.
#11
Quit drinking alcohol and cigarettes. Theyre both money suckers that make you unhealthy.
Niels Boehm 1 year ago
You are allowed two if you pay your weekly tribute to the pink unicorn
Load More Replies...
SnootWaggling Fox 1 year ago
Surely most people reading this who indulge in these already know these facts and are either addicted or feel they have struck a reasonable balance? I'll offer a different money saver in this area: buying booze at the store and having a night in with your friends is a more affordable option than going out with them to a bar where drinks cost 3-5x the store price.
rorschach-penguin 1 year ago (edited)
I guess you also don't buy ice cream, movie tickets, or anything else that encourages poor dietary habits or a sedentary lifestyle? You only purchase and consume soy protein?
Jessie 11 months ago
Ice cream, movie tickets and chips are way cheaper than alcohol or cigarettes
Load More Replies...
Sapna Sarfare 1 year ago
True that.. also the carbonated drinks or anything artificial in the form of drink.. juices freshly made at homes is way better
R Dennis 1 year ago
I love sparkling water. I had a SodaStream, but would only fill it when I had a delivery that had dry ice... I opened and refilled my own canisters because I was not paying $15‐20 for a tiny canister. Was given a kegerator for Christmas and for $20 in CO2, I get about 200 gallons of sparkling water - I can add fresh juice, cucumber, or have it just plain for a refreshing drink!
Load More Replies... censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)
yep. In my country, an evening's booze (Eg two bottles of wine or one bottle of gin) will set you back ZAR 150-300, which is the cost of a restaurant meal or three takeouts. Waste of money.
#12
Make a game of going as many days as you can without spending a penny. Excluding absolute necessities like gas/groceries/bills. Works like a charm for me.
Magenta Blu 1 year ago
Ha, that's how I live. No money left after, but i least I'm no homeless. I can't get sick tho, because I wouldn't be able to afford it, but I just avoid thinking of this and that's works like a charm too.
#13
You don't have to pay for the basic necessities if you go to prison for Tax Evasion
#14
Buy greeting cards at the Dollar Store.
I get greeting cards for 99 cents that are as good - or better - than ones selling for $4.99+ elsewhere.
#15
Buy store brands
buy in quantity when stuff on sale. i like a particular toothpaste but it is expensive, except every few months it goes on sale for like 1/3 off. when that happens i buy 6 or 8 tubes, then i've got a supply until it goes on sale again.
i do that with a lot of stuff, even cheap stuff. like soda. 2 liter bottles are usually between $1.00 and $1.50 each. i just bought a dozen bottles of my favorites for $0.88 each. yeah, my average savings is maybe $0.25 each but it adds up. I do the same with cereals, sometimes the $4.00/box is on sale for $1.75 so i buy six of them.
Magenta Blu 1 year ago (edited)
My grandma did this, but there is no way I can afford bulk buying. If I buy a dozen soap bars, then I can't buy bread... So I have to buy bread and groceries and one soap bar if i can squeeze it between.
#17
Don't waste money buying water in jugs. Instead, buy powdered water. Comes in boxes. Cheaper. Just add water.
troufaki13 1 year ago
You can also boil some water and put it in the freezer. This way you can have boiled water any time you need it! 😅
#18
Cook. For f***s sakes cook. Take out, drive thru and delivery adds up.
Every month or so I make a batch of 15-18 meat balls ($12 of lean ground beef) and sauce and freeze them in old yogurt tubs. A tub can hold 2 portions which I thaw in a small pot over low heat. Boil up some spaghettini once the sauce is almost thawed (about 45 minutes), load up some glassware and you've got lunch figured out for tomorrow and the next day. Delicious, cheap, filling and microwavable.
Pro tip: good spaghetti sauce doesn't come from a glass jar.
#19
Ask yourself if you need it or only want it.
If you want it, but don't need it. Give yourself 24 hours to decide whether it's worth purchasing.
Dragons Exist 1 year ago
But who decides "need"? If "need" only means "need it to live" then never buying anything fun or that makes you happy could affect that
#20
Drink at home, alone. No buying drinks, no tipping, and nobody will judge you for drinking the cheapest stuff you can.
#21
When you're about to buy something, imagine a person holding the product in hand and it's worth cash in other hand. If you're picking cash, don't buy it.
#22
I was quite bad for really wanting things and buying them as soon as I got paid, of course as the end of the month came near I had barely any money left and struggled. To fix this, instead of buying things at the start of the month I decided to buy things at the end of the month if I still had enough of that months wages left over to do so. If I didn't then I did the same again and wait till the end of the next month, and of course last months leftovers plus the new months wage by the end of the 2nd month I had enough, and sometimes saved money as the item was now cheaper.
Basically patience and timing means I can still have the things I want and not be struggling near the end of the month, I'm in a much better place financially now.
#23
If you have kids, buy what you can used. Toys, clothing, furniture etc. They go through clothes so fast, so paying full price is stupid, you can often find brand new with tags stuff at the goodwill, garage sales or local buy and sell pages.
Thrifting your own clothing isn't a bad idea either.
liz MacClain 1 year ago
My son wore second hand rummage sale clothes for the first 6 years of his life. He outgrew things in sometimes WEEKS so I saved a lot by doing that. I also registered for diapers, wipes etc for my baby shower
#24
I made an Excel spreadsheet to budget with. Has all my bills, what I make each month, and what to put aside to save any specific amount. So far this year alone, I've managed to save $4,000.
#25
Don't buy anything bigger than $20 unless you've given yourself at least a day to think it over (obviously excluding gasoline, groceries, and other necessities). A lot of people buy stupid s**t in the moment and regret it not long after.
#26
I once bought a 500 pack of teabags. That was 3 years ago. I ran out this week.
#27
Potatoes. Keep plenty of them in stock - they can sit for a long time in the pantry or fridge, they're versatile, easy to cook, and filling.
Becky Samuel 1 year ago
Potatoes used to keep so well. Nowadays they're all over-washed and packaged in sweaty plastic, so they go damp, moldy, and sprouty in less than a week.
#28
Get water with your meal when you eat out. $1-$4 savings immediately.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
Depends on whether it's tap or bottle. Restaurants here default to bottle unless you specify tap.
#29
Don't spend money.
Ha, but really don't waste money on "sales" for things you don't need, do meal prepping, make a budget for yourself, carry cash as it's harder to spend money when you can actually see it, sign up for email newsletters and use coupons whenever possible, and cut out anything unnecessary or that doesn't serve a really positive purpose in your life.
#30
I always get my change at put it in my piggy bank - yes it's a pug, a chalkboard pig so it's tons of fun to draw on. I very rarely use cash as I like my reward points but it still comes out to $100+ every year.
Don't feel bad for getting your change. So many people walk out without it thinking it's what you're supposed to do. . .but now your $2.56 coffee every morning costs $3, that's 20% more!
I_imagine_even_worse_w***s 1 year ago
Must be a cultural thing where people tend to leave change ...presumably as a tip? Nit the norm here.
#31
This was already touched upon, but meal prep. Pick a day, generally Sunday, and spend a couple hours cooking and storing everything for the next week. This also helps if you're trying to lose weight (I lost 30 lbs being cheap and planning ahead). Try to eat things from home rather than grab something quick from the deli across the street from your work, because, although it may seem cheap, it adds up really quickly.
Spencer's slave no longer 1 year ago
I do this every weekend, unless my grandkids are staying, but I also have free power every Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm. Meal prep, bake, blanch and freeze veggies, make stocks and broths.
#32
Writting down everything you spend your money on.
#33
I saw someone on here who put all their five dollar bills in an envelope for a year. I started doing that in February. I'm not going to count them until next February. That envelope is already getting thick with bills!!!
#34
Do your grocery shopping on a full stomach. I save my biggest meal for grocery day and gorge myself just before I go to the supermarket. Not only do I spend less, but I'll buy much healthier food for the rest of the week as well.
#35
My dad sometimes breaks off the bottom part of the broccoli stalk that you don't eat so that it weighs less. Yeah.
EDIT: I know its edible and I always eat it...I meant with reference to how broccoli is traditionally served.
#36
Don't ever buy a new car. Biggest waste of money on the planet. Instantly becomes worth a lot less the second you take possession of it.
Der Kommissar 1 year ago
After driving used shittty cars for most of my life, I enjoy driving a new car, as I can now afford it. No more worries about a car breaking down, especially in a bad neighborhood.
#37
Stop spending $150 on dinner/drinks.
I wish I would have listened to myself last night...
censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)
ouch! A restaurant meal here for one will cost you about ZAR 300, or USD 17. (Home made burger patty, fries, cocktail; or, beer and a steak and fries).
#38
There's no such thing as "saving" money by buying something on sale, you're spending it. That being said if you do buy something on sale make sure it is something that you always replace when it runs out no matter what. Like trash bags, toilet paper, deodorant, laundry detergent, etc. Whatever you feel like you can't live without
#39
Don't start spending as soon as the paycheck lands.
Keep your self indulgence purchases to the end of the month after the last known bill is payed.
That way you'll know how much you can burn while keeping the budget low enough so there is still an upward trend in the account before the next paycheck drops.
Plan your groceries on a weekly basis. I can manage to comfortably provide food and drink for a family of three at 100$/week. If you spend less, don't carry the difference over to next week just keep it an even weekly number.
#40
Go to the [ETC] section of Craigslist a few times a week to see if there are any focus groups. They basically ask you a bunch of questions about a new product, or make you write a diary about your shaving habits for a week, things like that. They pay $75–$300. Many more opportunities if you live in a city. A good way to have some burner money and save your paychecks from drunken waste.
Kangaroo 1 year ago
I once got paid $300 to smoke cigarettes for a focus group. It was over a 5 day period and we had to stop in every morning for an hour-ish to smoke cigarettes and rate them. We had to wait 15 mins between each cigarette. I’m not a smoker anymore but that was the easiest money I ever made (back in 2011 I believe)
#41
- use a reusable water bottle
- only buy new clothes or shoes if you need them
- plan what your eating for the week and what you need to buy - make a list and stick to it when you shop
- if your thinking of buying a non-essential e.g. makeup, a handbag, give yourself a day to think about if your really need it instead of buying it straight away
edit: also cut down on meat or even buy cheaper cuts (i can't go into detail cause i don't eat meat and have no clue). beans, tofu, eggs, grains are cheap and delicious sources of protein.
Magenta Blu 1 year ago
Vintage clothes won't tear apart like most new cheap clothes brands tho.. and they are even cheaper
#42
Recurring monthly expenses are what will kill you. Keep those low.
#43
Every time you go to buy something, ask yourself whether you'd rather have that money in your wallet, or you'd rather have whatever you're about to buy. It's very easy for me to go out and spend $100+ on dinner without thinking about it, but not when I think about how much better it feels to have that $100 in my wallet.
#44
Live with your parents AMIRITE GUYS WHERE MY FELLOW BASEMENT DWELLERS AT SQUAD UP
#45
Day 1 - save a penny
Day 2 - save 2 pennies
Day 3 - save 4 pennies
Day 4 - save 8 pennies
Keep doubling the amount each day for a month, and by the end of the first month you can retire as a millionaire.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago
assuming you are willing to go to the bank and convert your salary into pennies, or you are able to find 1 280 000 pennies on the road , this is idiotic.
#46
Every time you buy a Big Mac, take out one ingredient and set it to one side. Then at the end of the week, you get a free Big Mac!
Daya Meyer 1 year ago
Maybe learn to prepare your own fresh burger instead... A one week old salad is not that delicious.
#47
Have multiple accounts with companies that give you free stuff. For example have 5 Starbucks accounts and when they send out a promo code for a free drink once in a while you get 5.
#49
Steal rolls of toilet paper from work/ school.
If you live in the south (or anywhere with pecan trees) eat all the pecans off the ground. The squirrels will try to fight you for it, but it's good calories.
#50
If it ain't bolted down, steal it.
If it is bolted down, that's what your stolen bolt cutter is for.
Mgtow Smurf 1 year ago
Maybe just ask Jesus if you could borrow his stolen bolt cutters that way you won't be a thief.
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Rose the Cook 1 year ago
My thoughts exactly, just how much do you save by stealing a roll of toilet paper? These are the people who would be the first to complain if there was no toilet paper in the office loo.
Load More Replies...
Bob 1 year ago (edited)
How about we learn collectivelly to get fair wages before learning to romanticise poverty ?
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
While that's a fair point. Poverty isn't the only reason people need to save. Historically a persons' first job (or two) is always low paying, for obvious reasons - lack of experience, training etc. Kids need to learn how to save as they move into the working world (no longer having parents paying for everything). This is a good article for the younger generation. I know when I got my first job I spent waaay too much and saved waaay too little (basically nothing). So tips like this would have been useful at the time.
Load More Replies...
Blah Blah Blah 1 year ago
Am I the only one who's so f'n sick of this whole save money c**p when the avg. wage/salary is not enough to cover basic bills let alone allow for extra
steaky 1 year ago
I love to plan dinners and keep it cheap. The trick is making something most people don't bother making it or making it from scratch and just make it look good. Last time was 5 people and we had a tomato soup with focaccia and a salad. It doesn't sound like much. However I made the broth with all kind of veggies scraps from the last month. Tomatoes were on sale. Green onions and salad from my garden. Made chives-flowers butter. The chives-flower were also from my garden. For focaccia look up focaccia art. And i dresses the salad with some Home flavoured vinegar and other toppings. It was about 2.oo euro p.p. It looked amazing and tasted good. Sure it wasn't very fancy. It tasted just so good.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Sounds brilliant! And it was fancy, call it artisan!
Load More Replies...
Ace 1 year ago
TLDR; 1. Don't buy things you dont need. 2. Cook and eat cheap food. 3. Save money if you can. 4. Steal stuff.
Steve Kenney 1 year ago
As someone who works in retail, that steal things one seems to be the most used money saving tip.
Load More Replies...
Steve Hall 1 year ago
I have found that as you get older, you care less about buying things and start caring only about what you can't do without.
Thom Serveaux 1 year ago
Ugh. I hate condescending "advice" like this. A couple of these were good advice, but they will never help someone truly disadvantaged out of poverty.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)
This is mostly nonsense and obvious stuff like "eat at home" , "buy less booze" , "don't buy frivolous things". Best way to save money is not take on undue expenses, e.g. signing contracts for unnecessary services/costs, like home ownership, telco contracts, tv contracts, etc. In my view decent food is more important than a house. Plus I move home a lot for various reasons so owning a home is a waste of time. You can make more profit on turnover buying stocks/shares. I've made 10% in a month previously, whereas best I made on a home was 100% after 4 years (ie 25% per annum or 2% a month, which is pathetic because I've gotten 6% from savings accounts). That was when our house prices doubled suddenly in 2002-3. SA here.
Graham Berry 1 year ago
Yup, always start with a list of all your expenses. A few things I would have included would have been (if you can) switch your cell phone from post paid to prepaid, move your money out of your bank and into credit union, cancel any auto pay through a for profit institution especially if it is a subscription service. This will almost always be cheaper prices, no junk/surprise fees and no surprises in price hikes just suddenly being deducted automatically from your bank account.
Rose the Cook 1 year ago
My thoughts exactly, just how much do you save by stealing a roll of toilet paper? These are the people who would be the first to complain if there was no toilet paper in the office loo.
Load More Replies... Bob 1 year ago (edited)
How about we learn collectivelly to get fair wages before learning to romanticise poverty ?
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
While that's a fair point. Poverty isn't the only reason people need to save. Historically a persons' first job (or two) is always low paying, for obvious reasons - lack of experience, training etc. Kids need to learn how to save as they move into the working world (no longer having parents paying for everything). This is a good article for the younger generation. I know when I got my first job I spent waaay too much and saved waaay too little (basically nothing). So tips like this would have been useful at the time.
Load More Replies... Blah Blah Blah 1 year ago
Am I the only one who's so f'n sick of this whole save money c**p when the avg. wage/salary is not enough to cover basic bills let alone allow for extra
steaky 1 year ago
I love to plan dinners and keep it cheap. The trick is making something most people don't bother making it or making it from scratch and just make it look good. Last time was 5 people and we had a tomato soup with focaccia and a salad. It doesn't sound like much. However I made the broth with all kind of veggies scraps from the last month. Tomatoes were on sale. Green onions and salad from my garden. Made chives-flowers butter. The chives-flower were also from my garden. For focaccia look up focaccia art. And i dresses the salad with some Home flavoured vinegar and other toppings. It was about 2.oo euro p.p. It looked amazing and tasted good. Sure it wasn't very fancy. It tasted just so good.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Sounds brilliant! And it was fancy, call it artisan!
Load More Replies... Ace 1 year ago
TLDR; 1. Don't buy things you dont need. 2. Cook and eat cheap food. 3. Save money if you can. 4. Steal stuff.
Steve Kenney 1 year ago
As someone who works in retail, that steal things one seems to be the most used money saving tip.
Load More Replies... Steve Hall 1 year ago
I have found that as you get older, you care less about buying things and start caring only about what you can't do without.
Thom Serveaux 1 year ago
Ugh. I hate condescending "advice" like this. A couple of these were good advice, but they will never help someone truly disadvantaged out of poverty.
censorshipsucks 1 year ago (edited)
This is mostly nonsense and obvious stuff like "eat at home" , "buy less booze" , "don't buy frivolous things". Best way to save money is not take on undue expenses, e.g. signing contracts for unnecessary services/costs, like home ownership, telco contracts, tv contracts, etc. In my view decent food is more important than a house. Plus I move home a lot for various reasons so owning a home is a waste of time. You can make more profit on turnover buying stocks/shares. I've made 10% in a month previously, whereas best I made on a home was 100% after 4 years (ie 25% per annum or 2% a month, which is pathetic because I've gotten 6% from savings accounts). That was when our house prices doubled suddenly in 2002-3. SA here.
Graham Berry 1 year ago
Yup, always start with a list of all your expenses. A few things I would have included would have been (if you can) switch your cell phone from post paid to prepaid, move your money out of your bank and into credit union, cancel any auto pay through a for profit institution especially if it is a subscription service. This will almost always be cheaper prices, no junk/surprise fees and no surprises in price hikes just suddenly being deducted automatically from your bank account.
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