You know the feeling. You’re looking at your bank account and it’s not looking too good. Maybe you want to buy a new car or go on vacation, but you just can’t seem to save up enough money for that because every single paycheck seems to disappear before it hits your bank account!
So, what can we do?
Luckily, there are many things that you can do in order to save more money fast and effectively.
On this page, we’ll cover some of the best ways to save money fast.
Tips for Saving Money Quickly
Getting into the habit of saving money is a lot more challenging for a lot of people than you may think.
And, there are a lot of reasons why we find it difficult to put more of our money aside each month or to save up for that goal we’ve had our eye on.
At TheDiscountsGuy.com, we’re not only on the lookout for great savings, we also like to get better at managing our money and learning how to save.
There are certainly some tried and true long-term methods for saving more money, but what about when you need to save up for something quickly?
Sometimes, learning how to save money fast can be the jumpstart you need to creating better financial health for yourself.
Top 15 Ways to Save Money Fast
So, without further ado, here are some of our top tips for the fastest ways to save money.
- Brush up on your cooking skills at home and cut back on dining out, delivery, and takeout.
- Cut your cable. Canceling your cable subscription can be a great way to cut back on monthly expenses – especially if you can find the entertainment you need online.
- Audit your subscriptions and memberships for the ones you don’t use or need.
- Become a savvy shopper by using coupons or shopping at less expensive stores.
- When possible, shop with cash instead of credit cards to avoid paying interest on the balance due. Or, avoid leaving a balance on your credit card if you can help it. Credit card debt is one of the worst financial holes to get into.
- Look into budgeting software that will help you monitor your spending patterns so you can save more money fast in an effective way. There are also apps for this like Mint, which make budgeting, tracking, and planning super easy .
- Set up automatic transfers to your savings account.
- For your bills, check to see if setting up autopay can earn you a discount each month.
- For the stores you shop at most often, check out their rewards and loyalty programs. If you’re already spending money there, it makes sense to get something back.
- Cut out the little extravagances. This could include a cup of coffee, a juice, or whatever little items you find yourself buying throughout the week. Learn how to replace these things at home or substitute a cheaper alternative.
- Do a bit of house cleaning to find old items you can sell.
- Compare quotes regularly for your car insurance, home/renters insurance, and any other policies you may have.
- Find some no-cost or low-cost hobbies.
- See if you can earn a cash bonus by switching banks.
- Try “no spending” days throughout the week.
Below, we’ll dive deeper into some of the big ones listed above.
#1 Brush Up on your Cooking Skills
Many people have a tendency to buy pre-made meals or order out when they’re tired or low on time.
But they’re typically much more expensive and don’t taste as good.
Just think about how many times you’ve ordered pizza because you didn’t feel like cooking…
Cooking your own food can save you a lot of money – both in the long run and right away. Plus it’s much healthier!
Learn some basics of cooking and spend some time practicing your skills.
You can start with simple dishes like pastas and salads, and you can find a recipe for almost anything you could want.
Just like anything, learning to cook at home will take some practice if it’s not something you’re used to.
If you don’t believe us, you can try a little experiment for yourself.
Compare the price per serving (or number of meals you get out of it) of something you typically order from a restaurant to the cost per meal of something you can make at home.
The difference is typically pretty staggering and the savings add up quick.
#3 Audit your Subscriptions and Memberships
While cable cutting is a great way to save money quickly, the subscriptions you replace it with can quickly add up.
Doing an audit means looking at what you’re paying for and if it’s worth the price.
This also applies to things like gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, and other recurring costs.
If there are things that don’t need to be paid monthly or things that you simply aren’t getting enough use out of, it’s probably smart to cancel them.
Cancel any memberships or subscriptions that go unused on a regular basis: this could save you hundreds (or more) almost instantly.
You can also take advantage of free trials before committing to anything long-term to make sure it fits your needs.
#6 Plan and Track your Budget
They say knowing is half the battle.
If you want to save more money, you first need to know what you’re spending it on.
If you’re not sure where your money is going, the easiest way to figure out what’s eating up all of your cash is by keeping a budget and sticking to a spending plan.
Setting up a simple spreadsheet and tracking everything that comes in (e.g., income from work) as well as goes out (all expenses), can help you determine how much more or less you have at the end of each month than when it began.
It will also allow you to see if certain recurring costs are worth their price; for example, whether paying for something like an Amazon Prime membership really saves enough on shipping or other perks throughout the course of a year to really make it worth it.
This will give you insight into any areas where there may be room for improvement.
#11 Sell Things you Don’t Use
Another great way to get a quick influx of cash is with an old fashion garage sale (figuratively or literally).
You have to be committed to this one, but it can really work.
If you don’t need the items anymore or if they clutter your home and make things feel cluttered instead of clean, then sell them at a garage sale, Craigslist, eBay, the local consignment store, etc.
As long as what you’re selling is worth something to somebody, there should always be an interested party willing give you some money for it.
Be honest with yourself – if you don’t use the thing or it doesn’t add value to your life, it’s probably time to sell it.
#12 Compare Insurance Quotes
Monthly expenses on necessities like car insurance can really add up each year.
One of the best ways to save money quickly that many people don’t utilize is comparing quotes periodically.
Sometimes you’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars just by switching your provider or changing your policy around.
Finding Big and Small Ways to Save (They Add Up!)
Some of the ways to save money you should consider are big and some are small.
While the big money savers are great and can certainly save you a lot of money quickly, the small ones can add up too.
It’s all about finding what works for your life, so tailor your strategy accordingly.
There are tons of everyday tips that will also work wonders on saving money fast.
Be sure to check out some of our other articles to learn how you can save more.