“Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” – More Money Saving Tips

Money Saving Hacks To Help You Spend Less And Save More

When I shared the special “saving money” edition of my “Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” series in 2021, many people were struggling financially due to the impact of the global pandemic. While the pandemic is no longer front-of-mind, inflation and other issues are still making times tough for a lot of us, so I thought it was high time to share another batch of money saving tips!

Adopting any of these easy money saving hacks is sure to help you keep more of your hard-earned cash in your wallet!

“Why Didn’t I Think Of That?” – 13 More Money Saving Tips

1. Chill Out In The Car

Even if you’re not prone to road rage, you might enjoy the thrill of putting the pedal to the metal. You could also be impatient by nature, like me, but either way, it can cost you!

Not only are fast take-offs, jarring stops, weaving around cars, and constantly changing lanes risky behavior, but they also cost you gas money (not to mention what they could cost you in terms of traffic citations!) The Department of Energy says aggressive drivers use 30% more fuel on the highway and 5% more in town, so keep your cool and keep more money in your pockets!

2. Delete Saved Credit Cards

If you do a lot of online shopping, you might have your credit card information saved online to expedite the checkout process. To save money, try deleting your saved card information — it may put enough of a “speed bump” in the checkout process that you’ll think twice about whether you really need whatever it is you want to buy.

3. Choose A TOU Plan

If your utility company offers time-of-use (TOU) plans, which charge less for power during off-peak hours, taking advantage of them can help you save on utilities. Peak hours are generally weekdays from around 2-8 pm, so if you’re on a TOU plan, you can save money by doing laundry and other energy-consuming chores during off hours.

4. Audit Your Subscriptions

Things like Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships, and Subscribe and Save plans charge you automatically — which makes it easy to keep paying for services or goods you may not even be using.

Every few months, sit down and “audit” all your monthly subscriptions or memberships by looking at your purchase history and noting any repeat charges. Once you know what you’re paying for, you can cancel the subscriptions you know you don’t use.

5. Use Account Holder Perks

Do you know what perks and benefits your bank offers its account holders? If not, do some research to make sure you’re taking advantage of valuable perks, like no ATM fees, high interest savings accounts, no overdraft fees, and money management tools.

While you’re looking into banking perks, check out the benefits available through your credit cards too. You never know — your credit card could have perks you’ve forgotten about, or never knew about in the first place!

6. Consolidate Your Trips

One of the easiest and most effective ways to save money on gasoline is by consolidating your trips. If you were planning to go grocery shopping on Wednesday, swing by the ATM on Thursday, and meet a friend for lunch on Friday, you could do it all on Friday instead by going the ATM on your way to lunch, then stopping for groceries on your way home.

You’ll still get everything done, but in a more fuel-efficient manner!

7. Consider Your Phone Plan

If cell service is costing you an arm and a leg, evaluate your plan for savings opportunities. For instance, if your plan includes mobile hotspot coverage that you never use, you could save around $15 per line every month by switching to a plan without it.

If you’re with one of the major providers like Verizon, T-Mobile, or AT&T, you might be able to save by switching to a smaller provider. Check your current plan to find out if you’re paying for features you don’t use, and if so, switching to a smaller carrier like Mint Mobile (which uses T-Mobile’s network) or Visible (which uses Verizon’s network) can help you save without sacrificing coverage.

Related: 13 Easy Ways To Save Money On All Your Household Bills

8. Put Sales On Your Calendar

Not every noteworthy sales event is observed by every retailer — in fact, some of the best sales are specific to one retailer, like Amazon Prime Day and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. Sales like these can be a great opportunity for deep discounts on clothes, home goods, kitchen appliances, and other items that you need, so it’s worth planning ahead for them.

Do some research to find out when your favorite stores’ best sales usually take place, then add those dates to your calendar so they don’t sneak up on you!

9. Save On Healthcare Costs With An HSA

If you have a high-deductible health insurance plan, you can save on healthcare costs by funding a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). These special accounts can be funded with pre-tax dollars from your paychecks, which is sort of like getting a built-in discount.

Many employers offer HSAs and FSAs (and some even contribute to them), and both types can be used to cover regular healthcare expenses and unexpected medical bills. One notable advantage of an HSA is that the funds will roll over and can grow over time, whereas FSA funds often need to be used by the end of the year. To learn more about HSAs and FSAs, check out this article from NerdWallet. 

10. Set Your Thermostat For Savings

When it comes to heating and cooling, it’s all about balancing your physical and financial comfort. According to energy provider Direct Energy, setting your thermostat to 78°F (25.5°C) during the summer should keep everyone relatively comfortable while keeping your energy use at a reasonable level.

If you want to go a step further, the US Department of Energy recommends setting the temperature even higher overnight and whenever your home is unoccupied. A smart thermostat can make adjustments like these automatically, helping you save money without lifting a finger. (More on that in my post about smart home devices!)

11. Use Rewards Credit Cards

As long as you pay off your balance each month, using rewards credit cards for purchases can earn you valuable rewards that can help you save, such as cash back, points, and miles. While buying groceries or dining out won’t earn you as much as, say, the cost of airfare for a trip, those rewards add up over time! (Some credit cards limit how much you can earn per year in rewards, so be sure to find out if yours does!)

12. Save As Much As You Spend

If you have a difficult time resisting unnecessary purchases, try following this simple spending rule: however much you spend, you’ll save the same amount. So if you’re eyeing a pair of shoes that cost $100, you could buy them — but only if you also put $100 into your savings account.

By effectively doubling the cost of things you don’t need, you can dissuade yourself from buying them. (And if you decide to go for it anyway, you’ll have put some money in savings too, and that’s better than nothing!)

13. Cook From Your Fridge And Pantry

About 40% of our food goes to waste, which is a waste of money as well as resources! To cut back on food waste, choose one day a week when you’ll make dinner using whatever you can find in your fridge and pantry. You’ll use more of the food you buy and become a more creative cook at the same time!

What’s your best money-saving tip?