10 Simple Ways to Save More Money (From a Mom Who’s Been There)

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Everyone has expenses they need to cover, and bills have a way of piling up quickly. But as important as it is to pay for those things, it’s just as important to have savings in place for the times you might not be able to. Savings is a financial safety net, and one day, you’ll likely be very glad it’s there.

Even if nothing major happens to stop your income, life is still full of unexpected expenses. And if you’ve built up your savings, you won’t have to panic when those moments come. Just as importantly, knowing that money is there if you need it gives you peace of mind something that’s truly priceless.

So today I’m sharing ten practical ways to save money that I’ve learned along my own financial journey. These are the tips and habits that have made the biggest difference for me and my family.

1. Track Your Spending

Before you can make a plan to save money, you have to know where it’s currently going. Tracking your spending is the foundation for building a real, workable budget.

The way I did this was simple. I wrote down every single thing I spent money on for a whole month. And let me tell you, it was eye-opening. I quickly saw where I could cut back and reroute some of that money into savings instead.

2. Pay Off High-Interest Debt First

Debt is tough to deal with, and high-interest debt is especially draining. It eats up your money faster than you’d expect. So if you have any debt with steep interest, make it a priority to pay it off as quickly as you can. Once it’s gone, you’ll feel like a weight has been lifted and you’ll have more room in your budget to build savings.

3. Cut Down Your Grocery Bill

Groceries are a big part of most budgets, and while we all need to eat, there are smart ways to spend less at the store.

  • Use coupons where you can

  • Keep a running list of what you already have at home

  • Cut back on non-essentials

  • Avoid wasting food

  • Use a cash-back card (and pay it off right away!)

We also like to turn it into a challenge how many days can we go without shopping by using what we already have?

4. Cancel Unused Subscriptions

This is where that spending log can come in handy. Look for any monthly charges that don’t really serve a purpose anymore. Cancel the ones you don’t use or need.

For example, if you’re subscribed to three streaming services but only use one, cancel the other two. Every little bit adds up.

5. Downgrade Your Phone Plan

Phone bills can sneak up on you, especially if you’re paying for a lot of extras. Check to see if you really need everything your plan includes. Downgrading even just a little can make a noticeable difference in your monthly expenses.

6. Avoid Online Shopping Traps

Impulse buying is one of the biggest threats to your savings goals, and online shopping makes it all too easy.

One trick is to remove your saved payment info from sites you shop on often. If you have to stop and enter your info manually, it gives you a moment to pause and decide if you really want to buy it.

And here’s another helpful rule: for every new item that comes in, something old has to go out. That will help keep both your spending and your clutter in check.

7. Eat at Home More Often

Eating out adds up fast even fast food. Try to make it a goal to cook more meals at home and reserve eating out for special occasions or small treats.

When you do go out, try skipping the appetizers, skipping dessert, or just sticking to water instead of pricey drinks. These little choices make a big difference.

8. Wait Before Big Purchases

Big purchases can completely throw off your budget if you’re not careful. If you’re considering something expensive, wait at least 30 days if you can. This gives you time to really think it through and avoid impulse buying.

This strategy works for smaller items too, especially online.

9. Create a Real Budget

Once you’ve tracked your spending and made some small changes, it’s time to put a real budget in place. This helps you stay on track and makes your progress more visible.

A simple place to start is the 50/30/20 rule—50 percent of your income goes to needs, 30 percent to wants, and 20 percent to savings and debt payments. You can adjust this to suit your needs, but having any kind of structure is better than none.

Check out my post on how to build a budget if you need help getting started.

10. Use a High-Yield Savings Account

Finally, once you’ve got your savings going, make sure that money is working for you. A high-yield savings account earns more interest than a regular one, and it can help grow your savings passively.

You could also look into investing if that’s something you’re interested in, but be sure to do your research first.

Final Thoughts

Saving money doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s really just a matter of creating new habits and sticking to them. I hope these tips help you feel more confident and empowered with your finances!

And if you have any of your own saving tips to share, I’d love to hear them in the comments below.

As always, thanks so much for reading and have a great day!

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