20 Money Saving Tips & How To Put Them Into Action

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Ever feel like you’re overpaying on everyday bills? Looking for ways to save money that don’t involve serious lifestyle changes?

money saving tips Fear not! There are methods, tools, hacks and other free solutions that can add up to some serious savings – without disrupting your life.

Whether you want more spending cash, or simply want to boost your bank account, there are simple tactics that can increase your savings.

Saving money isn’t all about budgeting, cutting down on “fun” spending, or consolidating high-interest debt (which can actually save you a ton of cash). There are easy ways to save money that you’ve never even heard of, and many of them only take a few minutes to implement.

Even just one of our tips, like getting a better deal on car insurance, can amount to big savings.

Stop letting your spending waste hold you back from achieving what you want in life, and check out some of these clever ways to save money.

1. Build (and keep) a good credit score to reduce your interest rate.

man holding mobile phone showing credit score

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Staying on top of your credit report is vital to making sure you maintain a great score, but it’s also a great overall money-saving tip. When your score is high, you benefit from lower interest rates on credit cards, mortgages, and auto loans. It’s key to making sure you save money each and every month when you make your loan or credit card payment.

Put it into action for credit monitoring:

Credit Sesame is an amazing tool that keeps tabs on your credit score for free. Yes, free. It updates your information each month and provides a breakdown of your accounts in one easy place, allowing you to see your debts, payments, interest rates, and credit utilization ratios. You’ll immediately get an alert whenever something changes on your account, including if fraudulent activity has occurred. Keeping track of your credit can help you maintain a great score, which ultimately means lower interest rates and a lot of money saved.

Monitor your credit with Credit Sesame.

2. Help pay your mortgage or rent by listing your extra space.

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If you have extra space in your home that you never use, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to make some serious cash.

Put it into action:

Airbnb has transformed the hospitality industry, allowing you to market your extra rooms – or an entire place – on its website. All you have to do is describe your space and how many guests it can accommodate, and add relevant photos and details. Guests book your place online, and you receive your earnings (minus a 3% Airbnb fee) the day they check-in. You can even arrange keyless entry for your guests so they can check themselves in, allowing you to go about your day without any disruption.

How much you earn as an Airbnb host varies city by city. If you’re wondering how much you can make by hosting your space, check out Airbnb’s earnings calculator. You can also read our ultimate guide to listing your space on Airbnb.

3. Use this company to pay off your credit card debt this month.

man holding wallet with cash

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If you’re swimming in high-interest debt, getting out of it can seem like an impossible struggle – but it’s not. A personal loan can help you eliminate your credit card debt immediately and save you a huge chunk of change. This is because the interest rate on a personal loan can be much cheaper than that of a credit card.

For example, it’s possible to pay off a 20% credit card debt with a 5% personal loan.

The process is simple, easy, and works like this:

  • Apply for and get approved for a personal loan (make sure the loan has less interest than your current credit card debt).
  • Use the personal loan to pay off your credit card debt.
  • Start paying off the personal loan at a lower interest rate.
  • A pretty great money-saving tip that could potentially save you thousands!

Put it into action with one of these top personal loan company choices:

Credible: This loan marketplace will bring you 11 personal loan quotes to compare from various lenders in just 2 minutes (a huge time saver). Credible can get you a personal loan in the range of $1,000 to $100,000. They offer a best rate guarantee, which means if you find a better rate elsewhere they’ll give you $200 (*terms apply).

Fiona: In just 60 seconds you can compare personal loan options from multiple lenders based on your needs. Its fast, safe, and secure.

You could also use a personal loan for various other needs like emergency expenses, medical bills, repay a loan, etc.

4. Stop drowning in your student loans.

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Taking out a student loan was a necessity, making it possible to get a good education and a great career. But you know what isn’t necessary? Paying higher interest rates than you need to.

Refinancing your student loans allows you to replace your current loan with a new lower interest loan that can save you thousands and give you smaller monthly payments, helping you to become debt-free faster. The application process is fast and free.

Put it into action:

With Credible, the student loan refinance process is fast and easy. In a matter of a few clicks, you can get new rates from up to 10 lenders competing for your business.

Credible is an online loan marketplace, which means you don’t have to spend hours searching the internet for options.

Credible is so confident in its rates that it offers a best rate guarantee, which will give you $200 if you find a better rate elsewhere (terms apply).

Wall Street Insanity readers that refinance $50,000 or more of their student loans with Credible, will get a $300 bonus through this link.

What are you waiting for? See your rates now.

5. Stop overpaying for homeowners & rental insurance (pay as little as $5 a month).

apartment room interior

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Do you ever feel like your insurance company is looking out for itself, instead of you? If so, it’s time for a change. Being smart about choosing an insurance provider is a great money saving tip.

Put it into action:

Lemonade has revolutionized the insurance space, taking a flat fee from your premium, using the rest to pay claims, and giving back what’s left to causes you care about. The company gets nothing from delaying or denying claims, so it handles them quickly and fairly. Renters insurance starts at just $5 a month, and homeowners insurance at just $25 per month. Lemonade will also handle the switching process for you, leaving you with a stress-free experience.

Get a free insurance quote with Lemonade in 90 seconds.

6. … Or auto insurance.

car in garage with headlights on

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Car insurance is a necessity, but it shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. That’s why one of the best money saving tips out there is to only pay for what you need.

Put it into action:

If you already have car insurance or are looking to get new insurance, it might pay to get a free quote from Liberty Mutual. You’ll get a 12-month rate guarantee, 24/7 customer service, and a lifetime repair guarantee. Drivers who switch to Liberty Mutual save an average of $509 a year.

Get a free auto insurance quote from Liberty Mutual.

7. Protect your family’s financial future with up to $8 million in life insurance.

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Being prepared for the worst is incredibly important, even though no one likes to talk about it. A good life insurance policy can mean everything to your family if you pass away.

Put it into action:

Ladder prides itself on its simple application process, allowing you to apply for a term life insurance policy online in just five minutes. You can get a policy for between $100,000 to $8,000,000.

You get a locked in price when you sign up, which means your premium won’t increase as your health changes or you age. There are no policy fees, or commissioned brokers, which means no upselling and you can cancel anytime. If you’re between the ages of 20 and 60, you’re eligible to take advantage of Ladder’s great rates.

Apply for a life insurance policy with Ladder in just minutes.

Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers – for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.

8. Invest, Borrow, & Spend Smarter for free.

M1 Finance

M1 Finance

Money management can be difficult for the best of us. Whenever you can simplify things and become more financial fit, the better.

Put it into action:

M1 Finance allows you to do a lot all within one platform.

  • Create your own portfolio with any stock and/or ETF, for free.
  • Borrow money at one of the lowest rates in the market.
  • Access your money with an M1 checking account and debit card.

Best of all, you can enjoy using M1 Finance for free. Sign up to see what it’s all about.

9. Make sure you get a savings account with an awesome interest rate.

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Interest rates aren’t as high as they once were, but it’s still important to make sure you’re getting the highest rate of return that you possibly can on your savings account.

Put it into action with higher interest:

Open a free savings account with CIT Bank and watch your savings grow faster with one of the highest interest savings account around. You can earn one of the nation’s top rate with a CIT Premiere High-Yield Savings account. There’s no account opening fee or maintenance fee, and you’ll benefit from daily compounding interest. This is made possible because CIT Bank is an online-only bank. That means it doesn’t have the same costs as a traditional brick-and-mortar bank and can pass those savings onto you.

Open an account with just an initial $100 deposit.

10. Take advantage of great deals & offers.

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Everyone loves a good deal, and why shouldn’t they? Saving money on products and services means more money left to stash away.

Put it into action:

Voiced Market is a website that allows you to save up to 95% on products and services from various brands – some you know, and some you’ll want to try. New offers are always being added, but you can typically expect to see everything from discounted fitness deals to meal subscription plans to business software deals, and much more. Make sure to join the free Voiced Market newsletter to get alerts on new deal launches. A great bonus is that Voiced Market devotes a percentage of its profits to feeding and educating those in need, so you can feel great about making a purchase through the site.

Sign up for Voiced Market alerts.

11. Have an app cut your unused subscriptions and lower your bills.

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Putting money into a savings account can be difficult, and cash has a way of seemingly evaporating into thin air if you don’t watch your spending.

Put it into action:

Taking control of your finances can be hard. Truebill makes it easy to optimize your spending, manage subscriptions, lower your bills, and stay on top of your financial life.  TrueBill has helped countless people save over $14 million dollars.

See your cash, credit, and investment balances at a glance. Keep track of what bills are coming up and stay on target for your monthly spending goals.

12. Get a free checking account that rewards you.

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We all need a checking account for day to day needs, but some of us are paying bank fees and getting low interest for no reason.

Put it into action:

If you open an Axos Bank Rewards Checking account you’ll get high interest with no monthly maintenance fees. Along with a suite of digital banking tools, you’ll also get unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements and no overdraft or non-sufficient fund fees. There are no monthly minimum balance requirements and just a $50 minimum balance to open an account. Axos Bank Rewards Checking was named the best stand alone checking account by Time.com.

Open an Axos Bank Rewards Checking account.

13. Use a credit card to your advantage.

pile of credit cards

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If used wisely, a good credit card (or even a few good credit cards) can save you a ton of money – and also help you earn some extra money along the way. The trick is to sign up for the right type of card, and make sure you pay your bills on time.

If you want to start building up your credit, if you’ve already accumulated some high-interest credit card debt, or even if you just want a card with better perks than your current one, you can find a new credit card that will benefit your wallet and your lifestyle.

Switching to a new credit card can bring about some serious savings, which is why this is one of our best money-saving tips.

Put it into action:

A cash back credit card will reward you and put extra money back into your pocket for things you buy anyhow. You’ll usually need at least a fair credit score (630+). See a list of top cash back credit cards.

A 0% balance transfer credit card is a great way for you to take control of your debt by transferring your balance to a new credit card. Some credit cards will give you up to 21 months of no interest on your transferred balance, which can help you pay off the debt much faster. You’ll need a good to excellent credit score (670+) See a list of top 0% balance transfer credit cards.

14. Never spend a dollar without getting something back.

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One of the best savings tips out there is to never spend unless you’re getting something out of it. That can be in the form of cash back rewards, gift cards, or points to redeem for awesome stuff.

Put it into action by shopping at popular retailers:

Do you like shopping online? If so, you’re missing out on a great trick that could give you cash back just for buying the stuff you already purchase.

→ Ebates is a hassle-free way to earn cash by shopping and is offering a $10 signup bonus (plus $25 for each new friend referral). All you have to do is shop at your favorite stores through the Ebates website or app and purchase items as you normally would. Participating retailers pay Ebates for being such an awesome partner, and Ebates pays you via check or PayPal for being such an awesome shopper. There are no points to collect, no forms to fill out, and no fees to pay. Ebates has already helped its 10 million members earn over $1 billion for simply shopping.

Start earning money with Ebates.

→ Drop gives you rewards for shopping at popular retailers. All you have to do is register your debit or credit card, shop as you normally would, and watch the rewards roll in with Drop. You get $1 for every 1,000 points earned, which can be redeemed for a free gift card. You can choose from a wide array of gift cards, which will be sent to you electronically and can be instantly downloaded and used.

Start earning rewards with Drop.

Put it into action by tracking price drops:

Have you ever bought something, only to see it advertised cheaper a week later? It’s not a great feeling, but you don’t have to feel that way anymore.

Paribus is a free app that logs your purchases and tracks price drops. When a price drop happens at a store where you’ve bought something, you’re eligible for a refund (if that store has a price adjustment policy). Paribus files the claim on your behalf, and you get 100% of those savings. Paribus tracks purchases from 25+ major retailers including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Macy’s.

Let Paribus get you the refunds you deserve

Paribus compensates us when you sign up for Paribus using the links provided.

15. Get cash by doing the stuff you already do.

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What if there was a way to make money (and ultimately save that money) by doing the things you already do online? It’s possible – and an incredibly easy way to add some padding to your bank account.

Put it into action by doing day-to-day stuff online:

What if you could make money by doing the things you already do on the internet every single day? Well, you can.

InboxDollars is a great way to rake in some extra cash with zero to minimal effort. The website pays you to do the stuff you already do, like shopping online, searching the internet, and watching videos. You can also earn money by simply giving your opinion, through taking surveys and completing short polls.

It’s totally free to join and you’ll get $5 just for signing up.

→ MyPoints gives you points for shopping online, watching videos, playing games, and taking surveys. You can easily turn those points into gift cards or cash. But it gets even better – you’ll get a $10 Amazon gift card just for making your first purchase. Yes, seriously.

Start earning rewards with MyPoints.

→ Swagbucks is a great option that rewards you for doing the things you already do online. You rack up Swagbucks when you shop online, watch videos, play games, or answer surveys. Every 100 Swagbucks equals $1. Once you’ve accumulated 300 points, turn those points into gift cards or get cash back through PayPal. You get a $5 bonus just for signing up and confirming your email address.

Earn cash and rewards with Swagbucks.

Put it into action by scanning items & making cash:

Ibotta is a super cool, modern way to make money. All you have to do is add offers that qualify for cash back before you shop. Take a photo of your receipt or simply shop through the app when making your usual purchases. The app then gives you cash back on things like grocery purchases, Uber and Lyft rides, and more. It really is that easy – and to make the deal sweeter, you’ll even get a $10 signup bonus when you create your free account.

Get your $10 welcome bonus and save on everyday purchases with Ibotta.

Put it into action by earning rewards for using the internet as you normally would:

Install the Nielsen app and get free $50 a year just for keeping it on your device and using the Internet as you do today! You’ll automatically be entered into their sweepstakes with chances for more rewards. By participating in Nielsen research you can improve products and services you use online today.

Learn more about the Nielsen app and download it today.

16. Make the most of your time and take surveys for cash.

filling out survey

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If you’re like most people, you’re on the internet all the time. Why not use that time wisely and make extra cash you can save by taking paid surveys?

Put it into action:

Survey Junkie is a great way to make money. The site curates its surveys to match your profile, only sending you polls that are relevant to you. You’ll earn points for each survey you take, and those points can be cashed in for cash (via Paypal) or gift cards. The surveys are easy to complete, and you can do them from any device. This is a great chance for your opinions to be heard by major brands.

Join more than 10 million people who are already making cash through Survey Junkie.


Other great survey sites include:

OneOpinion

PointClub

Vindale Research

17. Minimize your monthly household bills.

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No one likes paying bills, but it’s even worse if you’re paying more than you have to each month. A great money saving tip is to slash your monthly bills as much as you can.

Put it into action by automatically slimming down your bills:

Trim is an amazing tool that analyzes your bills and subscriptions for free, determining how you can save money. It’s so smart that it can cancel subscriptions you aren’t using, negotiate with your cable company, or find you better car insurance. It also tracks your spending, which can be incredibly useful if you’re left wondering where your money went at the end of every month. It’s like having a financial planner that lives inside your phone. Trim users have saved $1,000,000 in the last month with the service.

Let Trim cut your monthly bills.

Put it into action by cutting cable:

Most people pay huge amounts of money to their cable provider every year, despite only watching a handful of channels. It doesn’t have to be this way. Sling TV is a live cable service delivered through the internet which allows you to create a custom television plan for yourself and your family. You get to choose the exact channels you want, so you don’t have to pay for the ones you’ll never watch. Since it comes straight from the internet, you’ll never have to pay for a serviceman to come to your house or dish out money for equipment. For just $20 a month you can get a basic package with 30 channels. For $5 more a month, you get 45 channels.

Say goodbye to cable and hello to Sling TV.

Put it into action by cutting your expensive cell phone plan:

Monthly cell phone plans are crazy expensive, and they cost more each and every year. But what if you could get everything you need (yes, even unlimited data) at a fraction of what you currently pay? You can, with Mint Mobile. It keeps prices low by operating on a “warehouse” model and letting you buy pre-paid monthly service in bulk. The more months you buy, the lower your price gets. Mint Mobile doesn’t have any brick-and-mortar retail locations, which means it can pass on cheaper rates to you. You can try a three-month introductory plan for just $15 a month.

Save money with Mint Mobile.

18. Cut your healthcare & prescription costs.

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It’s no secret that healthcare and prescription drugs can be incredibly expensive, even when you have insurance. Luckily, there’s a website that can help you get the biggest discounts out there. Talk about a great money saving tip.

Put it into action:

Blink Health offers more than 15,000 drugs which are marked down by as much as 95%. Yes, you read that right. The company was founded by two brothers who wanted to bypass insurance companies and their huge profits. This means that Blink Health goes straight to the drug makers, cutting out the middleman and saving you money.

The process is simple. All you have to do is go to the Blink Health website, click on the drug that your doctor prescribed, pay the discounted price online, and print out a receipt to take to one of 60,000 participating pharmacies (including major ones like Walmart and Kroger). You won’t pay anything when it’s time to pick up your prescription, as you’ve already paid online.

Blink Health is the obvious option for people without insurance, but those with insurance can also benefit, as the Blink Health price is often lower than insurance co-pays.

Visit Blink Health and start saving money on your prescriptions.

19. Make sure you’re getting the most out of your 401k.

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If you have a 401k, that’s awesome. However, you might not know that it needs to be tracked and monitored to ensure it’s bringing you the biggest return it can.

Put it into action:

The experts at Blooom analyze your individual 401k and get rid of anything that’s stopping it from achieving its full potential. This includes getting rid of hidden fees you might not have known about, as well as investments that are dragging down your portfolio. Once that’s done, Blooom uses an algorithm to select your ideal investments. The website offers a free analysis of your 401k, so you have nothing to lose. From there, you can sign up for a plan for just $10 a month – which is nothing compared to the money Blooom may save you in fees.

Get your free Blooom analysis.

20. Get a home equity loan

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A home equity loan can be the best kind of loan, because when you use your home equity as security, you’re seen as a lower risk. And everyone knows that lower risk usually translates to a lower interest rate. In other words, getting a home equity loan can actually turn out to be a great way to save money as compared to other loan options.

Put it into action:

Figure lets you determine your rate in just one click, allowing you to get prequalified and choose your loan amount online in just a matter of minutes. Once you’re fully approved, just electronically sign a few documents and tell Figure where to send your funds. It’s that simple. Your interest rate will be somewhere between 4.99% and 14% – significantly lower than credit card rates or personal loan rates. You can borrow anywhere between $15,000 and $150,000.

Apply for a home equity loan from Figure.