Are you looking for creative ways to save money each month? If so, look no further.
In this article, I will share with you 25 creative ways to save money each month.
Some of these ideas will probably be familiar to you, but hopefully, there are a few new ones that you hadn’t thought of before reading this article. In addition, some of these ideas are very simple to implement, while others are a bit more involved.
It doesn’t matter which ones you choose to implement because they are all great ways to save money each month. The best part is that even if you can only do one or two of these ideas on this list, it will still help you with your finances.
Please keep in mind that some of these ideas may not work for everyone, depending on your situation. That said, I suggest you look at each of them and see which ones will help you the most.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right into these creative ways to save money each month. Here we go!
Creative ways to save money each month
The following are some of the creative ways to save money each month:
1. Adopt a DIY attitude
Number one on my list of creative ways to save money each month is to adopt a DIY (Do It Yourself) attitude. Stop buying what you can make yourself.
Doing this will help you cut down on the amount of money you spend each month and allow you to produce things for your home and yard that others may pay good money for.
You can also learn a skill or two while saving yourself a lot of money on the products that you need to run your home.
The best place to learn DIY skills is YouTube. There are scores of videos on YouTube to teach you skills, from building a bookshelf to ways to fix your car and so forth.
2. Track your spending
I know you’ve heard this before, but it is still very sound advice. Tracked spending is one of the most effective ways to watch how you spend your money each month.
If you are not already doing this, I suggest you start today.
Why? Because if you don’t know where your money is going, then there’s no way for you to understand how to save it.
I recommend using Mint or Personal Capital for this purpose because both allow you to set up budgeting goals and then track your progress each month via an easy-to-read pie chart.
3. Start a side hustle
If you’re serious about saving money, I highly recommend starting a side hustle.
A side hustle can be anything from a simple business run in your spare time to a blog.
What’s great about having a side hustle is not only will it help you save more money, but it will teach you new skills and hopefully even open up the doors for bigger opportunities in the future.
4. Take advantage of Cashback Rewards Cards
If you are not already using cashback credit cards, now is the time to start. Believe it or not, by using a cashback card, you can earn money each month just by making your normal purchases.
The best part about this is that it does not cost you anything, and most cashback cards do not have an annual fee.
So what’s the catch? You only need to pay off your balance in full each month and try to avoid using your cashback card for “emergencies,” as this defeats the purpose.
5. Do a no-spend challenge
This tip is one of my favorite creative way of saving money each month. By doing a no-spend challenge, not only will you save money, but you will reduce the time that you spend shopping significantly.
The concept is pretty straightforward and works like this:
All you do for one week (or month) is track your spending by writing every purchase in a notebook. At the end of the week (or month), you tally up how much you spent and then try not to spend any money the following week (or month).
If you spend no money throughout that period, then reward yourself. Go out with friends or family or do something that makes you happy but doesn’t cost money. This act will help you stay motivated to save more money.
6. Cut down on eating out
Eating out is one of the most significant expenses for most people. And it can be so tempting to go out with friends or family, especially when eating out is “social” these days, thanks to social media apps like Instagram and Facebook that allow us to share our food with the world.
Therefore, I recommend trying to cut down on eating out and choosing something like home-cooked meals, which not only save you money but help you eat healthier as well.
7. Cancel unused subscriptions
Many people sign up for services that they end up not using, which costs them a lot of money that they can do without.
By canceling unused subscriptions, you will not only be saving money, but you’ll also have more time to focus on other things in your life.
8. Use coupon sites for shopping
Many people don’t realize this, but discounts are everywhere these days! Just go online and search for coupon codes or deals for the services or products you buy regularly.
I suggest checking out sites like Groupon, The Hunt, and other deal blogs for this purpose but also monitor other apps such as Yipit, which allows you to get notifications when deals are available in your area.
9. Save your change
This tip is a standard tip that we’ve all heard before, but it’s because it works.
Put your loose change in a jar at the end of each day and save up enough change to buy something big like a new TV or another electronic device (or even better, use it to pay off debt!).
10. Buy used goods
There is no need to buy new items when so many used items are for sale: Search Craigslist, Facebook marketplace, and even yard sales for deals on what you want.
Stay away from buying anything with a price tag of over 20% off the original asking price. This means it’s probably overpriced.
If you can find something that is used and of good quality, you can save a lot of money this way.
11. Sell unwanted items
Finally, if you have items that you no longer use, then sell them! It will surprise you how much some people will pay for things like wedding dresses and old cameras.
You can find buyers by checking out Facebook’s Marketplace (and using the app if you are looking for specific items) or by checking out sites like Craigslist.
12. Get a roommate
Another great way of saving money is getting a roommate who can help split your rent with you. Plus, this would save you the time to find someone on your own and deal with all that drama!
13. Make a grocery list and stick to It
Many people don’t realize this, but planning your meals ahead of time will help you keep track of what you need to buy at the grocery store so that you won’t have to spend excess money on impulse buys.
14. Try going vegan or vegetarian for a while
Many people don’t realize this, but eating vegan or vegetarian can not only save you money over time, but it can also help you lose weight!
Nowadays, there are a ton of great vegan and vegetarian restaurants that offer cheap food for those who live in major cities. Just do some research online to find places near your home.
15. Be patient and look for deals
If you’re looking to buy something big, like a car or a new computer, then you must find the best deal possible. Sometimes searching online can get overwhelming with all the different prices, but keep in mind that there are always deals out there!
Just be patient, pin down your target price and try to find a way of getting there. It would surprise you how much money you can save this way!
16. Lower your monthly bills by paying in advance
Paying your bills on time is essential, but why not pay them earlier for the month so that you don’t have to pay late fees?
Don’t forget to use your credit card or debit card for this purpose, as they offer a certain percentage of cashback on these types of purchases.
17. Drive less
Most people don’t realize how much money they can save by simply taking public transportation or walking instead of driving their car everywhere! The savings you get from eliminating your gas expenses will add up.
18. Prioritize your bills and pay the most important ones first
It is always a good idea to prioritize which bills you would like to pay in order of importance to have enough money left over for food, rent, or anything else.
19. Use coupons wisely
Finally, don’t forget to use coupons! Coupons are a great way to ensure that you can save money on almost any purchase, so keep some in your wallet just in case.
20. If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it
Another creative and vital way to save money is by simply avoiding things you can’t afford. If it’s too expensive, then don’t buy it!
Wait until the price drops, and if it doesn’t after a couple of months, then it might be time to say goodbye to the item (or better yet, sell it).
Save as much as you can, and it will surprise you at how much money you will have later on!
21. Carpool whenever possible
Carpooling saves you time, money, and gas. The last one is especially important since gas can get expensive these days!
Uber and Lyft are other excellent transportation services that can help cut down your expenses.
22. Be careful when using your credit card
Finally, you should be careful when using your credit card to make purchases because if you are not careful, you might end up racking up an enormous debt that will only hold you back from your financial goals.
Credit cards are excellent when used at the right time and in the right way, but they can be terrible if you overdo them. Be smart about your spending!
23. Downsize your living space
Another creative way to save money is by downsizing your living space not to have to pay as much in rent.
Moving into a smaller home, apartment, or condo can help lower your monthly bills while saving you some time and effort since everything will be closer together.
Of course, if the house is too small, it might not be practical, but this is certainly a creative way to save money!
24. Save on your electricity bill
You can also save money on your electricity bill by simply unplugging things like the TV or computer when they are not in use.
Turn off all the lights and appliances when you leave home since this will only help lower your monthly expenses.
It will surprise you at the amount of money you can save each month once you make these minor changes!
25. Automate your savings
You can also save money by simply automating your savings so as not to tempt you to spend the money when it is in your account.
There are many accounts where you can have money automatically deposited each month so that you won’t even realize it’s there until much later when you need it or decide whether to use it.
