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To be an effective saver, get rid of unnecessary subscriptions. Perhaps you signed up for a new streaming service for the free promotional period but forgot to cancel it. Or maybe you have a gym membership you no longer use. Go through your monthly credit card or bank statements to look for recurring subscription charges. Once you’ve canceled any unnecessary services, put that money into your . You don’t need an account at a specific institution to get a helping hand. There are a number of fintech services — like Trim and Truebill — that are designed to help you find ways to save on subscriptions and other bills. 2 Automate your savings with an app
If you often forget to put money into your savings account or struggle to know how much to sock away, consider using an app that does the work for you. There are plenty of apps that will automate your savings. are two options. These automated savings apps are designed to move money on your behalf so that you’re building a savings habit without even thinking about it. You won’t earn the highest annual percentage yield (or sometimes any) on your deposits with these apps, so once you’ve saved up a bundle, consider transferring the money into a . 3 Set up automatic payments for bills if you make a steady salary
We’re busy. It’s all too easy to forget to pay all of our bills on time. One easy way to save money is to pay your bills when they’re due, assuming you can afford to do so. Companies charge you late fees for overdue balances. While this might amount to just $5 here or $10 there, those fees quickly add up. Credit card late fees can be a lot more expensive. Setting up automatic payments for bills is a good option if you know you’ll have a steady balance in your checking account. People with may want to hold off automating your bill payments and instead consider trying a service like . The app will help you boost your income by connecting you to side hustles near your payday and bill due dates. Some banks let you set up a rule within your digital banking account. At , online banking customers can set up an auto-savings rule so that when they, say, receive a $1,000 deposit, the bank automatically moves $100 of it into a savings account. 4 Switch banks
Banks make a lot of money from account fees. In fact, big banks with at least $1 billion in assets in overdraft and nonsufficient funds fees alone, according to an analysis of FDIC data by the Center for Responsible Lending. It’s easy to avoid paying monthly fees, particularly at online banks. Nearly half (48 percent) of checking accounts that don’t earn interest are free, according to Bankrate’s 2021 checking account and ATM fee study. Some banks will even give you a just for opening an account. For your savings account, look for one that pays a competitive yield. Compare savings accounts to find one that fits your needs. 5 Open a short-term certificate of deposit CD
A could help you earn more interest than a savings account. Plus, a CD’s yield is usually fixed; as long as you keep the money in the CD through the duration of the term, you’re guaranteed to earn the APY. One important caveat: Avoid CDs if you think you might need the cash before the CD term ends, so you won’t have to pay an . 6 Sign up for rewards and loyalty programs
Sign up for discount cards at grocery stores and drug stores in your area. Using these programs regularly can help you save money at checkout or possibly help you earn rewards toward future purchases. 7 Buy with cash or set a control on your card
You can trick your brain into saving money every time you go to the store by using cash instead of a credit card to make a purchase. Whatever cash you have is your spending limit. It’s too easy to lose sight of limits with a credit card. 8 Stop paying for convenience
Paying for convenience can save time, but it can cost you money. Taking a little extra time out of your day to brew your own coffee or clean and repair things around the house can grow your bank account. Choose to reduce your expenses on things you care less about. It’s fine to buy coffee from a coffee shop if that’s important to you, but find something else to cut. 9 Earn cash back on your purchases
Even when times are toughest, you’ll still need to spend money on essentials, so you might as well be rewarded with cash back. There are that can help you collect cash back on your purchases. Some don’t even have an annual fee. Your existing credit card might also have cash-back offers at certain retailers, but you might need to opt in to redeem this reward. These offers may have an expiration date or other terms and conditions, so double check to ensure you’re not caught off-guard. might also be an option to consider before you start shopping for new credit cards. 10 Reevaluate your recurring bills
Look at your cable, satellite or streaming options to potentially save money. You might start off with a good deal from your cable or satellite provider, which lapses after an initial period. Finding a new deal after a couple of years could save you money. 11 Look for coupons and sales
Planning ahead with coupons and checking around for sales can make a major difference. Looking through store flyers and online can help you get a good deal and save money. A website extension, , looks out for coupon codes for you. 12 Sell unwanted items
Sell items you don’t need for an injection of cash fast. Look at your closet, attic, garage or storage space to find the dress or ring or hiking boots you no longer wear. Then, write a post about the item(s) and sell them on, say, eBay or Nextdoor. You could also head to the local thrift store to sell items you no longer use. A garage sale might be an option for selling many items at once. Whatever approach you take, do your homework to avoid regrets. Make sure you know the value of an item before you sell it for less than it is worth. 13 Reevaluate your housing costs
Housing costs — such as rent or — are some of the largest expenses in most . Moving to a place with a lower rent could help you start saving immediately. can help you save money on monthly payments and in the long run. But make sure it makes sense for your situation. 14 Shop around for insurance
Shopping around for insurance can help you save money. Sometimes you’ll find a better deal as a new customer or you can contact your existing insurer to ask them to lower your current rate if it has gone up. with the same insurance company can also help you save. 15 Set up a split deposit
Saving automatically is a great way to save. Have some of your paycheck deposited right into a savings account. Or your bank might be able to set recurring transfers from checking to savings. 16 Downgrade an annual fee credit card
Sometimes an annual fee credit card can provide real benefits. But it might not make sense to pay this annual fee if the card discontinues these benefits, or if you aren’t fully utilizing the benefits. Downgrading to a no-annual-fee card might be a better fit for you, if this is an option. Call your issuer to see if you’re able to downgrade your current card to a no-fee card. 17 Cook your own meals
Food can be a large expense in your budget. Prep for your upcoming meals and have a clear understanding of what you need from the grocery store. Make a list, look for coupons, and try not to buy anything that didn’t make it on the list. Even without coupons, buying food at a grocery store is significantly less expensive than ordering carryout or eating at restaurants. 18 Try a no-spend day
Not spending any money in a day or week can help you quickly save money. This can force you to think about every dollar you spend. After a no-spend day (or days), you may also realize your spending habits have improved. 19 Make a budget
Assessing your spending is a way to find areas where you may be wasting money. This can be an eye-opening process. . Bank and credit card statements can help you assess past spending. You can to c 20 Eliminate one spending habit today
There’s probably one treat or convenience that you’re paying for on a daily or regular basis that you can live without (or indulge in less often). Over time, you may get used to skipping this item and it will no longer be a habit. SHARE: Matthew Goldberg is a consumer banking reporter at Bankrate. Matthew has been in financial services for more than a decade, in banking and insurance. Lance Davis is the Vice President of Content for Bankrate. Lance leads a team responsible for creating educational content that guides people through the pivotal steps in their financial journey. Allyson Johnson leads marketing and fundraising for Gateway Partners. She is a CAIA charter holder and has passed the CFA Level II examination. Related Articles