13 Unique Savings Hacks to Stretch Any Budget
Looking for some unique ways that can save you even more money? Then you are in the right place; here are some unique money-saving hacks that you may not have tried or even heard of before.
Scan Receipts for Cash Back
You can use multiple apps to earn cash back and gift cards simply to scan your receipts after shopping. Ibotta, Receipt Hog, Fetch Rewards, and Checkout 51 are some available cash-back apps. You don’t have to pick just one. Use multiple apps and save even more cash!
Carry Cash
Did you know that you are less likely to spend money when you have to pay with cash? Physically seeing the money leave your hands tends to make you reconsider whether or not you really need to make that purchase after all. This works particularly well if you only carry large bills like 50’s, and 100’s.
Skip the Shopping Cart
If you are just running in the store for a couple of items, don’t get a shopping cart; instead, carry your items. This will prevent you from being tempted to buy items you don’t need on impulse.
Automate Your Savings
Set aside a certain amount of money to be automatically deposited into a savings account monthly. Consider starting an online savings account for this purpose because they frequently offer a much higher interest rate than a savings account with a bank.
Let a Computer Robot do the Negotiating
Try the free Trim app or Rocket Money to find and cancel subscriptions you are no longer using and to negotiate lower rates with your service providers. Stop spending money on services you aren’t using today.
Try a No Spend Challenge
Set aside a period of time for a no-spend challenge. This can be a weekend, a week, or even a whole month or more. During this period, you don’t spend any money at all except for what is necessary for monthly bills and transportation costs to and from work. The money you save should go into your savings account.
Get Paid to Shop
If you are going to shop, you might as well get paid for it. Rakuten is one of the best cash-back and rebate apps available, and it’s easy to use. Sign up, link your accounts, and shop as you normally would. You can get your money in a check or deposit it in your PayPal account.
Buy Groceries Online
You can save time and money by buying groceries online and then picking them up at the store or having them delivered to your home. You don’t have to worry about impulse shopping and blowing your budget when shopping online.
Cut the Cable
If you haven’t already dropped your cable subscription, the time to do it is now. There are so many streaming services available that offer all of the content you want to watch at a much lower cost. Cut the cord and watch your savings pile up.
Fix it Yourself
If you have things around the house that need to be repaired, why not try fixing it yourself? There are YouTube tutorial videos for practically everything these days. Watch a few videos to see if you can fix it yourself and save some cash.
Round-Up Your Spending
This is one of the most effortless ways to save money. Most banks offer the option to round up every purchase to the nearest dollar. The difference between your purchase and the nearest dollar amount is automatically added to your savings account. You can save quite a bit over the course of a year.
Declutter and Earn Cash
You can clean out your closets and garage and earn cash simultaneously. It’s no secret that we accumulate things that we no longer need or want over time. Sell your unused items and declutter your home while making some extra cash, too.
Start a Side Hustle and Build Your Savings
Do you have a hobby that can double as a side hustle? Maybe you are handy, or you love pet sitting. You can do many enjoyable things like photography, crafting, blogging, and more to earn cash and boost your savings too.
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Theresa Bedford is a travel and lifestyle writer with an obsession to simplify life and travel more. She writes about simple living, money, travel destinations, family-friendly activities, and more. Her work has been featured on the Associated Press wire, MSN.com, GoBankingRates, Wealth of Geeks, Savorteur, and more.