What if saving money wasn’t about cutting everything you love — but simply about making smarter choices every day?
These days it can feel like everything is getting more expensive by the day, and just stepping outside of your house seems to cost you $100.
Saving doesn’t have to be complicated or painful. With just a few easy shifts in your daily habits, you can stack up meaningful savings without feeling deprived. I want to take you through some practical strategies that can help you keep more of your hard-earned cash — and still enjoy life.
1. Tame Your Grocery Bill Without Sacrificing Quality
Cough Cough (Tariffs). Groceries these days are insane.
Ever noticed how quickly grocery costs can spiral? A few smart moves can make a huge difference, let’s face it we need all the help we can get on the grocery front these days:
- Go Generic: Store brands often offer the same quality as name brands at a fraction of the price.
- Use Loyalty Programs: Those little keychain tags? They can add up to real discounts (hello Shoppers Optimum Points)
- Plan and Conquer: Meal plan for the week and make a shopping list. Stick to it — your wallet (and your future self) will thank you. This last point has been big for me, planning my families meals (even just supper) can save so much time and money.
Click and Collect: I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that doing any sort of click and collect for groceries reduces all of the little and ‘snacky’ purchases I tend to make when walking through the grocery store. This usually allows me to go through out cupboard and buy exactly what we need without any extra fluff.
2. DIY — It’s Easier Than You Think
You don’t have to be a Pinterest pro to save serious cash:
- Make Your Own Cleaners: A $2 bottle of vinegar can replace a dozen pricey cleaning products. There are tons of recipes on Pinterest and cleaning blogs.
- Repurpose Leftovers: Get creative — that roast chicken can become tacos, soup, or salad toppings (cut down on your food waste and your budget will thank you).
Freeze Smart: Don’t toss what you can freeze. Bread, berries, herbs — they all freeze beautifully and cut future shopping trips. Even buying things frozen (fruit, veggies) can save you money over fresh varieties.
3. Stop Paying for Things You Don’t Use
Money leaks happen quietly — it’s time to plug them.
- Audit your Subscriptions: Streaming services, subscription boxes, fitness apps — are you using them all? Cancel what you don’t actively enjoy, make a tally and see the total cost of your subscriptions per month. If you’re not ok with this number it’s time to start trimming them down.
- Cut Back on Eating Out: Save restaurants for special occasions. Cooking at home can save hundreds (plus, you’ll probably eat healthier).
Slash Your Utility Bills: Simple habits like unplugging electronics, turning off lights, calling around for variable or set rates can trim your energy costs significantly over time.
4. Get Cash Back for Stuff You’re Already Buying
If you’re going to spend money, why not get a little back?
- Use Cash-Back Apps: Apps like Rakuten or Ibotta offer rebates just for shopping like you normally do. I use Rakuten regularly, you can install a browser extension and get those rebates and credits for your purchases automatically.
- Avoid ATM Fees: Those $3 fees add up fast. Stick to your bank’s network to keep your money where it belongs. While we are on banking fees, plenty of banks offer free accounts – you shouldn’t have to pay a monthly fee just to have access to your bank account.
Automate Your Savings: Set a small, recurring transfer into your savings account. It’s painless, and it grows quietly in the background (use this strategy and automate your investments as well).
5. Embrace Frugal (Not Cheap) Living
Living frugally doesn’t mean going without — it means being intentional. Plenty of people seem to confuse frugal and cheap all the time. I would say I’m frugal about my purchases, I plan out my needs and budget accordingly…but I am by no means cheap.
- Drink Tap Water: Skip bottled drinks when you can. It’s better for your wallet — and the planet (put that expensive Stanley cup to good use)
- Buy in Bulk (When It Makes Sense): Staples like rice, pasta, and toilet paper are often much cheaper when bought in bulk.
Thrift Like a Pro: Thrift stores are treasure troves for stylish clothes, furniture, and even brand-new items at a fraction of the cost. Thrifting has become way more popular in recent years. I personally like browse poshmark for second hand clothes (and I’ve found some great kids finds there as well).
