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50 Smart Life Hacks to Save Money Every Day

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55 Smart Life Hacks to Save Money Every Day

Saving money isn’t about deprivation—it’s about intention. Whether you’re navigating higher prices, paying off debt, or simply building better habits, small changes can add up. These 55 everyday hacks span groceries, utilities, tech, travel, and more. Start with a few and build from there—the savings will follow.

Smart Grocery and Kitchen Hacks

  1. Shop discount and clearance sections for near-date pantry items you can freeze or cook this week.
  2. Use cashback and rewards credit cards wisely—always pay in full to avoid interest.
  3. Brew coffee at home; a $2 daily habit runs $700+ a year.
  4. Cook in bulk and freeze portions for quick, budget-friendly meals.
  5. Thrift first for kitchenware and home goods. Learn how to find the best deal thrift shopping
  6. Clip digital coupons in store apps and stack with sale prices when possible.
  7. Plan meals around weekly store ads rather than recipes alone.
  8. Buy whole produce, not pre-cut—cheaper and lasts longer with proper storage.
  9. Batch-prep grains and proteins on Sundays to prevent midweek takeout.
  10. Keep a “use-first” bin in the fridge so nothing gets lost and wasted.
Did You Know?

Households toss roughly $1,500 of food each year. A simple meal plan, freezing leftovers, and repurposing produce into soups or stir-fries keeps more of that money in your pocket.

Energy and Utility Savings

  1. Install a programmable thermostat to adjust heating and cooling when you’re away.
  2. Unplug chargers and small appliances between uses to avoid phantom power draw.
  3. Replace HVAC filters regularly to improve efficiency and comfort.
  4. Use low-flow showerheads and fix drips; water waste raises multiple utility bills.
  5. Wash clothes in cold water and air-dry when possible.
  6. Switch to long-lasting LED bulbs throughout the home.
  7. Run dishwasher and laundry with full loads only.
  8. Close blinds/curtains during peak heat and open them for winter sun.
Quick Wins Box
  • Shorten showers by two minutes.
  • Nudge the thermostat one degree toward outdoor temps.
  • Set power strips to off before bed.

Frugal Living at Home

  1. Use a written or app-based shopping list to cut impulse buys.
  2. Make simple cleaners with vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
  3. Cut cable; keep one or two streaming services and rotate monthly.
  4. Buy bulk nonperishables (rice, beans, detergent) when on sale.
  5. Refinance loans if rates and fees make sense for your term.
  6. Review spending weekly with a budgeting app to spot trends early.
  7. Join local “Buy Nothing” or swap groups to exchange items for free.
  8. Set up a neighborhood tool-share for rarely used items.
  9. Schedule a quarterly “household audit” to cancel or downgrade underused services.
The Kitchen-Table Moment

Tonight might be about choices: what to pay now, what can wait, and where to trim without losing what matters. Take one small step—a list before shopping, cancelling a quiet subscription, moving $10 to savings. Small wins stack. You’re not behind; you’re building. And you’re not doing it alone—millions are making the same steady, simple moves toward breathing room.

Transportation and Travel Tips

  1. Compare car insurance annually—rates can shift more than you’d expect.
  2. Bike or use public transit for short commutes to save gas and parking.
  3. Use gas rewards programs and map apps to find the lowest prices nearby.
  4. Book flights midweek, set fare alerts, and stay flexible on airports.
  5. Ask for student, military, or senior discounts where offered.
  6. Plan road trips around low-cost parks, trails, and community events.
  7. Carpool for school, work, or activities to split fuel and parking.
  8. Keep tires properly inflated; it improves mileage and reduces wear.

Entertainment and Lifestyle Savings

  1. Use libraries for books, audiobooks, movies, and museum passes.
  2. Make beverages at home (cold brew, tea, sparkling water).
  3. Cut your own hair or swap services with a friend.
  4. Buy holiday décor and wrapping during post-season sales.
  5. Try one “no-spend” weekend a month to reset habits.
  6. Host potlucks or game nights instead of dining out.
  7. Buy clothing off-season and focus on timeless basics.
  8. Use community classes, parks, and rec centers for low-cost fitness.
Did You Know?

Subscription creep is common. A quick quarterly audit of streaming, apps, and memberships can reclaim meaningful cash without feeling restrictive.

Tech and Subscription Management

  1. Audit streaming and app subscriptions quarterly—cancel what you don’t use.
  2. Switch to prepaid or budget mobile plans; competition keeps prices down.
  3. Use smart power strips to cut electricity to idle electronics.
  4. Buy refurbished tech with warranties instead of new.
  5. Use reputable free software alternatives for office, photo, and design tasks.
  6. Set bill reminders or autopay to avoid late fees.

Budgeting and Planning Tools

  1. Track expenses visually—simple charts help motivation stick.
  2. Set short-term savings goals (e.g., $200 for gifts) with a target date.
  3. Use envelope budgeting (or digital envelopes) for variable categories.
  4. Automate transfers to savings on payday so you “pay yourself first.”
  5. Check your credit report annually to stay informed and protect your score.
  6. Create sinking funds for predictable but irregular costs (car tags, school activities, seasonal clothing).

5 Bonus Hacks for the Year Ahead

  1. Use AI price-compare tools to scan multiple stores before checkout.
  2. Join community solar or green power programs—some offer savings with no rooftop panels.
  3. Host swap nights for clothing, tools, or books—social, sustainable, and free.
  4. Repair before replacing via local repair cafés and step-by-step tutorials.
  5. Turn on round-up savings in your bank app; micro-transfers add up quickly.
A nonprofit counselor could help you save an average of
$238.571 per month.
Looking to supercharge your savings? Pair these life hacks with a personalized debt management plan to free up even more of your monthly income.

Request Your Free Consultation

1Based on the average savings from enrolled clients in July 2024. Savings vary by situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest ways to start saving money?

Trim recurring costs first—unused subscriptions, bottled drinks, and daily coffee. Redirect those dollars toward debt or savings.

How can I reduce my grocery bills?

Shop in bulk, buy in-season produce, and use store loyalty rewards. Plan meals around weekly sales to reduce waste and time.

Do energy-saving tips really make a difference?

Yes. Adjusting your thermostat, unplugging electronics, and switching to LED bulbs lowers utility bills year-round.

About the Author

Picture of Rick Munster

Rick Munster

Rick Munster is a personal finance expert and author with over 23 years of experience in the credit counseling industry. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Financial Counseling Association of America and has published more than 250 articles on personal finance. Over the course of his long-standing career at Money Fit, a nonprofit credit counseling organization, Rick’s insights have been featured by several news outlets on topics such as credit counseling, debt management, and financial education.
Visit Rick Munster's Page

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Disclosure to Client for HUD Housing Counseling Services

Debt Reduction Services, Inc. and its financial education arm, Money Fit by DRS, offer the following housing counseling and educational services related to housing, personal finance, and bankruptcy certificates to consumers:
  • Housing Education Courses: DRS offers many online self-guided education programs classified as Financial, Budgeting, and Credit Workshops (FBC), Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops (FHW), Homelessness Prevention Workshops (HMW), Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops (NDW), Predatory Lending Education Workshops (PLW), Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops (PPW), and Rental Housing Workshops (RHW). These courses help participants increase their knowledge of and skills in personal finance, including home affordability, budgeting, and understanding the use of credit, as well as predatory lending, loan scams, and other fraud prevention topics, fair housing, rental topics, pre-purchase homebuyer education, non-delinquency post-purchase topics including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners, homeless prevention workshop, and other workshops not listed above relating to personal finance and housing. Course details are found below under “Housing Workshops.”
  • Home Equity Conversation Mortgage (HECM) Counseling (RMC): Via telephone and virtual platforms, we offer the required HECM counseling nationwide in addition to in-person counseling in Boise, Idaho. We also offer in-home counseling options in thirty counties across southern Idaho for an additional fee to cover our travel and additional staff time costs.
  • Home Maintenance and Financial Management for Homeowners (Non-Delinquency Post-Purchase) (FBC): Clients receive counseling and materials on the proper maintenance of their home and mortgage refinancing. Clients can find help and resources by phone, in our Boise office, or virtually on all topics related to stabilizing their long-term homeownership.
  • Services for Homeless Counseling (HMC): Clients receive phone, virtual, or in-person (Boise) counseling to evaluate their current housing needs, identify barriers to and goals for housing stability, establish a path to self-sufficiency, and connect with emergency shelters, income-appropriate housing, and/or other community resources (e.g. mental healthcare, job training, transportation, etc.).
  • Pre-Purchase Counseling (PPC): Clients receive counseling through the entire homebuying process. Assistance may involve creating a sustainable household budget, understanding mortgage options, building their credit rating, and putting together a realistic action plan to set and achieve homeownership goals.  Additionally, clients will receive materials and resources about home inspections and other homeownership topics relevant to successfully maintaining a home.
  • Rental Housing Counseling (RHC): Via phone, in-person appointments (Boise, ID), or virtual platforms, clients receive housing counseling relevant to renting, including rent subsidies from HUD or other government and assistance programs. Topics can also address issues and concerns having to do with fair housing, landlord and tenant laws, lease terms, rent delinquency, household budgeting, and finding alternate housing.
DRS also offers the following services:
  • A Debt Management Program (DMP) for consumers struggling to pay their credit cards, collections, medical debts, personal loans, old utility bills, and past-due cell phone accounts;
  • The Budget Briefing and Debtor Education Certificates that are required during the Bankruptcy filing process;
  • A Student Loan Repayment Plan Counseling and application service.

Relationships with Industry Partners

Through such services, DRS has established financial relationships with hundreds of banks, credit unions, and creditors such as American Express, Bank of America, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, Citibank, Credit One, Discover, Synchrony, US Bank, USAA, Wells Fargo, and others.

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The client is not obligated to receive, purchase or utilize any other services offered by DRS or its exclusive partners to receive financial education or housing counseling services. Alternatives: As a condition of our counseling services, in alignment with meeting our client services goals, and in compliance with HUD’s Housing Counseling Program requirements, we may provide information on alternative services, programs, and products available to you, if applicable and known by our staff. Alternative DMP services include negotiating better repayment terms directly with your individual creditors, paying your debts as agreed, or, in extreme cases, filing for personal bankruptcy. Alternative credit and education services can be found through MyMoney.gov or the Jump$tart Clearinghouse of online financial education resources. Housing counseling alternatives can be found through HUD at www.hud.gov/findacounselor.
Finally, you understand that you may revoke consent to these disclosures by notifying DRS in writing.
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Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule

 

Online Education Program Fees*

Homebuyer Education Course: $59 per participant

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours)

Rental, Fair Housing, Predatory Lending / HOEPA, Post-Purchase (Non-delinquency post-purchase workshop, including home maintenance and/or financial management for homeowners) Online Workshops: $49 per participant

  • Approximately 1 hour each

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars (e.g. credit, budgeting, homeless prevention, debt prevention): $0

One-on-one Counseling Fees*

Pre-purchase Homebuying Counseling, Rental Counseling, Post-purchase Ownership Maintenance and Financial Management: $75

  • Session by the hour

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate:

  • $200†

Credit Report Fee: Paid Directly by Client

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page

†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there).

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Housing Counseling and Education Fee Schedule  

Online EDUCATION Program Fees* 

eHome Homebuyer Education Course: $99 per household** 

  • Self-paced course available here, our online housing counseling and education center. Certificates will be automatically generated upon completion of the course (approximately 6-8 hours) 

Online Workshops: $49 per participant 

  • Rental, Fair Housing, Predatory Lending Post-Purchase, HECM Family Member  
  • Approximately 1 hour each 

Other Self-Guided Financial Literacy Webinars: $0 

  • Credit, budgeting, homelessness prevention, debt prevention 
  • Approximately 30-60 minutes each 

One-on-one COUNSELING Fees* 

Pre-purchase Home Buying, Renter Issues, Homelessness, and Fair Housing: $0  

Post-purchase Ownership and Maintenance, HOEPA or Financial Management $75/hr  

Reverse Mortgage/HECM Counseling with Required Certificate $200 per household†  

Credit Report Fee Paid Directly by Client 

*Fees for all but our online education courses and workshops can be paid online by debit card, credit card, or PayPal or in person by cash, check or money order to: “Debt Reduction Services, Inc.” Registration fees are non-refundable 24 hours or less before the start of an in-person course or workshop. Certificates are non-transferable 

*Fees may be waived for households with income of 150% or less of that identified on the US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Page 

**Household is an individual or a couple  
†Home visit counseling is available in 30 southern Idaho counties for potential HECM borrowers at additional costs to cover our travel (IRS reimbursement rates apply) and staff time ($50 per hour or fraction there)