How to Save Money Smartly: 10 Effective Tips
Top 10 Ways to Cut Your Monthly Expenses
Saving money always seems like a difficult chore despite having so much to spend – life. On the other hand, with the right strategies can make financial management and saving money simple. This article will cover 10 money saving tips each month to help improve your financial health and really allow you to increase the freedom you experience in your life.
Step 1: Track Your Expenses (The Wake-Up Call That Actually Works)
If you’ve ever opened your banking app on the 25th of the month and thought “wait… where the hell did it all go?”, congratulations you’re completely normal. Pretty much everyone thinks they know where their money goes… until they actually track it. Spoiler: the truth hurts, but it also sets you free.
I’m telling you from personal experience: the very first month I tracked every single expense, I almost cried when I saw I’d spent $380 on takeout and Uber Eats. $380! I thought I was “only grabbing food a couple times a week.” Yeah, turns out it was basically every other day.
So here’s the deal if you want to get serious about saving money, paying off debt, or just stop living paycheck to paycheck, step one is brutally simple: track every penny for at least 30 days. Two or three months is even better because you’ll catch random stuff like car insurance that only hits every six months.
How I do it now (and how most of my readers do it without losing their minds):
- Option 1 (easiest): Connect your cards to a free app like Mint, Rocket Money, or Monarch Money. It pulls everything in automatically and sorts it into categories. Takes 5 minutes to set up, zero effort after that.
- Option 2 (my personal favorite): YNAB (You Need A Budget). It’s not free, but it changed my life so much I’ll defend it forever.
- Option 3 (old-school but powerful): A simple Google Sheet or even a notebook. Yes, writing “3.75 – iced latte” by hand 47 times in a month feels ridiculous… and that’s exactly why it works.
Pro tip:
Do whatever you’ll actually stick with. I don’t care if it’s an app, a spreadsheet, or receipts stuffed in a shoebox just pick one method and don’t miss a single transaction.
What you’ll discover after 30 days (real examples from my life and hundreds of people I’ve coached):
- $150–300/month disappearing on “quick lunches” and coffee runs
- $80–120 on subscriptions you forgot existed (looking at you, random free trials)
- $200+ on random Amazon/Temu/Shein orders that felt like “only $15 here and there”
- Way too much at corner stores and gas stations on snacks and drinks
The goal isn’t to beat yourself up. It’s to stop guessing and start knowing. Once you see the actual numbers in black and white, cutting $200–500 a month becomes stupidly easy because you’re not guessing anymore you’re just stopping the obvious leaks.
Do this for one month. Just one. I promise you’ll look at your bank account completely differently afterward.
Once you’ve got the data, we’ll move to step 2 (building a budget that doesn’t suck). But nothing literally nothing works until you finish this step first.
You got this. Start today. Future you is already thanking you. 💸
(And yes this post is part of my full “How to Fix Your Finances in 2025” series. Next post drops in 2 days turn on notifications so you don’t miss it!)
2: Create a Budget (The Part That Actually Changed My Life)
Okay, real talk)
After you’ve tracked every coffee, every Uber, every “it’s only 5 bucks” purchase for a month or two, you’ll probably feel a bit sick. That’s normal. That’s the moment you’re finally ready to make a budget that isn’t complete nonsense.
I used to think budgets were for boring people who eat plain rice and never have fun. Then I made one… and suddenly I had more fun money than ever, because nothing was disappearing into some black hole anymore.
So here’s exactly how I do it now (no fluff, this is the version I actually use):
1. Income first – write the real number
Take-home pay after taxes. Add any side money that actually shows up every month (client work, OnlyFans, renting out your parking spot, whatever). I always knock 5-10% off whatever I think I’ll make, because life loves surprises and I hate surprises that leave me broke.
2. Split everything into two lists
Fixed (the stuff that’ll get you evicted or repossessed if you ignore it):
- Rent/mortgage
- Car payment
- Insurance
- Phone, internet, Netflix (yes, Netflix stays, fight me)
- Minimum debt payments
Variable (the stuff you can actually move around):
- Groceries
- Eating out / takeout
- Gas or transit
- Shopping, bars, random Target runs, subscriptions you forgot about
3. Look at the last 60 days of your bank app (brutal but necessary)
Whatever you actually spent on “eating out” last month? That’s your starting number. Don’t put $100 if you spent $600. Be honest or this whole thing is pointless. Then shave off 10-20% as your new target. Small wins beat heroic failures.
4. The only rule that matters
Total money going out < total money coming in.
If right now it’s the other way around, you have exactly two choices: spend less or make more. No third magical option exists, sorry.
I tried the famous 50/30/20 rule and it didn’t fit my life at all (rent alone eats 40% some months). So I use my own lazy version:
- 60% max on bills and needs
- 30% on whatever makes life worth living
- 10% minimum to savings/debt, even if it’s only $50
Works way better for me.
How I actually stick to it without losing my mind
- I use YNAB (You Need A Budget) because it forces me to give every dollar a job the day I get paid.
- At the beginning of the month I move money into separate accounts or “buckets” inside my bank: Groceries, Fun, Car stuff, etc. When the Fun bucket is empty, I stay home and cook pasta. Harsh but effective.
- My phone screams at me the second I’m about to blow the restaurant budget. I still ignore it sometimes… but at least I do it on purpose now.
Your budget will be wrong the first month. And the second. That’s fine. Fix it, roll with it, keep going. By month three it starts feeling normal, and by month six you’ll look at your savings account and actually smile.
Bottom line: a budget isn’t a cage. It’s the thing that finally shuts up that voice in your head asking “where did all my money go?”
Make one. Update it every month. Watch your life slowly stop being a financial mess.
You’ll thank me later..
3. Kill the Subscriptions You Don’t Actually Use (This One Always Hurts So Good)
I swear this single step has saved me more money than almost anything else and it takes literally 15 minutes once a year.
Last time I did my “subscription purge” I found:
- Netflix (I watch YouTube more)
- Disney+ (haven’t opened it since The Mandalorian season 2)
- Spotify (I’m an Apple Music household anyway)
- Some random $14.99/month fitness app I used exactly twice
- Adobe Creative Cloud (because apparently I thought I was going to become a graphic designer in 2023)
- A wine club. Yes, really.
Total damage? $97 every single month just sitting there on autopilot.
Here’s exactly how I do it now (and how you can too):
1. Open your banking app or credit-card statement and search for the word “subscription” or just scroll the last 3 months. Everything that shows up monthly or yearly = fair game.
2. Ask yourself two brutal questions:
- “When’s the last time I actually used this?” (be honest)?”
- “Would I pay for this again today if it wasn’t already on my card?”
If the answer to either is “uhhh…”, cancel it immediately. You can always re-subscribe in five minutes if you miss it.
3. Use a free tool like Rocket Money, Trim, or the built-in “Subscriptions” tab in your iPhone/Android settings. They show every single recurring charge in one place it’s terrifying and amazing.
4. Family-plan hack (my favorite)
- Spotify Family → 6 people, one bill
- Netflix Premium → 4 screens
- YouTube Premium Family → 6 accounts
- Apple One Family → everything bundled
Split it with roommates, siblings, or even your ex (if you’re still on speaking terms 😂). I pay $3/month for YouTube Premium now instead of $13.99.
Real numbers from my readers who did this last month:
- Average saved: $42–$120 per month
- One guy cancelled $280/month worth of junk (he had three gym memberships… three!)
Pro tip:
Set a calendar reminder twice a year called “Subscription Massacre Day.” Open a drink, put on some angry music, and go hunting. You’ll thank yourself when that money hits your savings account instead.
Do it today. Seriously pause reading this, open your bank app right now, and cancel at least one thing. I’ll wait. 💸
You’ll feel lighter instantly. Promise.
4. Cook Your Own Damn Food (Yes, Even If You “Can’t Cook”)
Eating out is the silent assassin of every budget I’ve ever seen.
Real story: I used to drop $400–$600 a month on “quick lunches,” Starbucks, and Uber Eats when I was tired. Then I added it up one night and almost threw my phone across the room. Six hundred dollars. Every. Single. Month. For food I barely even remember eating.
Now? I spend maybe $180–$220 on groceries and cook 90% of my meals. Same amount of time, way better food, and I actually have money left over.
Here’s the dead-simple system that even the laziest version of me sticks to:
1. Sunday = 60–90 minutes of “get it over with”
I blast music or a podcast, cook one massive pot of something (chili, curry, pasta sauce, stir-fry, whatever) and roast a tray of chicken + veggies. Portion it into containers. Done. That’s 4–6 dinners right there.
2. Grocery list or you’re screwed
No list = you wander around the store hungry and leave with $120 of random crap. I open my phone notes, write exactly what I need for the 5–6 meals I already decided on, and I stick to it like my life depends on it.
3. Buy the boring cheap stuff in bulk
- 10 lb bag of rice
- Giant thing of oats
- Frozen veggies
- Eggs by the 30-pack
- Chicken thighs (way cheaper and tastier than breasts)
These become the base of literally everything.
4. Keep 3–4 “I’m dying” meals in the freezer
Frozen pizza, dumplings, or those Trader Joe’s orange chicken bags. Costs $6 and saves you from a $35 DoorDash order when you’re hangry at 9 p.m.
5. Make it actually fun (or at least not miserable)
- Throw on TikTok cooking videos and copy the chaotic ones
- Invite friends over and make it a group thing (everyone brings one ingredient, you cook, drink cheap wine, eat family-style)
- Buy one fancy sauce or spice so it doesn’t taste like depression
Result? I eat better than I did when I was ordering takeout every night, I lost 12 lbs without trying, and I bank an extra $300–$400 a month.
If you currently eat out more than twice a week, just try cooking for 30 days. One month. I dare you. Your wallet will grow, your fridge will stop being empty, and you’ll finally understand why adults get weirdly excited about Tupperware.
You got this. Now go buy some chicken and stop giving your money to Seamless. 🔥.
5. Stop Buying Random Bullsh*t You Don’t Need (The Impulse-Buy Purge)
This one is personal because I used to be the absolute queen of “it’s only $18.”
$18 on a candle that smells like “regret” two days later.
$24 on a phone case I used for 11 minutes.
$35 on some TikTok gadget that’s now in a drawer with the other TikTok gadgets.
Add it all up over a year and I was easily torching $300–$500 a month on pure garbage.
Here’s the dead-simple rules that finally broke the cycle (and they actually stick):
1. The 48-hour rule
See something cute online or in Target? Screenshot it or throw it in your cart… but DO NOT check out. Wait two full days. 85% of the time I completely forget it exists. The other 15% goes on the wishlist (see below).
2. The “One In, One Out” closet/phone case/kitchen gadget rule
Want a new hoodie? Cool, pick one to donate or sell first. Drawer space is now the budget police.
3. Keep a running “Wishlist” note in your phone
Every time I want something stupid (crystal-infused water bottle, LED strip lights for my car, whatever), I add it to the list with the date. If I still want it 30 days later, I’ll think about it. 95% of the items never make it to day 30.
4. Unsubscribe from every single marketing email
“20% off today only!!” is how they get you. I went nuclear and used the “Unroll.me” app to mass-unsubscribe in 5 minutes. My inbox is boring now… and my wallet is fat.
5. The “Hell Yes or No” filter
When I do decide to buy something that’s not food or toilet paper, it has to be a “hell yes.” If it’s just “eh, maybe,” it’s a no. Sounds dramatic but it works.
Real numbers from the last 12 months of doing this:
I went from ~$450/month on random Amazon/Temu/Target crap to under $80.
That’s almost $4,500 saved in one year from literally just not buying junk.
Your house will have less clutter, your bank account will have more zeros, and you’ll stop hating yourself every time you open that one drawer of shame.
Start today. Open Amazon, delete your cart, and feel the sweet relief. You’ll thank me when you’re not broke because of a $29 LED mushroom lamp..
6. Switch to Cash for the “Fun Money” (It Hurts So Good)
I know, I know who even carries cash in 2025? Hear me out, because this one dumb trick still saves me $150–$250 every single month without fail.
Cards feel like magic Monopoly money. You tap, you walk away, your brain barely registers it. Cash? Cash is real. When you open your wallet and see only three crumpled twenties left for the rest of the week… suddenly that $9 cocktail doesn’t look so cute anymore.
Here’s exactly how I do it (and it’s stupidly simple):
1. Every Monday morning I pull out a fixed amount in cash for all the “variable/fun” categories:
- Groceries
- Coffee & lunches
- Bars / eating out
- Random shopping
- Ubers, parking, whatever
For me right now that’s $300 cash per week. Your number will be different just look at what you spent last month on those categories and shave 15–20% off.
2. I split the cash into labeled envelopes (yes, like a grandma, and yes, it works):
- Food/Drinks
- Fun/Going Out
- Shopping
Once the envelope is empty → game over until next Monday. No “I’ll Venmo myself later.”
3. Bills and fixed stuff (rent, Netflix, phone) stay on auto-pay cards I only use cash for the stuff I used to blow without thinking.
The psychological pain is the secret sauce. Handing over a $20 bill for two coffees feels way worse than tapping your phone. That pain is what stops you from doing it five times a week.
Real-life proof:
- First week I tried it, I ran out of “Fun” cash by Thursday night and stayed home watching Netflix instead of going out.
- Saved $180 that week alone.
- Now it’s automatic I almost never run out anymore because I naturally spend less.
Bonus hacks that make it less annoying:
- Use cute or funny envelopes so it doesn’t feel depressing (mine say “Treat Yo’ Self” and “Don’t Be Dumb”)
- If you’re scared of carrying cash, do the digital version: move the weekly amount into a separate checking account or Monzo/Revoult “pot” and only use that debit card for fun stuff.
Try it for just two weeks. I dare you. You’ll either hate it and go back to cards… or you’ll be shocked at how much cash is still in your wallet on Sunday night.
Your move. Go hit the ATM and watch the magic happen. 💵
7. Shop Smart (Because Paying Full Price Is for Suckers)
If you’re still paying full price in 2025, I’m sorry, but you’re basically volunteering to be poor.
These are the exact lazy hacks I use every single week to buy the same stuff as everyone else… for way less.
1. Never, ever buy without a 15-second price check
In-store? Open the Amazon app or Google Lens, scan the barcode, and see if it’s cheaper online or at the store across the street. I do this religiously. Last week I saved $22 on a blender just by showing the cashier the lower price on my phone (they matched it instantly).
2. Coupons & cashback aren’t “cringe” they’re free money
- Honey or Capital One Shopping browser extension → auto-applies coupons
- Rakuten or TopCashback → 2–15% cashback on literally everything
- Store apps (Target Circle, Walgreens, Sephora) → stack with everything else
I made $340 back last year doing almost zero work.
3. Loyalty programs = the easiest free stuff ever
Sign up once, scan the app every time, watch points pile up. I get free coffee, free makeup, even free groceries now. Takes zero brain cells.
4. Buy everything off-season or during “wrong” sales
- Winter coats in March/April → 70–80% off
- Grills and patio stuff in September
- Gym gear and running shoes in December/January (everyone quits their resolutions)
- Christmas decorations on December 26th → 90% off
I bought a $400 North Face jacket for $99 last spring. Still wearing it.
5. Black Friday isn’t just one day anymore
Amazon Prime Day, Target Deal Days, random “mid-year” sales I keep a running wishlist and only buy when the price drops hit 40–60% off. Patience pays.
6. The “showrooming” move
Go to the fancy store, try stuff on, take selfies, then buy the exact same thing cheaper online later that night. Zero guilt.
Real numbers from my own life:
Last year I spent about $2,800 on clothes, tech, home stuff, gifts but after sales, cashback, price matches, and points, my actual out-of-pocket was closer to $1,600. That’s $1,200 literally saved just for not being impatient.
Stop paying stupid tax. Start shopping like someone who actually wants to keep their money.
Your wallet will thank you… and so will your future self when you’re not broke because you needed a new blender at full price. 🏷️.
8. Slash Your Energy Bill (Without Living Like a Caveman)
My electricity bill used to hit $180–$220 in summer because I’m an AC addict. Last year I got it down to $90–$110 doing stuff that takes zero willpower. Here’s what actually works:
1. Lights off the second you leave a room
I trained myself by yelling “WHO PAYS THE BILLS?!” every time I caught myself leaving one on. Sounds dumb, works 100%.
2. Unplug the energy vampires
Phone chargers, gaming consoles, that coffee maker you never turn off they sip power 24/7 even when “off.” I bought two $9 power strips, flipped the switch at night, and saved ~$15 a month instantly.
3. Swap every bulb for LED (yes, even the pretty lamps)
Paid $30 upfront at Costco for a 24-pack. They last 10+ years and my bill dropped $18–$25 a month. Paid for themselves in two months.
4. Get the FREE energy audit from your power company
Seriously most utilities will send a guy for free. Mine found my attic insulation was trash and two windows had gaps you could feel the breeze through. I spent $180 on sealant + extra insulation → bill dropped another $40/month in winter.
5. Ceiling fans + “I’m not made of money” thermostat rules
- Summer: set AC to 78°F when home, 82°F when away
- Winter: 68°F day, 62°F night
Fan trick makes 78 feel like 72. I still sleep like a baby and saved $400 last year.
6. Wash clothes in cold water + air-dry the bulky stuff
Switched to cold 95% of the time → dryer runs half as long → another $10–$15 saved.
7. Bonus lazy hack: smart plugs
$12 each on Amazon. I plugged my TV + PlayStation into one and it auto-cuts power when they’re off. Saved me $8 a month and I never lift a finger.
Total saved last 12 months: almost $750.
That’s a free vacation, debt payment, or whatever you want.
Do one thing from this list today (start with lights off + unplugging chargers zero cost). You’ll see the difference on next month’s bill and feel like a genius.
Your AC doesn’t need to live like a king. Make it pay rent like the rest of us. ⚡
9. Give Your Savings a Sexy Name (Because “Emergency Fund” Sounds Boring)
If your savings account is just called “Savings” and has no purpose, good luck ever putting money in it. Your brain will always find something shinier to spend on.
The trick that finally made saving stick for me? I stopped saving for “the future” and started saving for stuff that actually gets me excited.
Here’s my current lineup (yes, I’m extra and have separate accounts for each):
- 6 months of expenses so I can quit a toxic job tomorrow if I want
- “Croissant Paris Trip 2026” already at $2,400 and growing
- “New MacBook Pro (because my 2019 one is crying)
“Tattoo + Random Adventures” for spontaneous concerts, weekends away, or that sleeve I keep threatening to get
Suddenly $200 transferred on payday doesn’t feel like punishment it feels like I’m buying future freedom, croissants, and ink, or whatever.
How to do it without wanting to die:
1. Pick 1–3 things that genuinely make you go “hell yes”
Doesn’t matter if it’s responsible (house down payment) or ridiculous (a golden retriever puppy + all the gear). Just make it emotional.
2. Open separate high-yield savings accounts and name them the fun thing
I use Ally Bank takes 30 seconds to make a new bucket and name it “Bali 2025” or “Boob Job Fund” (no judgment, my friend literally has that one).
3. Break the goal into stupidly small
Want $6,000 for a trip in 12 months? That’s $500/month → $115/week → $16/day.
Sixteen bucks a day is literally one skipped Uber Eats order. Suddenly it feels doable.
4. Celebrate the mini-wins (this is crucial)
- Hit 25%? Buy yourself boba or that new lipstick.
- Hit 50%? Get the fancy dinner (on a budget, duh).
Positive reinforcement = you actually keep going.
Real example:
Last year I wanted to go to Japan. Named the account “Sushi & Cherry Blossoms 🗻”.
Every time I transferred money I’d add a little sushi emoji in the memo.
Twelve months later I had $5,800 and zero guilt spending it on ramen and cat cafés.
Stop saving for “savings.”
Save for the version of your life that makes you grin like an idiot.
Pick your thing tonight, name the account, set up the first $50 auto-transfer.
Future you is already packing the suitcase. ✈️
10. Automate Your Savings (The “Set It and Forget It” Cheat Code)
This is the single laziest, most powerful money move I’ve ever made and it’s literally the reason I have a fully-funded emergency fund and multiple vacation accounts right now.
Here’s the deal: if you wait until the end of the month to “save whatever’s left,” guess what’s left?
Exactly. Zero. Every time.
The fix? Make saving happen first before you even have the chance to spend it.
My exact system (takes 10 minutes to set up, saves thousands every year):
1. Payday hits → money moves automatically
I have my bank auto-transfer money the same day my paycheck lands:
- $200 → Emergency Fund
- $150 → Paris Trip 2026
- $100 → New Laptop Fund
- $50 → Tattoo Money (don’t judge me)
It’s gone before I even open my banking app. Out of sight, out of mind.
2. Start stupid small so you don’t freak out
Broke right now? Cool. Start with $10, $20, even $5 a week. The goal is to build the habit first. Once your brain stops noticing it’s missing (usually 3–4 weeks), bump it up).
3. Use the round-up apps they’re secretly genius
- Acorns, Qapital, or your bank’s own version
Every time you buy a $4.75 latte → it rounds up to $5 and throws the $0.25 into savings/investments
Sounds tiny. Over a year it’s $300–$600 with zero effort.
4. The “profit first” trick for freelancers/side-hustlers
Any time money hits my account from a client or random gig, I immediately transfer 30% straight to savings/investments. Treat it like taxes non-negotiable.
Real numbers from my life:
I started automating $50/week in 2021.
Now it’s $450 every two weeks and I don’t even feel it.
That one decision has quietly built me over $38,000 in savings and investments without me ever “trying” to save.
Set it up tonight. Seriously open your bank app right now, schedule the first transfer, and thank me when you randomly check your savings in six months and go “holy sh*t, where did THAT come from?”
The money you don’t see? You don’t spend.
Automate it, name the accounts something fun, and watch your future self get rich while present you scrolls TikTok in peace.
You deserve this. Go do it. 🤖💸.
Okay, Wrap-Up Time (No Fluffy BS)
Look, fixing your money isn’t some overnight glow-up. It’s more like grinding levels in a video game: slow, sometimes annoying, but every little win stacks.
You don’t have to do all 10 things today. Hell, you don’t even have to do three.
Just pick ONE that made you go “damn, that’s me” and start there:
- Cancel one forgotten subscription → instant $15 $100/month
- Cook dinner twice this week instead of ordering → $50–$80 saved
- Set up a $20 auto-transfer → $1,000 extra by next year
That’s it. One tiny move. Then next week, add another.
I’ve been exactly where you are: broke, stressed, refreshing my bank app like it was gonna magically change. Then I started doing these boring little things consistently… and one day I woke up with actual savings, zero credit-card debt, and the ability to book a flight without panic-sweating.
Future-you in 2030 is gonna be chilling on a beach (or at least not crying over a $1,200 phone repair bill) because present-you did the bare minimum today.
You got this.
Start small.
Keep going.
And hit me up when you randomly check your savings and whisper “holy sh*t” to yourself. I’ll be waiting.
Now go cancel that one subscription you forgot about. I dare you. 💸
See you in the next post (or in the comments when you’re bragging about your first $1,000 saved). 🔥
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