This is a comprehensive list of 50 ways to save money. Don’t let that hard earn’t salary go to waste. Let me assure you, there is something here for everyone! This list is a tool that you can use to save money now by identifying spending that isn’t bringing value to your daily life.
Spending less every day makes a big difference over time. Save money now on things that don’t add value to your life so that you can:
- Save and invest for the future.
- Spend guilt-free on things that do bring you joy.
I am a believer in the power of continuous improvement in all aspects of life. This includes building lifelong saving habits that will make you wealthy, happy, and grateful now and into the future. Start small, building your saving habits, and gradually strengthen your habit over time. Depending on your current saving habits, here are just a few of the ways that you can use this list:
- I’m Overwhelmed! Help me start saving now: Pick one item of this list that you can stop spending money on! Feel awesome every time you choose not to spend money that item. Slow and steady wins the race.
- I save on some of these items, but I want to improve: Make a goal to cut back on three items per month (36 items this year) that you spend the most on.
- I’m awesome at saving! Give me inspiration to save more! Write your own list of 50 things you don’t buy to save money. Don’t stop until you get all the way to 50. If you can’t think of 50 things, use this list to identify areas where you can save more!
Read the whole list, or navigate to the section that interests you the most.
Are you ready to kick off 2020 with weekly articles on continuous improvement and lifestyle design to make strides in all aspects of your life (saving included!). Sign up to our mailing list below. You will receive thoughtful, actionable content and never any spam!
Table of Contents
Save Money on Eating Out
I do enjoy eating out, but as a rare occasion! In my normal day-to-day I avoid eating out as much as possible by meal planning and keeping the freezer stocked with delicious leftovers.
1 – Bottled Water
I don’t buy bottled water. Did you know that many brands of bottled water are simply tap water that has been bottled in a production plant.
Instead: I drink tap water at cafes, restaurants and in the office. If I am going out somewhere for the day I will bring a reusable drink bottle in my bag which I fill up ay home.
2 – Take-Out Coffee
I don’t buy daily take-out coffee. I love coffee. The walk to a trendy local coffee shop at work used to be the highlight of my morning. My daily latte cost $3.30. That adds up to $858 a year. I actually don’t regret this spend. The enjoyment of the coffee and the time spent connecting with my co-workers was bringing me daily joy!
Life, however, has a way of changing. Eventually I moved overseas to Canada where coffee culture was not embedded in my office. I still enjoy my morning coffee and even better it is free from the office coffee machine.
Instead: I use the office coffee machine on weekdays. It’s free! At home, I make coffee using an aero press. I like to try out different beans from local coffee stores. I still get to enjoy amazing coffee at a fraction of the price of a barista made latte.
3 – Take-Out for Lunch & Dinner
I rarely order take-out for dinner. Once or twice a year I’ll order Thai from my favourite restaurant to enjoy with a bottle of wine at home and that’s it!
Instead: I meal plan for the week and buy all of the ingredients on the weekend. I cook four to eight portions of every meal. My partner and I bring left-overs to work for lunch. On a very busy week night when there is no time to cook, we’ll either cook something in the slow cooker or pull some delicious leftovers out of the freezer.
4 – Rounds of Drinks for Friends or Co-Workers
I don’t often go out to bars. If I do I never participate in shouting rounds of drinks for friends or co-workers. I show my appreciation in other ways!
Instead: Have your friends round for a dinner party. The cost of food and drink for 10 people can be less than a round of drinks at a bar. Show appreciation to your co-workers by bringing some delicious homemade brownies to the office!
5 – Expensive Brunch
Over the years I have spent a lot of money on expensive brunch with friends. It used to be my normal to go our for a $40 brunch once every week or two. Now days, I see my friends just as often but save money by hosting brunch at home!
Instead: Invite your friends over for brunch and make smoked salmon eggs benedict and mimosas at home – or some other equally delicious dish! You can all cook together, or have each person bring something to share. For more ideas on alternatives to expensive brunch i’ve written about my favourite low-cost ways to spend time with friends here.
Save Money on Groceries & Cooking
I love to cook and save so much money by making things from scratch at home rather than buying pre-made or eating out.
6 – Plastic Bags
I try my absolute hardest not to take plastic bags at the grocery store. This includes both produce bags in the fresh food section and carry bags at the check-out. It’s a small saving (5c per bag) at the check-out but also great for the environment.
Instead: Place your produce directly in your basket or trolly, eliminating the plastic produce bags. Bring re-usable grocery bags
7 – Out of Season Produce
I avoid buying out-of-season produce. When putting together a meal plan for the week, I choose recipes which will need in season produce. I’ll usually check by local grocery stores points app (pc optimum) to see what fruit and veg are on sale that week as inspiration.
Instead: Buy in season produce as often as possible! It will be both cheaper and fresher than imported out of season produce.
8 – Pre Cut Vegetables
I have never paid for pre-cut vegetables.
Instead: Chop your vegetables at home! Invest in a decent quality chefs knife and this will be a breeze.
9 – Pizza
Growing up we would order take-out pizza as a special treat. A nice quality pizza can cost anywhere from $15 to $30. Pizza is actually made from incredibly simple ingredients and it is so easy to make yourself.
Instead: Learn to make pizza yourself at home! I love to make my own pizzas, this has become a Saturday night ritual. I make everything from scratch, including the pizza dough and the tomato sauce. We cook the sauce in bulk (preferably when tomatoes are on sale!) and freeze it in individual portions that last us around two months. My go-to pizza is a tomato base with mozzarella, pepperoni, mushroom, cherry tomatoes and brussel sprouts.
10 – Bread
I rarely buy bread these days. I love to make my own sourdough, and once you’re hooked on sourdough bread it’s so hard to go back to a regular store bought loaf.
Instead: If the process of baking sourdough appeals to you and you’re willing to dedicate the time every weekend, this is my favourite resource for learning to make sourdough bread. For most people, this will feel like way to much work. Invest in a bread maker! You will still get delicious homemade bread with a fraction of the effort.
11 – Salad Dressing
There is no good reason to buy an expensive pre-made salad dressing!
Instead: Make your own salad dressing fresh at home. It takes less than a couple of minutes. It will be so much cheaper and better for your health than a store bought dressing. Try making this simple vinaigrette!
12 – Pasta Sauce
Again, there’s no good reason to buy pre-made pasta sauce. It is so easy and delicious to make yourself at home.
Instead: Try this simple tomato and garlic pasta sauce. You can mix things up by throwing in some chilli, olives, fresh herbs or red wine.
13 – Muffins & Cookies
I don’t buy store-bought muffins or cookies from the grocery store anymore.
Instead: Try this recipe for white chocolate and raspberry muffins. Once you have a few recipes up your sleeve, it’s so quick and easy to cook up a batch of muffins on the weekend. You can always freeze extras and they’ll stay fresh for ages. To save extra money, cut squares of regular baking paper to use as muffin tins.
14 – Birthday Cakes
A birthday cake can cost from $30-50 or more depending on the size.
Instead: Try this recipe for lemon and vanilla ricotta cheesecake or salted caramel persian love cake. I’ve made both of these recipes as birthday cakes with rave reviews!
Save Money on Clothes & Accessories
I actually don’t enjoy clothes shopping, so I keep a minimal wardrobe stocked with high quality and classic clothes that will last me a long time.
15 – A Different Dress for Every Party / Wedding / Function
So many friends will buy a different formal dress for every wedding, work Christmas party and other major function.
Instead: I re-wear dresses. Buy dresses in a classic style. Don’t be afraid to wear the same dress to multiple occasions, own it!
16 – Seasonal Trends
I avoid buying clothes and shoes that are seasonally trending items. These will inevitably end up donated next season.
Instead: I buy high quality classic items that will last for many years.
17 – Fast Fashion
I don’t by fast fashion. This goes hand in hand with avoiding seasonal trends. Low quality fast fashion clothing won’t last. Although it may be tempting to buy cheap clothing it is not good value in the long run.
Instead: I buy lasting quality items. My favourite trick is to find a high quality second hand clothing store. You can often get quality clothing for a fraction of the retail value.
18 – Bags
I don’t buy a lot of bags, and when I need to buy a bag it’s almost never new!
Instead: I buy durable bags and keep them for years! For handbags, I prefer to either buy second hand or heavily discounted from department stores (at least 50% off!). Buy something classic in a neutral colour that you can wear in almost any situation.
19 – Jewellery
I don’t buy jewellery. I have been gifted a couple of pieces of beautiful jewellery and will wear these on special occasions.
Instead: Wear pieces of jewellery that you already own, or embrace a no-bling look!
Save Money on Health, Beauty & Fitness
I own a total of three beauty products that I use on a daily basis. A tinted moisturiser, a powder foundation and a lipstick.
When I do stock up on these items, I usually buy from a department store or strawberry net. I buy a sufficient quantity to get a ‘gift pack’. This gives me enough mini versions of mascara, eyeliner etc. forthe rare occasion I want to use them.
20 – Gym Membership
I have paid money for gym memberships in the past, but always on a month-to-month contract. As soon as they’re not bringing me value I cancel my membership.
Instead: At the moment I have a small gym in my condo! If you have a condo gym, take advantage of it, you’re paying for it already in your rent or management fees.
21 – Exercise Classes
Again, I have paid for exercise classes in the past. Usually when I can get a great introductory deal! At the moment to save money I am enjoying free exercise activities instead.
Instead: I am part of a free running club. The club does free group runs two days a week. I’m definitely not a great runner, but they cater for all ability levels. I also do yoga sessions in the living room using online videos!
22 – Mascara and Eyeliner
I don’t ever buy mascara or eyeliner. I’ll only wear mascara occasionally, so it doesn’t make sense to spend money on a full size tube.
Instead: When I buy make-up, I usually stock up on a years worth to make the qualifying spend for a free gift packs. Almost always, the gift pack will have a mini tube of mascara. These are plenty for my occasional usage.
23 – Manicures
I don’t pay for expensive manicures. I do enjoy the look of having professionally manicured nails, but for the cost it’s just not worth it.
Instead: I use cuticle oil to keep my nails healthy and strong. If I want manicured nails without the price tag for a special event I like stick-on vinyl manicures. These look great and are a much cheaper alternative.
24 – Waxing
I have actually never waxed in my entire life, and I don’t intend to start now!
Instead: I shave. It works just fine for me and is much cheaper than a regular waxing appointment.
25 – Eyebrow Threading/Shaping
I did try eyebrow threading one time. It wasn’t too painful, but to be honest I really didn’t see any significant difference.
Instead: I embrace my regular full brows. It seems to be in style these days anyway!
26 – Pads and Tampons
In researching this article, I realised how crazy it I that I still buy pads and tampons!
Instead: Use a mesntural cup. The cost saving over a lifetime are enormous. As a bonus, you will be generating significantly less landfill waste each year.
27 – Shaving cream
I don’t use shaving cream.
Instead: I use soap and water. It works just fine for me!
Save Money on Entertainment
I used to spend so much money on entertainment – from eating out, to yoga classes, to ceramics, to language classes and books. These days, I enjoy just as many activities for a fraction of the cost.
28 – Books
There is something magical about reading a paper copy of a book. As a kid, I had an enormous bookshelf stacked with books to read. As I grew out of the teen novels, these books were donated or sold to second hand bookstores for a fraction of their retail value.
Instead: I get 90% of my books from the local library. I almost never have to wait more than a couple of weeks for a book, even if its in high demand. These days they have physical books, e-books and audio books available. I do own a few physical books that I have received as gifts, or purchased and intend to take notes in the margins.
29 – Magazines
I don’t really read magazines, but if you do you do you can also get these from the library!
Instead: There’s a theme here.. get your magazines from the library! If they don’t have what you’re looking for, browse the magazines in a chain bookstore rather than buying.
30 – Cable TV
I grew up in a house without cable tv, watching only free-to-air television.
Instead: These days I use netflix. Or.. you could always give up television entirely and spend more time cooking, reading, writing, learning a language and all those things that you wish you could do but your too ‘busy’ to do.
31 – Music
I don’t pay full price for a music streaming service!
Instead: My family uses Spotify. The family account is great value if you have multiple people under the same roof willing to share a subscription with you.
32 – Video Games
I loved video games as a kid! I owned every Pokemon gameboy game from Pokemon Red in 1996 to Pokemon X in 2013. That’s 17 long years! These days, life is my video game!
Instead: Rather than levelling up in a virtual game, why not level up in your real life! I’ve replaced video games with other (free) hobbies including writing, reading and painting.
33 – Language Classes
Learning a new language is one of my big goals. In-person classes are so valuable, but you can save so much money by supplementing classes with free learning.
Instead: Practice on duolingo, listen to free podcast sessions, get a recommended book and work through the exercises yourself. Putting in the extra study in your own time will mean that you get much more out of an expensive paid class.
Save Money on Technology
At university I had an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, MacBook Pro and an iMac. I figured that I could afford them and I needed them for my studies. Who was I kidding! In reality, I could have saved a huge sum of money and taken advantage of the advanced computer lab at the university. Imagine if I had invested those few thousand dollars instead. You live and learn, so these days I have significantly cut back my technology expenses.
34 – A new phone every 2 years
I don’t upgrade my phone every 2 years or have a plan which includes a monthly payment for the cost of the phone.
Instead: Keep a phone for 5 years or more. I did buy an expensive iPhone 7 (outright!). I typically keep my phones for at least 5 years, until they stop being functional. By owning my phone outright I’m able to get an affordable sim only phone plan.
35 – A new computer
I need a computer to check my emails, do my monthly accounting, search the web and write this blog. I don’t need anything fancy. I no-longer try to keep up with the endless release of new apple computers.
Instead: I have a hand-me-down 2013 MacBook Air from family. It’s over 6 years old and still going strong! You can also buy a cheap or second hand computer and keep it as long as possible.
36 – Expensive Software
I love using the adobe suite for graphic design! However, due to the hefty price tag these days I am using free alternatives.
Instead: Use free alternatives to expensive paid software. For graphic design I use Inkscape and Canva instead of the Adobe Creative Suite.
Save Money on Pets
I recently brought home a gorgeous puppy and oh boy are they expensive! Even when you want to very best for your furry friend there are so many ways you can save money.
37 – Pet Treats that I can Make at Home
Some pet treats aren’t practical to make yourself at home. Take dehydrated beef tendons and bully sticks for example, these are great value to buy from the store. Some other treats like dehydrated sweet potato are so easy to make yourself at home.
Instead: Make healthy pet treats at home. Try these recipes for dehydrated sweet potato and chicken jerky.
38 – Anything Fancy for my Pet That I Wouldn’t Buy For Myself
Are you buying probiotic milk for yourself? Are you buying expensive single ingredient health food and supplements for yourself? If the answer is no, do not buy these for your pet!
Instead: Buy a quality pet food and supplement with healthy home-cooked extras.
39 – Paid play sessions
It’s tempting to go to paid puppy play sessions, however at $10-15 per visit this cost really adds up over time.
Instead: Join a meetup group to meet other owners in your area! Say hello to other dog owners as you walk around the streets and your bound to make doggy friends to meet up with for play dates.
Save Money on Transit
At the moment my transit costs are almost non-existent! Transit costs will fluctuate through life depending on how close you live to work and the quality of public transit available in your location. Don’t spend any more than you need to!
40 – A Car
I have owned cars in the past and I am sure that I will in the future. However, right now I live in the city and I save so much money by choosing not to own a car. Between the purchase price, renting a parking space in the city, insurance and maintenance I’m saving many thousands of dollars a year.
Instead: I borrow a family members car occasionally, or rent a car for longer trips. I considered signing up for a car-share service but my usage is so low it’s cheaper to rent from a conventional car rental store. The cost of renting for a few weekends in the year doesn’t even come anywhere close to car ownership!
41 – Public Transit When You Can Walk
I don’t take public transit if the walk is less than an hour.
Instead: I make the most of living in the city and walk anywhere and everywhere as much as possible!
42 – Taxi/Uber when you can take public transit
I don’t take a taxi or ride sharing service if it’s a similar travel time on public transit.
Instead: I only take taxi’s occasionally when it’s inconvenient or not possible to take public transit – like a 5am trip to the airport. Usually I’ll take public transit and arrive in a similar amount of time for a fraction of the price.
Save Money on Your Home
I used to splurge on items for my home thinking of them as an investment for many years to come. However, you never know what the future holds. I’ve moved overseas and most of the furniture and homeward for my first apartment are tucked away in my parents basement awaiting my return! Buy smart and second hand where possible to get the best quality for the lowest price.
43 – Harsh cleaning products
I’m sensitive to cleaning products. Harsh commercial cleaners give me terrible headaches and nausea. They’re also expensive!
Instead: I use vinegar and bicarbonate soda to clean anything and everything.
44 – Expensive Furniture
I don’t buy expensive furniture. Now that I have a new puppy at home who delights on chewing couches and table legs, I’m so glad for it!
Instead: Almost all my furniture is either second hand (from a store or the side of the road) or from Ikea. Get creative!
45 – Cleaning service
I don’t pay for a cleaning service.
Instead: My partner and I share the cleaning duties. My favourite trick is to invite someone around to our condo every few weeks. This gives me the motivation to deep clean on a regular basis!
46 – Disposable salt and pepper grinders
I don’t use disposable salt and pepper grinders. It’s tempting to pick up the disposable grinders from the supermarket but they’re designed to be difficult or impossible to refill.
Instead: Invest in a decent salt and pepper grinder on sale and refill with salt crystals and peppercorns.
47 – Expensive Kitchen Appliances
I love to cook, but I don’t spend a lot of money on kitchen appliances or equipment.
Instead: I get creative, adjusting recipes to work with the equipment that I have available! I also borrow equipment from family and friends if I need it for a one-off occasion.
Save Money on Your Finances
There can be so many hidden costs and fees when it comes to your finances. Make sure you know what fees you will be required to pay when signing up for any financial services.
48 – Bank Fees
I don’t pay bank fees. Ever.
Instead: All of my bank accounts are either no fee accounts, or the fee is waived with a minimum balance. My preference is for a no fee account.
49 – Investment manager
I don’t pay for an investment manager.
Instead: I am enjoying learning about the world of investing and I self-manage investment accounts.
50 – Paid finance tracking tools
I don’t pay for any fancy financial tracking tools.
Instead: I use excel. This simple tool is all I need. There are also many free online financial tracking tools that you can use to save money.
How Do You Save Money Every Day?
I hope this list inspires you to spend less and save more. Mindful spending means that you will enjoy the things that you do spend money on so much more.
What are you not spending money on to save and invest towards financial freedom? Let me know in the comments below!
I just came across your blog and I absolutely love it.
Thanks so much for reading Briana!