Do you want to save money? Of course, you do! We can all benefit from having more money, but the real question here is whether something like this is possible or not. The answer to this question is affirmative and it turns out that you can cut the expenses on small things in order to save money each week.
Even if you are not a big spender, you are probably buying a few things in different places each week. Or maybe you are paying for some services without noticing that. With a good plan and strategy, you should be able to reduce these expenses and get the money you need for more important things like a summer holiday abroad or a new TV. By analyzing where your money goes each week, you can make better decisions and save money.
- Learn more about the things you can do to save money each week
- Check these tips that can help you save money right away
- Learn where your money goes
We have prepared a list of tips that should help you spend your money in a smarter way. In this way, you can save money each week without affecting your lifestyle, at least not dramatically. Here’s a list of tips that you can start practicing right now.
1. Go to the grocery store once a week
Of course, we are all visiting grocery stores from time to time, but you’ve probably noticed that some people are doing this more frequently than the others. If you want to save money, you should visit the grocery store once a week instead of visiting it three or more times each week. Why does this make a difference?
First of all, when you are doing this once a week, you will have enough time to create a plan – a shopping list that will help you find and buy the best products. There’s another reason that makes this move a smart one.
Namely, when people are purchasing goods from a grocery store every day or a few times each week, they are usually going there when they are hungry or in a hurry. The final result is devastating for your wallet – you will buy many things that you actually don’t need and at a higher rate.
- Visit the grocery store once a week instead of two or more times a week
- You can save money and make better decisions in this way
- It is possible to save time in this way
2. Don’t run your dishwasher or washing machine on half load
There are situations when people think that running their dishwashers or washing machines on half load is a good idea, but this is definitely not a smart move when you are trying to save money. While it’s true that the half load feature on these machines uses less power and water, it’s also true that two half load sessions last (and cost) more than a full load session.
The energy and water are not the only things you will save on when following this advice. If you make a good plan and turn your machines on only when they are completely loaded, you will also save money on softeners and detergents.
- Avoid using the half load feature on washing machines and dishwashers
- Make a plan and use them only when they are completely loaded
- You can save on electricity, water, softeners and other things in this way
3. Quit smoking (gradually)
If you are a smoker, this is a good way to save money each week and become healthier. Some people might say that this is a difficult task, but this process can be conducted gradually. How many packs do you smoke each week? 7? Or maybe 3? Regardless of the answer, try to cut down that number for at least one each week.
Smoking is already expensive and it’s becoming more expensive every day. If you are not motivated enough, think about the health benefits. Those of you who simply can’t quit smoking can still save money by rolling their own cigarettes. It’s way cheaper to buy loose tobacco, filters, and papers and make your own cigarettes.
- Smoking is quite expensive
- You can start quitting gradually
- If you can’t give up on cigarettes, start rolling your own
4. Replace garbage bags with grocery bags
After a shopping session in almost every grocery store, you will get plastic grocery bags for free. The good thing is that these grocery bags are eco-friendly now and they are quite durable. If you want to save some money, you can replace garbage bags in your wastebaskets with grocery bags made of plastic.
Instead of purchasing garbage bags each week, you can use grocery bags in the same way. These bags are more or less the same and the only difference is that you can get grocery bags without paying a dime. This move won’t save you tons of money, but you will feel the difference after some period of time.
- Grocery bags are usually free
- You can use them right away
- It’s a good way to save money in the long run
5. Drive with a plan
Most people use their cars a few times a week. If you are driving to work, you are using your car at least ten times a week. In addition, you will probably use your car to do some errands every week. While you can’t drive less frequently to work, you can reduce the number of times you are using your car into town.
For example, if you have to visit the doctor’s office this week and the grocery store, do this at once. Take one trip instead of two trips. This is an excellent way to save money on gas. Keep in mind that this is not the only thing that’s beneficial for your wallet. Don’t forget that by driving less frequently your car will not be exposed to unnecessary wear and tear effects.
- Take one trip to do a few things at a time instead of driving back and forth all the time
- You can save money on car repairs
- Your gas expenses will be cut too
6. Replace soft drinks with water
Here’s a tip that will not only help you save money each week, but it will also protect your health. Surely, we all like to try a soft drink from time to time because some of them look quite refreshing. However, soft drinks contain sweeteners, artificial flavoring and other things that are not really great for your health.
But, what’s even more important is that these drinks will cost you money. Next time when you feel thirsty, avoid buying soft drinks and use water instead. Water is much healthier and refreshing and it’s (almost) free. If you feel the urge to try a soft drink, do this twice a month not each week.
We should also mention that it’s better to invest in a water purifier if you are worried about the quality of tap water in your home instead of purchasing bottled water. There are numerous studies that have shown that many bottled water products are worse than tap water and obviously they are more expensive than tap water.
- Water is much healthier than soft drinks
- This practice can save you money each week especially if you are a fan of soft drinks
- Avoid bottled water and use a water purifier instead
7. Replace your cable TV subscription with a streaming service
First of all, you should know how many hours you are spending watching TV. Are you a big TV fan? If the answer is no, then a change like this will be easy. However, if you like to watch TV every day, you should conduct research. Generally speaking, streaming services like HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other similar services are cheaper than traditional cable TV solutions. You will save a lot of money each week if you are using these services.
As we said before, you should check their offer first before making a chance like this. Try to find your favorite TV shows and movies and analyze their offer in general. Don’t forget that there are Pay-Per-View options and Video-On-Demand options too which mean that even if you want to watch some exclusive event you can pay one time for it, you don’t have to pay weekly or monthly.
- Streaming service providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime are cheaper than cable TV
- You can often find more content on these services
- Analyze their offers before making a change
8. Brew your own coffee
There’s no doubt that coffeehouses like Starbucks know their job and that you can drink tasty coffee there, but developing a habit of drinking coffee outside can cost you a lot. So, it’s a smart idea to cut out these trips to the coffeehouses that are usually going on a few times a week.
The best idea is to wake up five minutes earlier and brew your coffee. Consider investing in a coffee machine, but even a small coffee pot that you can use to brew coffee can do the job.
- Stop visiting coffeehouses on a regular basis
- Find high-quality, inexpensive coffee that you can brew at home
- Consider buying a good small coffee pot that you can use anywhere
9. Spend more time at home
Do you really have to visit fancy restaurants and new bars a few times a week? The truth is that you can save money if you start spending more time at home. This might sound like something that’s not quite interesting, but it doesn’t have to be like that.
First and foremost, if your friend/s invite you to the local pub, you can invite them to your home. Even if you buy drinks for them from the local grocery store, you spend less than going out in a pub/restaurant. Of course, remember that they will sometimes invite you to their homes.
You can also watch movies at home instead of visiting the cinema each week. Needless to say, a meal prepared at home can sometimes be much tastier than a meal at a restaurant, not to mention less expensive.
- There are many things that you can do at home for free
- Eating and drinking at home is cheaper than doing these things outside
- You can hang out with your friends at home too
10. Walk or ride a bicycle when you can
This is good advice for those who live in a place where all the things they need are close by. Instead of using your car or public transportation, you can ride your bicycle or walk. Of course, this also means that you will do something good for your health.
- Remember that it takes around 10 minutes on average to bike one mile
- Walking and biking is good for your health
- These activities are (almost) completely free
11. Work out at home
There are many people who are taking care of their health by visiting local gyms a few times each week. There is nothing wrong with this habit except for the expenses. The good news is that people can save a tremendous amount of money if they stop spending dozens of Euros a week in their local gyms or spas.
One of the suggestions we have for fitness enthusiasts is to work at home. They can purchase a DVD or use YouTube videos to find effective exercises and follow specially designed programs. This will also save you a lot of time and you won’t be able to blame the weather next time when you are trying to skip a gym class. In addition, you can exercise outside – jogging is completely free.
- You can work out at home instead of using your local gym
- You can save money by canceling your gym membership
- You will also save a lot of time
12. Use discount cards
It doesn’t matter whether you are shopping online or in conventional physical stores, the truth is that you can save a lot of money by using discount cards. These cards are usually issued by stores that want to reward their loyal customers.
These cards are offered by businesses that belong to different industries like clothing stores, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores. With these cards, you can get discounts or special buy one get two special deals. Next time you are out shopping, remember to get your discount card.
- Use discount cards whenever you can
- Try to purchase things in the same places to get better discounts
- Use these cards both online and offline
13. Repair your clothing, don’t throw it away
There are many people who are ready to throw their shirts simply because they have lost a button or two. This is a bad move if you want to save money. Instead of throwing these pieces of clothing away, it would be much better if you repair them. If a button is missing, sew a new button. If there’s a small hole, put a patch.
Most people are unaware of how interesting sewing can be. The best part is that this is an easy task that can be done by literally anyone. After a while, you can turn this into a hobby, a money-saving hobby.
- Repairing clothing is better than throwing it away
- Sewing is fun
- Repairing clothing is easy
14. Keep your change in a jar
Whenever you buy something and you get a small change for that, put that change in a jar. Keep the jar in a visible place in order to stay motivated. Obviously, you should not expect to save tons of money in this way, but you will get inspired to save money.
In this way, you can stop spending your change in vending machines buying things that you don’t need and you will appreciate the money you’ve earned more than ever. These savings jars remind us how smart it is to take account of the money you’ve spent.
- You can save a small amount of money each week in this way
- Keep the jar in a visible place
- You will soon understand how rewarding saving money is
15. Plan your meals ahead
If you want to save a significant amount of money, you will have to start making plans for your meals in advance. This is a nice way to avoid unplanned take outs. Once again, we should mention that this option will have a positive impact on your health too.
Make a plan for a few meals that you can eat each week. It’s a good idea to make a list that can use the same ingredients in more than one meal. If you are focused on eating something healthy and affordable that can be used in many different meals, you can include avocado or broccoli on this list.
- Make a plan about the things you will eat each week in advance
- A plan like this will help you get healthier too
- You can save both time and money
