10 Painless Ways To Save Money

10 Painless Ways To Save Money

Sometimes, people groan when they find out what I do for a living.  They think that to save money, they have to give up their fancy date nights or turn off their cable.

Check out my segment on Cents and Sensibility on 10 Easy Ways To Save Money!

While those things would undoubtedly be frugal, there are some less painless ways to save money.  You might not even notice some of them.  Some of them might even enhance your life a little bit.

10 Painless Ways To Save Money

Buy Used When You Can

My first piece of advice is to buy used when you can.  I will say this has become controversial advice in some areas.  So let’s start with the not-controversial ones (in my opinion, anyway).

Most furniture and home decor is just as good the second time around.  Older furniture is often made with higher-quality materials, such as solid wood rather than modern particleboard.  I would rather have a 75-year-old dining room table than a newer, lower-quality piece. Items like lighting, holiday decorations, and artwork are also great to find secondhand.

Check out Ten Things Frugal People Love!

I love my local used bookstore.  We have several in the area that will give you credit for your old books, so you can buy someone else’s old books at a discount.  And I swear, used books smell better.

Exercise and Sporting Equipment- things like free weights, bikes, and rowing machines are great to buy used.  Avoid treadmills or other machines that may need maintenance- it may be better to buy new.

Some kitchen items may even be better used.  If someone is selling their grandmother’s seasoned cast-iron skillet, you grab that treasure. Glassware, plates, silverware, and other items hold up well over time.  

Now, the two areas my friends argue with me most about buying new versus used.

Cars: Did you know new vehicles can lose up to 20% of their value when you drive them off the lot?  If you drive a car for two weeks and then return it to the dealership, it’s now used. And worth thousands less than what you paid for it just 14 days ago.  And if you took out a loan for the full price of the vehicle, you are now “underwater” on your car loan.  You owe more than the car is worth.

Common reasons for not buying used include maintenance costs and interest rates.  While we would all love to pay cash for a car, it’s not always possible. If you are borrowing money, the interest rates tend to be much lower on new cars, which can make your payment lower.  It may also mean you get a better deal on the car, since dealerships make more money from financing and warranties than from the cars themselves, most of the time.

The second argument is that, in theory, a newer car will need less up-front maintenance than a used car. I’m not sure how accurate that is nowadays, but I am not an expert in car maintenance, so I will leave that conversation for people smarter than I am.  

Sign Up for Customer Reward Programs

Before you can do this next suggestion, set up a couponing e-mail address.  Find a free e-mail service you are comfortable with and set up an e-mail address you won’t use for anything personal- just for important junk mail.

Then, sign up for every rewards program you can find.  This way, you can get discounts everywhere you shop without worrying about spam getting mixed in with your real e-mails.

I searched online to see which programs people found most rewarding.  Target Circle came up first on the list, which was no surprise to me.  Their app has so many coupons and opportunities to save.  

Starbucks Rewards, Sephora Beauty Insider, Kohl’s Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy rounded out the top five that I saw.  But I would say the real reward comes when it’s somewhere you like to shop or eat.

I know it feels like everyone wants you to download their app, and your phone gets full, so be selective, but do what you can to save big!  That buy-ten-get-one-free digital punch card at your local bookstore can be a real money-saver!

Invite Friends Over Instead of Going Out

My favorite friends are frugal friends.  Especially when you are working toward a big goal, like getting out of debt or saving for your first home, it’s great to be surrounded by like-minded people.

Instead of meeting friends at a restaurant, have a potluck dinner, and everyone brings their favorite dish.  Skip going out to a movie and stream something at home.  Even if you have to pay for it, it will be much cheaper than the theater.  Light up the backyard fire pit and roast marshmallows.  Get the kids together and head to the park for some exercise.  Find some free activities that are fun for everyone without spending much money.

Turn Off The Lights

 Save on the electric bill and on light bulbs.  Switch all your light bulbs to LED, which last longer when used properly and consume less energy.  If you haven’t priced LED bulbs lately, they are getting much cheaper.  If the room has natural light, keep the lights off and enjoy the sunshine. And remember to channel the spirit of your parents- if you aren’t in a room, turn the lights off!!

Use the Library

I cannot say enough good things about the public library.  The library has changed since we were kids- except it is still free.  It’s not just for books anymore.  You can digitally check out books and stream shows (I use the Hoopla and Libby apps almost every day.)  With your membership, you can stream movies and television shows or listen to audiobooks.

Libraries now often have a makerspace where you can check out or use items such as sewing machines, crafting supplies, video editing equipment, vinyl cutters, and STEAM activities.  Some even have 3D printers!

Check the calendar- tons of community groups meet there.  Classes are taught (sometimes even about saving money!).  They have free internet. If they don’t have something you want, ask!  They may be willing to order books from your favorite author, so you can check them out.  Build a good relationship with a librarian- they are usually great people.

Cancel Unused Memberships

If you haven’t been to the gym in the last four months, it’s time to cancel your membership.  I know many of these places make it difficult to cancel, but a $ 20-a-month membership costs $240 a year!  That money could be used to pay down debt, build up savings, or pay for a nice night out.

The same goes for streaming services, online forums, tracking apps, software trials, auto-ship services… anything you pay for that you don’t use.  If you REALLY think you will use it, cancel it now- you can always start it up again later.

Check Out Community Calendars

Between community centers, libraries, churches, parks, and city-sponsored events, we could be out every day of the week if the weather is nice and never pay a dime.  Check your town’s website or stop in the city center and look at the signage.  Festivals, concerts, classes, public performances, fireworks…the list can be endless!

Review Your Cell Phone Bill

 I have to confess- I put off doing this way too long.  Every month, I got the cell bill, I complained about it, and I never checked the usage.  I never stopped into the store to talk to someone about our service.  And then my mom (who is joint on my bill) needed a newer phone so we went in.  Our carrier had a new plan with more data for $20 less than we had been spending.  Now, I stop into the store (or check their website and social media) about every six months and double-check everything.  I switched to pre-paid a while ago, and now I save even more!

Eat Meatless One Day a Week

Take one dinner a week and go meatless!  Being in better health is cheaper than being unhealthy in the long run, so take a meal and munch on some veggies.  Vegetables are high in fiber, nutrient-dense, and can help manage weight and reduce inflammation.  

From a purely economic standpoint, meat is more expensive than pasta or beans.  If you stick to Italian or Mexican dishes, you may be able to omit the meat, and no one will even notice.  This may also encourage you to try new recipes and get out of those recipe slumps we all tend to fall into when we make the same things over and over. 

Buy Presents All Year Long

I have shocking news for you.  Christmas comes every year on December 25th.  If you buy presents for the holidays, no matter what you celebrate, the time comes every year.  And every single year, people are completely blindsided when it happens.

Instead of waiting until the last minute to buy birthday and holiday gifts, shop when you find sales throughout the year!  A beautiful sweater purchased on December 28th still looks nice the next October for someone’s birthday (my birthday is in October, in case you are looking for someone to give it to).  During Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, many restaurants offer bonus gift cards.  Grab those early and tuck the cards away for later (and use the bonus for yourself). 

Saving can be simple with these 10 Painless Ways To Save Money!  Did I miss any?  What are yours?