1. Get a Roommate

One of the best ways to save money is to get a roommate. Having a roommate can help to split the cost of rent, utilities, and other expenses. Additionally, roommates can help to reduce the cost of groceries and other household items. So if you have an additional room in your home, add a roommate, gain a friend and lower your monthly mortgage or rent payments. We do recommend doing an interview and background check on your potential roommate candidates before moving forward.

2. Cut Out Cable

Another way to save money is to cut out cable. Cable television can be quite expensive, especially if you have multiple channels or premium channels. The current average cable + internet bill is $116 per month. And let’s be real, how often are you watching those cable channels? There are a number of alternatives to cable television that can be much less expensive, such as streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. Need something with local channels? Check out DirecTV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV or Youtube TV. Otherwise just install a powerful antenna to get them.

3. Reduce Your Cell Phone Bill

Another way to save money is to reduce your cell phone bill. There are a number of ways to do this, such as switching to a cheaper cell phone plan or getting rid of your landline telephone if you have one. The best way to get it cheaper is to join a family plan with your other friends. It’s even cheaper if you know someone who can get a discount, such as military veterans, first responders, teachers, students, or nurses. I only pay $31 per month for unlimited calls, text and internet under the T-Mobile premium magenta plan because of this.

4. Eat at Home More Often

Eating out can be quite expensive, so eating at home more often can help you to save money. Cooking at home allows you to control the quality and quantity of the food you eat, which can help you to save money and eat healthier. Gone are all the additives and preservatives (we hope, anyway.) Go to your local farmer’s market to get greens, and try to buy frozen meat or vegetables in bulk. Additionally, if you do go out you can take leftovers with you for lunch or dinner, which can further help to reduce your food costs. Restaurants often give you portions for two anyway in the United States.

5. Shop at Thrift Stores

Shopping at thrift stores is another great way to save money. Thrift stores sell gently used clothing, furniture, and household items for a fraction of the price of new items. Additionally, shopping at thrift stores helps to support local businesses and charities. Places like Plato’s Closet and Clothes Mentor sell gently used clothing with higher quality brand names and styles. You could even bring your clothes to sell and make a quick buck that way.

6. Use Coupons and Discounts

Using coupons and discounts is another great way to save money. There are a number of ways to find coupons and discounts, such as installing web plugins or in the Sunday paper. Honey is a browser extension that aggregates and automatically applies online coupons on online stores. You might snag a good deal! Additionally, many stores offer loyalty cards that give customers access to exclusive coupons and discounts.

7. Use Reward Apps Like Ibotta

Ibotta is a free app that helps you save money on your everyday purchases. All you need to do is take a picture of your receipt or connect your Ibotta account to the app, and you’ll earn money back on your eligible purchases. Ibotta offers cash back on a variety of items, including groceries, clothing, travel, and more. Plus, Ibotta makes it easy to cash out your earnings with PayPal or Venmo. So why not download the Ibotta app and start saving today?

8. Shop for a cheaper car or home insurance

Many people don’t realize how much they could be saving on their car and home insurance until they shop around for a better deal. There are a lot of insurance companies out there vying for your business, so it’s important to take the time to find the one that offers the best rate. One way to save even more money is to look for a company that offers a discount for bundling car and home insurance together. By doing this, you can usually get a lower rate than if you had two separate policies.

9. Do it yourself instead of hiring a handyman

Need to flush out the irrigation system? Fix the leaky pipe? Install a kitchen backsplash? These are things you could do yourself. YouTube is a great resource that has tips from professionals. If it’s something you can do, try it yourself. Though for the bigger projects, we say leave it to a professional.

10. Don’t get ripped off at the auto mechanic shop.

When your car needs repairs, it can be tempting to just take it to the nearest auto shop and have them handle everything. However, this can often be a costly mistake. Many auto shops charge exorbitant prices for parts and labor, and they may even try to upsell you on unnecessary repairs. Fortunately, there is a way to avoid getting ripped off at the auto shop. By shopping at Rockauto, you can get high-quality parts at a fraction of the price. Then you can call around and see if there are any affordable mechanics that will install the part for you. For example, the Toyota dealership wanted $850 for installation of a new rotor and brake pads. WIth my own mechanic and RockAuto, it only cost me $250. That’s a savings of over 70%! Even better, if you’re handy with tools, you can often find installation instructions on YouTube and save even more money by doing the work yourself.