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Who wouldn’t want to save $500 a month?
If there is something I am pretty passionate about, it’s personal finances and people being in control of their own destinies. It’s hard to feel in control while you’re in debt or living paycheck to paycheck. Which is why I am a huge believer in living debt free, and below your means.
It is really easy for your money to be slowly leaching out, a lot of the time, without you even noticing where it’s going. I can’t recommend enough sitting down and spending time finding out where all your money is going, setting a budget and sticking to it.
To help jump start your savings, here is a way to jump start your savings and save $500 a month!
Easy Ways to Save $500 a month Right Now
Ditch audible!
Get a library card, usually free, and then download whatever e-book app your library uses. I use Libby and love it! Listen to unlimited e-books for free! Savings $15+/month
Date night at home
You all know I love date night, it’s the best night of the week and so important to have regular date nights to keep the spark alive. But, they don’t have to be expensive nights out on the town. Do a date night at home! I have an entire post dedicated to ideas for date night at home! Savings $100/month
Bye Bye Gym
Say goodbye to the gym. This I only recommend if you have the self discipline to workout on your own, don’t need the gym for your mental health, and really need the cash. Savings $50/month
Adios Starbucks
Change out your Starbucks trips for fancy coffees at home. You can get nice coffee and fancy flavors and do it right from home! I have heard this advice before, I think we all have, and I rolled my eyes. It’s coffee. How does that help in a real and meaningful way? And, then I did the math. If you get a $5 coffee 3/week, that adds up to $780/year! That is real money! Money that I would much rather keep in my own bank account by making coffee at home. Savings $60/month
Goodbye Cable
Trade in cable for Hulu! Before we moved in together, my husband, The Handsome Hunk, spent over $100/month for cable. By trading out cable for Hulu, you can get access to all your shows for $6/month! That is a huge savings! Savings $94/month
Home Spa Days
Do your mani/pedis at home. Years ago I got into doing my own manicures and pedicures at home. And, you know what, I actually enjoy it more now than going to the nail salon. Put on a show from your new Hulu account, and pamper yourself with a glass of wine, a trashy reality tv show and do it yourself. It is heaven! A couple years ago, I purchased myself an LED gel nail kit to give myself long lasting manicures and it was a game changer. Savings $100/month
Library Movie Night
Rent DVDs from library! Everyone loves a night out at the movies, but if you’re trying to save money, a night out at the movies can zap away a lot of money very quickly. Between tickets, a drink and popcorn, just for one person you can easily be over $20, and if you’re part of a family, that easily turns into a $100 night. Trade that for making popcorn at home for 50 cents, and rent a movie from your library, for free! Savings $20-100/month
Try a Clothing Rental Service
I have flip flopped on this one myself. In fact if you dig through my Twitter account, I’m pretty sure I have a tweet somewhere ripping this idea apart as a waste of money. But, then I tried it. And, it has saved me a ton of money. Like, a shocking amount honestly. My thought originally was that you rent all these clothes and then at the end of the day, you return them and you have no clothes. And, yes, this is true, and it wouldn’t work for someone trying to build a wardrobe. But, let’s be honest, you probably own enough clothes already. It keeps me from buying so much more. Savings $50+/month (For me, it is way more! This is a very conservative estimate!)
Bonus: Make money
Use a cashback credit card. I do not recommend this for everyone. If you aren’t great at budgeting, credit cards can get you into trouble, easily spending more than you intend. But, if you can create a budget and stick to is religiously, using a cash back credit card can get you 1-3% back on what you are already spending money on anyway. I save my cash back throughout the year, and then have Christmas gifts paid for every December.
How do you save money?
If you like this, check out ways to make money from home!
Sandi says
Great post with lots of good ideas I want to put into action and reminders that we all need. Two big money savers for me are to question every purchase and to cook from scratch. I frequently fall prey to impulse buys (especially with regard to my hobbies – so many shiny objects calling to me!) and I now try to never purchase anything without considering carefully how much I really need it. Usually I don’t.
And cooking from scratch not only saves me so much money, but it also means that there is less prepared food in the house for impulse snacking. Fatter wallet, skinnier me!
Ashley says
These are all such great ideas! Some of these things we’re forced to do right now! Here are a few more ways… http://acuteangleblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/easy-ways-to-save-money-now.html
Can you believe how expensive cable?! You’d think they’d try to lower the price with all the more affordable streaming options there are now!