Are you constantly searching for new ways to save money everyday? If you are, you’re not alone. I’m always pushing myself to save more and be a better value shopper. Because so, I thought I’d share a few of the ways I’m cutting costs to live a more affordable, enjoyable life. But first…

Why Should You Save Money Everyday?

The better question is, why not? Even if you have stacks of cash in the bank, the fastest way NOT to blow it all is to be conscious of your spending and saving. Fact: If you save $10 dollars a day, everyday, and invest it at a 10% return, in roughly 30 years you’ll have over $1 million. There’s no secret here. This is the power of compounding interest.

Depending on your level of income and expenses, $10 a day may be more or less than you can afford to save. The point of this exercise is to find a comfortable amount of money to save each day and take action. Have you already started thinking about all the different ways you can save money everyday? I have. Let’s discuss them.

My Top 5 Ways to Save Money Everyday:

Money Saving Technique #1: Use Coupons for Everything

Conventional wisdom would have us believe that coupons are only good for grocery shopping. Wrong! Because of the Internet, there are literally coupons for everything. Before you purchase anything – big or small – do a quick google search for the product and add any or all of the keywords, “discounts, coupons, and deals,” to your search. You’ll be amazed by the amount of legitimate coupons and discounts floating around that can help your save money everyday. To learn more about coupon shopping, check out the helpful website Coupon Mom.

Money Saving Technique #2: Only Buy What You Eat

This can be a bit tricky, but think about all of the food that’s wasted in your household. This food didn’t just magically appear in your refrigerator, you purchased it. And when it goes bad, you throw it out. Essentially money down the drain, moving you away from your ultimate goal to save money everyday. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy leftovers just as much as the next starving college student, but if you’re going to save food you have to make sure you eat it. Also, when you’re at the grocery store and you’re looking at fruit and vegetables, remember that most of it’s sold by weight. If you’re not going to eat all 9 bananas in the bunch, pick off 3 and purchase those only.

Money Saving Technique #3: Avoid Expensive Department Stores

I know that brand new swimsuit at Macy’s looks good, but you and I both know it’s overpriced. And when you’re trying to save money everyday, these are the details you need to be aware of. If you simply can’t avoid the brand name retailers, make sure your browsing the clearance racks. A better idea is to avoid those stores totally and do your shopping at discount retailers like Ross, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx. If you’ve ever been into one of these stores, you’ll know firsthand that there are gems floating around. The only catch is you have to find them. Think of it as a scavenger hunt for savings. You’ll be rewarded when you walk up to the cashier with 5 items that cost under $100.

Money Saving Technique #4: Brew Your Own Cup

Whether you’re into fresh loose leaf tea or a rich roast of coffee, save money everyday by making it yourself. At $1.65, the cheapest item on a Peet’s menu is a Kids Cocoa…probably not what you’re after. More likely, you’re ordering a latte or coffee that will run you anywhere from $2 to $5. If you weren’t already aware, both coffee and tea are very affordable commodities that can be brewed fairly easily. It will take some up front purchases to brew your own coffee, but most of the tools you need are reasonably priced. Plus, you purchase them once and they’re good for years. Tea, on the other hand, is extremeley cheap to get going on. Tea bags are very affordable, but I recommend heading down to your local Peet’s and buying a tin of loose leaf tea for $10. If you don’t have a Peet’s nearby, you can buy online here.

Money Saving Technique #5: Walk, Bus, Or Ride Instead of Drive

The cost of driving your car is more than just the gas it takes to get you from point A to B. At $3 or more per gallon, gas is no cheap commodity in itself, but gas is just the tip of the iceberg. The subtle costs are wear and tear to your vehicle (pushing you closer to your next pricey visit to the mechanics), bridge tolls, parking, registration, insurance and other incidentals. A great way to save money everyday is to substitute driving your car for any other method of transportation that doesn’t cost so much.

 

These 5 ways to save money everyday are just the tip of the iceberg. There are literally hundreds of ways to cut back on your daily spending. Be creative and analyze your life. Where can you afford to make cuts? Everyone is different and I’d love to hear how you are enhancing your life through savings.