10 Surprising Tips to Save Money That You Might Want to Try Now

In life, there are always shortcuts to make any difficulty easier. And when it comes to saving some money in your wallet, there are a few tips that will help you make it to the end of the month safe and sound. So, if you’ve been struggling to keep up with your personal finances, stress no more because it’s easier than you think.

We at Bright Side know how chaotic it can be to keep up with your bills. So we discovered some smart, simple tricks to help you save some money. After applying these small changes to your routine, we promise that you’ll see results — and you may even be able to reward yourself at the end of the month.

1. Fill up on gas on Monday mornings.

This is your way to start the week strong. Refueling on Monday morning has proven to be a smart move if you want to save some money. Mondays are a day when gas stations are generally quieter traffic-wise. As the week progresses, prices are more likely to rise and, therefore, the worst days to refuel are Fridays. So forget about hating Mondays and fill yourself with energy just as you do your car.

2. Pack your lunch when going to the office.

It can be tempting when you’re at the office and your colleagues are ordering food for delivery. But the truth is that you can save up to around $294 per month if you decide to skip ordering in. Preparing your meals ahead of time and packing your lunch can help you save some money, and instead of spending money every day on outside dining, you can save it for a special occasion.

3. Switch out your brand-labeled products.

Sometimes we let ourselves be guided by trendy brands without really considering their cost. Even when we already have our own favorite brand name products, it’s a good idea to consider switching to other brand-labeled alternatives.

For example, for products such as cereals or pasta, you can find cheaper alternatives in the supermarket without compromising on taste. Most of the time, they are just as good as the name brand, so give it a try!

4. Go cash only.

This may seem like a bit of a tricky tip, but it’s easier than it sounds. And, in fact, this is a good first step to start being more mindful about spending your money. You can start doing this on a weekly basis, limiting your use of credit cards and relying on cash. People tend to take better care of their money when it’s in cash. So try to keep your biggest expenses on your card and for the rest, use cash only.

5. Follow the 50/30/20 rule.

This is the perfect secret formula to keep your wallet happy at the end of the month. Just follow this rule: 50% of your earnings should go toward your main necessities, like bills, rent, food, and paying off debts. 30% goes to leisure, and the remaining 20% should be put into your savings. So, if you want to keep a smarter lifestyle stay away from earning just for fun and spend your earnings responsibly for bills.

6. Use the 24-hour rule for online purchases.

We know how exciting it is to shop online. Most of the time, online purchases are made on impulse, so to avoid future regrets, here is some advice. Follow the 24-hour rule. If you feel like you are about to purchase a non-essential item, please wait 24 hours before hitting the “add to cart” button. This way, you will have time to think about it and decide if it’s worth it or not.

7. Cut laundry detergent use in half.

Laundry detergent may be one of the most expensive products you have at home. To save a few pennies, we recommend that you make sure you use the least amount of detergent suggested. Most detergents on the market are highly concentrated, so you don’t have to worry about not adding enough product.

8. Cultivate your own greens at home.

It’s time to be greener! If you have adequate space in your home, we recommend that you grow your own vegetables. And don’t worry about not having a large area to grow, there are some veggies, like tomatoes and radishes, that are easy to grow in containers. Not only will this help you save some money at the grocery store, but you’ll also have fresher produce and might develop a new hobby.

9. Switch to LED lighting.

This is your time to invest smarter. Swapping your regular light bulbs out for LED lighting is a good idea if you want to save at least 75% of energy. LED lighting can also last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. So, in the long run, it equates to considerable savings.

10. Wash your clothes with cold water.

Here’s another laundry tip. When you use the washing machine, always go for cold water. That’s because when you use hot water, up to 90% of the electricity used in the washing machine is due to heating. So switching to cold water can save you $63 a year on electric bills.

Do you know of any helpful tips that have helped you save money? Share them with us in the comments!