How To Save Money Fast: 11 Insanely Easy Ways To Save Money

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this, saving money feels impossible sometimes. You get your paycheck, pay your bills, grab a few coffees here and there, and suddenly you’re wondering where all your money went. Sound familiar? 🙂

Here’s the thing: saving money doesn’t have to be rocket science. After working with hundreds of clients as a financial advisor (yeah, I’ve got the fancy degrees to prove it), I’ve learned that most people overcomplicate this whole saving thing.

They think they need to live on ramen noodles or give up their Netflix subscription to build wealth. Spoiler alert: you don’t.

I’m going to share 11 strategies that actually work, no BS, no fluff, just real tactics that have helped regular folks stash away thousands of dollars. Some of these tips might challenge what you’ve heard before, and honestly That’s the point.

Let’s get your money working for you instead of disappearing into thin air.

How Do I Start Saving Money?

Here’s what nobody tells you about starting to save: the hardest part is admitting you need to do it. Seriously. Most people know they should save but keep putting it off because “next month will be better” or “I’ll start after I pay off this one thing.”

Stop waiting for the perfect moment. It doesn’t exist.

The real secret? You need a compelling reason. I mean a reason that makes your stomach flip when you think about not saving. Maybe it’s avoiding the panic you felt last time your car broke down. Maybe it’s proving to yourself you’re not destined to live paycheck to paycheck forever.

FYI, the moment you get paid, that money needs to move to savings immediately. Not at the end of the month when there’s “money left over.” Because let’s be real, there’s never money left over if you wait.

How Much Money Should You Save Each Month?

Everyone wants a magic number, right? Here’s the standard advice from financial textbooks: save at least 10% of your gross income. If you’re making $4,000 a month, that’s $400.

I’ve seen people try to save 50% of their income, burn out in two months, and then save nothing for the next year. That’s not sustainable. Start with 10%, get comfortable, then increase by 1% every few months.

Your goal should be to not even notice that money’s gone. That’s when you know you’ve hit your sweet spot.

Things To Consider When Saving Money Fast

Before you go all gung-ho and start slashing your budget like you’re competing on a reality show, pump the brakes. There are four critical factors that’ll determine whether you’re still saving six months from now or back to square one.

Budget

I know, I know. Budgeting sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. But here’s the truth bomb: you cannot save money consistently without knowing where your money goes.

You don’t need some complicated spreadsheet with 47 categories. Start simple. Track your spending for one month, and I mean everything. That $3 morning coffee? Write it down. The $12 “quick lunch” that happens four times a week? Track it.

Most people are shocked when they see the numbers. You might think you spend $200 on food, but the reality is closer to $600. Once you see the leak, you can plug it.

Use apps like Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget) to automate this process. They connect to your bank accounts and categorize everything automatically. Game changer.

Financial Goals

Here’s where people screw up: they treat all money goals the same. They’re not.

Saving for retirement is different from saving for a vacation, which is different from building an emergency fund. Each goal has its own timeline, importance level, and flexibility. You can’t throw everything into one pot and hope it works out.

Things To Consider When Saving Money Fast

Before you go all gung-ho and start slashing your budget like you’re competing on a reality show, pump the brakes. There are four critical factors that’ll determine whether you’re still saving six months from now or back to square one.

Budget

I know, I know. Budgeting sounds about as exciting as watching paint dry. But here’s the truth bomb: you cannot save money consistently without knowing where your money goes.

You don’t need some complicated spreadsheet with 47 categories. Start simple. Track your spending for one month—and I mean everything. That $3 morning coffee? Write it down. The $12 “quick lunch” that happens four times a week? Track it.

Most people are shocked when they see the numbers. You might think you spend $200 on food, but the reality is closer to $600. Once you see the leak, you can plug it.

Use apps like Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget) to automate this process. They connect to your bank accounts and categorize everything automatically. Game changer.

Financial Goals

Here’s where people screw up: they treat all money goals the same. They’re not.

Saving for retirement is different from saving for a vacation, which is different from building an emergency fund. Each goal has its own timeline, importance level, and flexibility. You can’t throw everything into one pot and hope it works out.

I recommend the bucket strategy. Create separate savings accounts for different goals:

• Emergency Fund (3-6 months of expenses)
• Short-term Goals (vacation, new phone, furniture)
• Medium-term Goals (house down payment, car)
• Long-term Goals (retirement, kids’ education)

Your emergency fund should be priority number one. Everything else comes after. Why? Because without that safety net, the first surprise expense will derail all your other goals anyway.

Expenses

Let me get real with you for a second. Your expenses are probably out of control, and you don’t even realize it.

The average American spends roughly $150-200 per month on subscription services. That’s nearly $2,000 a year on things you might use once a month or forget you’re even paying for.

Here’s what I want you to do right now: open your bank statement from last month and highlight every recurring charge.

Netflix, Spotify, gym membership, that meditation app you used twice, the software subscription for the hobby you quit. Add them all up. I bet you’ll find at least $50-100 you can cut immediately.

But it’s not just subscriptions. It’s the death-by-a-thousand-cuts spending. The DoorDash orders because you’re “too tired to cook.” The Target run for “just one thing” that turns into $75.

The Amazon purchases that show up at your door, and you can’t even remember ordering them.

Every dollar you spend is a dollar you’re not saving. I’m not saying become a hermit who never enjoys life. I’m saying be intentional. Ask yourself: “Will I remember this purchase in a week?” If the answer is no, skip it.

Be In Agreement With Your Partner

Oh boy, this is where relationships get tested. Money fights are the number one cause of divorce in America. Look it up.

If you’re sharing finances with someone, you absolutely must be on the same page about saving. I’ve seen too many situations where one partner is pinching pennies while the other is swiping the credit card like it’s a game show.

Sit down together and have the conversation. Not over dinner (too casual). Not during a fight (too emotional). Schedule 30 minutes when you’re both relaxed and discuss your goals.

Share your “why.” Explain what financial security means to you. Listen to their perspective without getting defensive. Compromise where needed. Maybe you save 15% instead of your ideal 20%, but at least you’re both committed.

Consider opening a joint savings account specifically for shared goals. It creates transparency and accountability. You can both watch the balance grow, which honestly becomes addictive once you see progress.

11 Ways To Save Money Fast Insanely And Easily

Alright, enough theory. Let’s get into the actual strategies that’ll put money in your pocket. These aren’t revolutionary secrets they’re battle tested methods that work if you actually implement them.

1. Begin With A Budget

Yeah, I mentioned this already, but it deserves its own section because budgeting is the foundation of everything.

Here’s the budget framework I recommend to all my clients the 50/30/20 rule:

• 50% of your income goes to needs (rent, utilities, food, insurance)
• 30% goes to wants (entertainment, dining out, hobbies)
• 20% goes to savings and debt repayment

Is this perfect for everyone? Nope. If you live in New York City, your needs might be 65% of your income. If you’re debt-free and frugal, you might save 40%. Adjust the percentages to fit your life.

The key is having a plan. When you budget every dollar, you’re telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went. You’ll spot problems before they become crises. You’ll see opportunities to save that were invisible before.

I use EveryDollar for my personal budgeting it’s free and stupid simple. But pick whatever tool works for you. Some people still prefer the old-school pen and paper method, and you know what? If it works, it works.

2. Evaluate Your Expenses

Time for some financial surgery. We’re cutting out the fat.

Pull out your last three months of bank and credit card statements. I want you to categorize every single expense. Yes, every one. This exercise sucks, but it’s eye-opening.

You’re looking for patterns:

• Do you spend $200/month on coffee? Make it at home and save $150.
• Paying for a gym you visit twice a month? That’s $40-60 you could save.
• Eating lunch out every day? That’s easily $10-15 daily, or $200-300 monthly.

Here’s a trick I learned from behavioral economics: calculate annual costs, not monthly ones. That $10 monthly subscription doesn’t sound like much. But $120 a year? Suddenly it requires justification.

For every expense you identify, ask yourself: “Does this bring me joy or value proportional to its cost?” If you’re paying $15/month for a streaming service you watch once, that’s a clear cut. But if your gym membership keeps you healthy and sane? Keep it.

The goal isn’t to eliminate all joy from your life. It’s to eliminate the mindless spending that provides zero value while keeping the expenses that genuinely improve your quality of life.

3. Increase Your Income

Okay, controversial opinion time: sometimes the problem isn’t your spending it’s your income.

If you’re making $30,000 a year in a high-cost-of-living area, no amount of budgeting wizardry will help you build serious wealth. You need more money coming in.

The good news? We live in the gig economy era. There are literally thousands of ways to boost your income:

Side hustles that actually work:

• Freelancing on Upwork or Fiverr (writing, design, coding, virtual assistance)
• Driving for Uber or DoorDash on weekends
• Selling stuff on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Poshmark
• Tutoring kids in subjects you’re good at (easily $25-50/hour)
• Pet sitting through Rover (I made an extra $800 last month doing this)

But here’s the real power move: invest in yourself to increase your primary income. Take courses, get certifications, develop skills that make you more valuable to employers. A $500 course that helps you negotiate a $5,000 raise? That’s a 900% return on investment.

I’ve seen clients double their income in two years by strategically upskilling and job hopping. In today’s market, the fastest way to get a significant raise is usually to change employers. Yeah, it’s uncomfortable. Do it anyway.

4. Ask For Discounts

Most people are too embarrassed to ask for discounts. That’s leaving money on the table. :/

Here’s what nobody tells you: everything is negotiable. Your cable bill, your insurance premiums, your phone plan all of it. Companies would rather give you a discount than lose you as a customer.

I saved $840 last year with one phone call. I called my car insurance company and said, “I’ve been loyal for five years, but I found a competitor offering the same coverage for $70 less per month. Can you match it?” They immediately knocked off $50/month. That’s literally a 10-minute conversation that saved me $600 annually.

Try this script: “Hi, I’ve been a customer for [X years]. I love your service, but I’m reviewing my budget, and this expense is higher than I’d like. What discounts or promotions are available? I noticed [competitor] offers [lower price] can we work something out?”

This works for:

• Internet and cable providers
• Cell phone carriers
• Insurance companies (auto, home, life)
• Subscription services
• Even rent (yes, really, especially if you’re a good tenant)

The worst they can say is no. But I’d estimate you’ll save money 60-70% of the time just by asking. That’s too good to ignore.

Also, never pay full price for big purchases. Wait for sales. Use coupon codes (try RetailMeNot or Honey). Shop at discount retailers like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or outlet malls.

5. Embrace Free Entertainment

Entertainment is where budgets go to die. Americans spend an average of $2,912 per year on entertainment. That’s over $240 per month.

Here’s the mindset shift: paid entertainment should be the exception, not the default.

Free or cheap entertainment options:

• Public libraries are incredible (free books, movies, audiobooks, magazines, even WiFi and computers)
• Free museums on certain days (most major cities have this)
• Hiking, biking, or walking in local parks
• Free community events (concerts, festivals, farmers markets)
• Game nights at home with friends instead of expensive bars
• YouTube has unlimited free content (workouts, documentaries, music, education)
• Potluck dinners instead of restaurants

My wife and I used to spend $400-500 monthly on entertainment movies, concerts, fancy dinners, you name it. We cut that to $150 by being creative. Date nights became picnics in the park with homemade food. Movie theater visits became Netflix nights with gourmet popcorn at home.

Did we sacrifice quality time together? Not even a little. Actually, we got more creative and intentional, which made our time together better.

IMO, the best things in life really are free or close to it. Deep conversations don’t cost money. Quality time with loved ones doesn’t cost money. Watching a sunset doesn’t cost money. We’ve been conditioned to think spending equals fun, but that’s marketing talking, not truth.

6. Use Online Tools

Technology has revolutionized personal finance. If you’re not using apps and tools to automate your saving, you’re working way harder than necessary.

Must-have money apps:

Acorns: Rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference. Buy a $3.50 coffee, and $0.50 goes to your investment account. It’s saving money without thinking about it. I’ve had clients save over $1,000 in a year just from roundups.

Digit: Analyzes your spending patterns and automatically transfers small amounts to savings when you can afford it. It learns your habits and adjusts. One client saved $2,300 in nine months without noticing the money was gone.

Trim: Negotiates your bills for you and cancels subscriptions you don’t use. It’s like having a financial assistant for free.

Qapital: Lets you set rules for automatic saving. Save $5 every time you go to the gym. Save $10 when your favorite team wins. It gamifies saving, which makes it addictive.

Personal Capital: Tracks your entire financial picture checking, savings, investments, retirement accounts, even your home equity. Seeing your net worth grow is incredibly motivating.

The beauty of these tools? They remove willpower from the equation. You’re not relying on remembering to transfer money. It happens automatically. Behavioral finance research shows automation increases savings rates by 30-40% on average.

Set it up once, then forget about it. Your future self will thank you.

7. Stop Eating Out Frequently

Alright, this one’s going to hurt. But the numbers don’t lie.

The average American spends $3,459 annually eating out. That’s nearly $300 per month. For a family of four? Double or triple that.

Look, I get it. Cooking feels like a chore after a long workday. Restaurants are convenient. Takeout means no dishes. I hear you.

But here’s the math: a restaurant meal costs about $15-25 per person. That same meal cooked at home? Maybe $3-5 per person. You’re paying a 400-700% markup for convenience.

Here’s my compromise approach:

• Limit restaurant meals to 1-2 times per week
• Meal prep on Sundays for the entire week (saves time and money)
• Use a slow cooker or Instant Pot for low-effort, high-reward meals
• Keep emergency frozen meals for nights you’re truly exhausted
• Pack lunches for work (saves $10-15 daily, or $200-300 monthly)

I started meal prepping three years ago. It takes me about 2 hours on Sunday afternoon to cook enough food for lunches all week. That change alone saved me roughly $2,400 annually. That’s a vacation fund right there.

If you absolutely must eat out, at least be strategic:

• Use apps like Groupon for restaurant deals
• Eat during happy hour when food is discounted
• Skip the drinks (massive markup) and stick to water
• Split entrees (portions are huge anyway)

Pro tip from my finance MBA days: calculate your hourly wage, then figure out how many hours you worked to pay for that meal. Suddenly that $50 dinner represents 4-5 hours of your life. Is it worth it? Sometimes yes. Usually no.

8. Get Used To DIY Projects

This is where you can save thousands literally thousands of dollars annually.

The DIY philosophy: if you can learn it on YouTube in under an hour, you can do it yourself.

Things I’ve learned to do myself that saved me money:

• Basic car maintenance (oil changes, air filter replacement, tire rotation): Saved $400/year
• Home repairs (fixing leaky faucets, painting rooms, installing shelves): Saved $800/year
• Haircuts (okay, my wife does mine now, but still): Saved $300/year
• House cleaning: Saved $100/month or $1,200/year
• Lawn care and gardening: Saved $150/month or $1,800/year

That’s potentially $4,500 in annual savings just from doing things myself.

Now, I’m not saying become a plumber or electrician overnight. Some jobs require professionals for safety or quality reasons. But most tasks people hire out for? Totally doable with a little research and effort.

Start small. Don’t jump into remodeling your bathroom if you’ve never held a wrench. Begin with simple projects:

• Changing your own air filters
• Washing your own car
• Preparing your own tax return with TurboTax
• Fixing minor clothing repairs instead of taking them to a tailor
• Making your own coffee instead of Starbucks runs

Each small DIY win builds your confidence and skills. Plus, there’s genuine satisfaction in saying “I fixed that myself” instead of “I paid someone to fix that.”

Fair warning: factor in your time. If a project will take you 6 hours and you could work overtime for that time instead, maybe paying the professional makes sense. This is called opportunity cost, and it’s a critical concept in personal finance.

9. Sell Your Car

Okay, this one’s a bit extreme, but hear me out.

The average car payment in America is $726 per month. Add insurance ($150/month), gas ($200/month), maintenance ($100/month), and parking fees ($50/month), and you’re looking at $1,226 monthly or nearly $15,000 annually just to own a vehicle.

That’s absolutely insane when you think about it.

Now, I’m not suggesting you go full minimalist and bike everywhere in a snowstorm. But could you downgrade to a less expensive car? Could you go from two cars to one? Could you use public transportation, bike, or carpool for some trips?

Real example from a client: She was driving a $45,000 SUV with a $650 monthly payment. We crunched the numbers, and she sold it. She bought a reliable 5-year-old sedan for $12,000 in cash (from her emergency fund, which she replenished over the next year).

Her insurance dropped by $80/month. No more car payment. That’s $8,760 saved annually.

If you’re stuck in a car lease with terrible terms, look into lease swaps through sites like Swapalease or LeaseTrader. Someone else takes over your payments, you’re freed from the burden.

Alternative car strategies:

• Buy used, not new (new cars lose 20% of value immediately)
• Pay cash instead of financing (no interest charges)
• Keep your car for 10+ years (lowest cost per year)
• Negotiate car insurance annually (shop around and compare)

Transportation is usually the second-highest expense after housing. Optimizing this category can free up massive amounts of money for saving and investing.

10. Avoid Debt

Let me be blunt: debt is the enemy of wealth building.

When you’re paying interest on debt, you’re working for the bank instead of yourself. Every dollar going toward interest is a dollar that could be growing in your savings or investments.

The average American household with credit card debt owes $6,270 and pays about $1,155 annually in interest alone. That’s money evaporating into thin air, buying you absolutely nothing.

Here’s the debt hierarchy pay these off in order:

1. High-interest credit cards (18-24% APR): Pay these off aggressively
2. Personal loans (10-15% APR): Next priority
3. Student loans (4-7% APR): Pay minimums while tackling higher-interest debt
4. Mortgages (3-5% APR): Pay minimums; don’t rush to pay off low-interest debt

Use the avalanche method: pay minimums on everything, then throw extra money at the highest-interest debt. Once that’s gone, move to the next highest. This saves you the most money in interest.

How to avoid debt going forward:

• Use cash or debit cards only (if you can’t afford it now, you can’t afford it)
• Implement a 48-hour rule for purchases over $100 (wait two days before buying)
• Build an emergency fund so unexpected expenses don’t force you into debt
• Never buy a car on credit if you can possibly avoid it
• Avoid “buy now, pay later” schemes (they normalize debt)

I know credit cards offer rewards and cashback. Yes, you can use them responsibly. But here’s the reality: 90% of people can’t. If you’re one of the 10% who pays off your balance monthly and never carries debt, great. Everyone else? Cut up the cards.

Debt-free living gives you options. No payments means more flexibility in your budget, less stress, better sleep, and faster wealth accumulation. The freedom is worth more than any credit card rewards program.

11. Cut Down On Your Expenses

We’ve touched on this throughout, but it deserves its own spotlight because expense reduction is the fastest way to save money.

Earning more takes time applying for jobs, building skills, starting side hustles. But cutting expenses? You can do that today and see results this month.

The big three expenses (housing, transportation, food) typically consume 60-70% of your budget. Small percentage improvements here create massive savings:

Housing (30-35% of budget):

• Get a roommate (could save $500-800/month)
• Move to a cheaper area (could save $300-500/month)
• Refinance your mortgage if rates dropped (could save $200-400/month)
• Negotiate your rent at renewal time (could save $50-100/month)

Transportation (15-20% of budget):

• Covered in section 9tons of savings potential here

Food (10-15% of budget):

• Meal plan and prep (saves $200-400/month)
• Buy generic brands (saves $50-100/month)
• Shop sales and use coupons (saves $50-75/month)
• Reduce food waste (the average family throws away $1,500 of food annually)

The small stuff adds up too:

• Cancel unused subscriptions: $50-100/month
• Lower utility bills (adjust thermostat, use LED bulbs, fix leaks): $30-50/month
• Cut back on alcohol and cigarettes: $100-300/month
• Buy used instead of new (clothes, furniture, electronics): $50-200/month
• DIY gifts instead of buying: $50-100/month

Here’s my challenge to you: identify three expenses you can reduce this week. Not eliminate but reduce. Maybe you downgrade your phone plan, cancel one subscription, and commit to cooking dinner at home four nights instead of two.

Those three small changes might save you $150-200 monthly, or $1,800-2,400 annually. That’s a healthy emergency fund or the start of a retirement account.

The compound effect of small savings is staggering. Save $200/month for 30 years at a modest 7% return, and you’ll have $244,000. That’s a quarter million dollars from just being a bit more thoughtful about expenses.

Final Thoughts

The author wraps up by emphasizing that readers don’t need to apply all eleven money-saving strategies at once just pick a few, stay consistent for 90 days, and build lasting habits. Saving money isn’t about deprivation but about making choices that reflect your priorities and long-term goals.

Progress, not perfection, matters most. For extra help, you can consult a financial planner, but ultimately, success depends on taking action with the knowledge and tools you already have.

Your future self is counting on you. Don’t let them down.