10 Small, Unexpected Ways We've Saved Money

If you’ve been around these parts for any amount of time, you’ve likely picked up on the fact that I like to save money whenever and wherever I can. I don’t know what it says about my money psychology but I do know that I’m not the only one! Many of us, especially in this economy, are trying our best to save money, in both major and minor ways.

It’s no secret that I like to thrift for our clothes and scour Facebook Marketplace for deals on secondhand furniture, so I won’t bore you with that today. Instead, I’ll zero in on some small, unexpected ways we’ve saved money over time. Some methods produce a few extra dollars here and there, while others add hundreds to our wallet every year. And when added all together, the savings are considerable! And bonus: most methods don’t require a ton of extra effort or time on my part, because you know how I feel about that.

Grocery Delivery Services

I am passionate about grocery delivery services for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I despise going to the grocery store, so it has saved me so much time and stress, as I don’t have to wander up and down the aisles just hoping I won’t forget something I needed (I always do) or grab something enticing I don’t need (I also always do). Secondly, it has saved us quite a bit of money, which may sound counterintuitive, as grocery delivery services cost money. However, the annual fee (which is just $59/year for Kroger Boost) is more than paid for when you consider the money saved over time. Whenever I see the grand total at the end of my online shopping, I can then go through and delete anything that is unnecessary to stay below my weekly budget. How would you be able to do this in the store, without causing a scene at checkout, asking them to remove certain items that have already been bagged? Plus, Kroger has coupons associated with products — all you have to do is check a box to redeem them! So it’s common that my receipt shows anywhere from $10-20 of savings with each order. You’ll also get 2 times the fuel points when you order through Kroger Boost!

Mint Mobile

A couple of years ago, we signed up for Mint Mobile after learning that their plans cost about $360…for the whole YEAR. And that is for unlimited data and a hotspot. And recently, Brandon got an email from Mint that informed him he was not using nearly enough data to constitute the unlimited plan he was on. So based on his data usage, they suggested he downgrade to the lowest plan (5GB/month), to save even more money. First of all, what company does that? They are losing money by sending this email — and yet, they are gaining loyalty from us and whoever we talk to about this. After all, I’m talking about it right now, aren’t I? It confirmed our undying love for Mint Mobile — and it’s not based on their genius marketing or our love for Ryan Reynolds and everything he touches, including Wrexham. It also doesn’t hurt that we have saved SO much money since we switched to Mint. Our phone bill before switching exceeded $100/month between the two of us, and now, we pay less than that over the course of three months, with some months being much less with certain promotional offers we’ve gotten. And again, that was for unlimited data and a hotspot for both of us! So there are much lower plans available if you’re not into streaming Netflix shows in the middle of the desert. Right now, they’re running another one of those promos, where you can get all plans (including unlimited) for $15/month for 3 months! And after that time is up, you can renew with whatever plan you want, including 5GB, which is always $15/month. I have a handy dandy referral code if you’re interested in this feels-too-good-to-be-true-but-isn’t Mint Mobile lifestyle.

Rakuten

My friend Becca brought Rakuten to my attention a few months ago and it has already saved us quite a bit of money over time! It’s essentially an add-on that you install on your browser that pops up whenever you’re about to buy something online, offering anywhere from 1-10% cash back on that site. You simply “activate” the cash back and once the transaction goes through, you will collect the cash back in your Rakuten account, which you can then transfer to your PayPal account once a quarter. Since starting in November, I’ve made about $100, which isn’t crazy, but it’s not nothing either! It’s just an easy way to collect a few extra dollars here and there on purchases you’ll be making anyway (and that’s the key: like I’ve talked about, there’s no need to go out of your way to make these purchases to get $2 in cash back). If you want to try Rakuten out, use my referral code and we both get $30 after you make your first purchase!

Sharing a Car

For nearly seven years, Brandon and I have shared a car between the two of us. While this isn’t always an option for couples and families for a number of reasons, it has been entirely doable for us, and something we realize has saved us thousands of dollars in the long run. It doesn’t feel like we’ve saved money after swiping our card for a hefty amount at the mechanic last month, but it also illuminates the reality that car troubles are simply multiplied with the more cars you have. Not to mention, we have saved in many other ways: insurance, gas, oil changes, wiper fluid, tires, and the cost of a second car to begin with. Thinking about making a similar move? Here are some of the benefits of being a one-car family.

Rarely Going All Out

For the most part, we are fairly balanced when it comes to going out, whether it’s for coffee, lunch or dinner. And when we do, we are pretty careful about what we order. It is rare that we will order multiple appetizers, all the food we could possibly want, drinks (more on that next), and a dessert. Unless we are celebrating a birthday, an anniversary, or another special occasion, we usually get some sort of appetizer and a reasonably priced entree. It’s not from a place of scarcity or unnecessary frugality, but more to allow us to go out more often. For us, the experience of being at a restaurant with each other or with friends is the main purpose, as opposed to what we’re consuming while we’re there. There’s an unspoken restraint we both abide by. It also allows us to comfortably and enthusiastically “go all out” when we want to — not looking at prices and ordering whatever our hearts desire. And those times are so much sweeter and more special as a result.

Not Drinking Alcohol

At the start of the year, I talked about how a year without alcohol changed my life. It all started on January 1, 2023, when I vowed to not drink a drop of alcohol for 365 days, which then turned into a longer commitment, as I am currently pregnant. The benefits have been astounding, from the physical changes like clearer skin and better energy levels, and psychological benefits like improved self-control and more confidence. Plus, it has saved us quite a bit of money over time! 

There’s no way to calculate the exact savings of not drinking, but I can guarantee they are significant. Let’s just assume I would spend an average of $15 if I were drinking a cocktail or a glass of wine at a restaurant. If I did this once a week, that’s $60 a month or $720 a year. But I can guarantee that number would be more some months, as I might order two drinks and bring that bill up to $30. Not to mention, Brandon drinks less because I’m not drinking, which also saved us some money (and we rarely purchase alcohol to have at home). So I can safely say we probably save about $1,000/year because of this decision! 

Credit Cards

Dave Ramsey lovers, look away! I am a big believer in the power of credit cards, when used responsibly (and that’s the key). We use our credit card simply for its cash back benefits, but those who travel often have cards specifically designed for collecting airline mileage, hotel points, and other travel perks. We have our Discover credit card assigned to our automatic payments and use it 100% of the time when making purchases out and about. Then, we use our checking account to automatically pay off the full amount on a monthly basis. It’s essentially creating one more step in the process, which 1) we don’t really have to manage because it’s automated and 2) is worth it for the cash back we collect. In past years, we’ve used the cash back to cover all our Christmas gifts or fund a vacation — and it feels like free money (because it is).

DISCLAIMERS: I think credit cards can be powerful when used responsibly, not as a way to purchase things you otherwise would not be able to afford. And it requires keeping tabs on the credit balance, ensuring your checking account will always be able to cover it — and then some.

I also think it’s a good idea to keep things simple when it comes to credit cards, unless you are extremely diligent about managing it all and keeping track of which card to use for which type of purchase. Brandon and I just have one active credit card between us and we use it for absolutely everything (bonus that it doesn’t have an annual fee!). However, we also have an Alaska Airlines card that we use solely for our regular trips to and from Seattle because they offer a companion fare and free bags, which more than covers the annual fee.

High-Yield Savings Account

This is something I wish I learned about a long time ago, but oh well! At least I know about it now. Most regular savings accounts only give you anywhere from 0.5-1% interest on the money they are holding for you. Unless you have a million dollars in the bank, that’s a pretty lame amount. On the other hand, a high-yield savings account can offer upwards of 4% of interest, which is quite significant and translates to a sizable amount each month! This percentage is changing constantly, riding the waves of economic conditions, but if you sign up with a good company, the rate is typically above 3 or 4%. To see the current best high-yield savings accounts, check out this list updated by Bankrate on a monthly basis.

Being Brutal with Subscriptions

It takes a lot for Brandon and I to sign up for a subscription of any kind. We have a few we find necessary, like SimpliSafe, Terminix, and Dashlane (our password manager), and others for entertainment that we value, like Spotify or RocketMoney, but other than that, we are pretty minimal when it comes to subscriptions. And if we sign up for a free trial, we will set a reminder to cancel it five days later. Pro Tip: So you don’t forget to cancel a free trial, you can usually cancel it right after you sign up and you’ll still have access to its premium features through the remainder of the trial!

According to C&R Research, the average American spends $219 each month on subscription services — and that’s usually split amongst several smaller subscriptions. That’s because we’re more inclined to sign up for (and less inclined to cancel) subscriptions costing less than $10 a month. And sure, several of those are “necessary” and/or add significant value to our lives, but there are others we have to admit are luxury at best and completely unnecessary at worst. In fact, there are some you may not even realize you’re paying for at all! To find those sneaky small payments, look at your most recent bank statement to take inventory of your expenses for an entire month and pluck out those $5.99 recurring payments to see if you still use or need those services. RocketMoney also helps identify your subscriptions and can even help you cancel them or renegotiate the rate!

Low-Maintenance Beauty Routine

When it comes to beauty and physical upkeep, I am very low-key. I shower every single day and wash my face and wear a little bit of makeup most days, but as far as anything you might consider “extra,” such as getting my nails done at a salon, getting waxed, getting fake eyelashes, getting microneedling done, etc., I rarely spend a dime. This is not to say this is the right answer, as many find this an important part of their self-care routine. In fact, as Ramit Sethi talks about, if it’s part of your rich life, then by all means spend and pamper yourself without abandon! But for me, I do not get much joy out of those experiences and would rather spend the money on good food, some clothes from the thrift store, or just to file away in the savings account. Similarly, we spend very little of our monthly budget on hair or body products, makeup, etc. It’s just not a priority for us at this point in our lives!

What About You?

What small, unexpected ways have you saved money? I’m always looking for new, creative ways to cut back on expenses!