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‘Turn your bedroom light off when you leave the room!’ my Dad used to bellow as I’d left my light on for the 20th time that week!

I didn’t understand it at the time, but now as a parent, the sound of his voice rings in my ears as I walk past the bedroom light that’s been left on in my son’s room…again! It’s an easy way to save money!

With rising costs and an uncertain job market, saving money is a crucial part of managing your personal finances. So, today I’m sharing my 20 easy ways to save money that I’m ensuring that I teach my children:

You have food at home!

• It’s so easy to save money by just taking your own food and drinks with you. It adds up so quickly with a coffee on the way into work, an avo on toast, another one mid-morning, lunch out, an afternoon snack and maybe take-out that evening because you’re tired. All of a sudden, you’ve spent a significant portion of the day’s wages just on food! Take it with you! You can save so much money.

Take inventory stock before you go shopping!

• How often do you go grocery shopping, only to come back with a bunch of items that you already had at home? Before heading to the store, take inventory of what you already have in your pantry and fridge. You’ll be surprised at how much you can save just by using up what you have. In fact, I need to make note of this tip as my husband is always commenting that my shop has just added a 6th box of ‘spare’ crackers to our pantry!

If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.

• This one may seem obvious, but it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and make purchases we can’t afford. Before buying something, ask yourself if you really need it and if it fits within your budget. If not, it’s best to hold off until you can afford it.

Limit taxis and don’t pay for parking

• Taking public transportation can save you a significant amount of money compared to owning a car or taking taxis. Look into your local transportation options and see if you can make it work for you. And when you do need to drive, look for free parking options or plan your route to avoid costly parking fees.

Search for coupon vouchers, cashback offers and use rewards programs.

• Countless coupon and cashback apps can help you save money on everything from groceries to clothing. Before making a purchase, do a quick search to see if there are any deals or discounts available. And if you’re a frequent shopper at a particular store, be sure to sign up for their rewards program to earn points and save even more. I just earned $50 in rewards just by doing my last two regular shops online using the supermarket’s rewards app! 
• Cashrewards is one of my go-to cashback sites and I saved almost $1,000 on purchases that I would have made anyway. Sign up using my link here to get a bonus cashback (if you’ve never used before).

Buy things when they’re on special.

• Most stores have sales and special promotions throughout the year. Instead of buying items at full price, wait for a sale to come around and stock up on the items you need. You’ll save money and won’t have to worry about running out of essentials.

Pay yourself first.

• When you get paid, set aside a portion of your income for savings before paying your bills or spending money on discretionary items. This will help you build up your emergency fund and prepare for unexpected expenses.

Convert everything you want to buy to how many hours you have to work to pay it off.

• Before making a purchase, ask yourself how many hours of work it will take to pay for it. This will help you evaluate if it’s worth the cost and if you can afford it. I started doing this when I got my first job and it was a real eye-opener and made me think twice about a lot of purchases.

Do cheap/free date nights/activities with friends.

• Who says you need to spend a lot of money to have fun? There are plenty of low-cost or free activities you can do with your friends or significant other. From picnics in the park to movie nights at home, get creative and have fun without breaking the bank. Check out our blog article on 10 fun and free date night ideas.

10. Join your local library.

• Your local library is a treasure trove of free resources, including books, movies, and magazines. Instead of buying these items, borrow them from the library and save yourself some money.

11. Record your spending on everything for one month.

• Tracking your spending is an important step in understanding where your money is going and where you can cut back. Try tracking it for one month to understand where your money goes. Download our free budget planner template here.

12. Buy generic brands.

• Generic brands are often just as good as their name-brand counterparts, and sometimes even made on the same production line, but cost less. Give them a try and see if you can save some money.

13. Turn off the light when you leave the room!

• Reducing your energy usage can significantly lower your utility bills. Turn off lights and electronics when they’re not in use, adjust your thermostat, and consider energy-efficient appliances.

14. Cut back on subscriptions.

• In the age of streaming services and monthly subscriptions, it’s easy to lose track of how much you’re spending. Take a look at your monthly subscriptions and see if there are any you can do without. Maybe you don’t need that extra streaming service or magazine subscription.

15. Avoid impulse buying.

• It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and make an impulse purchase. To avoid this, make a list before you go shopping and stick to it. This will help you avoid buying unnecessary items and keep your spending in check.

16. Invest in quality items.

• While it may seem counterintuitive to spend more money upfront, investing in quality items can actually save you money in the long run. For example, buying a high-quality pair of shoes may cost more initially, but they will last longer and save you money on replacing them. It’s worth thinking about for some of your purchases that you’re likely to keep for a long time or use a lot.

17. Shop for groceries with a plan.

• Create a meal plan for the week and shop accordingly. This will help you avoid buying unnecessary items and wasting food.

18. Use cash instead of credit.

• Paying with cash can help you stay within your budget and avoid overspending. Set a weekly cash budget and stick to it.

19. Buy in bulk.

• Buying in bulk can save you money on items you use frequently. Look for deals at wholesale clubs or buy non-perishable items in bulk online.

20. DIY as much as possible.

• Instead of hiring someone to do home repairs or buying expensive items, consider doing it yourself. There are countless tutorials and resources available online to help you tackle DIY projects. Not only can this save you money, but it can also be a fun and rewarding experience. We’ve done this with every home we’ve lived in.

21. Take advantage of free resources.

• Take advantage of free resources in your community, such as local parks, museums, and events. Many cities offer free activities and events throughout the year, so be sure to check out what’s available in your area. This is a great way to have fun without spending a lot of money.