All of these posts were my attempt to share some of the financial wisdom I’ve gained (and now apply) throughout my personal journey from my days as the Princess of Interest to now.

But what my post review indicated was a distinct lack of concrete examples of how exactly to save money. While I’ve dabbled in these sorts of posts with my home maintenance checklists, how to slash your grocery bill, and how I saved my house down payment fund, I’ve focused more on the theories of saving money rather than the the action.

I hope to change that moving forward (adding a mix of both sounds best to me), and I’ll kick off this renewed focus with today’s post about my tips for easy ways to save money in day-to-day life.

Easy Ways to Save Money

Biking to work

Here are 10 reasons why I bike to work.

Driving an older car

My car is 10 years old and I plan to keep it for as long as possible. I make sure to take care of routine maintenance, and I’ve sought out mechanics that I trust in order to keep my car expenses from climbing too high.

Biking to work also cuts down on gas, tolls, and wear & tear which will help my car last even longer! (2013 update: Yep, I lost my mind and bought my dream car, a BMW 328i, but I still do bike to work–and I drove my old car until it literally fell apart) 

Learning DIY home repairs

Much like the list of what I did to prepare for my home appraisal, I’m constantly watching various videos and shows (in addition to reading blogs and magazines) in order to learn new skills that will help me maintain my home at a fraction of the cost.

Making my own lunch

It’s very rare that I ever purchase lunch out, and I pride myself on being creative each week to come up with healthy meals that typically cost no more than $10-15 for the entire week!

I also make sure to shop at the cheapest grocery stores in town as long as the quality is sufficient (I’m picky about produce only because I don’t want it to spoil too fast–you’ll rarely see me in a Whole Foods though because the prices make me nauseous!).

Using products sparingly

I’m careful not to use too much facial cleanser, moisturizer, shampoo, dish soap, laundry detergent, etc. By using the recommended amounts, I’m able to extend the life of my products much longer than if I were haphazardly using them.

Couponing

In addition to using coupons for groceries, I also use coupons for oil changes, clothing, shoes, etc. My favorite thing to do is to stack coupons on top of store sales–especially in retail stores! So far, my best haul has been to save $652 during one trip to Kohl’s.

Shopping off-season

I typically purchase whatever I need from the clearance bins and websites, which means I’m most likely purchasing those items off-season. I don’t mind this because of the oodles of loot I save in the process.

Shopping when nobody else wants to

Even though I closed on my condo in May of 2010, I did the majority of my house “shopping” in the dead of winter. I had made offers (and lost out) on multiple properties before finally getting my place, and I was certainly saving more considering the time of year. It’s speculated that shopping for homes in the spring and summer carries a premium of at least 5% extra!

Re-using shopping bags

If I don’t take my reusable shopping bags to the store with me or I’m shopping somewhere that they’ll automatically give me a bag, I use those to line the small trash bins in my bathrooms as well as for kitty poop-scoopin’ duties. I’m sure I’ve literally saved hundreds by now simply by not purchasing small-sized trash bags for these things.

Using washcloths for makeup removal

I don’t use eye makeup remover pads or cotton balls, despite their convenience. I prefer to use a warm washcloth with my makeup remover. Not only does it exfoliate and cause less irritation on my skin, but it saves me from having to pay for unnecessary items.

Drinking more water

This one’s self-explanatory as there’s no charge for it in restaurants if you go with tap, but I want to also point out its health benefits. By drinking more water, you’re actually investing in your health by helping your body detox itself as well as avoiding lethargy and random dehydration-induced headaches.

Avoiding ATM, annual, and bank fees

These types of fees disgust me…haha! I refuse to have a credit card that charges an annual fee, I make sure to use only my bank or its approved ATMs to avoid paying to access my own money, and I have alerts set on all of my accounts in case of accidental overdrafts.

Unplugging all non-essential appliances

This one is great for the environment, too, so it’s a double-win! When they’re not in use, pretty much the only appliances I keep plugged in at home are the refrigerator, stove, dryer, and washer. Everything else is on power strips which are unplugged immediately after I finish using the appliance (yes, even the TV, router, and cell phone chargers!).

It may take a few minutes more to wait for the router to re-boot, but I hardly notice it now. And I certainly love the incredibly low electric bill I pay each month!

Making exercise social time

I no longer pay for a gym membership, and I seek out opportunities to see my friends through exercise. Much like my birthday run this past weekend, catching up with friends while exercising is free, healthy, and makes me very happy.

 

What do you do to save money? What can you add to this list?