10 Clever Ways to Save Money on Anything

Why pay more than you have to? That is a great motto, whether you’re splurging on a tropical vacation, buying furniture for the kids’ room, or purchasing your weekly groceries. The more strategic you can be with how you spend your money and how much you pay using clever ways to save money, the more money you’ll have at your disposal to make yourself financially comfortable.

10 Clever Ways to Save Money on Anything

These clever ways to save money will reduce the amount of money you spend but won’t affect your lifestyle.

Lower Interest Rates

One of the least painful ways to save money is to lower the interest rates on your loans and credit cards. For example, if you have a home loan with an interest rate over four percent, refinance as soon as the interest rate drops. You’ll shave hundreds of dollars off your monthly mortgage by refinancing to a lower interest rate.

Likewise, call your credit cards and negotiate a lower interest rate. You may only sometimes be successful, but if you get half of your credit card companies to reduce your rate, you can pay the same amount monthly, but more will be applied to the principal, allowing you to pay down the cards faster.

Shop Credit Card Offers

Speaking of credit cards, if you have good credit, shop credit card offers. If you learn how to credit card hack, you can take vacations using your points and only pay a fraction out of pocket that you would otherwise.

Also, use your credit cards to maximize cash back. For instance, two of my credit cards offer five percent cash back on grocery purchases, so those are the cards I use to pay at the grocery store. If you’re not in debt and use credit cards responsibly, they can reward you with points and cash back.

Negotiate

When was the last time you negotiated for an item you wanted to purchase? You may think of negotiating for expensive purchases like your house and car, but you can negotiate any time. For example, when I bought a furniture set, I negotiated and saved $150. Never miss the opportunity to save more money. Besides, asking for a lower price can get you a “no,” but it can also get you a discount.

Barter

Bartering was common decades ago, but now it’s a lost art. However, don’t be afraid to ask if someone is open to bartering. For instance, when my son was young, he took a tap dance class. When I lost my job, I couldn’t afford the payments, so the dance owner had us clean the studio once a week in exchange for the dance class. You may also ask to barter with friends and service providers if you have a skill they need.

Shop the Sales

One fundamental way to save money is to shop the sales. Build your grocery list around the loss leaders advertised on the flyer’s front page. Learn the cycles of sales. Generally, grocery items go on sale every four to six weeks, so buy enough at the lowest price to tide you over until they go on sale again.

Likewise, if you’re in the market for an appliance, the best time to buy is Independence Day, Labor Day, and Black Friday. Want to buy a new computer? Look in the summer when there are back-to-school sales or on Black Friday or January when stores are trying to clear their excess inventory from Christmas.

Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need

This tip seems obvious, but many people buy what they don’t need simply because it is on sale. Remember, even if it’s on sale, if you don’t need it, you’re spending more money than you should.

Wait 30 Days to Buy

We live in a hustle-bustle society, so we’re not accustomed to waiting. But if you start to limit yourself, you’ll find money. For instance, if you want to purchase some things on Amazon, put them in your cart but don’t check them out. Instead, wait seven days, or even better, 30 days. You may find after the waiting period that you don’t need the item or that you’ve found a substitution, saving you the purchase and your hard-earned money.

Utilize Apps

Apps can also save you money. For instance, Gas Guru can show you the lowest prices for gas in your area. In addition, the app SuperCook allows you to input the food you have on hand and then offers hundreds to thousands of recipes you can make.

Shop at Home First

Before you buy anything, shop at home first. For instance, when making your weekly grocery list, look in your pantry and freezer to see what items you already have. Then, plan your meals around the food you have and buy what you need to fill out the meals.

Before you run to the store to get a new outfit for an event, see if you have the clothes you need in your closet. If you don’t, can you borrow an outfit from a friend?

Simplify

Finally, one clever way to save money is to simplify. The less you buy, the less you have in your home to clean and maintain, and the less you spend. Unplug from social media or television, so you don’t see ads for the latest and greatest. Be content with what you have because you likely have more than many others around the world. Learn to be satisfied and grateful for your circumstances.

Final Thoughts

These ten clever ways to save money will help you financially, especially when practiced over the years rather than used once or twice. While you won’t see a difference in your lifestyle, you will see a difference in your financial situation and level of contentment.

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Melissa Batai

Melissa is a freelance writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking.