Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025

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Inflation has hit hard and prices are up. You might be feeling the pinch at the grocery store, dining at a restaurant or even if you’re looking to grab concert tickets.

There are plenty of clever and creative ways to save money that are easy to follow and realistic. These tips work no matter what your budget is.

25 Creative Ways To Save Money

Here are 25 creative ways to save money and make your dollars stretch further. These strategies include practical solutions and clever ways to save money that you might not have thought of before.

Budget and Planning

Make a Plan

• Estimated savings: $50 to $300 per month

Saving money starts with creating a plan. And while most people hate the word “budget,” making one you can stick to is the key to saving more. The trick is to make a budget that includes all of your needs and a few wants so you can save money and still enjoy it at the same time — you’ll be much more motivated to stick to it.

Automate Your Savings

• Estimated savings: $20 to $100 a month

Saving money requires actually putting money into a savings account. While you can make a quick transfer from your checking account to a savings account in just a few clicks, you are much more likely to save money if you automate the process. This means setting up a recurring transfer from your checking account every time you get paid to set aside money — even if it’s just a small amount.

Use Money-Saving Apps

• Estimated savings: $10 to $50 a month

Another creative way to save money is by downloading a new app. There are dozens of money-saving apps available to help you clip coupons, find discounts and earn cash back. Downloading a few apps like Rakuten or Gas Buddy can help you find extra funds and save money on things you’re going to purchase anyway.

Pay Off High-Interest Debt

• Estimated savings: $50 to $300 a month

High-interest debt of 10% rates or higher can cost you a good chunk of money in interest per month. Prioritize paying off credit cards, personal loans and other high-interest debt to save yourself a good chunk of money per month. Plus paying off debt just feels amazing!

Use a Credit Union

• Estimated savings: $25 to $100 a month

Banks can have a lot of fees — but credit unions can save you a bundle. Most credit unions offer free checking and savings accounts, plus no account maintenance fees, overdraft fees, ATM fees or other service charges. Switching to a credit union can save you money at the bank and the ATM.

Pay With a Debit Card

• Estimated savings: $25 to $100 a month

Paying with a credit card protects you from the pain of seeing the money leave your account. Add to that the interest rates and climbing credit card balances in America — it’s risky to pay with a credit card without discipline. Paying with cash or a debit card keeps you spending within your means automatically and makes it less tempting to overspend.

Smart Spending Hacks

Use Coupons at Restaurants

• Estimated savings: $10 to $40 per meal

Restaurants are much more expensive than a decade ago, but it doesn’t mean you have to pay full price. Using services like Groupon or other online coupons can save you money while still enjoying a meal out.

Learn Basic Car Maintenance

• Estimated savings: $20 to $100 a month

Cars are getting more and more expensive, but you can save a big chunk of money by learning how to do your own car maintenance. Changing your oil, air filter, brakes and other basic maintenance can save you hundreds. But it will also turn you into a more confident car owner — making it easier to buy older cars and save thousands vs. needing a new car with a warranty. 

Get a Library Card

• Estimated savings: $10 to $50 a month

Buying books can give you a lot of value, but you can get the same benefit by borrowing them instead. Local libraries have tens of thousands of books to choose from, and most now offer audiobooks through online apps. Plus, you can rent movies and shows as well, saving you even more money.

Date Night Challenge

• Estimated savings: $50 to $150 a month, depending on how often you date

Date nights are essential to any long-term relationship, but with the increased cost of restaurants and entertainment, it can easily empty your pocket. Try doing the $50 date challenge — finding a way to enjoy a night out for $50 or less. This may include finding a great happy hour and going on a walk, or maybe just driving around neighborhoods you’d like to live in someday and having a park picnic. There are tons of free and low-cost ways to have a date and setting a $50 budget can help you save money at the same time.

Home and Utility Savings

Do Your Own Home Maintenance

• Estimated savings: $100 or more a month

Mowing the lawn, weeding the garden and trimming the trees are cumbersome — but hiring out yard service can get expensive. If you can get a few basic gardening tools and a lawnmower, you can save $100 or more per month in yard maintenance costs by doing it yourself.

Negotiate Your Internet Bill

• Estimated savings: $10 to $40 a month

Your internet bill probably goes up every year, but you don’t need to keep paying a higher price. There are many internet companies out there and you can use that to your advantage. Get competing quotes with multiple internet services and use that to negotiate a lower rate on your bill. If your provider won’t budge to fit your budget, simply switch and save.

Switch Cell Phone Providers

• Estimated savings: Plans available for less than $40

Cell phones are expensive, but there are plenty of low-cost options out there to save you money each month. Many prepaid cell phone plans offer unlimited minutes and plenty of data — all for less than $40 per month. Providers like Mint Mobile utilize the cell phone towers of large providers and allow you to bring your own phone, but charge less than half of other cell phone services.

Get Efficient Light Bulbs

• Estimated savings: $5 to $15 a month

LED lights are here to stay and can save you money over old-school incandescent light bulbs. While there is an up-front cost to replacing light bulbs in your house, it can save you money in the long run. LED lights have come down in price and you can find great deals at Home Depot or Amazon on large packs of replacement LED lights.

Get a Smart Thermostat

• Estimated savings: $10 to $30 a month

Cooling and heating your home can cost hundreds per month, but you might be able to save by getting a more energy-efficient smart thermostat. These thermostats learn your preferences and have smart settings that make your HVAC systems more efficient. While there is an up-front cost, you can start saving on your energy bill with this one simple upgrade.

Lifestyle Changes That Add Up

Make (Good) Coffee at Home

• Estimated savings: $100 a month

While getting coffee out doesn’t usually break the bank, if it’s a daily habit, a $5 coffee can cost you $150 per month. If you get a good French press and a frother, you can make coffee at home for a fraction of the cost. Weekly coffee beans might cost $10 and good creamer is about $5 to $7. With those, you can save up to $100 per month by making tasty coffee at home.

Meal Plan

• Estimated savings: $100 to $300 a month

Food is expensive. But meal planning can help you be more efficient with your grocery budget. There are many meal planning apps out there for free. You can even use AI to create a simple meal plan for you. Making a plan can save you $100 or more per month.

Find a Cheaper Place to Rent

• Estimated savings: $200 to $800 a month

While housing costs have jumped in a huge way over the past five years, prices are starting to come down in some places. You may be able to lower your housing costs by shopping around for different places to rent. Moving is never convenient but you may be able to save hundreds per month just by finding a less expensive place to live.

Trade Flavored Beverages for Water

• Estimated savings: $20 to $50 a month

Love eating out, but hate the bill? Skip the drinks and just order water. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you’ll feel better and stay hydrated. Want to feel fancy? Just add a lime or cucumber to make it a flavored drink.

Shop Online

• Estimated savings: $50 to $150 a month

Shopping at a grocery or retail store makes it easy to overspend. With strategically placed impulse items and the stress of getting everything done on time, you might give in and buy things you don’t actually need. While shopping online has its own temptations, you can quickly see how much you’re spending in the cart before you check out — and you’re in a much less stressful location.

Sell or Cut To Save

Cancel Subscriptions

• Estimated savings: $10 to $50 a month

Everything seems to be moving to be subscription-based, but chances are you have a few services you don’t need — but keep paying for. Using an app like Rocket Money can help you find recurring subscriptions that you no longer use or forgot about so you can cancel them. This can save you money and get rid of those hidden expenses.

Cancel Unused Gym Membership

• Estimated savings: $20 to $100 a month

Gym memberships spike in January — but most new gym members don’t stick it out through April. If you simply don’t use your gym membership, cancel it (even if there’s a penalty) and save yourself the monthly cost. Plus, there are a million YouTube fitness channels and free ways to work out to stay fit and save more money.

Stop Buying Clothes

• Estimated savings: $50 to $200 a month

We all need clothes, and if you have kids, it may seem like they go through shoes every six months. But this doesn’t mean you need to buy clothes. There are several great ways to get low-cost or free clothing, including clothing swaps, hand-me-downs, consignment stores and “Buy Nothing” Facebook groups. Finding ways to get clothing for cheap can save you a bundle.

Sell Unused Items

• Estimated income: $50 to $500 for each one-time sale

If you’re one of the many with stuff sitting in your home, barely touched, you’re not alone. Many people have this same dilemma. While selling items may not save you money, you can make extra cash to help pad your monthly budget. Facebook Marketplace makes it easy to list and sell stuff straight from your phone. Just make sure to be safe and practice discernment when selling in person.

Drive Less

• Estimated savings: $200 to $800 a month

Cars cost a lot, and the more you drive, the more you spend. Car payment, maintenance, insurance and fuel costs can easily equal over $1,000 per month, but if you can find a good bus route or carpooling option, you can save hundreds per month.

Elizabeth Constantineau contributed to the reporting of this article.

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