4 Savings Hacks for 2026 That Won’t Cost You a Lot
Written by
Jake Safane
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Ever hear the phrase “you have to spend money to make money?” Well, sometimes you have to spend money to save money.
For example, buying in bulk from Costco is a great way to save money in the long run, but what if you can’t afford a Costco membership, let alone a $1,000 shopping trip? Or, maybe you’ve seen some more advanced savings strategies, like converting an individual retirement account (IRA) into a Roth IRA, but that costs a lot to pay the taxes upfront.
The good news is that there’s plenty of ways to save without having to spend much, if any money. If cutting back on expenses is your goal in 2026, you can do so, regardless of your cash flow, by using the following savings hacks.
Compare Insurance Policies
The new year is always a good reminder to compare insurance policies. Even if you’ve done so in the past, circumstances change, so you might find new savings. Taking just a few minutes to get quotes for different car insurance, homeowners insurance or any other insurance policies you have might save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.
You also might find that some policies are worth changing or even cancelling. For example, if you have a whole life insurance policy, you might find that you can save several hundred dollars per month by cancelling that, switching to term life insurance and putting those savings into your own investment account, rather than relying on the whole life insurer.
Negotiate Fixed Expenses
Don’t let the name fool you. Fixed expenses are generally those that occur at the same rate every month, but that doesn’t mean you’re always locked into whatever that monthly price is.
For example, your phone, internet and cable bills are fixed expenses, but calling up your provider and letting them know you’re comparing your options could lead to savings. They might have loyalty offers, for instance, that they can offer to you if you simply ask.
Similarly, don’t be shy about asking about a promotional price, even if you don’t meet the initial terms. For example, maybe your gym has a new member discount for 2026. While the gym might not be willing to extend the same price to existing customers, asking might get you a better rate than you were previously paying. The worst they can say is no, and best-case scenario is that you save money without making sacrifices.
Use Your Local Library
If you don’t already have a library card, or you’re not putting it to much use, 2026 is your year to change that. Instead of spending money on books for your Kindle, for example, you can easily borrow digital books via the Libby app after inputting your library card details.
If you have kids, using your local library can also help you save money on activities and books. Many libraries welcome young children, such as for free storytime or art activities. Renting books is also a great way to entertain your kids at home instead of spending as much money on new books or toys that they quickly tire of.
Libraries are often also great places to work, so if you’re a freelancer or you’re building out a digital side hustle in 2026, you might save some money that you’d otherwise spend working at coffee shops if you set up shop at the library.
Use a 2% Cash Back Credit Card
Assuming you’re comfortable with using credit cards and paying the full balance every month, then using a good rewards credit card can provide easy savings. Just be sure you don’t fall into the trap of spending more to earn more points, or racking up debt and then paying interest.
One way to keep things simple while saving money is to use a credit card that generally gives a 2% cash back rate. Rather than sifting through bonus categories or trying to meet certain spending thresholds, a flat 2% amount can make it so that you’re less tempted to spend for the sake of earning rewards, like enough points for a plane ticket. Instead, you’ll simply get 2% back wherever you pay with the card.
So, if you spend $1,000 per month on that card, for instance, that’s $20 you get back every month. That may not be a huge difference maker for your finances, but if you stack that with these other types of savings hacks, it can add up and ultimately help you save enough for some of the more advanced savings strategies previously mentioned.
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