24 Creative Ways to #Save #Money That You Haven't Thought Of

Saving money is never easy, and it can often feel like you have very few options. After all, you get a set amount of money every month from your job, you minus your bills and any other deductions, and then you try to save a portion of what is left. If money is tight as it is, it can make it feel like it is impossible to save. However, there are many different ways to save money; you simply need to get more creative with it. Luckily, we have plenty of great ideas to help you get started.

1. Learn the 10-second rule – No, we aren’t referring to counting to ten when you get angry or when you have dropped food on the floor. What we are referring to is when you buy something when you are grocery shopping. Whenever you pick up an item, count to ten, and during this time you should ask yourself if you really need the item you have in your hands. Most of the time you will find that you don’t. Instead, but the money you would have spent into your savings account.

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2. Embrace meatless Mondays – Meat is incredibly expensive. If you can have one or two days per week that are meat-free, you will save yourself a considerable amount of money over the course of a month. You will also save money by ditching the red meat and opting for lean meats like turkey or chicken instead.
3. Sell gift cards – Of course, there are plenty of companies that sell gift cards, but did you know that they buy cards too? There are a number of companies that are willing to provide you with cash in exchange for gift cards for a whole host of stores. This includes both physical and e-gift cards. So, next time you get a gift card for your birthday, don’t let it gather dust or simply spend it on something you don’t even want for the sake of using it. Trade it in for some cold hard cash instead.
4. Apps, apps, and more apps – There are so many money-saving apps available today to help you manage your money better, as well as make money too.
5. Grocery shop for gas savings – There is no denying that gas is incredibly costly. However, there are a lot of grocery stores that have fuel reward programs. You can fuel up for free by earning points on your groceries.
6. Make your own gifts – Thanks to the likes of Pinterest and other online platforms it is easier to make your own gifts than ever before. Not only will this be a lot cheaper, but it is extremely thoughtful too, and bound to be something that the recipient appreciates.

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7. Bring your own cup to Starbucks – Of course, cutting out your daily coffee fix would be even better, but if you cannot manage that, at least take your own coffee cup. Certain coffee retailers such as Starbucks will offer you a small discount if you bring your own cup.
8. Save your change – Saving your change may be a suggestion you have heard about before, yet you may have been put off by it, as you assume it will take you ages to save anything substantial. Or, you may have good intentions, yet whenever you need to buy something small, you dip into your change pot? You can get piggy banks these days that you have to smash open in order to use the change. Invest in one of these, and that way you will only dip into your change pot when it is full to the brim.
9. Cut down on trips to the hair salon or barber – You don’t need to spend a lot to get your hands on a complete hair cutting kit. You and your partner could learn to cut each other’s hair. Of course, this does come with risk involved; so don’t blame us if you end up with a massive chunk out of your hair. However, for men’s hair especially, this can be a great way to save money.
10. Be the designated driver – Put your Friday and Saturday nights to good use instead of sitting at home and watching box set after box set. Instead, you can make sure everyone gets home safe while earning a bit of money in the process. Offer to drop your friends off at town and pick them up in the early hours.
11. Get paid for losing weight – If you want to lose weight, what better motivation than getting paid for it? There are programs that will pay you for your weight loss. You simply need to sign up, set your goal and the amount of time you need to achieve it, and you can make money per month as a result.

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12. Unplug appliances – Do you leave your appliances plugged in all of the time? Even if they are not turned on, they can be utilizing phantom power. It is estimated that the typical home has anywhere from 20 to 40 devices that are burning phantom power.
13. Take advantage of free events – If you check your local city website or newspaper, you will often find that there are free events that are taking place in your local community. This is an excellent way to get involved in great causes and have fun without spending.
14. Use half – Chances are that you are using more laundry detergent, shampoo, and toothpaste than you need. If you half the amount you typically use, you will halve your costs as well, as you won’t need to replenish your supplies as regularly. You can also cut sponges and dishcloths in half so that they last twice as long.
15. Make your own snacks – You should stop buying pre-packaged snacks. Although this can be convenient, you will pay a premium. Instead, make some snacks yourself, and bag them. Not only is this beneficial for monetary control, but portion control too.
16. Use ATMs sparingly – A lot of ATMs will charge you for withdrawals, and so, if you make withdrawals little and often, you could end up with fees from your own bank and other banks. The best thing to do is budget how much you need for the week and go to the ATM on a Monday morning and draw out the week’s money then. This will also stop you from making unnecessary withdrawals and spending more than you need.
17. Stay healthy – Needless to say, there are instances whereby staying healthy is literally impossible. You can’t help it if you have developed some sort of illness. However, you can make an effort to ensure that you do not fall ill and avoid sickness bugs and common colds. After all, being ill is expensive. You may not get paid if you miss work. Plus, you may need to pay someone to look after your kids, and you will have to stock up on medicine and other supplies for getting better.
18. Sell console games you no longer use – You are probably aware that a lot of gaming stores offer an exchange service, but did you know that they will pay out cash as well as store credit? You will probably get a slightly lesser amount for choosing cash, but it will enable you to put the money away and save it.

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19. Get creative with your workouts – Staying fit is important, but do you really need that expensive gym membership? Instead, why not watch exercise videos on YouTube or go for a run with one of your friends?
20. Shop only one day per week – There are a number of benefits associated with only doing one shop per week. The first benefit is that it will seem like more of a chore. This may sound like a bad thing, but it is good for your finances, as it will mean you run your shopping trip as a business-like errand. Not only this, but you will use less gas, as you won’t make as many car trips.

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21. Fill up your tires – If your tires are not properly inflated, your car needs to work harder, which means you will burn more fuel. You need to ensure your tires are properly filled, so check the air regularly.
22. Rent out a car – Another way to save money on your vehicle is to rent it out. If you live close to your office and you do not need to drive there every day or you have a flexible work schedule, you may find that your car is merely gathering dust a lot of the time. Instead, why not put it to good use by renting it out when you are not using it?
23. Get a price adjustment – There is nothing more frustrating than buying something only to discover that it is in the sale a few days later. But, don’t fret; you can often get a price adjustment if the item has been reduced in price within a week or two of your purchase.

Pay annually – Most companies will offer you a lower payment if you make annual payments rather than monthly. This is typically the case for insurance. If you can afford it, pay in one lump sum to lock in a discount.