Some of the best money-saving tricks aren’t the ones you read about in every finance book.
Cutting lattes? Everyone’s heard that one.
But the little habits no one talks about—the oddball routines, the “wait, people actually do that?” strategies—can add up faster than you’d think.
These aren’t the obvious swaps or the same old advice your grandma gave you. They’re the underrated, unexpected habits that quietly make a difference, and once you start using them, you might wonder why you didn’t try sooner.
Have an Annual Spending Pool
There are many things you’ll only need to spend money on once a year. It’s important to have something set aside for these expenses, yet it’s hard to fit them into budgets since most people use a monthly expense model.
There’s an easy fix: just create a separate budget for yearly expenses, like when you need an HVAC maintenance visit or new tires. You can take it a step further and create a separate monthly savings account that you fund for these purchases.
Put Yourself on a Spending Freeze
A good place to start with reevaluating your spending is to pause it completely. It could be for a day, two days, or even a week. You’ll save money no matter what and you’ll gain perspective as you watch what maybe you would have bought if you weren’t on a spending hiatus.
Turn Your Thermostat Down at Night
Most people sleep best in cooler temperatures. Yet homeowners still have their ACs running in the mid-60s. Not only does that mean potentially less restful sleep, but you’re spending so much more over a year on heating and cooling costs.
Turn it down to 62-64, bundle up, and get ready to see the savings rake in. If you can stand it, do the same during the day; turning your home’s temperature down even just one degree can have an enormous impact on your utility bill.
Cut Back on Alcohol
We’re not trying to crash the party; people are entitled to letting loose and enjoying themselves. But consider just how much it can cost to go out, even if you only have one or two drinks. Let’s say you go out with coworkers every Friday and have two happy hour cocktails at $10 each.
Cut that down to one drink a week, and you’re saving $40 a month. That doesn’t sound like a lot, until you realize that’s nearly $500 a month — that could be a plane ticket. It’s good to drink responsibly, both for your health and your wallet.
Stash Your Veggie Scraps
Vegetable stock isn’t “expensive,” necessarily. But did you know you’re accidentally throwing away the components of a completely free homemade stock every week? If you’re a home cook, toss veggie scraps (especially onions, celery, carrots, and garlic) in a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer.
Whenever you need stock, dump the scraps into a pot of water with some herbs (and optional meat/bones if you’re making a meat stock) and boil until the flavor is concentrated. No more buying stock literally ever.
Change the Way You Save
Consider moving some (or all) of your existing savings into a high-yield savings account. Most savings accounts don’t provide spectacular amounts of interest unless you’re putting away serious cash. If you want to supercharge your savings, consider finding accounts that offer 3-4% interest.
That’s triple the returns that other accounts would offer, which will also discourage you from taking your cash out prematurely.
Go on a Subscription Sabbatical
Nearly every subscription you own is a want, not a need. So let’s be honest with ourselves: how many do you have that you could easily get rid of with little to no impact on your quality of life? We’d wager it’s over half, with many even falling into the category of “actively siphoning money” from you, and you aren’t using it.
Think of it almost like an elimination diet; either pause or eliminate your subscriptions for a few months, see how you feel, and add things back in if they really add that much value.
Be Creative With Transportation
Getting from point A to point B can be a lot less expensive when you consider your options. Walking, biking, taking a bus or train, and even carpooling can all be significantly cheaper than taking a car. If you live in a city with good transportation, you may even be able to cut out your car entirely.
It might take you a few extra minutes to get around, but considering that the time can translate into hundreds of dollars of savings every month, we think it’s worth trying out.
Teach Yourself To Make and Fix Things
The internet is an incredible resource for information — this blog is the perfect example! So why not save yourself the time and money by teaching yourself to repair and make things? It’s still vital to know when it’s time to call in the professionals; taking on major home improvement tasks yourself is usually the opposite of a frugal move.
But as far as making lasagna, fixing a broken coffee machine, or sewing a patch to your jeans? You can learn all this in an afternoon.
