20 Unique Ways to Save Money

Are you trying to save money and having a hard time doing so? I’ve come up with 20 unique ways to save money to help you out!

It may seem impossible to save money in today’s world, but it is possible for anyone to do. Sometimes we just need a little push in the right direction, but that first step can be the hardest part in turning your financial life around.

I have created a list of 20 unique ways to save money to help you start saving right away. Not all of these will apply to everyone, so just go through and find the ones that can apply to you. When you use some of these tips and actually apply them to your life you will find that you can save more money than you thought you would be able to.

20 Unique Ways to Save Money

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1. Turn off the television

You can save so much money by reducing the amount of time you watch television. The benefits of less television time are less exposure to shopping ads that make you want to spend money, lower electric bills, and more time to focus on other things. We cut out cable TV years ago and have saved hundreds each year by just having Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.

2. Join rewards programs

Many retailers have rewards programs that you can sign up for and save when you shop at their store. I have created a separate email address specifically for these types of programs. That way they are organized and all in one place so when I plan to go shopping I can just go straight to that email and see what coupons I have available. A lot of stores I shop at have cards that not only have coupons but also reward points for every dollar spent. At a certain number of points, I get a free item or a great coupon to use!

Read this: Get Paid to Shop with Cash Back Apps

3. Make your own gifts

I love to make my own gifts because they are more personalized and mean a lot more to the receiver. Over the years I have made baskets, gel air fresheners, sachets, candles, room sprays, and so much more for family and friends. If you are able to crochet or knit, scarves and hats make excellent gifts. No matter what you can make, handmade gifts always include your personal touch. Don’t forget the handwritten note!

4. Stick to the list

Before I go to the grocery store, I make a meal plan for the week and create a shopping list from it. I try my best to stick to what’s on sale that week to help me save even more. Once I get to the store I stick to my list and do not look at anything extra. This not only saves money but saves time as well.

5. Repair your clothes

If you have a shirt with a missing button, sew on a new one! If you don’t know how to sew, learn how. Learning how to sew can end up saving you a lot of money. Don’t toss your pants because there’s a hole in them. Patch them up and use them for working around the house. By the way – jeans with holes in them are in style now anyway, so you’ll fit right in! Or if they’re beyond repair upcycle them into something fun!

Read this: What Actually Happens to the Clothes I Donate?

6. Have a movie night in

There are so many ways to find free or cheap movies. Redbox has coupons that will save you money on a rental movie. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime all include movies. Or just pull out one of those old movies you have laying around that you haven’t watched in ages! Also, check your local library to borrow a movie for free.

Pop some popcorn and toss a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor and snuggle in for a free movie night!

7. Clean your closets

Another unique way to save money is to clean out your closet. In my last post, I talked about how to make money cleaning your home. When you are going through your closets consider having a yard sale or donate items to a consignment shop to make extra money.

Read this: Organizing a Small Closet on a Budget

8. Drink more water

I’m sure you have heard this one a lot! Not only is drinking plenty of water healthier for you, but it also helps you save money. Before you eat a meal, drink a glass of water. This helps you eat less and stay fuller longer, saving you money on food. Buy a refillable bottle and take it with you everywhere so you won’t be tempted to spend money on sodas while you’re out.

9. Quit smoking

You have to know by now how expensive (and unhealthy) smoking can be. You’re not only harming others when you smoke, but you’re harming those around you as well. There are so many anti-smoking products out there now and many ways to go about quitting on your own. My mother-in-law quit just by always having a lollipop in her mouth. She went through a huge bag of lollipops and has never touched another cigarette.

10. Borrow books

I love books and may even have a slight addiction to them! I am at my local library every month stocking up on the books I’m going to read for that month and I pay nothing. You can also borrow books from friends and family. Check out yard sales for huge savings on books!

Read this: how to get books free or cheap!

11. Avoid stress shopping

I used to make the excuse that since I had such a stressful week, I’ll spend the weekend shopping. That was such a bad idea. Not only did I overspend, but I also didn’t really like what I bought. And since I hate returning things I ended up with a lot of things I hated that I never used – especially clothes.

Find some other way to relieve your stress. Try taking a walk while listening to your favorite music or audiobook. Meditation is a great way to relax as well. Grab a book and a blanket and find a tree outside to lay under while reading. Spending more money will not reduce your stress: it will just end up adding to it.

12. Maintain your appliances

Check your appliances regularly to make sure they aren’t clogged with dust. Look behind the appliances and vacuum any dust and give the back a thorough cleaning. Check any vents on refrigerators, dryers, desktop computers, and heating and cooling units. The cleaner they are the longer they’ll last and the more efficiently they’ll run.

13. Wash your hands

This may seem a little crazy but think about it. Washing your hands often, especially after using the bathroom or handling raw foods, will help prevent viruses and bacteria from getting on your hands and causing you to get sick. This keeps you healthy and saves on medical bills. It also keeps you from having to miss work due to being sick.

14. Pack your lunch

Pack yourself a lunch to eat at work instead of going out to eat every day to save some money. You can prepare a week’s worth of lunches ahead of time, saving you some time. My husband takes a frozen meal for lunch since his office has a refrigerator and a microwave.

15. Learn to dress minimally

When shopping for clothes, buy items that go together well. Mix and match tops with bottoms so you’ll have several outfits and won’t have to buy nearly as many clothes.

16. Fix it yourself

When something breaks, learn how to fix it yourself instead of paying someone else to do it. There are millions of tutorials online now on how to fix just about anything. We have never paid anyone to fix anything for us unless it’s something we absolutely cannot do. We do our own car repairs as well as repair any appliances that have broken down.

17. Find free entertainment

Even though we live in a small town, there are still a lot of free events happening throughout the year. We have an annual Strawberry Festival which includes games for kids, live music, and free ice cream with strawberries on top! Every year at Christmas, downtown is blocked off and the streets come alive with food, games, crafts, music, carriage rides, and so much more.

Find free events happening in your town or nearby. There are plenty of free activities to do outdoors to keep you entertained. From hiking to fishing, I’m sure you can find something out there for you.

18. Have a garden

Gardening is a great way to save money on vegetables as well as an inexpensive hobby. If you produce more than you can eat, consider giving some to neighbors. You don’t have to have a huge yard to have vegetables. Tomatoes, which can be used in many different ways, grow perfectly well in buckets as long as they are properly taken care of. Consider a vertical garden if you don’t have a lot of space.

19. Make your own cleaning supplies

We try to be as chemical-free in our home as much as possible. Not only does making my own cleaning supplies keep us healthier, but it also saves a lot of money. I have made my own laundry detergent in the past and now I make my own All-Purpose Spray and Carpet Freshener. I also like to make my own room sprays and candles. Rebecca at Soap Deli News has a ton of wonderful recipes for soaps and skincare. Plant Therapy has a lot of great recipes as well. You can find tons of recipes on Pinterest and Google for how to make your own cleaning supplies.

20. Slow down!

Speeding down the highway uses more gasoline, is dangerous, and against the law. If you get pulled over for speeding you are going to have a pay a pretty big fine plus your insurance premium will go up. Speeding also causes accidents, which will cause your insurance to go up, possible medical bills, and result in having to have your vehicle repaired or replaced. There’s just no excuse for speeding. Leave a little earlier and you won’t have to worry about getting where you’re headed on time.

Following as many of these unique ways to save money as possible will help you get your financial life back on track and extra money in your pocket.

What would you add to my list? Have you tried any of these unique ways to save money?