5 Ways to Save Money Without Even Noticing

By Amanda Pendolino on January 20th, 2010

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In an effort to save money, sometimes we get too ambitious. I often have the following thoughts: I’m never having Starbucks again! I’m selling all my clothes to a consignment store! I’m harvesting my eggs! Of course, it’s hard to follow through on such goals. But, like the millions of dollars that have been donated to Haiti via $5 and $10 texts, every little bit can add up. Here are five ways you can put some money back in your wallet — without going overboard.

1. Change Your Drink Order

Switching from soda to tap water could save you up to $3 at restaurants. Or, instead of buying single bottles or fountain drinks, buy 12-packs of cans and bring your own (one can is only about 30-40 cents this way). At Starbucks, go for a tall coffee with milk instead of a grande latte (you’ll save over a dollar)! When you’re out at a bar, opt for beer over mixed drinks. It’s always cheaper, and since beer makes you more full, you probably won’t need as many throughout the night.

2. Trim Your Movie and TV Budget

Do you really watch enough movies to warrant getting two or three Netflix movies at a time? Now that the DVD rental service offers streaming online and to your TV, downgrade your account to one DVD at a time and unlimited streaming and save major cash! You might even cancel your membership altogether and check out your local library’s DVD selection. When it comes to cable, do you really watch Showtime or HBO enough to make it worth it? I just canceled HBO and it saved me $15 a month (and I can still get Entourage on DVD). You might also reschedule a few movie outings as matinees — it can save you $3 or $4 each time!

3. Keep Coupons Handy

It may seem like a nerdy mom-ish thing to do, but using coupons can really make a difference. Many stores like CVS give you coupons attached to your receipt. I always keep mine in the same place in my wallet so that they’re easily accessible whenever I’m at a checkout. There are also lots of coupons available on the internet (check out Groupon). Even if they’re expired, see if stores will honor them (they often do)!

4. Conserve Everything

Do you really need that giant glop of shampoo? Dish soap? Paying attention to how much you stuff you’re using can make it last longer. Even wearing your shirts more than once will save you money in laundry. I’m also a big fan of using measuring cups for my food; eyeballing cereal and pasta often makes you overeat (and use food faster). And if you know you’re the kind of person who lets food go bad, opt for things that last a while — apples will be edible for much longer than strawberries, for example.

5. Find the Cheapest Places

You have to buy some items over and over again: gas, tampons, milk, etc. Pay attention to how much these things cost and make a habit of stopping by wherever they’re cheapest. I refuse to get gas anywhere besides my beloved dumpy little gas station that charges 5 cents less than everywhere else! Look at competing places. Is there a cheaper gym you can go to? Is Jenny Craig more than Weight Watchers? Would State Farm charge you less than Geico? A little comparison shopping can add up to a lot.