Whether it’s a friend asking you to split the bill at dinner, an influencer convincing you that you need another skincare product, or your group chat suggesting a trip to Europe, there’s one response that seems to fit just about everything these days: “In this economy?” What started as a funny comeback has become a reminder that our dollars just don’t seem to go as far as they once did. It seems like everyone, myself included, is more interested in finding ways to save money than literally anything else these days. The problem is that traditional money-saving tips like “make your coffee at home” or “pack your own lunch” don’t really cut it anymore.
To keep up with the times (read: inflation), we need money-saving tips that go further. That’s why we’re sharing 12 actually helpful ways to save money ahead. These tips, while some may be familiar to you, are often the most overlooked and underutilized. Even if you’ve heard of them, you’ve probably never implemented them, but now is your chance. Here are 12 money-saving tips you can implement in 2026 that help yield big savings over time.
Before You Try these Money-Saving Tips…
Before you start overhauling your finances, remember that saving money isn’t about changing your entire lifestyle overnight. The habits that stick are usually small, sustainable ones, so keep these guidelines in mind as you save:
Start with one or two habits instead of trying all 14. Making a few changes is much more realistic and easier to achieve than overhauling your spending habits all at once. Just like anything, start small and add on more ways to save as you go.
Track your savings for a month, so you can actually see what’s working. Whether it’s in your Notes app, a spreadsheet, or a budgeting app, start to keep track of your progress. Seeing how much you’re actually saving (or not) can either help keep you motivated or inform you to try something else.
Focus on lowering recurring expenses first. Saving a few dollars every month on something you consistently buy is one of the easiest ways to cut down on spending. Plus, you see the fastest, most frequent return here, so it can help motivate you to keep going.
Money-Saving Tips to Try
1. Audit your grocery “defaults”
Most of us buy the same groceries week after week without giving them much thought. Every few months, take a look at your default purchases and challenge one or two of them. Could you swap your favorite cereal for the store brand? Or buy a larger container of yogurt instead of individual servings? You don’t have to reinvent your entire grocery list, but one or two swaps for the more affordable option can noticeably lower your grocery bill.
2. Subscribe and save on frequent purchases
There are some products you just can’t live without. Think toilet paper, laundry detergent, your favorite skincare, your pets’ food, or your vitamins. Since you know you’ll need to purchase these necessities again and again, it’s worth looking into subscribe and save options. Many stores or online retailers offer discounts on recurring orders, and you can usually skip, pause, or cancel at any time. For example, I save $5 every month by having my multivitamin on a subscription. This is an easy way to save money on an item I was already planning to buy anyway. Just make sure to cancel any subscriptions if you stop using the items; otherwise you’ll be wasting money instead of saving it.
3. Bundle your streaming subscriptions
If you use your streaming services as much as I do, cancelling them to save money doesn’t really feel like an option. But what you can do is look into bundling them. Internet and phone providers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and Comcast, as well as partnered services like Hulu and Disney+, offer streaming bundles that can save you money every month on your subscriptions.
For example, I recently realized that I was paying for HBO Max and Netflix separately, totalling over $20 per month, when I could have been bundling them through my phone provider (Verizon) and only paying $13. Similarly, depending on the tier you choose, bundling Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN saves you between $16-22 per month. There are so many options available now that paying for each streaming service individually is just a waste of money.
4. Use a cashback browser extension
Before you check out online, make sure you’re not leaving money on the table. Browser extensions like Rakuten, Capital One Shopping, or Honey can automatically search for coupon codes and alert you to available cash-back offers. It only takes a few seconds to install and does all the hard work for you. The savings might seem small at first, but over time, they can really add up. For example, in the past three months, I’ve earned $73 in cash back through Rakuten.
5. Switch to annual billing
This won’t be the case for all services, but for the ones you know you’ll use year-round, annual billing can save you a surprising amount of money. Many streaming services, workout apps, and software subscriptions offer a discount when you pay for the full year upfront instead of paying a monthly fee. Before you renew, do the math to see whether paying annually will save you more in the long run. For example, I pay annually for my at-home workout program to save $9 a month, or $108 a year.
6. Use up products before buying new ones
I don’t know about you, but I’m guilty of buying a new moisturizer before I’ve even finished the other one (or two) I have at home. There’s always going to be a new product that promises to be better than anything you’ve used before, but before you give that new product a try, finish the ones you have first. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also cut down on clutter and waste, too.
7. Keep a “replacement list”
How many times have you bought something, brought it home, and realized you already had something almost identical? For me, the answer is 100+ times, so I have started to keep a “replacement list” in my Notes app. Whenever I truly need to replace an item, it gets added to this list. Everything from white sneakers to dish towels is on the list. This way, when I’m shopping, I can easily reference it and only buy what I really need to replace. This keeps me in check when I’m feeling the urge to shop. I still “get to” purchase something, which feels fun and indulgent, but it’s not something totally random I never even needed.
8. Audit who you follow
You’ve heard of doomscrolling, but have you heard of doom spending? It’s the phenomenon that occurs when we spend beyond our means as a way to cope with stress, and with Instagram and TikTok Shop constantly advertising to us, it can be an easy trap to fall into. One way to combat this is by deleting any apps, or more realistically, unfollowing any accounts that constantly urge you to shop. Sure, it’s a little sad to unfollow your favorite influencer, but when seeing their posts just ends up draining your account, it’s worth the sacrifice.
9. Remove your saved payment information
I love that my phone lets me store my insurance cards, boarding passes, and reward numbers, but having my credit card information stored has proven to be irresponsible for me. It makes it way too easy to buy something without giving it much thought. Disabling the feature on your phone that stores and auto-populates your bank account and credit card numbers can help you resist the temptation to shop when the urge strikes. Having to get up, grab your wallet, and manually enter your card details makes it a lot harder and a lot less convenient to make an impulse buy while you’re scrolling on your phone in bed.
10. Calculate cost per use before you buy anything
Instead of asking yourself “Can I afford this?” try asking “How often will I actually use it?” It may seem counterintuitive, but ultimately a $200 pair of boots you’ll wear a hundred times is probably a better investment than a $40 trendy top you’ll only wear once. Thinking about purchases in terms of cost per use can help you spend more intentionally and distinguish between pieces that are worth the money versus impulse buys that will just end up collecting dust.
11. Unsubscribe from shopping emails
Have you ever opened your inbox only to find a 40 percent off sale email from a retailer you forgot you even subscribed to? Suddenly you’re browsing, adding things to your cart, and spending money that you never even planned to spend in the first place. Unsubscribing from marketing emails removes this temptation altogether. Out of sight, out of mind really does work, and you’ll probably enjoy having a less cluttered inbox, too.
12. Clip digital grocery coupons before you hit the store
I know I’m in my 30s because one of my favorite apps on my phone is my grocery store’s app. Every week, before I even go shopping, I look through the digital coupons available and clip the ones for items on my grocery list. Those coupons automatically save to my account, so I don’t have to worry about scanning anything or keeping track of paper coupons. This has saved me anywhere from $5-$20 each week, which isn’t a ton, but it does add up over time.
Remember: Small savings add up
The truth is, saving money isn’t about being perfect; it’s about building better habits and being a little more intentional with the purchases you’re already making. Even if you only save a few dollars here or there, those small wins can add up over the course of a year. Pick one or two saving methods to start with and see what works best for you. You’ll be surprised at how much savvier you get with your money over time.
Christine Winder, Contributing Writer
Christine is a long-time reader turned contributing writer for the Everygirl. She has a BA in Communications from Roanoke College and lives with her two cats in Richmond, VA where she writes for several local publications.
Hailey Tagliarino, Assistant Managing Editor
As Assistant Managing Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Tagliarino oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.
