Smart Ways to Save Money as You Start the New Year

The new year always feels like a fresh chance to reset the little things that make everyday life calmer and more intentional. I love focusing on simple habits that help us save money without feeling restricted or giving anything up. Some of these ideas come from apps I use all the time, others are small perks hiding in our insurance plans or store memberships, and a few are easy shifts at home that add up more than you’d expect.

Here are ten practical, doable ideas that are surprisingly effective… and a couple might even be brand new to you.

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1. Use RetailMeNot for Easy Cash Back and Coupons

RetailMeNot is one of the simplest ways to save money on everyday purchases. You can access it online or through their app, which makes it easy to check for cash back or coupons before you buy. I use it often and it takes only a few seconds. For larger items I have sometimes earned up to fifty dollars back.

There are so many retailers we all use on a regular basis and RetailMeNot covers many of them. It works especially well if you shop online, but they also offer both instore and online coupons for certain retailers. Before you purchase, simply search the store name to see if any offers are available. It is super easy and the savings add up quickly.

2. Check Your Health Insurance Fitness Incentives

Many health insurance plans reward members for staying active. Some offer credits for attending a gym, while others include rewards for home workouts. My husband and I receive forty dollars back each month combined for our workouts. A quick look at your benefits or a call to your plan can help you find out what you qualify for.

If you have multiple people on the same plan, make sure to ask what incentives apply to each person. This helps you maximize your coverage and your return, and in many cases it doubles what you can earn each month.

3. Revisit Your Auto and Home Insurance Through a Broker

This was a simple switch that saved us real money. A broker compares multiple companies for you and monitors your rates over time. We saved about two hundred and fifty dollars per year after switching. When your premium increases, the broker will usually contact you and help you move to a better rate. It is one of those behind the scenes changes that keeps saving you money long after you set it up.

4. Make Your Coffee at Home and Enjoy the Upgrade

Buying coffee at specialty shops adds up fast. Making it at home saves money and lets you choose higher quality ingredients. I splurge on decaf Swiss water process flavored coffee from a specialty shop in Cape May so I know exactly what I am drinking. Even with the better beans, it costs less than a daily stop at a café and tastes even better.

It also keeps me from being tempted by sugary specialty drinks that can easily turn into an expensive habit. At home we use our Cuisinart 14-cup Coffee Maker and MOKKOM Conical Burr Grinder, and it still feels like a cozy morning routine for a fraction of the cost.

5. Try Working Out at Home Instead of Paying for a Gym Membership

If you already have a gym membership, especially one that costs around thirty dollars a month, you can build a simple home setup for less than the cost of your yearly fees. I know some people truly enjoy going to the gym, but for me, having my gym right at home actually helped me stay more consistent. After the first year, you are saving money every month, and it becomes even easier to fit movement into your day.

If you do not want to spend the money all at once, start slowly by purchasing individual items or asking for them for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions. A few pieces at a time still move you forward. Before you know it, you will have everything you need to cancel your monthly membership and work out from home.

My early essentials are in Top Five Essentials for a Simple Home Gym.

6. Use the Fetch App to Earn Gift Cards From Your Receipts

Fetch rewards you for simply snapping a picture of your receipts. It takes only a few seconds and the points add up faster than you expect. It is an easy bonus for purchases you are already making.

The app also highlights special offers for certain stores and participating products. You can check these right inside the app and earn extra points when you buy qualifying items. Once you reach enough points, you can choose a reward card from a long list of retailers. I often pick a twenty dollar Ulta gift card, but there are many options and they rotate often.

7. Make Use of the CVS ExtraCare Plus Membership

The ExtraCare Plus Membership costs forty eight dollars per year. In return, you receive a ten dollar reward every month to spend on anything in the store. That is one hundred and twenty dollars back for the forty eight dollar fee, which gives you seventy two dollars in value. This works especially well if you buy cards, toiletries, or small essentials throughout the year. When you pair the monthly reward with coupons they send and RetailMeNot, the savings increase even more.

8. Cook at Home More Often and Limit Restaurant Visits

Eating at home is one of the easiest ways to save money and it usually leads to healthier choices. I keep simple ingredients on hand and rotate easy meals to make weeknights feel less hectic. If you want inspiration, my Pinterest has hundreds of recipes I have been collecting over the years. Be sure to follow the page so you can see new ideas and updates as they are added.

9. Start a Book Swap With Friends

My friends and I started swapping books instead of buying new ones. It has become a fun way to read more and spend less. We share favorites, discover new authors, and avoid buying multiple copies of the same book. It is a small habit that brings both savings and connection.

Amazon often has three for two book deals, which can be another easy way to save if you are looking to add something new to your reading list.

10. Rotate Your Streaming Services Instead of Paying for All of Them at Once

This is an easy habit that lowers your monthly expenses without feeling like a sacrifice. Most people subscribe to several streaming services but only use one or two regularly. Choose one service, watch what you want, then pause it and switch to a different one the next month.

We do this in our home and it has made a noticeable difference. When possible, we wait for a special start up offer before switching, although not all services offer them. Taking advantage of the ones that do helps lower entertainment costs throughout the year while giving you plenty to watch.

🌿What is one practical way you save money that others might not have thought of?

Come share your idea on Facebook. Your tip may be the one someone else has been looking for.

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