50+ Creative Ways To Save Money You May Not Know

September 24, 2018

This post may contain products I recommend as affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more information.

When you’re trying to save money for a down payment or pay off all your debt, you reach a point where there’s just nothing else to cut out. You make coffee at home, you cook meals at home, you don’t have cable. What if you’ve already cut out everything? Here are some (possibly extreme) creative ways to save money you may not have thought about.

50+ Creative Ways To Save Money

Turn off the oven a few minutes before it finishes cooking (the oven is still hot and can cook the last few minutes)
If you have central heat or air, it actually uses more energy to close vents in unused rooms
Use a small dollop of toothpaste instead of filling up the entire toothbrush
Get every drop out of your toothpaste with a toothpaste squeezer
Acne and pimple medications are expensive. Use natural home remedies instead, such as apple cider vinegar or honey
Only shampoo at the scalp (the water brings it down to wash the ends)
Don’t have guests? Don’t own a couch. Floor cushions or a simple reclining chair work fine
Use cold water to wash dishes to save on hot water
Having the windows down when you’re driving over 40 mph actually uses more gas than just turning the AC on
Buy frozen veggies: they have more nutrients than fresh and they won’t go to waste

creative ways to save money: frozen veggies stir fry

Freeze bananas when they’re ripe to make banana bread or put in oatmeal (makes the oatmeal very sweet without any added sugar)
Getting married? Tungsten looks the same as white gold. Check out other wedding ideas to save money
Save contact solution by not filling up the contact case all the way (halfway at most is more than enough)
Prepare slow cooker meals then freeze them for later
Get prescription eye glasses at Zenni Optical. They have glasses as low as $6.95. You will need a current prescription to purchase
Cut cable and get a basic satellite for local channels
Separate apples from the other fruit (it makes the other fruit brown quicker)
Buy reading glasses at the dollar store
Get a shower drain hair catcher so the drains don’t get clogged
Keep track of purchases with lifetime warranties. I bought a pair of headphones and have gotten replacements for free instead of having to buy another
Replace your car’s air filter by yourself. It takes just 5 minutes to do and helps with mileage of the car (just make sure to get the right size)
Does your cat have accidents around the litter box? Mix higher quality cat litter with less high quality cat litter. Cats will stop having accidents and extends the amount of good litter you have
Think your cat has a possible UTI? Try apple cider vinegar mixed with wet food. This solved our cat’s UTI without an expensive vet bill

creative ways to save money: cats sleeping

Keep your oven closed when cooking. Every time you open it, heat escapes and it will take longer to cook your food
Extend the life of your razors by sharpening them on a pair of jeans
Ohm Connect will actually pay you to save on your energy bill
Always check for student ID discounts: museums, shows, movies, etc
Replace just one battery in TV remotes instead of both. Just don’t forget which one you replaced
Download IBotta to earn cashback. You can get cashback with groceries, but I mainly use it for Amazon purchases or flights/hotels (such as Expedia or Booking.com)
Many car insurances offer roadside assistance for free for battery jumps, tire breaks, etc
Frequently shop around for car insurance and ask for discounts and price matches
At night, have one fan drawing in cool air from one window and a fan facing towards another window to push hot air out. Then shut the windows during the day to keep the air in. Read more about it and other fan tricks here
Clean your carpets with baking soda. Sprinkle then vacuum it up, or mix with water to clean stains
Extend the life of your clothes by washing them less often. For instance, jeans can go weeks without being washed
Our cell phone bill dropped from $190/month to $40/month by switching to Republic Wireless
Live on or near a college campus? The first few weeks have many events with giveaways like food or t-shirts
Near the end of the semester, college campuses have lots of free furniture from college students moving out. You can find desks, drawers, tables, etc
Use oatmeal for a simple and cheap face scrub without harsh chemicals

creative ways to save money: oatmeal

Baby powder can cover up oily hair
Fix broken soles of shoes with shoe goo instead of throwing away the whole pair
Keep soap away from water in the shower
Use clear nail polish for fixing runs in tights. Clear nail polish also can have other interesting uses
Sign up for Shoe Dazzle to get a pair of boots of heals for $10
Use less laundry detergent that the line says. 1/3 of the cap will do
Wax unwanted hair at home
Ask grocery stores for free cardboard boxes
Take napkins, ketchup, sugar packets, utensils from wherever you go
Many restaurants offer free food for downloading their app
Get a drying rack instead of putting them in the dryer
Sign up for free food for your birthday
Stop by bakeries and restaurants at the end of the night to snag food before they throw it out
Get a pop socket or ring stand on your phone to reduce the chances of dropping your phone. It’s the longest I’ve gone without cracking my screen thanks to this
A diamond ring can be cleaned with home remedies including dish soap or vodka
Get haircuts at a nearby beauty school by students
If you are near a dental school, offer to be a patient to get free dental cleanings by the students