Saving money can be complex, and even more so if you want to save time concurrently.
You may be wondering, “how can I save a lot of money in a short time?”
Well, the only answer I’d give is to try to make as much money as you possibly can and cut back on expenses rigorously.
Or, you may be wondering how you can save both time and money simultaneously.
Well, that’s what this article covers. In this post, I’ll share ten different ways to save time and money that are fun and easy to integrate.
10 Ways to Save Money and Time
So here are the ten different ways to save money and time. These are realistic ways to save money, and you should try to implement as many of them into your daily routine.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on purchases through links at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclosure here.
1. Automate & round-up your money
Did you know that many major banking accounts can help you automatically save money every week?
All you have to do is set up a recurring transfer between your spending and savings account. This figure could be $10 a week or $100 a week. It doesn’t really matter, as long as you’re saving money.
You save money by depositing automatically into your bank account and save time by not having to deposit money every week manually.
Also, some banks allow you to round up your spendings as an added way to save. Every time you purchase something with that card, the bank will round up the purchase to the nearest dollar and save it automatically for you.
For example, spending $13.16 will be rounded to $14, and 84¢ will be automatically saved.
Banks that round up savings:
– Up Bank ($5 signup bonus)
– Chime Bank
2. Purchase good-quality products
Instead of purchasing mediocre products that stop working or break after their 12-month warranty, your best bet is to buy good-quality products that are built to last.
Yes, the products are generally more expensive, but mainly for a good reason. They use higher quality materials and aren’t junk.
It might be more of an upfront cost initially, but it will be worth it if the gadget or product lasts for years or decades to come.
Many people skimp on TVs and buy the cheapest “4K 55-inch TV”, only to find out it has screen issues after the warranty has expired.
Buying high-quality products will save you the time and headaches of trying to fix or repurchase products in-store, and it’ll also save you money over the long run.
Other products you shouldn’t skimp on:
- Electronics: Laptops, monitors, speakers, cameras, etc.
- Pet food: Cheap pet food is usually filled with chemicals and unnecessary fillers that can cause problems later down the track. So, invest in higher-quality foods for the sake of your pets.
- Mattresses: You spend 7 – 10 hours a day in your bed, so why not invest in a high-quality mattress that’s comfortable, supportive, and promotes your over health and wellbeing.
- Kitchen utensils: Mixers, pots, pans, knives, cutlery, utensils, and chopping boards.
3. Use cashback apps
Are you an avid online shopper? Well, using a cashback app might be the ideal solution for you.
Cashback apps give you a percentage back on purchases made through their links. The rates can range anywhere from 1% to 90%, and they cover significant retailers like Walmart, Target, H&M, Nike, Amazon, and 2000+ more.
Instead of wasting time searching for deals or coupons, these apps will notify you of upsized cashback deals, and you’ll save more on your online purchases.
Worldwide cash back apps:
– Rakuten (spend $30 through Rakuten and get $30 back)
– Swagbucks
Asia Pacific cashback app:
– Shopback (complete a purchase through Shopback and get $25 back)
Read my Shopback review.
4. Shop online
Avoid shopping in-store to get the best possible deals online. With online shopping, every product and store is at your fingertips. A lot of the clothing items are from last season, hence being cheaper than their in-store counterparts.
You can skip driving to the store, parking, and waiting in line, simply by shopping online.
Shopping online also gives you the best chance of finding coupons, discounts, or cashback deals; it’s basically a win-win. You save more money and skip the queues.
Just make sure to shop at stores with free 30-day returns on clothing items, and you’ll be sorted.
5. Make your own coffee
Buying from coffee shops is an expensive habit that you’ll want to break to save more money. Instead of wasting time driving to a coffee shop every morning, you can brew it at home instead.
The best part about making coffee yourself is choosing precisely how you want it, like choosing your favorite coffee beans, milk, and creamer.
Buying a coffee every day before work: $3 x 240 days = $720.
Brewing your own coffee every day before work: 20¢ x 240 days = $48
Brewing your coffee saves you $672 per year; these prices are based on averages by Market Watch.
6. Buy home gym equipment
Instead of spending money on a pricey gym membership every month, why not start building a home gym setup?
The average gym membership cost in the US is $479 a year, or $39.90 a month. That figure doesn’t consider the time spent driving to and from the gym, gas price, and extras like coaching.
While it can cost a lot more upfront, you can buy home gym equipment from most major retailers and start building your home gym to your liking.
Garage Gym Reviews worked out that you can build a fully functioning home gym for as little as $1500. That works out to be just over three years of a gym membership.
7. Use a VPN with Netflix
Are you an avid streaming services user? Well, did you know that there’s a way to unlock content from all around the world without the need for multiple streaming services?
A VPN (a virtual private network) is a tool that allows you to browse the internet safely and hide your IP address.
This means that you can turn on a VPN, choose from one of the 50+ countries on NordVPN, and start watching whatever content you’d like on Netflix.
Not only will you uncover 10,000+ more titles, but you’ll also be able to hide your identity and keep your browsing habits safe.
Using a VPN has allowed me to get rid of all my other streaming services and save $22 a month ($264 a year). I can watch ‘The Office’ on Australian servers and ‘Pulp Fiction’ on Canadian servers.
Join NordVPN today (save 72% on a 2-year plan + 3 months FREE)
8. Write a shopping list
Instead of walking around aimlessly at the grocery store, write a shopping list and stick to it precisely.
Writing a shopping list can reduce your food expense by 25% to 30%. It also saves you time by informing you of exactly what you need, so there’s no more walking around aisles unsure of what you need to buy.
Also, make sure to walk into the grocery store with a set amount of cash. This way, you will 100% not go over budget.
9. Save spare change
Another easy way to save without thought is by putting all of your spare change into a savings jar or tin.
It’s super simple, every time you have spare change after using cash, put the coins into a jar. You could also do smaller bills like $1 to $10 to save extra amounts.
A few dollars here and there might not seem like much, but after a year or so, it can add up quickly.
For example, if you save on average 50¢ a day in spare change, that can add up to $182.50 within a year.
10. Participate in a money-saving challenge
If you’d like a fun, active way of saving money, then participating in a money savings challenge is perfect for you.
All you have to do is choose a circle every week, save the amount specified, and color the ring in. At the end of the 52 weeks, you should have saved up the predetermined amount (like $5000).
Here are a few savings challenges you can download and print for yourself. They range from $1000 to $12,000 for 52 weeks.
PS: You can start a savings challenge at any time throughout the year; dates don’t restrict it.
Wrapping Up
So there we have ten of the best ways to save money and time.
Hopefully, you can implement at least a few of these tips into your daily routine and reap the benefits of saving extra time and money.
A few extra dollars here and there can add up quickly over a year.
Also, remember that your time on this Earth is precious, so try not to get too hung up on money and enjoy the little things in life. I know it’s an essential tool, but our time is also limited, so just make sure to think about that too.
How do you save time and money?
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