I’ve been answering a lot of questions about saving money recently, probably because many people are thinking about new goals and better habits at the start of another year. I don’t believe spending money—or enjoying the occasional splurge—is wrong. Still, I focus more on finding practical ways to save, and I want to share several small, effective strategies that help my husband Dave and me save consistently each month and year.
These ideas won’t transform your finances overnight, but they build valuable habits. Small adjustments repeated over time become meaningful savings. Below are simple, realistic changes that have made a measurable difference for us.
1. We don’t pay for cable
We canceled cable after several price increases and because we rarely watched live TV. Instead, Dave bought an inexpensive antenna for roughly $25 so we can access local news and sports, and we keep a streaming subscription for a few dollars a month. Even with that streaming cost, we save about $45 each month compared with our old cable bill.
2. We don’t subscribe to print newspapers or magazines
We stopped paying for magazine subscriptions years ago and canceled our newspaper when it no longer made sense for our household budget. The result: lower monthly expenses, less paper clutter, and reduced recycling. Dave reads the local paper online, and I use the library or free online sources to browse magazines when I want them.
3. We skip fancy drinks
We rarely buy specialty coffees, bottled water, or expensive restaurant drinks. Dave has a few small gift cards he uses occasionally, and we’ll accept a soda with a meal if it’s included, but for the most part we make coffee at home and drink tap water or filtered water. If we host a party, we’ll buy alcohol for the occasion, but only when it’s the right crowd.
4. We avoid extended warranties
We don’t buy extended warranties. Often we purchase good-quality items and take care of them, or we buy used items that don’t come with warranties anyway. So far, this approach has saved us money and required only routine maintenance and common-sense care to keep things working.
5. We avoid expensive stores and unnecessary shopping
Because we buy many items used and aren’t frequent shoppers, we’re rarely tempted by higher-priced stores. Avoiding expensive retailers and minimizing impulse shopping reduces unnecessary spending. Even sales at high-end stores are unlikely to beat prices at more affordable shops or the secondhand market.
6. We don’t pay banking fees
We use bank accounts and cards that don’t charge monthly maintenance or ATM fees, and we avoid overdrafts or bounced checks. We also use the free checks provided by our bank when needed. Eliminating small, recurring banking fees is an easy way to keep more of our money working for us.
7. We don’t pay interest on consumer debt
The only interest we’ve paid since getting married has been on our mortgage, which we refinanced to a low rate for a shorter term. We avoid credit card interest by paying balances in full every month, and we paid off student loans early to limit interest accrual. If you can reduce interest rates or make extra principal payments, you’ll save substantially over time.
These seven strategies are the core of how we trim expenses without sacrificing everyday comfort. Of course, what feels frugal to us may feel restrictive to others—and that’s fine. Each household must balance priorities. For example, we spend more on home and garden projects than some people, which is a conscious choice for us.
The goal here isn’t to preach frugality or shame anyone for enjoying small luxuries; it’s to encourage awareness. Look at where your money goes, identify small recurring expenses you can trim, and experiment with alternatives. Maybe limit drive-thru coffee to once a week and make better coffee at home the other days, or cancel unused subscriptions and review your bank statements for fees.
When you take a few minutes to audit your spending, you’ll often find surprising monthly drains that add up. Cutting a few of those expenses can free up money for priorities that matter to you, build savings, and reduce financial stress.
What are a few simple ways you save more?
Share your practical strategies—small habits can lead to big results over time.
Photo source: images via CafeCredit (two images)