21 Ways to Save Money & Simplify

Haveyou ever found yourself saying no to something you wish you could do, justbecause you didn’t think you had the money?

Money is at the heart of many decisions we make in life. As someone who has worked closely with women in their homes, I know that money has a big impact on how “simple” or “not simple” our lives are.

Money can keep us stuck.  Stuck in a cycle of needing to work more hours to pay for all the “things”…the clearance sale items we couldn’t pass up, the storage unit we needed because we wanted to get the car in the garage before winter, the gadget we needed to rebuy because we couldn’t find the one we already had.

Money steals our time-time to do things that bring us joy.  And it clutters our homes when we hold on to possessions that we “paid a lot of money for.”

But money is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to creating simplicity and joy.  We often forget that we are equipped with another piece to the puzzle-choice. 

While I understand that our life circumstances impact our money situation, we can’t let that be an excuse not to live simply and joyfully.  We can intentionally choose to make changes that bring us closer to the life we want.

Simplifying is as much an act of creativity as it is logic.  Numbers either add up or they don’t, but with a little curiosity and creativity, you can make the numbers work better for you and you can achieve simplicity and joy.

Becurious, think outside the box and make choices that improve your money story.

Here are 21 ways to save money and simplify:

1. Cancel magazine subscriptions – Did you use your miles to get “free” magazines only to find out they charged your credit card a year later for a crazy high renewal price?  Make a phone call or go online and get a refund.
2. Cancel apps and digital subscriptions – Dig into your phone settings and cancel the ones you’re no longer using.
3. Buy less alcohol – A case of beer or a few bottles of wine each week adds up.  Limit your purchases and see how it adds up.
4. Batch your errands – Plan ahead and run several errands to one location.  This will save money on gas, reduce emissions and save you time.
5. Meal plan – How many times do you run out to the store during the week or end up eating out because you “don’t have anything to eat?”  Plan 5 meals for the week by looking ahead in your calendar to see how much time you’ll have each evening to prepare them.  Choose fast meals for nights with activities and less simple ones for nights you know you’ll be home early.  At the end of the week, have an “anything goes” night to finish up leftovers and eat up items that got pushed to the back of the fridge or pantry.
6. Cancel cable – It seems like most of the people I talk to have already done this, but if you haven’t, it might be time…  If you don’t want to completely cancel it, see if they’ll honor current discounts or decrease your plan.
7. Eat out one less time (or more) each month – You’re meal planning, right?!
8. Meet a friend for a walk instead of lunch or coffee - A much healthier choice, too!
9. Use grocery store pre-order or to go options – This will eliminate in-store temptations and save you time.
10. Contact your auto, home, and health insurance companies to see you’re eligible for any discounts – If not, maybe it’s time to shop around?
11. Avoid the clearance racks.  Period! – 75% off something you DID NOT NEED is 25% wasted money and 100% wasted space in your life.
12. Return items with tags for a refund (or at least store credit) – If you don't get cash back, use the store credit to purchase something you know you’ll need or to purchase items to donate to your favorite charity.
13. Unsubscribe to all sale ads and promotional emails – It’s clutter in your inbox, clutter in your mind and often the cause of clutter in your home when you make an impulse purchase from it.
14. Give gifts of your time instead of “things” – Adopt the philosophy of “experiences over things” and enjoy watching your money stay put in your bank account and your memories grow.
15. Set your thermostat two degrees higher in the summer and lower in the winter – A subtle change can reduce your utility expenses
16. Rent movies from the library – Put yourself on the hold list as soon as you can.
17. Reevaluate your holiday gift list – Do you really need to exchange gifts with everyone? Don't be afraid to speak up. Just because you've always done something doesn't mean you need to keep doing it that way.
18. Be loyal – Choose a store, hotel and/or airline you like and stick with them.  Sign up for their rewards programs, earn what you can and redeem them instead of spending cash.
19. Borrow books from the library – Replace the thrill of getting a good deal at the store with getting “free” books at the library.
20. Consign clothes, accessories, and jewelry in excellent condition – It’s okay to let them go, and to make money in the process.
21. Create a capsule wardrobe - Visit www.project333.com for tips on how to create it.  Stick with wearing the items you love and resist the urge to add more to your collection.

I hope these ideas will help you save money, simplify, and create opportunities to do the things you thought you didn’t have money to do.

ToSimplicity & Joy,

Lisa