30 Smart Habits to Spend Less and Grow Your Savings Fast

From smarter grocery hauls to automated couponing, these small habits will help you keep more of your paycheck every month

Co-authored by Coupert and Dan Hickey

Last Updated: June 12, 2026 Fact Checked

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Spending less is a great (and often necessary) goal, especially with how much prices are rising nowadays. But how do you actually do it? To make saving as easy and stress-free as possible, we’re bringing you 30 proven habits, tips, and tricks that can add up to big savings and less spending over time. Keep scrolling to learn how to thrive on a budget and save up for the future!

Easy Ways to Spend Less

Track your spending and make a budget to save for short, medium, and long-term goals.
Pay down high-interest debt.
Look for ways to lower monthly costs like bills, insurance payments, and subscriptions.
Use the library, birthday freebies, free admission days, community events, and home-cooked meals to spend less on recreation and dining.
Use coupon-finding tools like Coupert to receive the best discounts available.

1

Track your spending.

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See where your dollars are going to find places to cut back. If you want to spend less, it’s helpful to learn how much you’re spending currently and on which expenses. Track your spending in a simple spreadsheet or with a personal finance app to identify possible areas where you can cut back. Track for a short period, like a week or a month, to get a sense of your typical spending habits.^{[1]
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- For example, you might realize that you spent $250 on Uber in the past month (all those rides add up!). Seeing the final tally can help you decide where to focus your saving efforts.

2

Create a realistic budget.

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Make and stick to a spending plan to ensure your necessities are covered. Budgeting your money helps you plan ahead for major purchases and necessary expenses like rent, car payments, utilities, etc. It also limits what you spend on wants and leisure, helping you save more in the long run. Calculate what your regular necessary expenses are and what percentage of your income is needed to cover them. Then, divide up the remainder into wants and savings and/or debt payments.^{[2]
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- One basic model is the 50/30/20 budget. 50% of your income goes to necessities, 30% goes to wants and fun, and 20% is reserved for savings and debt payments (your minimum payments should be allocated to your necessary expenses).

3

Set a savings goal.

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Be specific and realistic about how much you want to set aside. Often, you’ll have several savings goals at once, like a short-term goal for holiday gifts, a medium-term goal for a trip next year, and a long-term goal like a down payment on a house or extra retirement funds. Determine a specific amount you need to save to reach your goal(s), then challenge yourself to save up over a specified period of time.^{[3]
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- For example, if you know you need $100 for a birthday gift in 2 months, set a goal to save $25 per biweekly paycheck.
- Tip: Make the most of long-term savings by keeping your money in a high-yield savings account. These accounts have high interest rates that help you grow your cash faster.

4

Pay down your high-interest debt.

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High-interest debt like credit card balances can drain your bank account fast. Aim to pay off these balances quickly so you can stop paying a ton in interest and start saving or spending on other necessities instead. Consider making extra payments each month or paying more than the minimum payment amount to hack away at this debt faster.^{[4]
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- In the long term, making extra payments will save you money on total interest paid (even if it feels like more of a squeeze right now).
- If you have student loans, research different repayment options to lower your monthly payments. You may be eligible for a lower monthly bill due to family size or your income level, and some plans even give you a rate discount if you enroll in auto-pay.

5

Take advantage of coupons and promo codes.

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Use and stack digital coupons for major savings on online purchases. There are plenty of promo codes and discounts for brands and products you use floating around on the internet—you just have to find them. Tools like Coupert save you time and effort by doing the work for you. Coupert is a browser extension that automatically finds, tests, and applies verified coupons when you’re ready to check out so you’re getting the best possible price for your purchase.
- Apps like Coupert also eliminate the frustration of finding promo codes only to discover they’re fake, expired, or invalid. Instead of wasting time trying random codes online, users can access tested and verified promo codes directly at checkout.
- If Coupert somehow misses a coupon, you may be eligible for a cash reward thanks to their Max-Savings Guarantee policy.

6

Minimize housing and utility costs.

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Look for ways to cut back on your basic living expenses and bills. If you rent, you may want to consider moving into a cheaper apartment at the end of your lease. If you own, you could potentially refinance your mortgage for a lower monthly payment (you’ll want to check current interest rates before making a decision, though). You’ll have to pay some moving and refinancing fees upfront, but these will be recouped over time once you have lower monthly living expenses.^{[5]
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- Don’t forget about your utility bills either (like electric, internet, TV/cable, heating/AV, gas, and your cell phone bill). You may be able to lower these monthly costs by:
  - Setting temperature minimums and maximums in the winter and summer.
  - Bundling bills together, like internet and cable.
  - Switching to a more basic phone or cable plan.

7

Plan ahead for major purchases.

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Check for annual sales and exclusive offers to save on big purchases. Summer sales, holiday sales, annual clearance events, and members-only sales and discounts are great ways to save on big items like appliances, cars, mattresses and furniture, electronics, and more. Unless you need a new oven or couch immediately, wait for a sale to spend less on it.
- Some items are on sale seasonally. For example, TV prices tend to drop before the Super Bowl each year.
- Tip: Track prices over time to see if the sale is really a deal or not. You can check yourself or use a browser extension like Coupert to track price changes over time or set alerts for price changes.

8

Wait before making purchases.

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Think on your purchase for a set number of days to see if you still really want it. If you struggle with impulse shopping, sitting through a mandatory wait period is a great way to curb your impulse and see if you really need or want the item. The wait period is up to you—maybe it’s only 24 hours or 3 days for minor purchases, or a whole month for big ticket items like cars and furniture.^{[6]
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- Tip: Keep track of all the things you wanted to buy but didn’t and add up the savings. Seeing the amount saved can be very encouraging!

9

Make it harder to shop online.

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Remove easy access to shopping apps to curb online spending. Sometimes, even a small barrier to buying something can be enough to halt the purchase. You might delete your saved credit card and billing information, remove credit cards from your phone’s digital wallet, delete your favorite shopping apps, or even block shopping apps altogether.
- Adding an extra step to buy things gives you extra time to think about whether the purchase is worth it or if you really need the item(s) in your cart.

10

Try a temporary shopping ban.

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Challenge yourself to refrain from non-essential purchases for a period of time. If you want to start spending less right now, give yourself a no-spending rule to follow for a week, a month, or even longer. For example, you could try a month of no online shopping, 2 weeks without browsing your favorite store, or even just a weekend of no spending at all (outside of necessities like food, transportation, and bills).^{[7]
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- It can feel really rewarding to accomplish a no-spending goal, even if it’s a small one! Use that momentum (and the rush of saving money) to continue spending less going forward.

11

Buy in bulk.

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For things like shelf-stable groceries, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products, take advantage of sales and BOGO deals to stock up while the price is low. This is a great way to lower your grocery bill and save money on home supplies and personal care items (these things can add up if you’re not watching).

12

Plan meals and cook at home more often.

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Cook and dine at home to avoid overspending on delivery and eating out. This might be an adjustment if you’re used to ordering takeout frequently, but it pays off (literally). Challenge yourself to meal plan and buy the groceries you need to cook at home more often to save on delivery fees and surcharges or expensive meals at restaurants.^{[8]
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- You don’t have to go cold turkey—if you order out every week, try ordering out just once a month instead (and take note of what you saved).
- This also doesn’t mean you can never go out to eat. When you do, look for happy hour deals, consider splitting an entree with a friend, or look for places where kids eat for free or from a cheaper kids' menu.

13

Find the best price before buying.

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You may think you’re scoring a deal at one online retailer, but what if the same product costs less in another corner of the internet? The Coupert browser extension automatically compares prices between sites and lets you know if it finds a lower cost somewhere else. Using a seamless browser extension is a great way to ensure you never overpay online again.

14

Shop secondhand when you can.

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Buy used goods to save a ton of money (and support local thrift stores). Household items, kitchen supplies, bags and accessories, and even some shoes and clothes can be bought secondhand for a much lower price than if they were new. Thrifting is a great way to keep discarded items in good condition out of landfills, support local businesses, and stock up on items you want or need at a low cost.
- Just make sure the items you buy are in good enough condition that they’ll last you for a while. If it’s going to break on you soon, you’ll just have to go out and spend more to get another one anyway.

15

Be creative with gift giving.

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Plan experiences, share homemade goods, or try a no-gift holiday to save. You don’t have to spend a fortune on the latest and trendiest gifts every holiday season or for your loved ones’ birthdays. Instead, opt for more unique, thoughtful, and intentional gifts. You can bake, write personal letters or cards, host a potluck, or plan a cheap (or free) experience like a day at the beach instead.^{[9]
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- Not only will gifts like these save you money, but they’ll also seem more personalized and thoughtful to the recipient.

16

Look for freebies when they’re available.

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Keep your eyes peeled for giveaways, birthday perks, and free admission days. There are more free items out there than you might think. For example, grab a free coffee or dessert on your birthday at certain coffee shops or restaurants, look for items you need on “Buy Nothing” groups online (check places like Facebook), or plan museum or park visits on free or discounted admission days.^{[10]
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- Minus your birthday, free items and experiences can pop up at unpredictable times. If you can be flexible with your schedule, these are great ways to save!

17

Use your car less (or sell it).

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Spend less on transportation by leaving your car at home. Gas and maintenance prices definitely add up, so leave your car in the garage and opt to walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation to get around. If you live in a major urban area with robust public transit, you could even consider selling your car—you’d get money from the sale, plus get rid of expenses like parking and insurance.^{[11]
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- Walking, biking, and public transit are also cheaper options compared to ordering rideshares like Uber or Lyft.

18

Take advantage of the library.

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Rent books, audiobooks, movies, and other resources for free instead of buying. It’s free to join your local library, giving you access to thousands of books, magazines, movies, and other media at no cost.^{[12]
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- This is a fantastic way to support your community institutions and find free entertainment and educational materials.

19

Find cashback or rebate opportunities.

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Rebate apps put money back in your pocket after making a purchase. Typically, you’ll upload a receipt or invoice, earn cash or points, and redeem them later for money or rewards. Alternatively, you can use a browser extension like Coupert, which automatically finds you eligible rebates and sends the money to your bank account or bank card within just 3-15 days (that’s a lot faster than similar apps and extensions).

20

Plan low-cost social outings.

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Look for ways to hang out that don’t involve pricey dinners and outrageous cover charges. A night out on the town sure is fun, but it can cost a pretty penny if you’re hitting the clubs every weekend. Instead, look for low-cost alternatives like hitting the beach or a park with friends, making coffee at home and going for a long walk, or even meeting up to run errands or do chores together.
- Also look out for free local events like street festivals, parades, block parties, lectures and performances, free admission days at museums, and other opportunities.

21

Get rid of unnecessary subscriptions.

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Cut back on streaming services to chip away at your monthly costs. Evaluate which shows, movies, and services are really important to you, then cancel any subscriptions that don’t offer you much value. Do you truly need Netflix and Paramount+ and HBO and Hulu and Disney+? Stick with the subscriptions that bring you the most joy and ditch the rest to save more.^{[13]
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- Check your other subscriptions, like iCloud or Google storage space, phone apps, or memberships you don’t use anymore, to find even more savings.

22

Unfollow influencers who promote products.

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Social media can be a great place to discover new items (often with a promo code attached), but do you really need everything you scroll past? Unfollow brands, stores, and influencers that primarily use their accounts to market their products so you’re less likely to make an impulse purchase. As they say, “Out of sight, out of mind!”

23

Sell your clutter.

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Purge items you don’t need or use every once in a while for some extra cash. Take inventory of your clothes, knick-knacks, kitchen supplies, and items that have been sitting untouched in your garage, basement, or attic for years. Is there anything you can unload for a little bit of extra money? Use platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, Depop, or Mercari to help your unused clutter find a new home.
- Take stock of the things you don’t need and end up selling. In the future, resist the temptation to spend money on similar items if you feel they’ll also just get relegated to a storage bin.

24

Pause or cancel your gym membership.

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Use free park equipment, running trails, and home workouts instead. Gym memberships are great for your health, but can also cost a big chunk of change depending on what’s available in your area. Look for free or cheap alternatives, like home workouts and classes you can do from YouTube, small gyms in your apartment building or office building, park equipment, or running and hiking paths near your home.
- Biking around town is also a great way to get some exercise while saving money on transportation.
- You might also consider investing in a home gym if you have the space. The equipment will be a hefty upfront cost, but you’ll recoup the expenses once you stop paying for a monthly membership.

25

Slow down on tech upgrades.

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It may be trendy to always have the newest iPhone, but is it necessary? Unless your electronic device is malfunctioning or won’t update anymore, hold off on costly upgrades until you truly need them. You might also want to invest in a protective case for small devices or a warranty plan for expensive tech to prevent expensive repairs or item replacements.

26

Automate your savings.

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Try virtual shopping assistants that find deals on every purchase. Coupon-finding apps and browser extensions like Coupert run in the background while you shop and browse, constantly searching for working coupon codes and cashback opportunities to maximize your savings. When you’re ready to check out, Coupert will automatically apply coupons, find you rebate opportunities, and compare costs to find you the best price.
- Coupert takes the effort and frustration out of online shopping so you can always find the best price.

27

Drink less alcohol.

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Cut back on happy hours and weekend drinks to save up. Going out for a drink is one of life’s simple joys, but it can also be expensive. Aim to drink less (or not at all), especially on social outings, to make your night out a bit less expensive. Look for happy hour deals and daily specials when you go out to keep costs down, too.^{[14]
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- You could also purchase alcohol on sale at a liquor store or grocery store to enjoy at home rather than paying for overpriced drinks at a bar or club.

28

Look for better insurance plans.

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Insurance is a monthly expense that may fly under your radar since it’s often necessary, but there’s a chance you could be paying less. Research other insurance providers to see if you can find competitive coverage at a lower rate, or call your current provider and ask about discounts and alternative plans.

29

Look for other coping mechanisms.

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Try alternatives to “retail therapy” when you’re feeling stressed. We get it! Buying yourself a little treat or knick-knack is a fun thing to do to make yourself feel better. If you want to spend less money, though, look into coping techniques that are free or low-cost. For example, you could try jogging or going for a walk to clear your mind, meditating to calm down after a hard day, engaging in a hobby like music, writing, or crafting, or spending time with friends instead.
- If you’re truly struggling to control your shopping habits or suspect you have a shopping addiction, consider meeting with a therapist, financial counselor, or support group to find healthy ways to rein in your spending.^{[15]
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30

Spend time with fellow frugal people.

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Hang out with others who enjoy saving to avoid the pressure to spend. It can be hard to cut back when your friends frequently enjoy expensive restaurants, out-of-town trips, or clubs with expensive cover charges. Consider spending time with other friends or acquaintances who have a similar budget and spending habits to yours so you don’t feel like you have to “resist” spending at every turn.
- You can also ask your fellow frugal pals for tips and tricks to save even more money!
- This isn’t to say that you should ignore your friends or stop seeing them just because they have more expensive tastes. A fun night out or an expensive dinner can be a great way to treat yourself from time to time, but it’s also OK to excuse yourself from an outing here and there to protect your wallet.

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Tips

If you’re living frugally and still struggling to save or make ends meet, consider applying for government assistance. There are programs in place to help with utility bills, food security, childcare expenses, and more. Browse various programs and see if you’re eligible at https://www.usa.gov/benefits.

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