15 Tiny Habits To Save Money Every Day

Small savings may not make you a millionaire but they can definitely make your life – and living within your budget – a whole lot easier.

One of my favourite ways to save money has been discovering intentional spending, which basically just means I am far more in control of my budget and consider all purchases before I go ahead with them.

It doesn’t mean I deprive myself at all, but it means I focus the money I do have on funding the things that bring me joy and ensuring I am saving for the future.

These are 15 simple, tiny habits that can help you spend more intentionally and save money every single day.

1. Be consistent – even when starting small

It’s not about being able to save $1000 every single month. It would be amazing if we could, there’s no doubt about that.

But you should not feel bad if you don’t manage to do that.

It’s far better to consistently save $50 a month for five years than to start off putting aside $1000 and give up right away.

Saving $50 a month of five years will net you $3000 in savings, and the added bonus of any interest you make on that money. Saving just $1000 then giving up, will mean you have only $1000.

You don’t have to climb the mountain on day one.

Start with tiny steps when it comes to your savings, especially if you are on a tight budget.

You could always challenge yourself to increase your savings rate every year, so in year one you save 5% of your income and then in year two you move to 6% and then 7% by year three.

Whatever you commit to, make it affordable and make it a habit.

2. Automate savings

Transfer money into your savings as soon as your pay check arrives.

I have my savings set up to leave my bank account right after pay day so that money is allocated to future me right away.

It’s really useful to ensure savings are what come at the start of the month before your fun money spending, rather than at the end of the month.

The pay yourself first rule is the simplest and most effective way of ensuring you are growing your wealth every month.

3. Switch to cash or digital envelopes

There’s something to be said for paying in cash, as it can make you more intentional with your buying habits.

If you can physically see what money you have left every single month, then you will be more careful with sticking to your budget.

You can use cash envelopes – I have some free printable cash envelopes you can get here – or try using digital envelopes.

Apps such as HyperJar will allow you to set categories for your spending and allocate money to those categories according to your budget.

Your banking app is also likely to offer an option where it allows you to set a budget for certain types of spending – such as groceries, clothes, days out and bills – and will help you to monitor it.

4. Always ask key questions before a purchase

When you are gearing up to buy something, it doesn’t matter how big or small it is, ask yourself these key questions:

Do I need this?
Do I need it right now?
Can I get it cheaper elsewhere?
Can I get a discount?

A lot of items can be ruled out via the first question. I’ll give you an example of one that does pass the test of question number one. Groceries.

Of course, you do need groceries!

Then we move on to question number two, and shop your cupboards, freezer and fridge for tonight’s dinner and/or to help with your meal planning for the next week.

When it comes to the third question, now you can ask whether you are shopping at the best value supermarket for you both in terms of its actual prices and its convenience for you (driving an hour to get to Aldi won’t make good sense for most people).

Then you need to make sure you are taking advantage of coupons, discounts and special prices. Always sign up to supermarket loyalty schemes and never forget to bring loyalty cards with you. I’ve made sure I have all the relevant apps on my phone so I am not reliant on remembering cards to scan at checkout.

5. Add it to your shopping cart and leave it 48 hours

When you online shop you are often guided by how you feel in that moment. The fact is that shopping fulfils an emotional need. You get an endorphin rush from the act of picking out something new and browsing all those shiny new things.

One of the best highs is the moment you make that decision and click add to cart. What you can try doing to stop yourself from going through with that choice is to have a 48-hour wait period.

You add to cart, and then click away.

This does two things. First of all it can stop you from buying something you do not need.

And secondly it can trigger a discount offer from the brand. They don’t like unfinished checkouts, so they may email you an offer of money off.

6. Celebrate small wins

Sometimes we get so focused on the big stuff – like hitting our new house deposit fund goal – that we forget to pat ourselves on the back when we deserve it.

Celebrate paying off a credit card debt. Celebrate finding a voucher code for something that you were just about to pay full price. Tell yourself you did well when you click away from your shopping basket without checking out for something you didn’t really need.

7. Disengage from and edit your social media feed

Checking apps on your phone is definitely a reflex. You’re waiting at the school gate, you check your phone.

Travelling to work on a train, you check your phone. Sitting on the sofa at night, you check your phone.

We’re all a little addicted to our smartphone.

However that little device in your pocket that you are super attached to is selling to you all of the time.

It’s selling you clothes, tech, homeware, recipe boxes, shoes, storage, apps, cars, holidays and expensive lifestyle choices.

That’s not happening in obvious ads, it’s happening when you scroll your feed in Instagram, TikTok or Facebook.

Influencers, brands and even our friends use these apps as a highlights reel of their lives, and to showcase products to consume.

The result is, more often than not, we are encouraged to spend more. Think about purchases you recently made. How much were you influenced by social media and the images, lifestyle and stuff being showcased by other people on there.

It’s really to resist spending money when we are seeing people do it right before our eyes on our phone multiple times a day.

You can try to fight this urge by disengaging from social media. Give yourself a digital detox where you have a few hours a day where you stay off your phone. Read a book, go for a walk, watch TV. Anything to stop wasting time on your screen.

And another way to stop social media influencing your spending decisions is to unfollow and mute accounts that present the most temptation.

Maybe there’s an influencer you follow who has been showcasing her new trainers multiple times a week and you feel yourself weakening in your resolve not to buy them.

Try muting or unsubscribing from her to give yourself a break and avoid the temptation.

You may also like: How to stop spending money on clothes

8. Never open sale emails

A sale exists to get you to spend money, not to save you money. They are deliberately on a countdown, to make you feel fearful that you may miss out on the discounts.

Opening an email from your favourite brand that promises big discounts can be hard to resist. But if you do not need the stuff then try to avoid clicking.

Consider unsubscribing from the emails that tempt you to spend frequently.

9. Shop your wardrobe

Every now and then I like to do an inventory of my wardrobe and take stock of what I have.

It’s often surprising to uncover things that got stuck between two other items in the wardrobe or fell down the back of a drawer.

This is a good chance to declutter and maybe make some money selling your clothes.

It’s also a good chance to remind yourself of the things that you have, so that you don’t go out and buy another hoodie or another dress.

10. Stack savings

Coupons and discount codes are a great way to make savings, but you can also layer your offers in order to really bump up the money you get back.

For example if I shop at a supermarket using my loyalty card I gain money off on special prices, I can remember to use special coupons I have earned and I earn points on payment that can be used towards future purchases. If I then use a cashback app when checking out – you can get ones that can be used in store such as JamDoughnut in the UK – I will get cashback as well.

Don’t just look to save money, try to save money twice!

11. Never forget carrier bags

Bags for life are really useful for saving you money, but you have to remember them!

If you struggle then it can help to get ones that compact down into really small sizes that fit into your handbag or coat pocket so that you never forget them again.

12. Use less product

This goes for almost everything from shampoo and conditioner to washing up liquid and laundry detergent.

I was a classic over pourer with stuff and while a little under pouring may only save you pennies right now, that money can add up over time.

And just to really cut down on any waste, be sure to use every last drop in the bottom of a bottle, tube or jar. You can cut into toothpaste tubes in order to get a couple more days of use from that. With bottles try rinsing out bubble bath in the tub to get one more bath out of it.

13. Have meat-free meals

We try to have meat-free meals twice a week. This is not only because we are trying to be healthy but also because there’s no avoiding the fact that meat costs more.

If you struggle with meal inspiration then check out Instagram or TikTok for free recipe ideas. Save them in your Saved list on IG to use later.

14. Plan your errands

When you have stuff to do, try to join up your errands so that you do them all in one go, rather than leave the house multiple times.

This can save you money on fuel for your car.

15. Use your library

Sometimes it is fun to go out and spend money on a meal out or a day somewhere special like a theme park.

But as a regular habit we try to make as much use out of the library as we can. It’s a nice trip out of the house for the kids, we get new reading material for free and we can even read free magazines on the Libby app.

Plus you can save money on streaming services on TV thanks to their DVD selection and audio books on the Libby app. Your local library may use an alternative free app for accessing online content, so ask at your local branch if you are not sure.