Short on Cash? Try Some of These Ways to Save Money Fast

With inflation and interest rates soaring, it’s no wonder people need to save more money, and quickly. There are plenty of ways to do it, but remember that not all personal finance advice fits everyone. Consider these ideas of the best ways to save money fast.

The general idea is to cut out any unnecessary expenses first — that’s the spending side of the equation. Let’s focus on the quick and easy fixes for saving money out of your current income.

One of the quickest ways to save money fast is to look at your subscriptions and cancel whatever you don’t need. A lot of people are paying $10, $20, or $50 a month on multiple forms of entertainment, for example.

If you currently pay for multiple streaming subscriptions like Disney+, Apple TV +, and Netflix, you’ll instantly keep more of your income by canceling them. You might also have subscriptions to gyms or magazines that you could do without.

There are a ton of great couponing apps you can use today to save money on everyday purchases. Some apps, like Ibotta, Dosh, and Rakuten, provide cash-back rewards. Others, like Honey, can save you money by finding coupon codes and price drops.

An often-untapped resource is your own home or closet. If you haven’t decluttered in a while, you could potentially make some quick cash by selling things online.

Furniture, gently used clothing, toys, games, books, appliances, and more could be sold to help you save money fast. You can use Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Amazon, or have an in-person yard sale.

Saving money fast means looking at your entire budget. You might lower certain fixed expenses, such as car insurance. While you don’t want to switch to inferior coverage, it might be helpful to reduce premiums even for six months or so. You can also consider switching providers (cell phone, utilities, etc.) for lower prices.

While grocery costs have gone up, you can still likely reduce food costs by adjusting your buying habits. You might buy less meat and processed foods and round out your groceries with more rice, beans, and other cheaper items.

Try a lower-cost retailer like Aldi, and remember that eating at home is nearly always less expensive than dining out. And don't forget to eat the leftovers!

You can save money fast by trying a money challenge like the no-spend challenge. For a month (or longer) commit to only buying essentials. Cutting out costs of entertainment, impulse buys, new clothing, and other luxuries can impact your savings rate.

Many people aren’t aware of how much they spend in a given month. Try tracking your spending for at least one month, diligently logging every expense. This can open your eyes to see other areas where you can cut back and save more.

Here are a few more quick tips to save money:

• Hang laundry to dry
• Don't blast the A/C or heat
• Change HVAC filters
• Avoid bottled water
• Use your library
• Borrow tools from neighbors