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5 Ways to Easily Save Money

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“babysavers”

On behalf of Sony’s MONEY MONSTER we’re sharing some money saving tips and giving away a $200 Visa gift card!

money monster movie poster

Do you know what I think is a little bit scary? It's the fact that the majority of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings account. 21% of us don't even have savings accounts!

I've always been a big believer in emergency funds. Life has taught me that completely unexpected accidents, surprises or discoveries can cost a lot of money. Here are just some of the unexpected expenses I've had over the last 12 months:

  • Over $500 for a new windshield wiper motor (you can't drive in winter in Minnesota without it)
  • $300 to cover the deductible for my son's broken arm.
  • $900 to pay for a plumbing issue that was discovered during a pretty basic plumbing repair.
  • $800 on an electrician to fix something related to the plumbing issue.
  • $300 to pay a dentist's office who mistakenly told me they accepted my insurance.

I didn't plan on any of those things happening, and the thought of not being able to pay for any one of those things makes me feel panicky.

If you don't have at least $1000 in the bank set aside for emergencies, you need to make this happen, and you can start working on it today!

5 easy ways to save money

easily save money

I asked a few of my blogging friends for help with the easiest way to save money. You'll see links to their sites at the end of their tip.

  1. Start a change jar. I know change jars aren't a new idea. The trick to successfully saving a significant amount of money in them is discipline. Change can only go INTO the change jar, not out. Choose a container you already have, and drop all your change into the jar every single day.  If you do this for two weeks I promise you'll be surprised by how much you've saved without giving it much thought at all! (MomLuck.com)
  2. Every two years shop for cheaper auto and homeowners insurance. I know this is a pain, but my sister just saved almost $800 by filling out ONE online form to get an insurance quote from a different provider.
  3. Use your library, it's not just for books! Let me tell you a few things: I read over 100 books a year and I've only paid for two books for my Kindle. Ever. I get ebooks from my library for free! I also get online classes from Lynda.com, access to ConsumerReports.com, I took a live class on how to create a solid business plan, I take my family to music performances and my kids take art classes at the library. All for free! All of those things would cost a fortune. Instead, that money stays in my wallet.
  4. Automate your savings. It's hard to part with money, even if you know you're saving it for the future. Take your brain out of the transaction by automatically transferring just $10, $15 or $20 each week from your checking account to your savings.
  5. Do your grocery shopping online with a shopping list. A few local grocers offer delivery service for a $5 fee. I know I spend more than $5 in impulse buys when I grocery shop! If you shop with your list and only order what you need, you'll avoid distraction, save time and save on unnecessary, unplanned items. (www.grinningcheektocheek.com)

About Money Monster:

In the taut and tense thriller Money Monster, Lee Gates (George Clooney) is a bombastic TV personality whose popular financial network show has made him the money wiz of Wall Street.

But after he hawks a high tech stock that mysteriously crashes, an irate investor (Jack O’Connell) takes Gates, his crew, and his ace producer Patty Fenn (Julia Roberts) hostage live on air.

Unfolding in real time, Gates and Fenn must find a way to keep themselves alive while simultaneously uncovering the truth behind a tangle of big money lies.

Check out the trailer for Money Monster:

Money Monster opens in theaters everywhere on May 13th. Get your tickets today!

Enter the giveaway!

Sony and Money Monster are offering one lucky reader a $200 Visa gift card! All you need to do to enter is fill out the mobile-friendly form below.

$200 Visa Gift Card

Thanks so much for entering! If you have any issues with the form please contact me.

I'd love a Retweet to share this giveaway on Twitter. Thanks!

Disclosure: This giveaway is provided by Sony Pictures Entertainment. All opinions are my own.

Comments

  3. My favorite tip for saving money is to shop clearance racks at the end of a season for next year to find the best deals – when it comes to clothing.

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  6. Use coupons to buy items is a great way to save money, and also look at unit price, sometimes what seems like a good deal may actually cost more!

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  10. I like to save coupons and use them when the item is on sale. I try to never use charge cards and save up for an item that I want instead of charging it and paying all that interest!!

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  16. Make sure you are matching coupons with store discounts. Amazing how much money I’ve saved.

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  17. I TAKE ALL MY LOOSE CHANGE AND THROW IT IN OLD JELLY/COFFEE JARS DAILY. ONCE FILLED I MOVE THEM OUT OF SITE AND OUT OF MIND. EASILY SAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS WITHOUT EVEN TRYING.

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  18. I never buy anything online without thoroughly searching for a promo code. I never buy anything in a store without thoroughly price comparing, especially with Amazon.

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  23. My best tip is to match up coupons with weekly sales for optimal savings and always pay cash if possible to help you keep track of exactly how much you are spending.

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  24. My favorite tip is to make meals at home, freeze them, and use them when you would have otherwise ordered takeout.

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  25. I use the envelope system to allocate cash for groceries, gas , entertainmemt, ect.. I have to pay for the items
    with cash and the money has to last until the next paycheck.

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  28. Always, always, ALWAYS look for online coupons or special deals when you want to buy a certain item online, because you will almost always find something to help you save money!

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  29. Benjamin Franklin once said
    “Watch out for the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves”

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  30. My favorite money saving tip is to always put away money in savings at the beginning of the month versus the end of the month. That makes me work with what I have for the rest of the month, no excuses!

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  32. my best money saving tip is to buy many necessities at the Dollar store like detergent, foil, tylenol, cookies, dish towels, garbage bags etc.–you can save a LOT of money there

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  34. One of my favorite money saving tip, came from my mom, keep a journal of everything you spend. By doing this, you can go back and see exactly where your money is going, enabling you to find things to cut out and where you can save. 🙂

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  39. I shop sales and use coupons Plus I save my change in a jug and put that in the bank every month.

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  41. I buy meat in bulk when it’s on sale. I then divide it up and freeze it. My mom gave me a vacuum sealer years ago and it’s great for meats you know you won’t eat very soon.

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  43. Patience, Everything goes on sale eventually. Money gets you convenience and that product now but if you can wait, search, and buy second hand you can live outside your means with out going into debt

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  46. When shopping, I price match with stores closer to home to save on gas as well as use coupons to get the best deal around.

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  49. Any time you have change in your pocket or in your bank account, either put that change into a jar or put the change into your savings account. it adds up!

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  50. It’s garage sale season and I buy ahead and label tubs so I know where to look when my kids are ready for the next size clothing

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  51. Discounted gift cards and promo codes for online purchases. Also, I recommend setting an automatic daily transfer of at least $1 from checking to savings.

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  55. My best money saving tip is always hunt for coupons online before making purchases, shop the seasonal sales, stack coupons, and even subscribe to mailing lists to receive discounts.

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  60. It is already stated in the article, but a change jug is such a good idea. We get cash out for spending about twice a month and never spend coins. Straight into the jug. Last time we deposited it into our account (hooray free counters at the bank), it had been about 6 months and we had almost $70.

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  62. My best tip is to travel during the off season. It will save you money as hotel prices will be cheaper.

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  63. pay off your credit card in full at the end of every month and most times i make 2 payments a month to guarentee i never get hit with a late fee

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  66. We set aside 20% of each paycheck and it adds up quickly. Also use points rewards cards for gas and groceries.

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  71. My favorite money saving tip is I stop at Target in the mornings, and they always have coupons on meats that need to be used that day or soon. I stock up and freeze them.

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  72. use coupons when on sale or not save your change till end of year for christmas or birthday i had 600 by june one year so it works

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  81. my money saving tip is to always look at the deals online before you go buy anything. there are a lot of forums and sites that give you the best deals and you can usually find a great buy!

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  88. My favorite money saving tip is Start a change jar! My husband and I have been doing this for the past several years and it’s amazing how quickly our stash builds up! By the time Christmas rolls around, we usually have enough saved to pay for at least half of our gifts!!

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  94. I’m all about the rebate apps like Ibotta and using the Cartwheel app in addition to coupons at Target!

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  100. Contact your utility companies (especially trash) to see if they will reduce your rate. Ask them if they have any specials. The reduced rate is good for a year, usually, so mark it in your calendar and call them back the next year.

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  101. Shop year round for gifts, you can get great deals around the holidays for birthdays. Also do laundry or dishes after 7 at night. That is generally an off time and your rate is lower.

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  107. My favorite money saving tip is to LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS! Just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you should.

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  108. PAY YOURSELF FIRST!! Put money in an account just for savings for emergencies or for a big expense so you don’t use a credit card!

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  110. Have. It taken directly out of your paycheck and put a n savings so you don’t see it to spend it

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  114. My fave money saving tip is use coupons when you can, or if it’s still more expensive to buy the name brand with a coupon, don’t, just grab the generic to save money.

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  118. I save tons of money by buying things in bulk online.
    No need to buy 3 dollar tiny bottles of exotic spices at the grocery store when you can buy 5 pounds of it online for 20 bucks.
    I think I worked it out one time and the same amount of spice (turmeric) bought at my local grocery store would cost me close to 700 dollars!!
    thanks!

    Reply

  123. Use credit cards for everything (to get cash back) – but only buy what you can afford to pay for in full

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  139. I pay for everything with paper money. I put all my coin change in a coffee tin when I get home. At the end of the month I cash it out.

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  140. The best way I save money is by using coupons and I sometimes can use more than 1 coupon . Like a buy 1get 1 Free store sale or regular coupon and use another coupon for the one you that was the buy 1 as long as it says you cant use more than one coupon which most don’t. You can even get free items or money back. You can use coupons at dollar trees and other dollar stores to get free but they won’t give you the extra money back so I try to only use the 1.00 off coupons there.

    Reply

  142. My favorite tip for saving money is tracking a shopping coupons, sales papers and consideration of the location of the stores that would, all together, save money all the way around.

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  144. I have a change jar. When I buy something, I use bills to pay, saving the change I get back and putting it in the jar at the end of the day. Before you know it, you’ve got a hundred dollars or more! And that goes right into savings. 🙂

    Reply

  146. I clip coupons and use at the grocery store to save money and also use the restaurant coupons that I find in weekly mail and newspaper and print online coupons, thanks!

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  147. Except for major purchases where it’s foolish to be lugging a large amount of cash around,use cash ofr your purchases….it really does create a sense of how much you are spending.

    Reply

  148. My biggest tip is to use coupons everywhere you can. I save around between $200-300 a month this way.

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  151. Use whatever you can find to stack. Meaning coupons, apps, mobile coupons. It is amazing how much money can really add up in savings!

    Reply

  152. Dont live beyond your means, save every penny you can in a jar,use coupns and dont use credit cards!

    Reply

  161. I use coupons and I don’t spend any of my change. It’s a big surprise at the end of the month.

    Reply

  162. I try to not buy things I don’t need when I am trying to save, such as soft drink or sweets. Such a thing also helps me stay healthy.

    Reply

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