Here are 101 ways to save a dollar a day. Check out the list and see if you can use some of these ideas each day to start saving money.
Do you think it is impossible to save money? Perhaps no matter how hard you try, you feel like you can just never get ahead. Well saving money does not always mean stashing away twenty or fifty dollars at a time.
Most of the time, the best financial safety nets are built just one dollar at a time. There are hundreds of ways to save a buck and over time, those dollars can really add up. Still not convinced? Below, you will find 101 ways to save $1.00 a day. In many cases, these tips and tricks will save you much more than $1.00 a day. But in each case, if you can save a dollar a day you can easily save $30 a month, or $360 a year. Now that is some easy and significant savings!
101 Ways to Save a Dollar a Day
If you are ready to start setting some money aside for a rainy day, take a look below at 101 ways to save a dollar a day. You may just be inspired to start today.
1. Find a free RedBox rental code online and rent a flick for free.
2. Bring your own soda to work and skip the vending machine.
3. Pour some homemade coffee in a thermos and skip the drive thru tall latte.
4. Pack your lunch instead of eating out.
5. Make a point to redeem at least one $1.00 off coupon per day.
6. Make your own greeting card instead of buying one.
7. Spend a few minutes calling your insurance company requesting a new quote.
8. Shop the manager mark downs at your local grocer. Substitute as many items in on your list that you can with mark down items.
9. Skip the retail store and make a purchase from your local thrift store instead.
10. Re-gift an item you have not opened yet but is still in great shape.
11. Spend a few minutes calling your credit card companies to get your interest rates lowered.
12. Replace one beverage a day with water.
13. Try fixing something yourself instead of hiring help. Watch a youtube.com video if you need some help.
14. Barter with a friend for services instead of paying cash.
15. Replace one household cleaner with a simple yet effective vinegar and water mixture.
16. Hit up a matinee flick instead of an evening flick.
17. Replace one of your regular grocery items with generic.
18. Wash your car yourself instead of taking it through a car wash.
19. Skip the dry cleaners and get out your iron to do the job.
20. Hit golf balls at a local park for free instead of the driving range.
21. Omit running errands one day a week to save on gas.
22. Find a free book download on Amazon instead of paying for one.
23. Buy printer ink refills instead of buying new ones.
24. Carpool one day a week to save even more on gas.
25. Use generic shampoo instead of your salon brand shampoo one day a week.
26. Enjoy a meatless dinner one day a week.
27. Spend a few minutes calling your cable company to renegotiate your bill.
28. Learn to groom your own dog. A youtube.com video can help you with this.
29. Use cash instead of a credit card and you are already saving by not having to pay interest.
30. Take one survey a day on sites such as Swagbucks to earn gift cards you can use on future retail store purchases, thus saving you the money you would normally spend out of pocket.
31. Buy some of your most commonly used household items in bulk.
32. Trade clothing with a friend to expand your wardrobe.
33. Cook something from scratch.
34. Play a board game instead of going out for the evening.
35. Dry your own fruit and veggies with a dehydrator and avoid pricey grocery store snacks.
36. Start your own window herb garden and avoid costly grocery store herbs.
37. Do your own manicure instead of heading to the salon.
38. Use a self-tanner instead of buying a tanning bed package.
39. Rent a carpet cleaning machine instead of paying a crew to do it.
40. Hang one load of clothing a week outdoors to dry instead of running it through the dryer.
41. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
42. Use leftovers from the previous night’s dinner to create a new meal.
43. Fill out and send in the rebate off of a recent purchase.
44. Call your favorite food company and request any coupons that might be available.
45. Whiten your own teeth with white strips instead of getting them done in the dental office.
46. Buy wrapping paper and gift bags from your local dollar store instead of a retail store.
47. Discontinue one magazine subscription and check it out from the library instead.
48. Trade babysitting services with a friend or neighbor.
49. Learn a new hobby via youtube.com or Craftsy.com
50. Check your receipts for accurate calculations before tossing. Correct any errors at once.
51. Request medication samples from your doctor before having your prescription filled.
52. Buy pet treats at your local dollar store instead of a retail store.
53. Make your own face masks using natural ingredients like papaya, avocado, and yogurt.
54. Get a library book about massage therapy. Learn together with your partner and exchange services.
55. Request free samples from your favorite makeup counters.
56. Grocery shop without your children.
57. Grocery shop on a full stomach!
58. Plan your dinner menus a week ahead of time.
59. Shop with a list and stick to it.
60. Avoid convenience stores. You will pay extra for that convenience.
61. Bank at an institution with minimal fees.
62. Walk or ride a bike to one errand a week, if possible.
63. Turn all lights and electrical devices off one night per week starting at a certain time.
64. Enjoy a soup and sandwich meal one night a week.
66. Spend a few minutes a day printing out internet coupons.
67. Spend a few minutes a day requesting samples at manufacturer’s websites.
68. Use reusable towels and napkins instead of buying disposable ones.
69. Same goes for plates and utensils, use real ones and avoid buying disposable ones.
70. Drink flavored drink mixes instead of bottled drinks.
71. Replace trash bags with the plastic shopping bags you get for free.
72. Pay bills on time to avoid any penalty charges.
73. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher/lower depending on the weather.
74. Keep the television off one day per week.
75. Turn down the temperature on your hot water heater.
76. Rent toys for free at your local library.
77. Print out coloring pages for free at sites like pbskids.org and abcteach.com
78. Don’t patronize an ATM that charges you a fee.
79. Drive the speed limit. It saves gas and you avoid tickets.
80. Skip the gym and go for a jog instead.
81. Ask a friend to save their coupon inserts for you.
82. Skip the fancy beverages and appetizers at the restaurant.
83. Wash your clothing on a cold water cycle.
84. Use energy-efficient light bulbs.
85. Experiment with pasta, rice, beans, and other inexpensive staples.
86. Use your web feature on your phone to find a number instead of dialing information.
87. Price match your groceries before checking out.
88. Scan your groceries for stuck-on promotional coupons before checking out.
89. Don’t discard a box or package before checking to see if any coupons are printed on it.
90. Save coupons, Groupons, and other promotions to your cell phone instead of using printer paper to print them out.
91. Replace your furnace filter every few months.
92. Only run your dishwasher when full.
93. Raise the deductible on your homeowners and car insurance.
94. Check your faucets for drips and leaks.
95. Buy clothing during the off-season on clearance and save until it is needed.
96. Properly inflate your tires to get the best gas mileage possible.
97. Offer a service to a friend in place of a gift.
98. Turn off the air and open the windows. If you open your windows early in the morning or even the night before you can cool your home without the air-conditioner. Just be sure to close the windows before it begins to heat up.
99. Patronize eateries where kids eat free or B1G1Free options are offered.
100. Try decorating your home simply by swapping around items from various rooms.
101. Get plenty of sleep and avoid stress. A healthy body means fewer doctor’s visits, which means more money in your pocket.
There you have it! 101 easy ways to save a dollar a day or more. Give these tips a try and see how easy it is to start saving. Before you know it, you too can build a financial safety net that you can feel secure about and proud of. Good luck!
Barb M. says
Great ideas! Also, in addition to shopping on a full stomach and not shopping with your kids–don’t shop with your husband either! My hubby of 49 years adds things right and left to the cart, so it’s nice he sometimes takes an interest, but it definitely costs more!
If you have cool nights but hot days–open all the windows at night and then close them and the curtains first thing in the morning to keep the house cool. Insulated drapes help in summer and winter to save on heating/cooling costs in all climates.
I hang out nearly all my laundry in the summer and just love doing it! Used to help my mom and have hung clothes out ever since. I love the way they smell and especially sheets and towels from the line. It’s a highly anticipated “rite of spring” to be able to get to the clotheslines after winter in northern Michigan! Been known to put on boots to hang up the first load!
Virginia Tanna says
I agree with Barb. Husbands Love to spend money on food. (In my case I think it’s because he’s the main income earner.)) I think being frugal makes him sometimes feel inadequate.
Annette says
Can I add one? I found a recipe for home made laundry soap and a tutorial on YouTube. It costs about $1.5 to make a gallon. The time it takes is about 15 minutes. The ingredients are less environmentally toxic and my son’s rash cleared up (he’s had it since infancy). Also, my cats stopped barfing! I am evangelical about it.
Bus says
Great ideas-except hitting golf balls in the park (against the law where I live). Not such a good idea if your golf ball hits someone in the head-or anywhere else for that matter.
Mari says
Katie I love this share so many little changes that can add up to a lot thanks for sharing just pinned and twitted
Jen says
The library can save you so much money. Many have free ebooks, magazines, and streaming video on their websites.
My biggest money saver- we keep our blinds open in winter to let the sun in, and closed in the summer to keep it out when we’re not home. The energy savings have been great!
Emily says
Buying pet treats at the dollar store won’t save you money in vet bills. Ever take a look at the ingredients in some of these treats? Garbage! If you really want to be frugal, treat your pet with healthy scraps from your own food that are safe for the animal. For example, my dog loves pineapple core. The woody middle of the pineapple would normally end up in the garbage because it’s too tough for people to eat, but Morgan doesn’t mind! Much healthier for her than anything in a package from the dollar store too!
Bus says
Most dogs love raw carrots to chew on too.
Shar says
So many awesome ideas! I’m on a money saving mission this new year and I’m going to need them. Thanks!
mjskit says
A great list Alea! I have to admit that working from home is a great way to save money. Many of these automatically apply. Why drive to Starbucks when I can make better coffee at home. 🙂
Alea Milham says
That is a great point! I save on gas, wardrobe, childcare, and meals by working from home. Today, I participated in a conference call while holding horses for the farrier. I felt like a multi-tasking maven. 🙂
Nancy W says
Great list with a lot of good ideas! Thanks!
Kristi says
You don’t have to give up magazine subscriptions! I get most of mine through RecycleBank. You can earn points daily and they often have large banks of points to earn. These are the magazines I chose and bought from my points: Martha Stewart, Veranda, and Real Simple. They have others, even for men, like Car and Driver, etc. They also have those fashion mags and things like People and Star if memory serves. They also have coupons. I got carrot juice coupons for almost a whole year with my points. My Kroger double up to $1, so that mean $2 off every 1/2 gallon of carrot juice. They also had q-tip coupons when I couldn’t find any anywhere, that was the day I joined. Anyhoo, you might want to check them out. https://rcycle.it/2k2wm
Samantha says
Fantastic list!
Marcy says
Great list! I haven’t thought of a lot of these.