If you saved one dollar a day, you’d have saved $365 in a year. Which doesn’t sound like a lot but can you imagine what you’d do with that extra money? I can, and it’s all bad, but regardless I’m totally up to save a dollar a day.
Make Your Own Coffee
I admit that I’m not a coffee drinker, and if you are one you are likely rolling your eyes at me. That said, hear me out. If your coffee costs $2.15 (which let’s face it, it doesn’t, it costs closer to $4) and you opt to make your own, you’ll save around $43 a week and $560 a year. Making your own coffee is a great way to save a few bucks a day that in the long run will give you a little extra cash to work with!
Throw All of Your Spare Change in a Jar
Granted, this isn’t necessarily going to save you a dollar a day, but you will save something. And anything counts. When you’re home for the day, instead of letting your loose change get stuck in the cracks of the couch to be found later or taken out to the curb with the couch in 10 years, throw it in a jar. At the end of the year, who knows how much you’ll have… probably enough to catch yourself a movie!
Skip the Delivery
You can save a few bucks on your takeout by skipping the delivery fee and picking the food up yourself. If you’re like me and live in a major metropolitan area where you order food for delivery from five blocks away than then trick is definitely for you. I’m pretty sure in the last year I could have saved at least $100 by picking up my food.
Make Your Own Food
Speaking of eating out, don’t do it. I learned the value of eating in over the past year when I refused to eat out or order in — I used to order in or eat out about once a week on average. Let’s say an average meal cost $20 (I’m being way too modest). Over the past year, I’ve probably saved over $1,000. Not so bad.
Drink More Water
Water is (relatively) free. It’s definitely cheaper than drinking sparkling water, juice, soda or alcohol. Plus it’s good for you. Try replacing one or two glasses of whatever you usually drink with water. We’ll call this the two-for-one money and health savings plan.
Walk More
Two-for-one money and health savings plan tip two, walk instead of drive. If you have the ability and live in a walkable city, try driving less. Not only will you burn off a few calories, but you’ll save money on gas. To my credit, I actually walk everywhere. I usually only drive my car once or twice a month. It’s great for my waistline and my wallet.
Shop the Sales
While I’m not a big couponer, I do my fair share of shopping sales. I’ve got an ongoing list on my phone of things I’m going to need to replace relatively soon, and I reference it when I drop by the store to see if I can get anything on sale. I also check Amazon and regularly go through fliers. With the right sales, you can definitely save a dollar a day.
The Biggest Tip for Saving a Dollar a Day
The biggest thing I can say about saving money is to stop and ask yourself, “do I really need this” before you purchase. I found out more times than not that I was purchasing things on a whim, not because I needed or even really wanted it. What tips do you use to save a dollar a day? Tell me in the comments below.
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I can get 2-3 cups of coffee, and pretty good coffee with real half-and-half, for an average of 30-40 cents per day. That is a huge savings.
The spare change idea is OK but so many people are cashless nowadays, that probably doesn’t add up as fast for most people as it once would have.
Saving a buck a day is a great idea though.