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1.Free yourself from debt.

Monthly debt payments are the biggest obstacle to saving money. Debt robs you of your income! So it’s about time you get rid of that debt. Once your income is freed up, you can finally use it to make progress toward your savings goals. One of the best way to pay debt is snowball method, where you pays off your debt from smallest amount to largest.

2.Watch out your grocery cart.

It’s so easy to walk through those aisles, grabbing a bag of Oreos here and a few bags of chips there, and then top it off with the fun goodies at the register. But those little purchases add up quite a bit and end up blowing the budget every single month.

By planning out your meals each week and taking a good look at what you already have in your pantry before you head to the store. Because why would you want to buy more of what you already have?

3.Better to cancel automatic subscriptions and memberships.

Chances are, you’re paying for multiple subscriptions like Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships, trendy subscription boxes and Amazon Prime. It’s time to cancel any subscriptions you don’t use on the regular. And make sure that you turn off “auto-renew” when you make a purchase. If you cancel it and decide you can’t go without it, subscribe again—but only if it fits into your new budget.

4.Save money automatically

Did you know that you can save money without thinking about it? You can set up your bank account to automatically transfer funds from your checking account into a savings account every month.

5.Use your extra or unexpected income wisely.

When you get a nice work bonus (way to go!), inheritance or tax refund, put it to good use. And when we say “good use,” we aren’t talking about adding that fancy new stamp to your stamp collection or even just putting it in the bank.

If you’ve still got debt in your life, you’ll be better off using those funds to pay off your loans or the balance on your credit card instead of stashing that money away. If you’re debt-free, use those extra dollars to build up your emergency fund—you know, for emergencies.

6.Reduce energy costs.

Did you know that you can save money on your electric bill just by making a few tweaks to your home? Start with some simple things like taking shorter showers (nope, we didn’t say fewer), fixing leaky pipes, washing your clothes in cold tap water, and installing dimmer switches and LED lightbulbs.

7.Borrow—don’t buy.

Need a tree trimmer for some weekend yard work or a handheld blender to make a batch of soup? Borrow it from a friend or neighbor instead of taking a trip to the store.

8.Lower your cell phone bill.

If your monthly cell phone bill competes with your monthly grocery budget, it’s time to find ways to cut back. Save money on your cell service by getting rid of extras like costly data plans, phone insurance and unnecessary warranties. And don’t be afraid to haggle with or completely switch your provider!

9.Try contentment challenge

Don’t buy any nonessential items for a week—or even a month! Make your spending freeze work by prepping meals with the food you already have, avoiding stores where you tend to impulse buy, and saying no to anything that isn’t a basic necessity.

10.Skip the coffee shop.

Yeah, we know. This one is painful—we get it! But instead of spending money on that daily latte, you can save money by just making your coffee at home. We’re not saying you should only drink instant coffee (unless you’re into that sort of thing). But even purchasing a bag of local beans from your neighborhood coffee shop and brewing it at home will save you a lot of money in the long run.

11.Sell everything (that you don’t use).

Get rid of the things in your home that you don’t use, or that you’re willing to let go of for the sake of your financial future. You’d be surprised at how much clutter you have in your home. And the cash you can make on those things can be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and having a fully funded emergency fund.

12.Ask about discounts (and pay in cash).

You never know until you ask—and you should always ask. Next time you’re getting tickets at a movie theater, museum or sporting event, check to see if they have any special discounts for seniors, students, teachers, military or AAA members. If not, never underestimate the negotiating power of cash!

13.Pack lunch (and eat at home).

Buying lunch a few times a week may seem harmless in the moment (especially when your favorite restaurant is walking distance from your office), but you can save quite a bit of money just by packing a lunch!

Not only that, you can often purchase a week’s worth of groceries for the same price as two dinner meals out. Instead, prepare your food at home and watch your savings pile up, month by month.

How to save money

You can stop the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck with a simple secret: Make a zero-based budget before the month begins. A budget is all about being intentional. It helps you create a plan so you can see where your money is going and find out how much you can actually save each month. Remember: It really doesn’t matter how much money you make—it matters how you spend and save the money you make.