If you’re like most people, then you’re probably always looking for ways to bring in more money. You may think that that involves being promoted, finding a new job, or stumbling upon a long-lost rich relative’s will that names you as the beneficiary. But that’s not true—you can make money just by making some small tweaks and instilling tiny habits! Here are 15 of them.
1. Automate your savings.
First, figure out how much money you can put away each month while still feeling comfortable affording the life you want to live. Once you do that, you can set up a monthly withdrawal from your checking to your savings. It might sting a bit at first, but soon, you won’t even miss it and you’ll have that much more savings for the big things.
2. Take advantage of cashback and rewards.
A lot of credit card companies offer cashback or rewards for your purchases. Most will let you decide which types of purchases you get the most cash back on, too (neat!). So, take a look at your monthly spending. What do you spend most on? Whether food, transportation, or something else, make your money work for you.
3. Utilize your free time.
When you’re just scrolling and watching Netflix, could you use that time to do something a little more productive? Maybe you could listen to a financial podcast or read an article about investing. Making this more of a habit can lead to better financial knowledge and choices.
4. Track your expenses.
This is a lot easier than you might think. There are tons of apps out there that do the math for you—just link your credit card and voila! This will not only help you identify your spending patterns, but it can also help you see where you can cut costs and where you can invest. A win-win.
5. Don’t be afraid to negotiate.
We’re going to tell you a little secret, you can negotiate just about anything. Medical bills, subscription services, your salary—the world is your oyster. Besides, you don’t get what you don’t ask for, right?
6. Regularly audit your subscriptions.
Maybe you forgot to cancel that free trial a few months ago and now you’ve been paying upwards of $40 these last three months for a thing you don’t even use! Oops. Here’s how to avoid that oops: by reviewing what you’re subscribed to and what you actually need. We’d bet that there are a few that are just collecting dust, cancel them so you can free up your money.
7. Set up automatic payments.
This might seem like weird advice, but do you know how many times we could’ve prevented paying late fees if we had just done this? So many. We don’t want that to happen to you. So just make it easy on yourself and set up automatic payments for all of your bills. (But don’t forget to look at the invoices so you can make sure they’re not overcharging you!).
8. Meal prep.
Takeout can get really expensive. We’re not saying you’re never allowed to order in but taking 20 minutes at the beginning of your week to plan out meals and what you need to buy is a huge money saver! You can have a week of meals for the price of one takeout order (after taxes, service fees, whatever random fees they ass, and tip).
9. Use public transportation.
Sure, the comfort of a car service like Uber or Lyft is comfier and easier. But it’s also really expensive—in even the best cases, it’s still like 8-10 times the amount it costs to hop on a city bus. Once you get out of the habit of calling a car, it’ll become easier. And your bank account will be way happier with you.
10. Take advantage of your employer benefits.
Some companies offer a ton of great money-saving benefits. For example, HSA flexible savings accounts are awesome—you can use that tax-free money to pay for therapy or co-pay at the dermatologist. You should also take a look at your retirement plan and see if your company has a matching policy. Educate yourself on what your company offers and leverage those opportunities.
11. Learn how to pause.
Impulse spending is a big money drainer. We want you to have a fun and joyful life so definitely buy yourself a treat every so often. But if you can make it a habit of pausing before you purchase to ask yourself “Do I really need or want this?” it can reduce a lot of unnecessary spending.
12. Invest, invest, invest.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a millionaire to invest your money! The key here is to start small—invest whatever you’re comfortable with now, and then increase (or decrease, if needed!) as you see fit. Having a passive income is life life-changing, promise.
13. Don’t be afraid to question charges.
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve been overcharged for something. But we’ve always gotten it resolved because we’re not afraid to speak up. That’s your hard-earned money and you have a right to know where it’s going! So don’t be scared to question something when it doesn’t feel right.
14. Say your money mantras.
Affirmations, mantras, whatever you want to call them, they’re a super powerful tool. When you repeat things like “Money flows easily into my life,” or “I attract prosperity,” it rewires your limiting beliefs into positive ones. It also sends a signal to the universe that you are open to receiving. Sounds woo-woo, but just try it.
15. Start a small side hustle.
Why not do the things you do for fun for money? For example: maybe you’re amazing at writing speeches. You could charge people to help them write their own! Or maybe you like refurbishing antique furniture. There’s a huge marketplace for that and you could make a ton of money reselling online. Just try to think of something you’re good at and enjoy and try to monetize it.
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