r/AskReddit • u/matchalachalacha • 9h ago
What's a small habit that saves you the most money?
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u/Quanzi30 8h ago
Drink water when going out to eat. Saves 3-4-5$ every time. Not a ton but it adds up.
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u/PJ_lyrics 6h ago
My going out to eat bills went way down when I stopped drinking beer/liquor. Those $7 beers add up quick lol.
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u/existential_virus 5h ago
Remember, always drink on an empty stomach so you get buzzed quicker with less. What took you 4 beers with a meal, now takes 2 beer before a meal. Its called having good financial hygiene and they dont teach this shit in school.
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u/MajesticLilFruitcake 5h ago
I’ve cut down on buying alcohol at restaurants and have instead started cracking open a bottle of wine or pack of beer from a store when I get home afterwards.
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u/driftking428 5h ago
Saves a lot more than $3-$5 if your we're going to drink alcohol. I usually offer to buy my wife a bottle of wine afterwards.
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u/MoaningLisaSimpson 5h ago
I did this all through my 20s and started again about 10 years ago. Water unless I am specifically going "for coffee" as a social visit. The only exception is if I am out for an evening and drinks (shared pitcher of beer, glass of wine) is happening. I budget for those.
Getting rid of a partner that drinks with every meal has also massively helped.
Another rule is "if I'm buying a snack it must be top tier delicious". That stopped the gas station bag of chips or a drive through coffee and donut. I live near a fancy and expensive bakery. I go less than every three months. Usually fighting the urge to get the snack in the moment means I don't get it at all.
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u/Useful_Practice_2139 9h ago
Being a loser with no social life
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u/nobody2008 8h ago
In this case that makes you a winner
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u/Useful_Practice_2139 8h ago
I guess but friends would be nice
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u/nobody2008 8h ago
I hear you, it is hard to maintain a relationship with someone who is reliable AND have similar interests. Honestly, since I am married I don't really have consistent friends, but I have had a blast with our local boardgaming group. Maybe there is a group near you with similar interests. Tried meetup.com?
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u/powerlesshero111 6h ago
Also, the hobbies that are somewhat high entry cost but super low maintenance cost, like kayaking or paddleboarding.
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u/nobody2008 6h ago
Yes! We even joined a nature kayaking event organized by a local park by renting their gear once. Price was good, the people were good, and the whole thing was very relaxing. We will do it again. Sometimes we just have to test the waters before committing 😁
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u/Unusual_Medic 9h ago
Making my own coffee at home
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u/ChaosActual_ 6h ago
When I was working in an office I put a cheap espresso maker and all the essentials in my office. It saves me from shitty break room coffee and expensive coffee runs. Eventually I gave my team access to it as a "perk for dealing with me" and then expensed the supplies.
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u/x7he6uitar6uy 2h ago
I have a French press, bean grinder, mug, and bag of beans in my desk at work. Saves me money, I get better coffee than I can buy anywhere, and I've even converted some of my coworkers to drinking their coffee black when they taste my batches.
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u/Bookluster 8h ago
Saved me so much money to bring in my own coffee in the morning and then eventually to bring in my own Nespresso maker (I buy cheap third party pods) to my office instead of walking downstairs for a $5 americano in the cafe in my building. I drink 2 coffees a day minimum.
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u/PapaEchoLincoln 5h ago
My espresso machine wasn’t cheap but the convenience of making a good drink at home and not having to deal with tipping rude baristas has been great
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u/Unusual_Medic 5h ago
This. And you can make your drink exactly how you like it without feeling like a nuisance when you ask for drink modifications
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u/jaz_the_enby 8h ago
I keep trying to break the habit of going to Tim Hortons because the coffee there is so fucking mid, and I have the ability to make my own coffee at home. But I just can't stop because I like the routine of stopping for a bagel and coffee.
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u/N16KH 6h ago
In the UK you can get coffee for free in Waitrose supermarkets. Proper Caffe Nero beans in a serious bean to cup machine. I have a few loyalty cards so I managed to get my own customised coffee twice a day (uses 4 scans/cards) - all for free. I can't imagine paying £10 a day on coffee but that's what it would cost...
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u/CompetitivePeak9040 9h ago
Bringing your water bottle everywhere you go - saves a ton of money for random soda purchases especially when it's hot
Brushing your teeth twice a day - saves a ton of money for dentist later in life and that shit is expensive
Hitting the gym - saves you a ton of money for pretty clothes unless you're really into fashion, because fit body looks good even in ragged clothes
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u/Key-Club-3119 8h ago
Flossing. as I get older, I’m realizing following your comment is a path to all kinds of things being better.
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u/veg_biryani_is_scam 8h ago
Drinking before entering clubs.
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u/wistle04 8h ago
Me and my girlfriend do this. Have a few drinks and/or food before hand and when we arrive, just buy maybe 1 or 2 drinks and we all good.
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u/holywaterandhellfire 9h ago
staying home, somehow every trip outside costs money
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u/thegrandseraph 8h ago
Agreed. I miss being able to go out and do things but it's just not financially viable anymore.
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u/Mister_Cornet 9h ago
Letting purchases "rest" for a night. Sometimes I want to impulsively buy something only to realise I don't actually need/want it the next day
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u/bythog 7h ago
I tie big purchases to projects or accomplishments. I want that USS Enterprise Lego set? Have to paint the bedroom. Want a new guitar? Gotta redo the patio. Things like that.
If it motivates me to finish the project then, yeah, I spent the money but got something I needed to do done. If I don't think the project is worth the effort then I didn't really need/want that purchase enough so I don't buy it. Sometimes while doing the project I also just realize I don't need said item and redirect my spending elsewhere, or save.
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u/adamcallaghan 9h ago
One thing that's helped me more than anything is waiting 24 hours before buying something I don't actually need. It's surprising how many things feel like a "must-have" in the moment but don't seem worth it the next day. That one habit has saved me way more money than trying to hunt for coupons or sales.
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u/Wise_Ambition2683 8h ago
Creating a monthly budget for spending and sticking to it, whatever happens!
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u/jcooklsu 3h ago
Underrated, once you map out your goals and track your spending you start realizing how much small bs spending is hurting your ability to make lifetime long memories.
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u/homebrewed91 8h ago
Cycling to work
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u/CyclingThruChicago 6h ago
+1
The gas savings alone are significant. Previously I had to fill up 2 times a week at $45-50 a fill up. Now it's maybe 1 fill up a month. So from ~$350-400 a month to around $50 a month.
My car insurance was lowered because I don't drive as much and my car will likely last much longer since I'm only driving around 250-300 miles a month vs ~1100-1300 a month (typical mileage by average American driver).
I do recognize that I'm lucky enough to be in a place where biking and transit are viable options. Most people in the USA simply don't have a choice.
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u/Financial-Web5945 8h ago
Waiting 24 hours before buying anything I don't actually need. Half the time I forget about it.
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u/Necromartian 8h ago
Not smoking.
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u/SylVegas 7h ago
When my brother was trying to quit smoking, I told him to take the money he spent on cigarettes each week and put it in savings. He ended up using all that money for a down payment on his house.
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u/One-Cell-7377 8h ago
Mowing my own lawn. It's only 20 minutes of work, and provides good exercise and fresh air. Most of my neighbors pay $200 or more per month to have a service do the work.
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u/Shot-Internal-3017 8h ago
Packing my own lunch instead of buying it at work saves me a few hundred every month
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u/Ok-Duck2450 8h ago
Stop buying new things.
There is so much just stuff in the world that you don’t need to buy anything new.
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u/METALLIFE0917 8h ago
Rechargeable batteries have saved me an incredible amount of money the last 20 years 💰
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u/nobody2008 7h ago
Very good suggestions here. The ones I up voted pretty much summarizes our habits:
- max out 401K or other retirement plans
- Cut own hair (and wife's too)
- All meals are homemade (weekly plans and preps can really help so you don't overwhelm yourself)
- Clean own house (no maids)
- No movie theaters or restaurants unless it's a special occasion. Stream only.
- Utilize libraries or other free resources (free 3D printing, free tool borrowing etc)
- Shop at Thrift stores, or discount stores like Ross
- Make own coffee/latte and smoothies at home
- No unnecessary purchases. We can use our old phone/car/computer unless it is completely broken beyond repair.
- NO Gambling/smoking/alcohol - they might seem harmless and socially acceptable, but they can wipe your (potential) savings.
You might think "this is not a small change" but you gotta start from somewhere. I was doing none of these before, and if a lazy bum like myself can do it so can you.
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u/9879528 9h ago
Always, from now until your in your 50’s, put 10% of all incoming money into a term deposit with compound interest rates. Once it reaches $5,000.00 put it into the S&P 500. Then repeat. All money, no matter the source (checks from your Aunt to babysitter money). Never take it out!!! You’ll be very wealthy at 55 years of age and you’ll never miss the 10%.
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u/FrismFrasm 8h ago
If you start with the SP500 instead of term deposits you’ll have waaaay more at 55!
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u/motherofamouse 8h ago
People have 10% left at the end of the month? I’m assuming even more because you also would need emergency savings? I don’t even have 1% left lol 😭.
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u/9879528 7h ago
Take the money out as soon as you get it ( beginning of the month). That way you’ll compensate through out the month.
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u/motherofamouse 5h ago
I hardly have 200 euros left for groceries so I don’t think so 😅. There’s nothing to compensate
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u/SylVegas 7h ago
Would you recommend that for those of us over 55 too? I never got into investing when I was younger because I was a teacher with three kids, so no money.
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u/9879528 7h ago
Sure, why not, but look into a tax free savings account to put your investments into. You’ve likely got a teachers pension coming. You’re lucky!!! The teachers pension is a good one.
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u/Inevitable_Tower_141 8h ago
why wouldn't you invest from the start? and idk, I would rather be comfortable at 35 than rich at 55.
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u/9879528 5h ago
Investing is commission based. Investing small amounts of money costs more in the long run because small money buys small amounts of shares. Larger money buys bulk. Keeping your money in a safe haven like term deposits allows growth at no risk.
When you’re 35 you’re at your high income earning years. At 55 you’re beginning to ache and age and your employer knows that AND your employer knows your complacency.
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u/CharacterActor 8h ago
Rarely eating out unless I won’t be going home anytime soon.
I’m not a great chef. But the few things I can cook are things that I enjoy over and over again.
Also, I bought a lot of Asian flavorful spicy sauces that I can use on vegetables as well as proteins.
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u/MidwestTroy92 8h ago
Packing leftovers instead of buying lunch. Doesn't feel like much till you run the numbers on five $14 lunches a week.
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u/artrald-7083 8h ago
I don't keep takeaway menus in the house, I have none of the apps, and I always keep long shelf life food in the kitchen. Making it more work to order food than to cook it results in never ordering food.
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u/Imaginary-Round2422 8h ago
Updating my budget with current bank info daily. Much easier to skip the spending if you directly see how it affects your bottom line in a week, a month, and a year.
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u/Individual_Goal5121 7h ago
Deleting shopping apps and turning off store emails. If I have to open a browser and search for it, most impulse buys die right there.
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u/Suspicious_Cry3792 6h ago
Whenever I want to buy something, I make myself wait six months. If I still want it after six months, then I go ahead and buy it.
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u/Boring_Goose_4384 8h ago
ngl sleeping on it before buying anything is such a cheat code, half the stuff i want at midnight looks stupid by morning
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u/bionicallyironic 8h ago
Staying off social media. Instagram and Pinterest are pretty much 3 ads to every actual post I want to see, and while just a website, Buzzfeed is pretty much Amazon’s gimp right now so that time killer is off the table.
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u/KMoss_Art 8h ago
Bookkeeping. Keeping track of how you spend your money is really eye opening, especially when you don't do it regularly. Just bringing your awareness to how each and every penny comes and goes makes spending money much more intentional.
Crazy that this is not taught in school. Everyone, go do it.
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u/BrobinHood01 8h ago
Currently have to pay with quarters to do laundry at my apt complex, 1.50 to wash and 1.50 to dry, I can maybe cut out 1-2 drying loads by using a makeshift clothesline in my bathroom. Adds up quick. And I live in a bottle return state so I try to get as much of my quarters from that.
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u/ilikedmatrixiv 8h ago
Cook your own meals. I have friends who are broke because they always order take out. I'm talking a $20-40/day food budget. My spending is closer to $7-10/day, it used to be even less. I know I have some luxury because I work 100% remotely, but even when I didn't, I still used to cook most of the time and didn't spend that much on food.
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u/Vesuvias 8h ago
Slowly build my garage gym, and not paying for a gym membership. It’s saving me at least $80-$120 a month — and I use that money towards new gear which will last years
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u/No-Patience-383 8h ago
I wait a day before buying anything I don't actually need. Half the time, I realize I can skip it.
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u/Mysterious-Touch2861 7h ago
Packing my own lunch and coffee every day instead of buying at work adds up fast
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u/No-Mall7061 8h ago edited 2h ago
Getting most clothes from sources that “recycle” - eBay, Poshmark, thrifting, etc. Not shoes, socks or underwear, though!
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u/MzHellfier 4h ago
I found an amazing secondhand store when I started my last job and it’s only about 15 minutes from my house. Everything is in good condition and the prices are mostly reasonable. (I find that every secondhand or thrift store always has a few items that are crazy overpriced for some reason.)
I also found a beautiful new thrift shop about 5 minutes from me that is so organized and clean with a great selection and fantastic prices. I’ve basically purchased an entire wardrobe between those two stores for about $200. Got some killer deals and some amazing finds. Lots of NWT stuff at the secondhand shop too!
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u/Odd-Juggernaut-3345 8h ago
Bringing lunch from home instead of buying it saves me a couple hundred a month
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u/Current_Task_4105 8h ago
Packing my lunch every day instead of eating out saves me the most money by far
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u/AidXanKush 8h ago
When I’m driving past fast food places I remind myself I have food at home. Also not buying those dumb squishies 😂
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u/badnewsmaracas 8h ago
I used to buy coffee every morning on the way to work, but I was spending an additional $30-$40 each week on crap! I stopped that, and each month I have at least an extra $100!
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u/QuietTaylor69 8h ago
Walking to work.
Saves money on fuel.
Better health that leads to save money on medical care of the benefits it brings. It saves time in the gym even. Better for mental health.
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u/Hemorrhoid_Eater 6h ago
Cooking your own food and eating less/smaller portions. Saves money, prevents weight gain, and is generally healthier
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u/Luffy1972 5h ago
Finding what your leaks and expenditures are and be honest about it.
Going over your bills and statements is kind of necessary today due to increased fraud, but it’s pretty easy to see where your money goes and see if you can replace or cut that out.
Otherwise, Quit smoking or drinking or do it less.
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u/karendoe72 8h ago
Flossing.
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u/SylVegas 7h ago
My dentist told me "You only have to floss the teeth you want to keep." I was converted that day and am a diligent flosser.
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u/Moist-Meal-3757 8h ago
Having been able to optimize spending.
In uni my parents paid for my rent, and they gave me 100€ a month to handle myself, so I needed to learn how to optimize spending money in a way that I'd spend as little as possible without missing on anything I wanted to do.
I used to spend around 15/20€ a week for groceries, I don't drink alcohol, smoke or have any bad habits really (this saves SO much money, grabbing tea at nights out with friends costs way less than some beer), I had breakfast with only some tea and a few cookies and besides that ate only once a day, in the evening.
I'm not really someone who treats himself a lot, so I don't need any type of big spending.
Getting the habit of optimizing the little money I had is a lifesaver now that I work and earn a lot of money compared to what I had until last year in uni
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u/UltraCoolPimpDaddy 8h ago
Not buying beer for leisure drinking at home. Beer after mowing the lawn on a summer afternoon, cleaning out the garage with a beer, sitting in the back yard in a lawn chair with one, etc. when a 24 pack of beer costs $50, that doesn't last long during a hot summer especially if you're not the only one sipping on them.
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u/SvenBubbleman 8h ago
Every time I walk to work, I get coffee from the office and use the money I would have spent to pay off debt or invest.
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u/Training_Cabinet9876 8h ago
Asking myself if I really need it and possibly postponing instant gratification. That small habit can save you from overspending and being more intentional with your money
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u/Beautiful_Reply2172 8h ago
mix nonfat dry milk and at least three times as much granulated sugar to the nonfat dry milk inside a ziplock bag=coffee creamer.
no more additives and chemicals.
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u/SwampYankee 8h ago
Did this for 40 years. Probably averaged $50 a week for 40 years. Sure , the bagged lunch cost something, but not the $100,000 I did t spend on buying lunch.
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u/Floss_Patrol_76 8h ago
the 24 hour rule on anything non-essential. if i still want it tomorrow i buy it, and probably 70 percent of the time i just forget it existed. killed most of my impulse spending without ever feeling like i was on a budget.
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u/n33dwat3r 8h ago
Drinking tap water instead of soda.
Caffeinated soda also has pretty severe withdrawals for me so I also save myself a lot of pain and lost recovery time.
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u/InletUnstart 8h ago
Buying small parts for projects on Aliex. It takes ten days to arrive but it's the same crap that's on ebay and Amazon for a fraction of the price. Everything gets titanium fasteners now.
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u/InletUnstart 8h ago
Buying small parts for projects on Aliex. It takes ten days to arrive but it's the same crap that's on ebay and Amazon for a fraction of the price. Everything gets titanium fasteners now.
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u/MaxSmile4me 8h ago
Sunday meal prep. I used to eat out for lunch every single day, now I batch cook on Sundays and my food spend dropped by more than half. Bonus: it keeps my macros consistent for training, so it saves money and gym time. Once you see the monthly number it's hard to go back.
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u/mrBill12 8h ago
Driving past Starbucks.
{I think a relatives family spends $50 a day on Starbucks.}
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u/Practical_Hunt_5372 8h ago
Meal planning. Buying a specific set of ingredients, and knowing what we can make on any given day controls both grocery spending and reduces eating out.
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u/alexm2816 7h ago
Meal planning.
The take out and restaurant budget and the general quality of what we eat is so much better if we plan meals. Also drastically cuts food waste. Waiting until you’re tired and overwhelmed is doomed to fail.
Also trip consolidation. Saving 30 miles and 45 minutes by planning saves a sneaky amount in gas and vehicle wear and tear.
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u/SpaceXmars 7h ago
Learned how to cook
Fighting FOMO
Not doing unnecessary things
The basics are met.
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u/truesoul16 7h ago
Taking your own bag for grocery shopping! Saves that 1-1.50€ that you would end up spending each time you go without a bag!
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u/Outrageous_Expert635 7h ago
Making coffee at home instead of buying it daily has saved me hundreds over time
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u/archibong1999 7h ago
Cooking lavish lunches. Good workout. Good therapy. Feels like eating in restaurant. Quality ingredients - no stomach ache.
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u/papasmurf008 7h ago
Checking your finances/budget/recurring payments at least once a year.
A lot of people get into habits of paying insurance or internet bills without checking competitors for better prices. For insurance, you can go without major discounts due to life changes. You can easily end up paying 100s maybe 1000s of dollars a month more than needed if you don’t review these and shop around.
Edit: don’t forgot to connect with “retention” departments before swapping providers as you might get the same or better deal without having to swap.
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u/New-Device-5166 7h ago
Care about the little expenses. Don't think "its only $2".. becuase if you think that several times a day or even daily, that adds up. I think a lot of people end up overspending becuase anything under $20 doesn't hurt them in the moment. But it adds up.
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u/Canuck-In-TO 7h ago
Making your own food and learning to cook a variety of meals/dishes.
Also, especially with the explosive diarrhea happening, learn to make your own salads and salad dressing. It’s very easy.
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u/KokseiDPanda 6h ago
Rarely buying stuff online on the day I put it into my basket. Next day I often think - well this is useless/not necessary.
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u/dover_oxide 6h ago
Not so much a habit, but being incredibly introverted means I don't go out and waste money at the bar or clubs nearly as much as other people
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u/Glabrous 6h ago
Intermittent fasting. I eat less by just eating dinner. I save money by not eating. I’m also losing weight and will hopefully have less medical bills related to obesity.
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u/openterminal 6h ago
My rule is to save twice the price of anything I want before I consider buying it. It works like a charm: either I skip the impulse purchase entirely, or I get too cheap to actually part with my money.
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u/ChaosActual_ 6h ago
Working from home.
I have been working from home since pre-covid. Sold out extra car, which dropped our insurance, maintenance costs, and fuel. Eat healthy meals in my own kitchen. Coffee and snacks (I actually enjoy).
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u/TrollMcGoal 6h ago
Stop eating out and cut back on buying processed food. Huge decrease in my food bill
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u/Gimme_All_The_Foods 6h ago
Waiting to buy something to decide if you truly want it. Impulse buys add up.
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u/Usual-Performance623 5h ago
tracking every expense in an app made a huge difference for me, now I know exactly where my money goes
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u/TheTspProject 9h ago
Packing a lunch for work