6 Ways to Save Money Fast and Easy

It has been said that saving money is the same as finding or earning money. Here’s our 6-step plan to save money the easy way.

1. Check out your insurance policies: Review your insurance policies and talk to your agent. You might discover that you're eligible for a new discount or can drop a policy coverage you don't need.

2. Use those gift cards: The easiest way to a free or discounted item or service is by using a gift card. If you have gift cards, check their expiration date. Then, if they're still valid, use them for your very next purchase before they expire.

3. Amazing water savings: According to a New York Times article, you can spend up to $1,400 a year by drinking only bottled water. If you drink tap water from your home’s faucet, it’ll cost about 49 cents for the year!

4. Paper saver: U.S. households will spend about $400 on paper products each year. Most of those products end up in the trash can or recycling bin. Try to cut your paper use in half by using cloth napkins and towels instead of paper ones and real plates and cups rather than disposable ones.

5. Go meat-free for a day: The typical American eats more than 200 pounds of meat per year. That is far more meat than the healthy diet recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Try to make one or two days a week meat-free. Not only will you likely become healthier, but you’ll save money too since meat is one of your most expensive food choices.

6. Advice about that vice: Now’s the time to drop or reduce bad habits like smoking, drinking, and gambling. You’ll not only save money now, but also in the future, because of the health, medical, and other personal problems they cause down the road. Smoking just one pack of cigarettes a day can cost about $1,800 a year. Buying a case of beer a week is likely to cost you more than $1,000 a year. A few lottery tickets a week is probably costing you hundreds of dollars every year.