The first step that needs to be taken when trying to save money is figuring out what you are already spending it on. While you might not be spending as much on going out these days, you might be spending more on streaming services or groceries. Making a budget is a good way to visualize your expenses and evaluate where savings can be made. It will allow you to make a spending plan that will ensure you’ll have enough money for important expenses. And it’s good to do a financial checkup every once in a while anyway.

When you go to the grocery store, it’s important to make sure you don’t go in and start blindly buying products. One of the quickest ways to cut that bill down is to know what you need and not veer from the list of necessities.

Generic products at the grocery store tend to be cheaper than name-brand products. Especially for products going into a larger recipe, save money by just buying the generic brand. Most people won’t know the difference.

Switching your lightbulbs to LEDs can help reduce your utility cost. According to energy efficiency experts, swapping your old lightbulbs for new ones could be the easiest way for you to reduce your household energy consumption and save money. Quality LED lightbulbs use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, and they last 25 times longer.

With almost everyone spending more time at home, people will be using more energy in their homes, whether that’s due to watching TV, streaming on the computer or keeping the lights on. Reduce energy costs by keeping your thermostat low. It will save money, plus, it’s been warming up outside since the first day of spring.

Similar to your thermostat, keeping the lights on in your home uses a lot of energy. Let some natural light into your home instead of keeping every light on. It’s an easy way to be more sustainable in your everyday life.

If you have loose change in your car, around the house or anywhere else, just stick it in a jar and watch it grow over time. This might be best for people who use a lot of cash. Whether it’s pennies, nickels, dimes or quarters, any amount is good to put in your savings jar.

Water is super healthy for you, but it can be expensive if you are buying it in bottles. Skip the bottles and just buy a water filter that can filter your tap water. It will save you money on buying bottles of water every time you run out.

Now is the time to discover which monthly memberships, subscriptions and other services you are not utilizing. Although your individual monthly costs on those services might be cheap, they add up over time and not paying them can save you a lot of money. Make a list of all your monthly subscriptions and check off the ones you regularly use. If you miss your gym while doing home workouts, then that’s a monthly subscription worth keeping. However, for the ones you don’t typically use in a given 30-day period, it’s time to cancel.

Although a lot of restaurant chains are offering free delivery, ordering food can add up over time if you do it often. Try to limit the number of times you order out in a week or month to decrease the amount of money you are spending.

Instead of ordering out, try to cook your own meals. There are plenty of great and easy recipes that you can cook with your family, and cooking at home will save you money. It can also be a great skill to learn while you’re at home.

Buying in bulk saves money and reducing trips to grocery stores saves on impulse buys. So cooking in bulk is going to save you money in the long run. If you’re a meal planning novice, try to cook meals that can be frozen easily or stored in the refrigerator. If you don’t know of any, there are plenty of recipes that can be frozen for a quick and easy dinner another time. Just make sure you know how long everything lasts in the fridge and freezer.

This one takes a little planning. Why go to the grocery store when you can grow fresh produce in your own garden? If you are just getting started, here’s what you need to know about the weather and your garden. And now that you’re saving money, here are a couple of ways to use it.

Many are experiencing unexpected unemployment. If you have not experienced job loss due to the pandemic, now is the time to continue to build an emergency fund. If you do not have an emergency fund, now is the perfect time to get one. If you originally had money set aside for travel or non-essential spending, consider moving that money to an emergency fund instead. Any amount of money you can put in to help support your household during an emergency will benefit you later.

If you are working from home or for one of the many companies still hiring, make sure that every time you get paid you put a percentage into your savings account. It is always very important to save your money because it is like making an investment in yourself every time you put money into the account. And while you are putting that money into savings, take on an activity that requires little cost, like deep cleaning your house.

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