12 Saving Tricks That Actually Work (and Still Let You Enjoy Life)
Trying to save money doesn’t mean cutting out everything fun, it just means spending with more intention. Whether you’re trying to build up savings, spend less on things you don’t care about, or simply reduce that “Where did all my money go?” feeling, these smart saving tricks can help you get there without sacrificing the joy of living well.
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1. The 24-Hour Cart Rule
Add items to your online cart and wait 24 hours. You’ll often find that what felt urgent in the moment no longer feels necessary the next day. It gives you the thrill of browsing, but filters out impulse buys. If you still want it the next day, then buy it without guilt.
2. Try the “Cost Per Use” Test
Before buying anything, ask: how often will I use this? A $200 coat worn 100 times = $2 per wear. A $75 dress worn once = $75 per wear. This mental trick helps justify quality purchases and weed out one-off splurges.
3. Declutter Before You Buy
Want new clothes or skincare? Clean out your closet or drawers first. You’ll get a clearer picture of what you actually need and, most likely, what you already forgot you owned. We can’t count the number of times we made a purchase only to find that we already had something almost exactly like it.
4. Use the “Replace, Don’t Add” Rule
For every new purchase, aim to replace something rather than just add to your pile. This helps curb accumulation and clutter, while saving money.
5. Grocery Shop with a List
This is an oldie-but-goodie. Going in with a list prevents spontaneous grabs that add up fast. Bonus tip: never grocery shop while hungry! We use a magnetic note pad similar to this one with a pre-made check list for easy formatting!
9. Use Store Pickup to Avoid Browsing
If shopping with a list doesn’t do it for you, then shopping online and selecting “store pickup” can help you avoid walking through aisles filled with tempting extras. You could also do this trick with delivery but pickup helps you avoid extra fees.
To avoid impulse purchases, we actually prefer online shopping for everything else as well. We do most of our shopping through Amazon so this is where Prime is super important. The free 2-day shipping is honestly critical for us.
6. Cancel Unused Subscriptions
Take 15 minutes to go through your bank statements or App Store. You’ll probably find at least one recurring charge you’ve forgotten about or don’t use enough to justify. If you’re looking for an easy tool, we tried the Rocket Money app for free and it actually did lead to quite a few subscriptions being discovered and subsequently deleted.
7. Set a “No Buy” Theme
Choose a category (like clothes, beauty, or takeout) and challenge yourself not to spend in that area for one month. You’ll build awareness without going cold turkey on everything. And then when you come back to that category, it will be all the more fun for having had a break.
8. Save Your Raise or Windfall
When you get a raise, refund, or bonus, we all have the urge to spend it on something special. Try to hold off. Make it a rule that you’ll save a set percentage (even just 20–50%) before it blends into your daily budget. You can still treat yourself to something special while bolstering your savings.
10. Reset With a 7-Day Spending Cleanse
One week, no unnecessary purchases. You’ll reset your habits, break the impulse cycle, and probably appreciate the stuff you already own more. We recommend doing this periodically when you feel that you’ve been overindulging.
11. Target a Specific Savings Goal
Saving for “the future” feels vague. Saving for a girls’ trip, new apartment furniture, or wedding outfit? That’s exciting and motivating.
12. Follow the 95/5 Rule
Be frugal with 95% of your spending so you can splurge on the 5% that truly brings joy. When you save with intention, spending becomes more satisfying. This is our go-to philosophy and you can read more about our thoughts here.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be overly restrictive or track every cent to be good with money. A few smart shifts can help you save thousands over time while still living a life you enjoy.
Pick a few that resonate with you and start there. The goal isn’t perfection, just progress you can actually stick with.
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