Saving money shouldn’t require a spreadsheet, a second job or giving up every small comfort that makes life enjoyable. Most of the time, the easiest savings wins come from small tweaks to things you’re already doing—canceling a subscription you forgot about, swapping one habit for a cheaper version, or letting an app do the hard work for you.

According to the Federal Reserve’s 2024 Economic Well-Being Report, only 37% of U.S. adults couldn’t cover a $400 emergency expense with cash. Additionally, 18% said the largest emergency expense they could handle using only savings was under $100.

If that hits close to home, you’re not alone, and the fix doesn’t have to be dramatic.

Below, you’ll find 20 easy ways to save money that anyone can start today, plus a few ways to make a little extra on the side while you’re at it.

Why Easy Wins Matter More Than Big Sacrifices

When people try to save money, they usually start with extreme moves—cutting out every coffee, canceling every streaming service, meal prepping seven days a week. That kind of all-or-nothing approach rarely sticks.

The research backs this up. Bankrate’s 2026 Emergency Savings Report found that 60% of Americans are uncomfortable with their current emergency savings—but most people don’t need a complete financial overhaul to fix that. They need a handful of simple changes that don’t require constant willpower.

That’s what this list is all about. These are low-effort moves you can make once and forget about or tiny habit shifts that don’t feel like sacrifice. Combine a few of them and you can realistically save hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars a year.

20 Easy Ways to Save Money Starting Today

Ready to start? These tips are organized from the easiest set-it-and-forget-it wins to habit shifts that take a little more intention. You don’t need to do all 20. Even picking two or three and sticking with them can add up to hundreds of dollars saved over the course of a year.

1. Audit Your Subscriptions Once and Cancel What You Don’t Use

The average American spends around $219 a month on subscriptions, according to C+R Research. Most people underestimate that total by more than half.

Pull up your bank and credit card statements from the last two months and list every recurring charge. Cancel anything you haven’t actively used in 30 days—streaming services, apps, memberships, meal kits, the works. Even canceling three $15 services saves you $540 a year.

This is a one-time effort that keeps paying you back every month.

2. Automate Transfers to Savings

The easiest way to save is to make it happen automatically, before you even see the money. Set up a recurring transfer from checking to savings the day after your paycheck hits.

Start with a number so small you won’t miss it—even $10 or $20 a week. After a few months, nudge it up. The point isn’t the amount; it’s removing your willpower from the equation.

If your bank offers a “round-up” feature that sends spare change to savings, turn it on. It’s about as hands-off as saving gets.

3. Use a Cash-Back App or Browser Extension Every Time You Shop Online

If you’re going to shop online anyway, you might as well get a percentage back. Apps like Rakuten, Ibotta and KashBack (KashKick’s extension) pay you cash back on purchases you were already planning to make.

If you already have KashKick, start earning cashback on online purchases through KashBack. It automatically applies coupons and gives you cash back from participating retailers.

4. Negotiate Your Recurring Bills

Most people pay their internet, cable, phone and insurance bills on autopilot. Calling to ask for a lower rate feels awkward, but it’s one of the highest-dollar-per-minute moves you can make.

Here’s the script: “Hi, I’ve been a customer for [X years] and I’m looking at my budget. Is there any way to lower my monthly bill or get a better promotional rate?” Then let them talk.

For more detail on this, check out our guide to lowering your monthly bills.

5. Switch to a High-Yield Savings Account

If your savings are sitting in a traditional bank account earning pennies, you’re leaving real money on the table. Online banks often offer APYs significantly higher than traditional brick-and-mortar banks.

Switching takes about 15 minutes online. On a $5,000 balance, the difference between a 0.01% account and a 4% account is roughly $200 a year—for zero additional effort.

6. Use the 24-Hour Rule for Non-Essential Purchases

Before buying anything non-essential over $50, wait 24 hours. Add it to a wishlist, close the tab and move on.

About half the time, you’ll forget about it entirely. The rest of the time, you’ll buy it with a clearer head—often at a better price if you check back during a sale.

This single habit can cut impulse spending dramatically without requiring a strict budget.

7. Swap Name Brands for Store Brands on Staples

Store brands have come a long way. For pantry staples—flour, sugar, canned beans, spices, cleaning supplies, over-the-counter medicine—the generic version is often made in the same factory as the name-brand one.

According to Consumer Reports, switching to store brands can save the average family hundreds of dollars a year without a noticeable difference in quality.

8. Plan Meals Around What You Already Have

Before heading to the grocery store, look at what’s already in your fridge, freezer and pantry. Build one or two meals around those ingredients first.

This reduces food waste, cuts your grocery bill and usually takes 10 minutes of planning. According to the USDA, the average American household throws away a significant amount of food each year—much of it bought and forgotten.

9. Use Digital Coupons and Your Store’s Loyalty App

Almost every major grocery store, pharmacy and big-box retailer has a free app with digital coupons you can clip in seconds. Most shoppers never bother.

Spending two minutes clipping before you shop can easily save $5 to $20 per trip. Over a year, that adds up to real money for almost no effort.

Here’s a list of where to find free coupons online—no weekly ad circulars required.

10. Bring Lunch to Work a Few Days a Week

You don’t have to pack lunch every day. Even shifting from five takeout lunches a week to two saves the average person around $1,200 a year, depending on your city.

Start with the easy version: Make extra at dinner and take leftovers the next day. No meal prep, no sad salads—just food you already like.

11. Unplug Electronics When They’re Not in Use

“Phantom energy” from devices left plugged in can account for around 5-10% of residential energy use—and as much as $100 per household, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Power strips make this easier. Flip one switch and you cut power to everything plugged in. Focus on the big offenders: TVs, gaming consoles, desktop computers and anything with a constantly glowing LED.

12. Review Your Insurance Policies Once a Year

Car, home and renters insurance rates can creep up without you noticing. Once a year, spend 20 minutes getting quotes from two or three competitors using a comparison tool.

Many people save hundreds annually just by rate-shopping. Even if you don’t switch, you now have leverage to call your current provider and ask for a better rate.

13. Shop Your Closet Before Buying New Clothes

Before buying a new outfit, go through what you already own. Pull out pieces you haven’t worn in a while and try them together in new combinations. Wash and restyle instead of replace.

For items you truly need, check thrift stores, consignment shops and resale apps first. A $10 thrift-store sweater beats a $60 new one almost every time.

14. Buy Generic Medications 

The FDA requires generic prescription and over-the-counter medications to have the same active ingredients, strength and dosage as brand-name versions. Switching can save you 50% or more—same medicine, fraction of the price.

Learn more in our guide to saving money on prescriptions.

15. Use the Library (Yes, Really)

Most people forget libraries exist. A free library card gets you physical books, audiobooks, ebooks, streaming services for movies and music, magazines, and sometimes even museum passes and tools.

If you regularly buy books, pay for Audible or rent movies, canceling even one of those in favor of your library can save $100 or more a year.

16. Pay Off High-Interest Credit Card Debt Faster

This technically costs money in the short term, but it saves massive money over time. Credit card interest rates are often 20% or higher—paying an extra $50 a month on a balance can save you hundreds in interest.

If you have multiple cards, focus extra payments on the one with the highest interest rate first while making minimum payments on the others. That’s the “avalanche” method, and mathematically it saves the most money.

Learn more strategies in our debt-free blueprint.

17. Turn Down the Thermostat a Few Degrees

Adjusting your thermostat by just a few degrees—down in winter, up in summer—can noticeably lower your utility bill over time. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save around 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning your thermostat back 7–10 degrees for 8 hours a day.

A programmable or smart thermostat makes this hands-off. Set it once and forget it.

18. Shop Holiday and Seasonal Items Off-Season

Buying winter coats in March, patio furniture in September and Halloween decorations on Nov. 1 can save you 50–75% off retail. If you know you’ll need it, plan ahead.

The same goes for gift-giving. Stocking up on birthday and holiday gifts during major sales can stretch your budget significantly.

19. Set Specific Savings Goals Instead of Vague Ones

“I want to save more” almost never works. “I want to save $500 for a vacation by June” gives you a clear target and a deadline.

Break big goals into smaller monthly chunks. If you want $500 in five months, that’s $100 a month—or about $25 a week. Seeing the small number makes it feel doable.

See other tricks for setting achievable financial goals.

20. Earn a Little Extra to Pad Your Savings

Saving only works if you have something left over to save. If your budget is already tight, the easiest way to save more is to earn a little more—ideally without adding a second job to your life.

KashKick makes this genuinely easy. You can earn real cash by playing mobile games, taking surveys, trying new apps and claiming deals—things you might already be doing in your free time. Once you hit $10, you can cash out through PayPal or Venmo in one to three days.

One KashKick member, Eric, earned over $500 in less than a year just playing games and taking surveys in his downtime. Another, a stay-at-home mom named Christina, used her earnings to cover everyday expenses for her kids.

Read more KashKick reviews from real members to see what people are earning.

👉 Sign up for KashKick and start earning extra cash in your free time.

How to Make These Habits Stick

Starting is easy. Sticking with it is the hard part. A few things that help:

• Start with two or three, not all 20. Trying to implement everything at once is a recipe for burnout. Pick the two or three that feel easiest for your situation and start there. Add more once those feel automatic.
• Automate whatever you can. Anything you have to decide to do every week eventually falls off. Anything that happens automatically—transfers, bill negotiations, cash-back apps—keeps saving you money even when you forget about it.
• Track your wins. Once a month, look at what you saved. Seeing “I saved $847 this quarter” is a lot more motivating than blindly cutting back. Many banking apps do this automatically.
• Don’t beat yourself up about slip-ups. You’re going to have weeks where you blow the budget. That doesn’t undo everything else. Just pick it back up next week.

Where to Keep Your Savings

Once you start saving, where you put the money matters. Some of the best places to save money include:

• High-yield savings accounts. Best for emergency funds and short-term goals. Easy to access and often pay meaningfully more interest than traditional savings accounts.
• Money market accounts. Similar to savings accounts but may offer slightly higher rates and check-writing ability.
• Certificates of deposit (CDs). Lock your money in for a set term and earn a fixed rate. Good for money you know you won’t need for a while.

For most people just getting started, a high-yield savings account at an online bank is the simplest, highest-leverage move.

Start Small, Save More

You don’t need a financial overhaul to start saving money. The easiest wins come from small, one-time changes—canceling a forgotten subscription, switching banks, turning on a round-up feature—that keep paying off in the background.

Pick two or three tips from this list and start this week. Once those feel automatic, add a few more. Small moves, done consistently, add up to real power over time.

And if you want to speed up your savings without adding hours to your week, KashKick is one of the easiest ways to turn your spare time into extra cash. No special skills, no upfront cost, no gimmicks.

👉 Sign up for KashKick for free and start earning today.