We all want to save, but who has time to read grocery circulars and clip old-fashioned coupons? The good news is that there are far faster, easier ways to make your money go further. With a few quick clicks, you’ll be well on your way to saving money on a variety of products and services.
Make direct requests to your favorite companies
Whether you want pasta, ice cream, or some of the best Greek yogurt anywhere, consider heading to manufacturers websites, where you can use the contact form to get coupons for all those foods you’ve been craving. Koopy has done quite a bit of legwork for you with this incredible list of 42 companies that will send you free coupons by mail, complete with quick links to contact forms. Pick the brands that appeal to you and start saving!
Use coupon apps
Ibotta, MobiQpons, and Coupon Sherpa are a few of the best mobile coupon apps anywhere. Good news: Mobile coupons are right there, on your device, ready to be used when you shop. Pay attention though, because deals don’t always last forever and in many cases, coupons promote specific items within a certain product line. Many coupon apps (Ibotta comes to mind) let you scan products to confirm that they’re covered, so you’re guaranteed savings when you add them to your cart.
Use programs just for parents
The cost of raising kids isn’t going down anytime soon. Luckily, there are programs designed just for parents who are looking for quick, tech-savvy ways to save money. Amazon Family is a great example; there are offers for impressive savings on diapers, formula, baby food, and lots of other essentials, all delivered to your door.
Find cheap gas without driving around
If you have a long commute (and even if you don’t fill up that often!) you’ll appreciate GasBuddy for its ability to pinpoint the cheapest gas in your area or the area you’re traveling through. If you’d like to go the extra mile and save even more money, you can join for free and save up to 25 cents per gallon on every gas purchase you make. To date, the site has hosted more than 9 million searches for cheap gas and helped its members save hundreds on fillups. Anyone can click “find gas” and save money even without submitting personal info.
Cut your cable
Cable-cutting is one of the easiest ways to save – and your savings might be significant. Giving up on cable doesn’t mean you have to stop watching TV altogether. Far from it, in fact! With a streaming device, a compatible TV, and one of countless streaming services, you can enjoy endless entertainment without the hefty cost of cable.
Get discounts on new tech
Responsibly recycle your old devices while saving on new ones: It’s a great plan, and we have Gazelle to thank for the idea. The concept is simple: When you’re ready to upgrade to a new phone or tablet, sell it to Gazelle. If you’re in the market for certified refurbished electronics Gazelle can help with that, too. After all, buying used is another great way to save money!
Use loyalty programs
Supermarkets, retailers, and even restaurants offer loyalty programs. Deals, discounts, and purchase points that essentially add up to free money for a future shopping trip or dining experience make signing up worthwhile.
Book experiences and vacations online
Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, enjoying a staycation in your hometown, or heading to a neighboring city for a special occasion or event, take a few minutes to look for deals online instead of paying the venue directly. Depending on the location, the season, and the local market, it’s often possible to find deals on hotel rooms, Airbnb rentals, movie and event tickets, winery experiences, and more. There are plenty of businesses using WordPress event plugins that help you book them with a few clicks.
Conduct cost comparisons for insurance, mortgages, and more
At first glance, big-ticket items like auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and even your monthly mortgage might not seem like areas where you can save money. If you have a solid payment history – and in the case of car insurance, a good driving record – it’s possible to save quite a bit of money on these monthly expenses.
Cancel memberships you no longer need
Whether you signed up for online lessons of some kind or if you’re still paying on a gym membership that you haven’t used in the last year, why not cancel or suspend your subscription? Techlicious put together a helpful guide to finding and canceling unwanted subscriptions. The savings could be significant, depending on how much you’re shelling out for those services you’re paying for but aren’t using.
Final thoughts
Money saving apps, great coupons you actually want, and good old-fashioned internet searches can help you save a bundle so you can meet your financial goals faster while living well for less. It takes very little effort to get started and soon, the savings will start to pile up.