12 Easy Everyday Swaps to Save Money

Sick and tired of budgeting, calculating, and planning all the ways to cut back and save money? I have got you covered on the easiest everyday swaps to save money. By making super simple and natural everyday changes to your daily habits, your savings can skyrocket without that dreaded “on a budget” feeling!

Budgeting and saving money can feel challenging and, at times, close to impossible. The neverending budgeting lists can leave you wanting to rip your hair out. At least I know it’s felt that way for me sometimes.

When I would previously budget, I hated feeling like I had to “cut back” on things I loved or go without things that made me smile.

Life’s too short to miss out on experiences! With these super simple everyday swaps to save money, you can live your life to the fullest AND save money! Yes, that means coffee, shopping, and manicures are still in the picture.

Woohoo!

Now that’s what I call a win-win situation!

But what if I told you there was an easier solution? What if I said that there are tons of simple ways to save money every day? Well, there is! With just a few super easy everyday swaps to save money, your savings add up quickly without you ever feeling like you are budgeting or missing out!

This post is all about everyday swaps to save money. 

Super Simple Everyday Swaps to Save Money

Money-Saving Swap #1: Skip the Starbucks

WAIT! Before you click out of here and think I’m trying to deny you of your daily coffee, hear me out!

I think we all know how INSANELY expensive Starbucks can be. Let’s pretend you spend $5 every day on coffee (that’s even a low estimate from my own experience). Okay, $5 a day… doesn’t sound TOO bad, right? Well, that’s also $35 a week, $150 a month, $1,825 a year. HOLY COW!

What if I told you that you could have your coffee and drink it too? (This was my attempt at a play on the “have your cake and eat it too” saying… It was weak, I apologize.)

What I’m getting at is that you can have your daily coffee (or two!) without blowing your money! I have starting remaking my coffees and teas at home rather than running to Starbucks to buy one every time. Now, I still treat myself with the occasional Starbucks, don’t get me wrong. But I have been making an effort to remove it from my everyday routine.

Instead, I recreate all my drinks at home and, dare I say, I think I like them even more…

Yes. I said it. I like my homemade coffee and tea more than Starbucks. Sound crazy? You gotta just trust me and test it out.

I have an entire post on how I’ve made this switch (I even included some bonus tips from my experience as a Starbucks barista).

This was one of the first habit swaps for saving money that I implemented. It’s been a game-changer.

Money-Saving Swap #2: Shop Discount Stores

This is one of the simplest swaps that can save BANK. Like, seriously. I have saved HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS just by shopping at discount stores. “Discount stores” don’t have to mean secondhand or used, either. I just mean stores that offer the same quality stuff as higher-end stores for like HALF the price.

Some of my all-time favorites are TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall’s, and Nordstrom Rack. All of these stores offer high-quality name-brand things at such a great price. For example, I get a lot of Lucky Brand, Abercrombie, and American Eagle jeans at TJ Maxx for CHEAP. Like $15-$25.

Or I’ll get Joe’s Jeans and Levi’s at Nordstrom Rack for over 50% off.

I love this money-saving swap because I never have to feel like I’m “missing out” on the things I want to wear or own. I just don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get it!

Money-Saving Swap #3: Ditch the Gym

Cancel your gym membership.

Yup. I said it. Cutting “unnecessary” extras such as a gym membership is one of the easiest swaps to save money.

But that BY NO MEANS means that you have to let go of staying on top of your fitness and health. To be totally honest, I used to be a total gym junkie. Like I couldn’t stand the thought of not going at least 5-6x a week. This became unhealthy for me in every single way. I developed an unhealthy relationship with exercise AND I was paying for that?! Nope.

I canceled my gym membership when I started my recovery from my exercise and eating disorders and I’ve never loved exercise more. My relationship with movement, my mind, and my body has been THRIVING with the shift to at-home and outdoor workouts. But that’s not the only thing that’s been thriving… so has my WALLET. More cash money in my pocket. That’s an all-around win for health, growth, self-improvement, and money-saving.

If you’re afraid to quit the gym cold turkey, start easing off and integrating more at-home workouts. If you’re anything like me, it’ll change your life–for the better!!

Money-Saving Swap #4: Meal Plan

I’m sure you’re used to seeing meal plan talk within the health and diet industry. But I’m here for an entirely different reason.

When I say meal plan, I’m not talking about calculating and measuring out your food. Yuck! That doesn’t sound fun to me! (No offense to my meal planners out there. I love ya!)

I mean meal planning in the sense that you plan out roughly what meals you plan to have that week and grocery shop accordingly. Without a set plan or list in mind, I know how a simple grocery run can turn into a $200 investment. Yikes! It’s so easy to do… I’m sure we’ve all been guilty of it before.

But when you have a set meal plan for the week, you can make a solid list for the grocery store and it’s so much easier to stick to it.

Not to mention, you won’t end up with a ton of extra food that goes to waste! Every time you overbuy groceries due to a lack of planning, you are practically throwing money in the garbage when you don’t eat the food you buy. Planning meals ahead can stop you from this waste!

You can plan meals at the start of every week (or month if you’re feeling extra ambitious) to save your time, energy, and money!

{RELATED POST: 180+ Simple Dinner Ideas (+ FREE Printable Booklet)}

Money-Saving Swap #5: Shop Generic

While we’re on the topic of grocery shopping, it feels like a good time to share this easy swap for saving money.

I know I’m not the only one that’s guilty of becoming unbelievably brand-loyal for no apparent reason. Like, I will buy Cheez-Its like they’re going out of style but “Great Value Cheddar Cheese Crackers“? Yeah, I’ll pass.

Goldfish? Heck yes! Cheddar Whales? It’s a no from me, dawg.

Hahaha, but seriously though! Why are we like that?!

This is something that I’ve only recently started challenging. I dipped my toe in with some Great Value swaps and, to my surprise, they were just as good (IF NOT BETTER) than the name-brand. They’re cheaper too!

I just checked this out to give you some more details in case you’re not convinced. A box of Cheex-Its at Walmart costs $2.90. You can get a box TWICE THAT SIZE of the Great Value brand for 8 cents cheaper.

You gotta just trust me on this.

To get you started some of my favorite generic brand swaps from Walmart are:

• Taco Shells
• Tortilla Chips
• Greek Yogurt
• Frozen Fruit/Veggies
• String Cheese (GREAT VALUE IS THE BEST!!)
• Bread/Buns
• Cheez-Its/Crackers

The savings at first seem pretty insignificant. $1 here, 50ecnts there… THAT ADDS UP! Just this one simple everyday swap can end up saving you more money than you realize!

Money-Saving Swap #6: Open Your Own Salon

Okay, I don’t mean literally open a salon. But open a salon for yourself.

Salon à la You can offer the services that you’d normally pay BANK for. Manicure, pedicure, lashes, waxing, etc… all of these are things that can be done at home for a fraction of the cost.

All you need is some simple materials and maybe a YouTube tutorial.

I actually made this swap a while ago… My mom has mastered doing my false nails AT HOME. I’m not exaggerating when I say MASTERED. Like, truly I prefer the nails she does over the ones I’ve gotten professionally done!

If you don’t believe me, here’s some proof of her work last Christmas. Pretty impressive, right?

And, the best part is, I didn’t have to pay a thing. We got some nail extensions and a nail extension kit. These supplies will last us a LONG time… and we got everything for about half the cost of ONE manicure. Cha-ching!!

Money-Saving Swap #7: Shop Coupons

This one seems like the most obvious, no-brainer tip for saving money. But you know I had to mention it. I’ve swapped mindlessly shopping for shopping around current coupons and sales. If you really want to, you can even structure your meal planning around coupons and special deals.

My favorite sales are Target Circle. They release new deals every day and I am ALWAYS checking them. It’s become part of my morning routine, hahaha!

But it’s not just at Target that you can do this. Pretty much all stores have great offers and coupons at any time. You just gotta learn how to shop the deals, girlfriend!

Money-Saving Swap #8: Grocery Shop Online

Now, this is one of the least talked about swaps to save money. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone talking about this for saving money, so I need to let you in on my little secret. Shh!

TBH this swap was not formed as a way to save money. At the start of the pandemic, I shifted to grocery pick-up orders to avoid crowds and unnecessary group settings. But now it’s become such a habit that I don’t think I’ll ever stop.

Online grocery shopping is actually such an incredible (and underrated) way to save money. Let me explain…

Here’s my logic: when I am shopping in person at the grocery store, I am known for tossing random things into the cart.

Cookies? Looks good. A Kit-Kat? You know I can’t say no…

These little pick-ups add up QUICK. But, when you’re not shopping in-store, you aren’t being bombarded visually with all these appealing items and snacks meaning that you won’t be buying them as much!

You’re so much more likely to stick to the necessities when you actually have to search for them, find them online, add them to your cart (virtually, of course).

BOOM. There ya go. I just let you in on one of my favorite and underappreciated swaps to save money. You’re welcome. 😉

 {RELATED POST: Healthy Grocery List Essentials}

Money-Saving Swap #9: Adopt Money-Making Hobbies

Wait, hold the phone… there are FUN ways to MAKE MONEY?

Yup. There sure is.

I’ll admit, it used to be a habit of mine to hit the stores when I’d get bored. This did some major damage to my wallet.

Now, my new favorite thing to do is find ways to MAKE money when I’m bored. There are actually SO many options for quick and easy ways to make money… and some of them don’t even require leaving your house.

Two of my top favorites have been selling my clothes on Poshmark and taking surveys on Survey Junkie.

I have made over $500 selling old clothes on Poshmark over the last few months. As for Survey Junkie, they literally PAY you to just sit and take surveys… yup, that’s all you have to do. Sometimes I do it when I can’t sleep at night, haha!

Some other ideas include:

• DoorDash/UberEats Driver
• Freelance Work (I use the Upwork app for this)
• Child Care
• Housesitting

All of these little swaps can add up to major cash!

Money-Saving Swap #10: Deposit to Savings Instead of Checking

Making the simple swap to put any extra money in your savings account instead of your checking account is a HUGE way to save money fast. I don’t know about you, but when money enters my checking account, it’s bound to be spent, but I hardly ever spend money from my savings.

My bet is that, once you make the conscious choice to put money in your savings over your checking account, you’ll start seeing that savings number rise faster!

Money-Saving Swap #11: Eat at Home

I’m going to keep this one super short and sweet.

Eating out is EXPENSIVE. The cost of one dinner at a restaurant can equal 3+ dinners made at home. Wowza! If you’re looking for ways to save money, cutting back on eating out is a great first step.

Money-Saving Swap #12: Unsubscribe from Promotion Emails

If I had a dollar for every time LuluLemon roped me into shopping their site from a simple email ad, well, I probably wouldn’t be concerned with making any swaps to save money. LOL!

But in all seriousness… staying subscribed to your favorite store’s newsletter and promotion emails is a recipe for disaster when you’re looking for ways to save money. Trust me, even if you think you have enough willpower to overcome these temptations, the advertisement emails are written specifically to catch your attention. Did you know that, even if you don’t give in to the email right away, they can subconsciously lead to you spending more money down the road! Crazy, right?

Do your wallet a favor and unsubscribe from these emails for a while. Remove the temptation entirely!

Those are 12 super simple everyday habit swaps to save money!

I hope that these swaps helped encourage and motivate you on your money-saving journey! It was my goal to show you that, even when budgeting, you never have to feel like you are missing out! There are always great alternatives and swaps that you can make to live your best life while saving up some extra cash!

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Happy Money Habit Swapping!