How to save money: 67 saving tips to put into practice starting today

It is not uncommon for people to complain about the difficulty of saving money – whether for a nice trip, or for a bigger project, like buying or building a house, changing a car, etc. The truth is that many people don’t know how to earn money and they usually spend more than they receive.

If you fit this profile, don’t worry: you’ll have access to amazing tips to keep up and save some money, which is always very welcome!

67 effective methods to earn money

Leonardo Morotti, investment advisor at TORO Investimentos, comments that, first, while everyone thinks about “how to spend less”, he recommends thinking about “how to earn more”. “It’s a small difference, but it can show you new alternatives. Then you need to organize what your monthly income and expenses are, so you can identify where you spend the most and why,” he says.

Below you can find simple tips, but that make all the difference when it comes to saving, taking into account the different types of expenses that most people have.

Paying bills and general behavior tips

Leonídio de Oliveira Filho, entrepreneur and creator of the website Dica de Preço, says that discipline is a keyword. “You must first of all learn to assess your needs and plan your purchases,” he says.
Oliveira Filho recommends looking at the salary in large blocks: (1) indispensable recurring expenses, such as food, electricity, water, education, etc. (2) Emergencies, determine an amount to save for emergencies. Remember, it doesn’t matter if it’s 1, 10 or 1,000 reais, the important thing is discipline. (3) Investment. (4) Consumption, set a value, no matter how much, as long as it’s within your budget.
Morotti points out that a tip that has proven to be very effective when it comes to saving money is to always separate this amount at the beginning of the month, as soon as you receive the salary, and not leave it until the end of the month, “in case you have” to save. “This money left over at the end of the month is hardly saved, mainly because we feel comfortable spending this amount when we realize that in a few days we will receive it again”, he says.
In the case of those who already have debts, according to Morotti, the ideal is to pay them as soon as possible, since the interest charged by the debt is much higher than the interest paid in an application.
Always make a note of your monthly “fixed expenses”, such as “90 reais for the phone”, “100 for the internet and television”, “100 reais for water” etc. As soon as you receive, pay these bills, this is very efficient so that you “don’t count” on money that, in fact, you won’t have after paying all your bills.
Never spend more than you earn.
If possible, find a source of passive income (interest, rent, dividends, etc).
Avoid financing as much as possible. Use only if you have the money invested and it yields more than the effective interest rate on the loan.
Always pay your credit card bill in full (not the minimum amount), so you don’t get more and more indebted.
If you find it feasible, cancel your credit card. This is a great way to control your spending more.
Think about how you can make more money: “do it by generating that extra income, who knows, selling cakes, services, etc. Look ahead and make plans for your career, whether as an employee or entrepreneur”, guides Oliveira Filho.

Food

Morotti explains that if you live in a family where everyone can have lunch at home, this will definitely help to reduce expenses considerably.
“For those who live alone or need lunch close to work, it is worth thinking about taking food from home or looking for differentiated lunchboxes. There are several offers nowadays for lunch and dinner lunches (mostly fitness) that can be much cheaper than going to a restaurant”, adds Morotti.
Oliveira Filho points out that eating at home is always cheaper, so do it whenever possible. “But if you want to vary, look for coupon sites for deals or keep an eye out for discounts, stamps, etc. In times of crisis, restaurants also offer good discounts and loyalty programs. If you can order at home, you won’t spend on gasoline”, he says.
If you and your family love to eat pizza on Sundays, for example, consider making pizza at home whenever possible. It will definitely come out “much more into account”. The same goes for snacks, tapioca, etc. It’s always a good alternative to buy different ingredients and make it at home.
Don’t waste food, “no matter how cheap it seems”. For example: did you make soup and have a lot of leftovers? Freeze it to eat another day! The same goes for beans, fruits, and many other foods.

Transport

Oliveira Filho explains that leaving the car at home or even selling it, if possible, is still the best way to save money. “Then consider public transport, cycling and even walking if it’s close. Remember: the car is not just gasoline that is part of its cost, it has insurance, maintenance, etc. ”, he says.
Mehanna Mehanna, founding partner of TORO Investimentos, suggests sharing a car/ride with someone who has the same route as you. “Whether it’s for work or college…” she says.
“If you need a car and have long journeys, focus on models that are more economical and use less fuel”, highlights Mehanna.
If you often take a taxi, Mehanna suggests looking for sharing economy alternatives, such as Uber.
When putting fuel in the car, be sure to research. There is often a big difference in the price of one station and another. Always be on the lookout for promotions.

general shopping

If the purchase offers cash payment benefits, prefer to do so.
Don’t buy anything on impulse, because you “looked at it and liked it”, nor because “it was cheap and you wanted to enjoy it”.
Oliveira Filho highlights that Planning, Research and Haggling are the watchwords. Don’t leave to buy in despair, get ahead.
“Now with the internet you can research everything about the product before choosing the brand and model. Complaint sites and review videos are excellent. After defining what you want, search on price comparison sites, it is worth keeping in mind that not all of them offer the cheapest prices at the beginning of the list, as in the Price Tip”, highlights Oliveira Filho.
If you are going to buy in a physical store, be sure to ask for a special discount, offering cash payment if possible, guides Oliveira Filho.
“For virtual stores it is also sometimes worth a call to ask the attendant for a special discount”, adds Oliveira Filho.
“When buying, give preference to models that can last longer, because sometimes the cheap can make you buy again sooner than you expect”, highlights Oliveira Filho.
Opt for generic drugs whenever possible.
Thinking about buying something new?! How about selling the old one? Nowadays it is very easy to sell the most varied types of products on the internet, on sites such as Mercado Livre; or even in local Facebook groups.
Always be on the lookout for sites and/or Facebook groups that sell used products – some are in great condition and at a special price.
Avoid installment payments, especially for purchases that were not urgent, so that you “don’t lose control” of what you have or haven’t spent.
Stop smoking. In addition to this being an essential tip for good health, it will definitely save you money.

household expenses

Mehanna guides you to take on activities that, with a little organization of time, you can handle and eliminate service providers.
Mehanna also advises replacing old light bulbs and appliances (refrigerator, air conditioning) for more economical ones.
“Review phone and internet plans, adjust them to needs, renegotiate for current promotional conditions,” adds Mehanna.
Oliveira Filho suggests making a monthly grocery shopping list. “Often it is worth comparing the total purchase and not always the item, as spending on the car going from one side to the other can reverse the economy. At most, see if you can break the list into two parts for two establishments. Some grocery items can already be found on the Price Tip, so it’s worth the search,” he says.
“Don’t surrender so easily to the big brands, because often lesser-known brand products do the same or better, for a much lower price”, adds Oliveira Filho.
“Today, having a healthy diet is very expensive, but there is a way around it: look for small establishments close to your home, in local producers you can find fresh and cheaper food”, highlights Oliveira Filho.
Making a vegetable garden at home is also a great tip.
Make it a habit to keep the house lights off as much as possible. Also get used to watching TV with the living room lights off (if you don’t already have that habit).
If you are not using it, turn off the television and computer; there’s no reason to keep them on all day only with the expectation that you’ll use them later.
Beware of printer expenses! Print only what is needed!
Save on calls. Currently, with the use of Whatsapp, it is much easier to talk only when necessary on the phone / cell phone.
If you stay at home for a while and, at that time, do not need internet, consider turning off your internet plan at home; using cell phone internet when needed. Or, see if it is possible to “share the wi-fi” with a neighbor.
If you have a computer at home, but you don’t use it much, because you currently use your notebook more, how about putting it up for sale?

socialization and travel

Oliveira Filho points out that meetings, dinners and lunches with friends at home can be much cheaper than going out (in bars or restaurants) and are generally much more fun.
“Group trips can also help when it comes to bargaining, however, of course, price research sites are mandatory visits”, says Oliveira Filho.
It is worth considering taking a trip out of season, which is usually surprising in terms of value for money.
Mehanna points out that, for travel, the keyword is planning. “Use websites that compare and monitor ticket prices, as well as alert you to promotional conditions (Best Destinations, Sky Scanner). Use cheaper hosting solutions than hotels (AirBNB),” she says.
“If you are going to travel abroad, take advantage of good foreign currency conditions, compare before closing, take advantage of currency lows to make periodic purchases. There’s a website that helps with that too (melhorcambio.com)”, adds Mehanna.
Cook whenever possible at home, whether for friends, family or for a dinner for two. But, if you go out every now and then, look for places with good value for money, as Mehanna guides.
Try going to free events in your city or neighboring cities, there are always cool things!