Banking, Bills, and Payments

■ Set up automatic transfer of money from every paycheck to a savings account.

■ Avoid ATM withdrawals that will cost you fees.

■ Pay your bills on time to avoid late fees.

■ Stash away money from windfalls and refunds instead of spending it.

■ Declutter subscriptions and memberships often.

■ Cancel automatic subscriptions and memberships.

■ Round up purchases to the nearest dollar and add the difference to your savings.

■ Shop around for better deals on broadband, credit cards, insurance, phone plans, and streaming subscriptions.

■ Refinance your mortgage and auto loan.

■ Switch to a high-yield savings account.

■ Pay your credit card dues in full every month to avoid paying interest.

■ Switch from monthly to half-yearly or yearly insurance payments to avoid unncessary fees.

■ Look for hidden fees on every purchase.

■ Pay attention to incorrect charges on bills so you can dispute said bills.

■ Get multiple quotes for services to get cheaper deals.

■ Find ways to save tax on your earnings.

■ Sign up for customer rewards programs.

■ Get overdraft fees waived if possible.

■ Opt out of overdraft protection (and keep a close eye on your account balance.)

Home

■ Get an energy audit of your home.

■ Switch to energy-efficient lighting and appliances.

■ Develop energy-efficient habits, such as switching off the lights while leaving a room.

■ Unplug inactive appliances or plug them into a power strip so you can turn everything on and off with the press of a button.

■ Switch to solar-powered gadgets where feasible.

■ Keep your automobiles and electronics in top shape.

■ Avoid electronic and automobile upgrades for novelty value.

■ While buying a phone, buy a model or two older than the latest one.

■ Ditch your landline.

■ Lower the temperature on your thermostat.

■ Switch to a programmable thermostat.

■ Don’t heat unused rooms.

■ Insulate your home well.

■ Use fans instead of air conditioning.

■ Install faucet aerators to reduce water costs.

■ Fix leaky faucets and other broken items around the house.

■ Pick up housewares from yard sales.

■ Move furniture around to give your home a simple makeover.

■ Cook meals at home. (But skip recipes that require buying ingredients you probably won’t use again.)

■ Carry water and coffee from home.

■ Eat seasonal foods.

■ Eat local foods.

■ Buy staples in bulk and during sales.

■ Cut down on one supermarket trip every month and shop from your pantry instead.

■ Don’t shop when you’re hungry.

■ Get creative with leftovers.

■ When possible, choose potluck meals over catered ones for events.

■ Make meal-planning a habit to avoid ordering takeout.

■ Buy a crockpot for filling yet inexpensive meals.

■ Make your own cleaning supplies.

■ Declutter your stuff and stop paying for a storage unit.

■ Switch to cold water for doing laundry.

■ Switch from a dryer to a clothesline for drying clothes.

■ Adopt a pet instead of shopping for one.

■ Groom your pet yourself.

■ Buy locally made pet food.

■ Swap pet-watching duties with another pet owner.

Entertainment and Lifestyle

■ Cancel costly packages and add-ons from your cable TV subscription. OR Switch from cable TV to streaming services.

■ Lower your cell phone bill by getting rid of extras.

■ Borrow books and DVDs from public libraries.

■ Play board games instead of going to the mall.

■ Swap clothes, books, games, music, sports equipment, and other supplies with friends and family.

■ Make your next holiday a staycation.

■ Choose AirBnbs over hotels when you travel.

■ House swap with friends and family for a vacation.

■ Time a vacation to coincide with the end of a work trip and in the same location.

■ Travel hack.

■ Build a minimalist wardrobe.

■ Avoid buying clothes that need to be dry cleaned.

■ Cut your own hair.

■ Volunteer as a model at a beauty school for free/discounted haircuts and other beauty treatments.

■ Use up toiletries and cosmetics before buying new products.

■ Switch to inexpensive/drugstore brands for toiletries and cosmetics.

■ Make your own shampoo.

■ Shop from duty-free stores when you travel internationally.

■ Pay in cash whenever possible.

■ Pick free online tutorials over paid classes when you can.

■ Find free/inexpensive hobbies and activities for yourself and for your kids.

■ Keep an eye out for free local events, classes, and workshops.

■ Create a shopping list and stick to it.

■ Buy with reward points.

■ Run the household on one person’s paycheck and save the rest.

■ Walk where you can. It gives you a free workout and saves on transportation costs.

■ Reduce the number of cars you own.

■ Wash your car yourself.

■ Stick to the speed limit to avoid fines as well as inefficient gas usage.

■ Ride a bike instead of driving a car.

■ Take public transport more often.

■ Carpool more often.

■ Work from home more often.

■ Move closer to work.

■ Move to a cheaper neighborhood.

■ Move to a smaller home.

■ Cut down on smoking and alcohol.

■ Reduce meat consumption.

■ Split restaurant meals.

■ Ask for a doggy bag to take leftovers home.

■ Empty coins into a piggy bank.

■ Buy used, refurbished, or open-box electronics.

■ Use free and open-source software.

■ Watch free movies online instead of going to the theater.

■ Buy thoughtful, yet inexpensive gifts.

General

■ Replace disposables with reusables.

■ Sell items you don’t use.

■ Rent instead of buying, when possible.

■ Buy multipurpose items.

■ To save money in the long run, don’t skimp on quality.

■ Buy used items when you can.

■ Choose generic brands over name brands.

■ Shop around for deals, discounts, and coupons.

■ Use cashback cards, apps, and sites.

■ Clip coupons.

■ Avoid impulse buys.

■ Downgrade your subscriptions.

■ Downsize your orders.

■ Consider going without.

■ Learn DIY skills using free online resources.

■ Trade goods and services with friends and family.

■ Join local freecycling groups to donate/request useful items.

■ Look for free solutions (if feasible) to replace items and services you’re paying for.