Creative Ways to Save Money in 2021

Saving money doesn’t have to be boring. Are you looking for new creative ways to save money?

Put the piggy bank away and try these 20 fun ideas that will inspire you to save more.

20 creative ways to save money

Boost your saving efforts with these creative ways to save money and start seeing a difference in your budget.

Make your own cleaning supplies

Nobody wants to spend their hard-earned money on cleaning products.

There are lots of homemade cleaners that you can make using ingredients in your cupboard which are cheaper and better for your health as they don’t contain chemicals.

Turn saving into a game

Money-saving ideas that are fun will keep you motivated and determined to carry on.

Create a game for the whole family to enjoy or research some different ones to try. For example, every time you receive a $5 note put it aside. At the end of the month the person with the most $5 notes wins.

Get children involved with a saving game by putting a cent in a jar today, a nickel tomorrow, a dime the next day and so on. 

Research free local activities and events

If you’re looking for creative ways to save money whilst being entertained, there are things to try.

Whether you’re looking for new things to do in your area or are travelling somewhere new for the weekend, there are events apps where you can find fun things to do.

Filter the results to free events and save yourself some money on going out.

Social media is another great way to find free events or activities.

Look at posts on local community pages for fun, free activities to try.

Stop paying for grocery shop deliveries

Having your weekly grocery shop delivered costs money.

It’s much more cost-effective to choose a click and collect service at your nearest grocery store as your fuel will be less than the cost of delivery from a grocery store van.

Unsubscribe from marketing emails

Impulse shopping will damage your savings efforts.

Receiving daily emails from your favourite shops with their latest offers is tempting and will make you want to buy rather than save.

Unsubscribe to the emails to avoid temptation and only shop sales online when there is a particular item that you need.

Make your own coffee

A hot cup of coffee is how millions of us start our day.

But how much do you spend on takeout coffees every month?

If you’re looking for creative ways to save money, making your own coffee is simple, fun and will stop you spending money at your local coffee shop. 

Purchasing all of the ingredients needed to brew your own coffee at home will only cost you a fraction of the price.

Ditch your gym membership

There are hundreds of workouts available for free online that don’t require any equipment. Here are just a few ideas to try without spending a penny:

• Walk everywhere
• Try Couch to 5K
• Do home workouts
• Cycle to work
• Take the stairs
• Play games such as hide and seek and stuck in the mud with your children
• Skip
• Play football
• Set up an obstacle course using items in your garden

Do Secret Santa with your family and friends

Secret Santa is a popular concept for workplaces, but it’s also a creative way to save money for families and friends too. Christmas can be an expensive time of year and the bigger the family you have, the more money it will cost you.

Save money and turn Secret Santa into a new family tradition this year by following these steps:

1. Create a list of participants
2. Set a budget
3. Do a name draw by pulling names out of a hat or using an online generator
4. Let everyone know who the person is that they are buying for
5. Decide on a time and place to give the gifts
6. Enjoy a stress-free, money-saving Christmas

Swap clothes with friends

Creative ways to save money should be enjoyable, and what’s more fun than getting new clothes without spending your money? Swapping clothes has become a big trend in recent years and has helped people save cash as well as the environment.

If you’ve got an event coming up with nothing to wear, speak to your friends who might have the ideal outfit for you. Swapping clothes is a great way to get rid of items you no longer wear. There are also some clothes swap apps that you can try.

Automate your savings

Did you know that you can ask your employer to transfer a % of your monthly income into a separate savings account? Saving money in this way requires no effort from you and you’ll be surprised at how quickly your funds add up without even noticing it.

Swap body wash for bars of soap

Tips for saving money can also be environmentally friendly.

Classic bar soaps are making a comeback. Soap bars cost a fraction of the price of a bottle of body wash and are much better for the environment as they use little to no plastic.

Bars of soap also last much longer than body wash products, saving you even more money.

Keep your tyres inflated properly

If your tyres are underinflated you will burn more fuel.

If your tyres are overinflated you could damage the tyres, increasing the wear which means you will need to spend money to replace them sooner.

Unplug electronics

One of the best ways to save money is on your outgoings.

Did you know that even if appliances are turned off they could still be using electricity which costs you money? Electronics in standby mode are often called ‘phantom electricity’ because they drain power even when they are not in use.

Some items such as the fridge need to be kept on all day, however, you can check the settings to make sure it’s running at an efficient temperature to reduce your electricity bill.

A new 10-second rule

Every time you feel the need to buy something, hold or look at the item for 10 seconds to see if you really want it.

Consider the price and whether it’s worth the money.

You might rethink the purchase and save yourself some money.

Do a savings challenge

Money-saving challenges are creative ways to save money whilst having fun.

There are lots of savings challenges to try. For example, the 50% off challenge requires you to save at least 50% of your income for an entire month or even a full year. The reverse 52 week saving challenge requires you to save $52 for week one, $51 for week two, $50 for week three and so on, reducing the amount you save by $1 every week.

Customise your air freshener

Candles, wax melts, reed diffusers and air fresheners all cost money on a regular basis.

There are some creative ways to save money by making your own home scents using ingredients that are inexpensive and often used for other purposes around the house.

A simple, natural deodoriser to try only needs water, vodka or rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil and essential oils. Give it a go and see how much you can save.

Creative ways to save money: make your own birthday cards and gifts

Birthday cards are expensive. All you need are some basic craft items and your creativity to create thoughtful greetings cards for a fraction of the price.

It can be financially difficult to keep up with the number of birthday gifts needed every year. Handmade gifts are unique and always a nice touch. Give these popular inexpensive ideas a go:

• Homemade candles
• Bath bombs
• Knitted blanket
• Sunglasses case
• Earrings
• Bookmarks
• Chocolate
• Biscuits
• Fragrances

Get a library card

A library is much more than somewhere to borrow books. A library card will give you access to thousands of books, movies, music, audiobooks, online learning resources, magazines and newspapers for free.

A library also provides a place to get some work done for free, making it a great place to visit.

Virtually tour a museum

Creative ways to save money requires thinking outside of the box and doing things slightly differently.

Many museums are now offering people the chance to tour a museum from the comfort of their sofa through virtual tours, podcasts and behind the scenes footage. 

Experience all of the art and culture you could dream of for free.

You could view the virtual galleries at the Savannah African Art Museum then virtually walk the halls of London’s British Museum all in a day.

Avoid buying dry clean only clothes

Dry clean only clothes mean you will be spending regular money maintaining them.

Clothes that require dry cleaning are typically more expensive to buy in the first place too.

Money-saving ideas that work

Put your spending into perspective by adopting some of the creative ways to save money above. Your future self will thank you for it.