4 Money Saving Hacks That Work

Could your personal budget use a shot in the arm? If so, why not incorporate two or three money hacks into your financial arsenal for maximum effect?

The truth is that it doesn’t require a massive, life-changing effort to improve your fiscal fitness. Many working people discover that simple tasks like reorganizing the monthly budget and refinancing education debt go a long way toward building a more abundant lifestyle.

Other popular techniques for saving money include selling all those things you no longer need, learning how to shop for discounts, eliminating high balances on credit cards, and figuring out how to cut fuel expenses.

The beauty of personal finance hacks is that you can experiment with them and adapt the tactics as needed. Don’t feel limited to a single technique if two or more work in unison to improve your situation.

Here are pertinent details about several approaches that have the potential to save money for just about anyone.

Refinance Student Loans

If you’re still paying toward one or more college loans, now is the time to get things under control. Nearly all working adults have better credit than when they originally applied for school loans.

That means those who refinance student loans with NaviRefi can save by lowering their monthly expenses. Refinancing education debt transforms your balance sheet in numerous ways.

A refi means getting a new loan with a single payment date, lower payments, access to better terms, and the chance for more advantageous interest rates.

When it comes to single-shot approaches to cutting down on expenses, a student loan refinancing agreement is the smart way to go, and it takes just minutes to apply online.

Get Brutal with Your Budget

What does it mean to get serious about personal budgeting? The hack is about digging in and making changes wherever necessary.

Try beginning with updating all the information in your monthly accounts, including amounts owed, automatic deduction dates, payoff deadlines for debts, etc.

Then, review each expense item, one by one, to see what can be reduced. With a bit of luck, you’ll uncover one or two areas that can be chopped significantly.

Aim to cut spending on unnecessary categories like fast food, dining out, bar tabs, tobacco products, and convenience store purchases.

Declare War on High-Interest Credit Cards

It’s tough for some to be objective and honest about credit card debt. Do a thorough review of what you owe, what each card’s limit is, what each interest rate is, how long you’ve had the cards, and what you pay, on average, toward each plastic rectangle every month.

What’s the hack? Choose one card with which you wish to go to battle. Choose either the highest-interest one or the one with the biggest balance.

Make it your hobby and special project for the next six months or a shorter time if you can pay it off sooner. Pay minimums on all other cards until the targeted one is at a zero balance.

Grocery Shop Like a Pro

The average person spends about 10% of their income on groceries and other food-related purchases. Learning to shop like an expert can save you big bucks and knock that 10% figure down a couple of notches.

What’s the secret? Coupons. Today’s digital coupons are unlike the old clip and use versions. Not only are they easier to use, but there are more of them available via online platforms.

The grocery hack works like this: make a detailed list of all the branded and generic items you buy on a regular basis. Check the major coupon websites and download codes directly to your phone or tablet. Take the device with you on your next shopping trip.

Most single and married adults find that careful coupon use can save them between 10% and 20% on food bills. Adding other tactics to the ploy can generate even more savings per month.

Boost the effectiveness of the coupon maneuver by making lists before heading to the store, shopping once per week at most, eating more meals at home instead of at the drive-thru, joining a wholesale shopping club to buy more items in bulk, and keeping careful track of the food budget.

Diligent consumers routinely discover that couponing and other tactics can indeed reduce grocery bills by a significant amount.