The conventional wisdom is to cut out the small pleasures like your daily Starbucks and invest the savings. I do the opposite. I indulge in the small things, but I'm a cheapskate when it comes to the BIG things like vacations, cars, and anything else with a big price tag.

I buy good used cars, not new ones. I don't splurge on trendy vacation spots. Instead, I jump on a good travel deal whenever I find one, even if it's not my A-list destination. I save thousands this way instead of hundreds, and yes, I invest the savings.

1. Get a detailed written budget. Every dollar you earn should have a job or a place to go. Also, never buy something just because you think, "It's only $X." Be intentional with your money and make it work for you. Before you buy anything, ask yourself whether it's a need or a want. There's nothing wrong with buying things you want, but making that distinction helps cut out a lot of unnecessary purchases.

2. Whenever you're trying to save money, try the extreme version first. Then gradually upgrade until you find the point where you're still comfortable. It's much easier mentally to add things back than to keep giving them up.

3. Take a trip to a third-world country. It'll quickly make you realize how little you actually need to be happy.

4. Drive a piece-of-crap car until you've saved enough to buy a nice 3- to 5-year-old car with cash. Avoid financing if you can, and never buy a brand-new car if your goal is to build wealth.

5. Never use revolving credit for things like appliances or carry a balance on your credit cards. Pay the full balance every month. If you can't afford something today, do without or make do with what you have until you've saved enough to pay for it in cash.

6. Learn a few basic DIY skills. Fixing a leaky faucet, painting a room, or replacing a car battery can save you hundreds of dollars.

7. Keep your phone longer. Upgrading every year is one of the easiest ways to waste money. Use it until it no longer does what you need.

8. Don't try to impress people with stuff. Most people are too busy thinking about themselves to care what car you drive or what brand you're wearing.

9. Automate your savings. Have part of every paycheck transferred to savings or investments before you have a chance to spend it.

10. Be strict on your grocery budget. That's the first spot to start! Then take that extra money to get rid of your debt or start building your savings.

11. Figure out what makes you happy in life. Spend on things that make you happy and skimp on things that don't.

12. Avoid lifestyle inflation. Every time you get a raise, save or invest part of it instead of immediately upgrading your lifestyle.

13. Take care of what you own. Regular maintenance on your car, home, and appliances is usually much cheaper than replacing them.

14. Buy quality when it matters. Cheap isn't always frugal. A well-made pair of shoes or a reliable tool that lasts for years can be cheaper than replacing a low-quality version over and over.

15. Unsubscribe from marketing emails. You can't be tempted by sales you never see.

16. Pay down your debt! Credit cards cost a lot of money over time.

17. Be frugal with depreciating assets so you can spend on appreciating assets. Spend less on things that lose value and more on things that grow in value.

18. Take care of your health. Eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep can save you thousands in medical bills later.

19. Pay yourself first. Invest before you spend, not whatever happens to be left over at the end of the month.

20. Borrow before you buy. Tools, books, trailers, and party equipment are often things you only need once.

21. Treat windfalls differently than paychecks. Tax refunds, bonuses, and gifts are great opportunities to invest instead of splurge.

22. Think in hours worked, not dollars spent. A $200 purchase feels different when you realize it represents eight hours of work.

23. The goal isn't to look rich, it's to become rich. Those are often two very different things.

24. Never shop because you're bored. Shopping should solve a problem, not entertain you.

25. Lower your grocery bill by reducing food waste and buying food you will actually eat, in bulk.

26. Buy real estate early as an investment, its the fastest way to increase net worth and you can do it even if you're not making much with low/ no money down mortgages.

27. Have a zero week. Finish the food in your pantry, skip online shopping, and see how little you actually need.

28. Be generous. Support worthwhile charities. Nothing makes you feel as rich as giving some away to help others.

29. Read the terms of your credit cards. So much can be found on there. From paying for insurance on rental cars, extending warranties, covering damage on your cell phone up to a certain amount less deductible. Etc.

30. At the end of the day being frugal will help, but you can only cut so much. The bigger factor is income.  Get your hustle on and do some reading on ways to earn more while you’re not spending your time consuming.  There is no cap to how much you can make.

 

Whatever you make, spend it on things that make you money. That doesn’t have to be real estate, or stocks. Get yourself tools you can charge people to use and serve your neighbors. Learn how to collect assets, and look for opportunities where others abdicate responsibility.

That's it, just don't get carried away with it. Make sure you set aside some money for things you enjoy and has a positive impact on your life.

Retailers from eBay to car dealerships are invested in making you think about your refund in a certain way. It’s free money. It’s something to spend. Time to treat yourself with things that don’t normally fit into your budget.

From a psychological standpoint, a tax refund feels like a windfall. It’s cash in your bank account that wasn’t there before! From a financial standpoint, it’s not so rosy. If you got a tax refund this year, you actually lost money.

If you received a tax refund this year, it means ONE thing, and only one: you overpaid on your taxes during the year.

That’s it. “Refund” is truly accurate terminology, because it’s not extra money–you didn’t win the lottery. It’s simply your own money being returned to you: a refund.

Receiving a tax refund means that you’ve spent the past year giving the government interest-free loans. If you get a refund of $3000, you overpaid by $3000; that’s all there is to it.

No, I didn't. Otherwise I'd be watching the Egypt vs. Australia match instead of writing this.

Making money isn't as easy as a lot of YouTube gurus want you to believe.

There are thousands of courses, AI prompts, and videos promising you'll make money while you sleep. Most of them make it sound like all you need is the "perfect side hustle."

You don't.

You need to work. I mean really work.

You need to be willing to learn. Remember school? That part never ends.

You need to research your market, understand your audience, keep testing new ideas, and stay consistent long after everyone else has quit.

You also need to take risks. And eventually, you'll probably need money to invest back into whatever you're building.

Typing "How do I make money online?" into an AI chatbot isn't a business plan.

You have to want it.

Think about the last thing you really wanted. Maybe it was another donut, another beer, a new phone, or a vacation. Take that same desire and put it into building something that makes money.

Do the work. Put in the miles.

I know people who built successful businesses with social media. I know people who made millions selling products. I know people who paid off their homes with affiliate commissions.

The one thing they all had in common wasn't luck.

They studied their market. They learned new skills. They stayed consistent. And, most importantly, they stopped caring what other people thought.

That's the difference between people who spend years talking about making money and the people who actually do it.

Anyway... Egypt won on penalties, so I guess I didn't miss the ending after all.

College is notorious as a trial-by-fire in frugal living. Between tuition, rent, books, and others, expenses are plentiful—while income is limited at best. You can bring in some money with college side hustles or part-time jobs, but in general you won’t have the time or energy (or qualifications) to devote to a higher-paying job.

Luckily, using your college years to become a frugality wizard will help you develop habits that set you up for a great financial future. 

#1 – Try Living Off-Campus

Dorm life comes with a few appeals, like having extra built-in “college experience” activities and being within walking distance to classes and the gym. But it also has its downsides: cramped space, less privacy, more rules—and the price tag. Paying near $1,000 a month to share a bedroom is less than ideal.

If your college doesn’t require living on campus, shop around the local housing market. If you’re new to renting, check this student renting guide. Often, students will live in the dorms during freshman year, then find a house or apartment to share with friends in subsequent years. Alternatively, many people will rent out rooms or basement apartments in their houses; these can cost half as much as living in a dorm would, while still giving you the room and space you need to study.

Check sites like Trulia, Zillow, Roomster, and your local Craigslist, in addition to asking around and looking for “For Rent” signs. Usually, college towns have a decent off-campus housing market that won’t place you too far away from campus, which helps minimize inconveniences. My apartment was close enough that I could bike to campus (or take the bus in winter), which saved me from needing to buy a parking permit and didn’t add a significant commute.

Before you commit to a housing choice, make sure to factor in all costs so you can make a true comparison. For instance, if utilities are charged separately, ask the landlord what the average costs are.

If you could live without a car in the dorms and would need one to live off campus, think about associated costs like registration, insurance, and parking. I’m pretty confident that it will almost always wind up being cheaper even with the extra considerations, but the markets are different everywhere, so do your due diligence.

#2 – Save on Textbooks

Textbooks can come as a huge expense, especially when you buy them fresh off the shelf at the college bookstore. By buying used, you can save a significant amount on your textbooks. Check sites like Amazon, CampusBooks, HalfPriceBooks, Chegg, and eBay. In some cases, you can even download the textbook and work with a digital copy.

Before buying used, make sure you don’t specifically need access to some online resource that comes with the textbook (e.g. WebAssign, MyEconLab, so on). You might be able to buy access separately, but you might need a special “redemption key” that only comes with new textbooks. In these cases, you’ll usually just have to bite the bullet.

Use this advice with caution, but I’ve noticed that textbooks often don’t differ much between editions—often, it’s just rearranged a little. If the 12th edition is $100 and you can find an 11th edition for $10, you might decide it’s worth it to work with the older copy. Comparing the chapter names and page numbers in the table of contents should give you an idea of how much has changed.

When the semester is over, you can also make a little money back by reselling your textbooks. There are other people in your shoes who’ll be happy to take them off your hands and save some money themselves.

#3 – Skip the Meal Plan and Learn to Cook

College meal plans are almost always ridiculously overpriced. Data indicates that the average cost for a full meal plan is $4500 for an eight-month academic year, factoring out to nearly $20 a day. While dining halls are convenient, it’s hard to justify the cost when you can slash hundreds off your food budget by going the DIY route. Think of it as getting paid $500+ per month to grocery shop and learn to cook, which is a valuable skill in itself.

By “learn to cook,” I don’t mean “throw a block of instant ramen in a saucepan,” although college me was certainly guilty of stocking up on five Maruchan packets for a dollar from time to time. (Tip: if you do fall back on ramen, add some frozen peas and carrots to make it slightly less nutritionally void.) While it’s fine to keep around a few convenience meals, I’d avoid frozen dinners in general too, since they usually aren’t that cheap and won’t do your health any favors.

My biggest hack (and something I wish I’d done sooner) is investing in a slow cooker or the slightly pricier Instant Pot. When you’re strapped for time, they’re fantastic tools to turn out healthy meals with very little effort. It’s as simple as googling recipes, prepping ingredients, setting the timer, and letting it do its thing while you go to class or study.

To get the most bang for your buck, stock up on cheap, healthy bulk foods to serve as the base of your meals. My personal favorites:

• Lentils (soup, shepherd’s pie, mujaddara)
• Black beans (burritos, soup, simple beans and rice)
• Chickpeas (curry, hummus, falafel, roasted as a snack)
• Brown rice, quinoa or farro (healthy grain base for many dishes)
• Oats (for oatmeal)
• Potatoes (mashed, roasted)
• Pasta & tomato sauce (I prefer wheat or veggie pasta over white)
• Peanut butter (for PBJ or with apples/bananas)
• Whole wheat flour (pancakes, bread—which is surprisingly easy to make)
• Frozen fruit and protein powder (smoothies)
• Frozen veggies (use with just about any recipe)
• Seasonings (game-changer! Build up a good arsenal and learn to use them)

It’s a non-exhaustive list, but those are the main things I keep around and supplement with fresh/perishable groceries as needed. Finding recipes is as simple as searching “ingredient name + recipe (+ crockpot if you’re using one)” and picking whatever looks good. Meal-prepping a large batch all at once gives you leftovers to reheat throughout the week.

#4 – Buy Secondhand Whenever You Can

Secondhand chic can be a great look for broke students! Build your college wardrobe by hitting up thrift stores or browsing secondhand apps like Poshmark. From jeans to winter coats, you can score a lot of good-quality brand-name items without paying brand-name prices.

Many thrift stores carry more than clothes, too. Often, they have cheap furniture and decor for anything you need to furnish yourself. You won’t always win interior design awards for it, but you’ll have furniture that’s sturdy and can get you through college.

You can also look at online resources like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, LetGo, or your local Buy Nothing group chapter. Check the free sections from time to time; often, people will post good-quality items that they simply don’t need anymore. Drop by garage, yard, and estate sales too—these are great opportunities to find items that are still working but that people simply don’t need or use. You can find things like appliances or quality-of-life items here at super cheap prices.

The key takeaway with this point is that you should hardly ever buy new. On top of the financial savings, it’s just wasteful to constantly buy new products while older working items just end up being thrown out. In an era of plastic-filled oceans and emission-spewing factories, it’s sort of hard to justify that when you don’t have to. (Soapbox over.)

#5 – Seek Out Scholarship Opportunities

You might think of scholarships as something you can only earn during the college application process. While it’s true that many of them target high-school seniors, there are also plenty of scholarships you can earn as a current college student. (And you might not have much competition, since for some reason these are one of college’s best-kept secrets.)

Websites like Scholarships.com, Fastweb, and BigFuture can be a big help in terms of finding scholarships, grants, and other opportunities that you may not have been aware of. In addition to third-party competitions, you can also check your college’s website or the department your major is in to see if they’re offering any. Make sure you’re taking advantage of every opportunity that you can find. This is easy and free money.

#6 – Take Cheap Summer and Winter Classes

It’s possible to save an entire semester (or more) of tuition by using your breaks efficiently. Check what classes are offered at your local community college; you may be able to knock out a bunch of gen-ed classes and cheaply transfer the credits to your main school. Usually, these classes will be at an accelerated pace over a shorter period of time (e.g. three-hour classes twice a week for eight weeks). Winter classes are more uncommon (and are often online) but are even more intense, requiring 6-8 hours of work a day for a month or less.

I highly recommend trying to do your foreign language credits this way if those are required as a gen-ed for you. In my experience, the more intense schedule provides a more immersive experience that lets the language stay fresh in your mind.

While these won’t help current college students, high-schoolers can explore CLEP exams to demonstrate proficiency in a subject and earn college credit early, or dual enrollment to get a jump on college. Or, even do a full year or two at a cheap community college before transferring into a four-year university.

#7 – Make Your Free Time Actually Free

If you’re looking for ways to spend your precious free time, opt for the cheap or free activities. The nice thing about college is that you’ll be surrounded by hundreds of other people looking for the same thing, so opportunities abound.

Join a club or two related to your interests, play intramural sports, find nearby hiking trails or bike paths, have a Cards Against Humanity night with friends, etc.

Since college is traditionally a transitional period between the teenage years and adulthood, use it to your advantage.

Saving money wherever you can, doing side hustles to bring in extra funds, and building a solid future career plan will make those student loans feel a little less insurmountable.

Too many people spend their time chasing $20 savings while overlooking decisions that could save them thousands. That's not to say the small stuff doesn't matter. It does, but you'll get much better results by focusing on the biggest expenses first.

That's why I decided to put together this list. Instead of ranking tips by how easy they are, I ranked them by how much money they can potentially save you in a year.

Note: Some of these ideas won't apply to everyone, and the exact savings will depend on your situation. The figures are ballpark estimates, not guarantees.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
1	Downsize to a less expensive home or lower your housing costs	$3,000–$15,000+
2	Buy a reliable used car instead of a new one	$3,000–$10,000
3	Pay off high-interest credit card debt	$1,500–$8,000+
4	Own one less car if your household can manage it	$2,000–$8,000
5	Cook at home instead of eating out	$1,500–$5,000
6	Take fewer or less expensive vacations	$1,000–$5,000
7	Shop around for cheaper insurance every year	$500–$3,000
8	Meal plan and stick to a grocery list	$500–$2,500
9	Cancel subscriptions and memberships you rarely use	$300–$2,000
10	Lower your utility bills by reducing heating, cooling, and water use	$300–$2,000

I intentionally put housing at #1 because housing is the largest expense for most households. Saving even 10% there often beats dozens of small frugal habits combined.

Cars deserve multiple spots. Vehicle depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, and maintenance can easily consume thousands each year.

Credit card interest belongs near the top because it's one of the few expenses that gives you nothing in return.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
11	Switch to a cheaper cell phone plan	$300–$1,500
12	Lower your internet bill by negotiating or switching providers	$200–$1,200
13	Buy generic brands instead of name brands	$300–$1,200
14	Stop buying things just because they're on sale	$300–$2,000
15	Bundle errands to save gas	$200–$1,000
16	Buy quality items that last instead of replacing cheap ones	$200–$1,500
17	Refinance or shop around for a lower auto loan	$300–$2,000
18	Reduce food waste by eating leftovers and using what you already have	$300–$1,500
19	Compare prices before making major purchases	$200–$2,000
20	Pause non-essential spending for one month each year	$500–$2,000

#14 is a big one because people often confuse saving 50% with spending 50%. If you didn't need it in the first place, you didn't save anything.

#16 buy things that last. A good pair of boots, cookware, or tools can be cheaper over time than replacing cheap versions every year.

18 is underrated IMO. The average household throws away hundreds of dollars worth of food every year.

I'm not a fan of #20 but it works well because it often reveals dozens of recurring habits people didn't even realize they had.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
21	Wait 24–48 hours before making non-essential purchases	$200–$2,000
22	Use cashback credit cards responsibly	$100–$1,000
23	Shop with a grocery list and stick to it	$200–$800
24	Buy secondhand furniture, tools, and sporting equipment	$200–$2,000
25	Make coffee at home instead of buying it every day	$200–$1,500
26	Cancel automatic renewals you no longer need	$100–$800
27	Pack your lunch for work	$500–$2,000
28	Keep your tires properly inflated to improve fuel economy	$100–$400
29	Use the library instead of buying books and magazines	$100–$500
30	Review your bank and credit card fees every year	$50–$500

A couple of notes:

21 is one of the simplest ways to cut impulse spending. Waiting even one day often makes you realize you didn't really want the item.

22 only belongs this high if the balance is paid in full every month. Otherwise, interest charges wipe out any rewards.

24 can save a decent amount, especially on items that lose value quickly but still have years of life left.

27 is still one of the biggest food-related savings for people who work outside the home. For someone spending $12–15 on lunch five days a week, the savings add up fast.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
31	Use coupons only for things you were already going to buy	$100–$500
32	Freeze leftovers instead of throwing them away	$100–$600
33	Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible	$50–$300
34	Skip extended warranties on most purchases	$50–$500
35	Lower your thermostat in winter and raise it in summer	$100–$500
36	Buy seasonal produce instead of out-of-season fruits and vegetables	$100–$400
37	Share streaming subscriptions where allowed	$100–$300
38	Replace disposable products with reusable alternatives	$50–$300
39	Borrow or rent tools you'll only use once	$50–$500
40	Set a monthly spending limit for entertainment	$100–$1,000

These won't save as much as housing or transportation changes, but they can still make a noticeable difference over the course of a year. Ie #39 can save hundreds if you're the type who buys tools or equipment for one project and never uses them again.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
41	Buy store-brand cleaning and household products	$50–$300
42	Plan your errands to avoid unnecessary trips	$50–$300
43	Repair items before replacing them	$100–$1,000
44	Unsubscribe from retailer emails that tempt you to shop	$50–$500
45	Drink more tap water instead of bottled drinks	$100–$500
46	Avoid grocery shopping when you're hungry	$50–$300
47	Compare unit prices instead of package prices	$50–$300
48	Sell items you no longer use and use the money to offset future purchases	$100–$1,000
49	Avoid ATM fees by using in-network machines	$20–$200
50	Keep appliances clean and well-maintained to extend their lifespan	$50–$500

These are solid money-saving habits, but they generally have a smaller financial impact than the first 40.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
51	Avoid paying for overnight or expedited shipping	$20–$200
52	Buy holiday decorations after the season ends	$50–$300
53	Use a programmable or smart thermostat	$50–$300
54	Air-dry clothes when practical	$20–$200
55	Buy gift cards at a discount before shopping	$25–$300
56	Use loyalty programs at stores you already shop at	$25–$300
57	Keep up with routine car maintenance to avoid expensive repairs	$100–$1,000
58	Borrow books, movies, and games instead of buying them	$25–$200
59	Cut your own lawn or do simple yard work yourself	$100–$1,000
60	Buy refurbished electronics instead of new when it makes sense	$100–$800

A worthwhile habits, but for most households the savings are more modest but #57 might deserve to be a little higher because skipping oil changes or basic maintenance can lead to repair bills worth thousands.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
61	Use reusable water bottles instead of buying bottled water	$50–$300
62	Buy toiletries in bulk when they're on sale	$25–$200
63	Pack snacks for road trips and outings	$50–$300
64	Turn off lights when you leave a room	$10–$100
65	Keep your refrigerator and freezer full for better efficiency	$10–$100
66	Use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones	$20–$150
67	Buy used books whenever possible	$20–$200
68	Cancel free trials before they become paid subscriptions	$20–$300
69	Avoid convenience stores unless it's an emergency	$50–$300
70	Use cloth towels instead of paper towels for everyday cleaning	$20–$150

At this point, the savings are generally smaller, but these habits can still add up over time.

Ie. #64 is one of the most talked-about money-saving tips, but the actual savings with modern LED bulbs are much smaller than many people think.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
71	Make your own cleaning solutions with common household ingredients	$20–$150
72	Use a clothesline or drying rack when the weather allows	$20–$150
73	Bring your own reusable shopping bags where stores charge for bags	$10–$100
74	Keep your freezer organized so food doesn't get forgotten	$20–$150
75	Avoid buying single-serving snacks and drinks	$25–$200
76	Set up automatic savings so you're less likely to spend extra money	$50–$500*
77	Buy wrapping paper and gift supplies after the holidays	$20–$100
78	Use public Wi-Fi instead of mobile data when appropriate	$10–$100
79	Wait for major sales before buying non-urgent items	$50–$300
80	Grow a few herbs or vegetables at home	$20–$150

These are still worthwhile, but for most people they'll have a relatively small impact compared to the higher-ranked tips.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
81	Unplug electronics you rarely use	$5–$50
82	Reuse gift bags, boxes, and packaging	$10–$50
83	Print double-sided to save paper and ink	$10–$100
84	Use rags instead of disposable wipes for cleaning	$10–$100
85	Bring your own coffee or water bottle when traveling	$20–$150
86	Refill your soap dispensers instead of buying new ones	$10–$50
87	Use washable food storage containers instead of disposable bags	$10–$75
88	Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth	$5–$50
89	Use natural light during the day whenever possible	$5–$50
90	Reuse shipping boxes and packing materials	$10–$50

These are the kinds of tips you'll often see near the top of generic "save money" lists, but in reality, the savings are fairly small.

Rank	Money-Saving Tip	Estimated Annual Savings
91	Reuse aluminum foil when it's still clean	$5–$25
92	Wash full loads of dishes and laundry instead of partial loads	$10–$50
93	Use both sides of scrap paper for notes	$5–$20
94	Reuse glass jars for storage	$5–$30
95	Turn off your computer instead of leaving it on overnight	$10–$50
96	Skip bottled water at restaurants	$10–$100
97	Borrow party decorations instead of buying them	$10–$100
98	Save and reuse rubber bands, twist ties, and gift ribbon	$5–$20
99	Cut open nearly empty toothpaste and lotion tubes	$5–$20
100	Skip the straw and disposable utensils when ordering takeout	$1–$10

Yes, these tips save money. But if you're spending hours worrying about #99 while ignoring #1–10, you're focusing on the wrong things.

I think a lot of people are sleeping on this new passive income opportunity.

AI companies are paying for videos to train their models, and they're not just looking for professional filmmakers.

They're buying everyday footage like:

• Busy streets and intersections
• Cafes, parks, and city walks
• People cooking or eating
• Families interacting
• Sports and exercise
• Forest walks
• Rainy streets
• Ambient sounds like typing, footsteps, restaurants, and nature

If you've got old videos sitting on your phone or enjoy filming while traveling, you might already have content that's worth licensing.

I know this works because I uploaded a handful of random videos years ago for stock licensing, and they've generated over $6,000 in royalties over time. AI training is creating another market for this kind of content.

I'm not going to recommend any specific company because there are dozens of them doing this now. Google is your friend.

I'm just surprised more people aren't talking about it. If you're already taking videos with your phone, you might be sitting on a small passive income stream without realizing it.

Has anyone here been licensing videos for AI training? How has your experience been?

Lately I've been taking my finances a lot more seriously, and it's amazing how many little leaks I found in my budget. None of these are life-changing on their own, but together they've made a noticeable difference. For context, I'm a guy, I work from home, and I live by myself.

- Since I work from home, I stopped ordering lunch. If I'm hungry, I eat whatever I have in the fridge. Turns out leftovers taste just fine when they save you $15.

- I stopped buying random stuff just because it was on sale. A 50% discount still means spending money I didn't need to spend.

- I make coffee at home every morning instead of grabbing one while I'm out. It takes two minutes and saves a surprising amount over a month.

- Before buying anything online, I leave it in my cart for a day or two. Most of the time I realize I didn't actually want it.

- I started meal prepping a few simple meals every week. Nothing fancy, just easy food that stops me from ordering takeout when I don't feel like cooking.

- I canceled a few subscriptions I hadn't used in months. I didn't even miss them.

- I stopped replacing things just because there's a newer version. If it still works, it stays.

- I combine errands into one trip instead of making several drives throughout the week. Less fuel, less time wasted.

- I air dry clothes whenever I can instead of using the dryer for everything. It's a small saving, but every little bit adds up.

- I've become a lot more comfortable buying used items. Marketplace has saved me hundreds of dollars over the past year.

- At the end of every month I go through my bank statement. There are always one or two purchases where I think, "What was I thinking?" It's been one of the best habits I've picked up because it keeps me honest.

It's funny how the "old me" wouldn't have thought twice about spending $20 here and $30 there. Now I look at those same purchases and think, "I'd rather keep that money."

What small changes have you made recently that actually saved you money?

PS. Obviously, your numbers will be different since personal finances are, well, personal.

Posted this as a comment in another sub and thought I'd paste it here since I think some of you guys will benefit from it too.

I run several sites but If I were starting from scratch today I'd still choose a directory over a traditional blog. Blogs are becoming harder to grow every year, while a good directory becomes more valuable every time you add another listing. The more complete it gets, the harder it is for someone else to copy, and the more reasons people have to come back.

The first thing I'd do is pick a niche where people are already looking for solutions and where companies are willing to pay for customers. It could be survey apps, AI tools, cashback apps, local services, or something completely different. The important part isn't the topic itself. It's making sure there's commercial intent behind the searches.

Before building anything, I'd spend a few days researching Google. If I can come up with a few hundred searches people might type, such as "best survey apps," "Survey Junkie alternatives," "AI tools for teachers," or "best cashback apps in Canada," then I know there's enough content to build around.

From there, I'd focus on creating the listings instead of writing endless blog posts. Every listing would have useful information like pricing, features, pros and cons, supported countries, screenshots, and links to alternatives. Over time, that becomes a valuable database rather than just another article.

Once the database starts growing, creating content becomes much easier. Every listing can naturally lead to comparison pages, category pages, "best of" pages, country-specific pages, and alternatives. Instead of writing hundreds of unrelated articles, everything connects back to the same database.

I'd monetize it much earlier than most people do. There's no reason to wait until the site has hundreds of thousands of visitors before making money. Affiliate links, sponsored listings, featured placements, and partnerships can all work long before display ads become meaningful.

I'd also reach out to every company I list. Most businesses like being included in directories, and some will link back, share the listing with their audience, or eventually pay for premium placement. That creates traffic and authority at the same time.

The biggest advantage of this model today is that AI actually makes it stronger. A well-structured database can grow into thousands of useful pages without feeling repetitive because every page is built around real data instead of generic content.

People mention AttaPoll a lot here, but there must be other survey sites that work globally.

I mean, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Indonesia alone have over 2 billion people, so there has to be something for those countries too.

So the question is: what do you guys use to make some extra money on the side?

Let's brainstorm together and see how you can get the ball rolling.

I don't know who needs to hear this, but people keep throwing around life expectancy figures that include premature deaths. If you look at someone who's already made it to 60 or 65, their expected lifespan is much longer. For many men in developed countries, the average is well into their 80s.

Please don't plan to need only 8 years of retirement savings if you retire at 65. On average, you'll likely need at least twice that.

1995 Toyota Camry with 490k... My wife still uses it for grocery shopping.

Over the years, I've tested and made money with several different side hustles, mostly working in the evenings after the kids were asleep. eBay, Amazon FBA, blogs... At some point, each of them was making more than a full-time income.

But over time, each one became oversaturated, margins shrank, and profits dried up.

My blogs are still doing well, but I know the day will come when they won't be sustainable anymore. That's why I'm looking for a new idea I can work on in the evenings and slowly grow on the side as a potential replacement when that day comes.

I've compiled this list of digital income streams you can create to make money online regardless of where you live. Most of them have a pretty low barrier to entry, which is great if you're just getting started.

The downside is that the success rate is also low, not because there's no money to be made, but because most people quit after a month or two. None of these will make you money right off the bat, but if you stick with one long enough and keep improving, you can make a full-time income with any of these.

Content Websites (Blogs)

I have four websites, so I can speak from first-hand experience. You don't need any spectacular knowledge to get started, but you should expect to invest around $2,000 to $3,000 if you want to do it properly. More importantly, you'll need patience because it usually takes a few months before you start seeing any meaningful results.

Average earnings: $500–$5,000/month after a few years of consistent work.
Maximum potential: $50,000+ per month. Large publishers can make hundreds of thousands or even millions annually.

YouTube

A friend of mine and the founder of this subreddit has a YouTube channel with over 150,000 subscribers. In this thread, he wrote that he's made more than $250,000 from it. Just like with websites, it takes time to build an audience, but once your videos start getting views, they can keep bringing in money for years.

Average earnings: $500–$10,000/month.
Maximum potential: $100,000+ per month for large creators.

Digital Products

I sell an ebook. Nothing groundbreaking, maybe $100 to $150 in better months, but I don't promote it actively. I only included it in several of my articles, and that's it. So I can say it is true passive income.

Average earnings: $300–$5,000/month.
Maximum potential: $100,000+ per month if you build a popular product line.

Online Courses

If you have expertise in a topic, you can package your knowledge into a video course and sell it repeatedly. Courses usually take more time to create than ebooks, but they often command much higher prices and can become a major source of passive income.

Average earnings: $1,000–$10,000/month.
Maximum potential: $500,000+ per month for top creators.

Email Newsletters

Since I have websites, I naturally have newsletters with them. I once read somewhere that the average subscriber is worth about $2 per month. From my first-hand experience, it's not even close, but it's still a decent revenue stream for me.

Average earnings: $500–$8,000/month.
Maximum potential: $100,000+ per month.

Software (Micro SaaS)

Micro SaaS businesses solve a specific problem through a simple software product that customers pay for every month. Subscription revenue makes this one of the most attractive digital businesses because income grows as more customers join.

Average earnings: $2,000–$20,000/month.
Maximum potential: Millions per year if the software gains widespread adoption.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketers earn commissions by recommending products or services. It works especially well when combined with a blog, YouTube channel, newsletter, Pinterest account, or social media audience because you already have people looking for recommendations.

Average earnings: $500–$10,000/month.
Maximum potential: $500,000+ per month for the largest affiliate publishers.

Digital Downloads

Selling digital downloads focuses on products people need immediately, such as resume templates, business documents, wedding invitations, planners, coloring pages, or social media graphics. Because delivery is automatic, every sale requires almost no additional work.

Average earnings: $200–$3,000/month.
Maximum potential: $50,000+ per month.

Membership Communities

Membership businesses charge subscribers a recurring monthly fee for exclusive content, resources, coaching, or access to a private community. The recurring revenue creates predictable monthly income and can become very stable once members stick around.

Average earnings: $1,000–$15,000/month.
Maximum potential: $500,000+ per month.

Stock Photos, Videos, and Music

I've never sold photos, but I licensed a couple of videos back in 2016 or 2017. They've made over $6,000 in revenue so far, or around $50 a month in passive income.

Average earnings: $100–$2,000/month.
Maximum potential: $50,000+ per month for creators with massive portfolios.

Print-on-Demand

Print-on-demand lets you sell custom T-shirts, mugs, posters, phone cases, and other products without holding inventory. When someone places an order, a supplier prints and ships the item while you keep the profit.

Average earnings: $300–$5,000/month.
Maximum potential: $100,000+ per month for established brands.

AI Prompts and Automation Templates

Businesses and individuals are increasingly willing to pay for high-quality AI prompts, custom chatbots, workflow automations, and ready-made systems that save time. As AI adoption grows, this market continues to expand, especially for niche solutions that solve specific business problems.

Average earnings: $500–$10,000/month.
Maximum potential: $100,000+ per month.

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps can generate income through subscriptions, advertising, in-app purchases, or one-time purchases. Even simple apps that solve a single problem can become profitable if they attract a loyal user base.

Average earnings: $1,000–$15,000/month.
Maximum potential: Millions of dollars per year for successful apps.

Online Communities

Building a community around a niche on platforms like Reddit, Discord, or Facebook can eventually be monetized through sponsorships, premium memberships, affiliate marketing, job boards, or digital products. The community itself becomes a valuable asset that can support multiple revenue streams.

Average earnings: $500–$20,000/month.
Maximum potential: $500,000+ per month when paired with sponsorships and owned products.

Niche Job Boards

A niche job board connects employers with candidates in a specific industry and earns money by charging companies to post openings. Once established, the business requires relatively little ongoing content creation compared to blogs or YouTube.

Average earnings: $1,000–$20,000/month.
Maximum potential: $250,000+ per month.

Digital Directories and Marketplaces

Directories list businesses, professionals, software, or services in one place, while marketplaces connect buyers and sellers. Revenue can come from listing fees, featured placements, subscriptions, advertising, or commissions on transactions, making these businesses highly scalable.

Average earnings: $2,000–$30,000/month.
Maximum potential: Millions of dollars per year for successful platforms.

Website Flipping

Website flipping involves buying undervalued websites, improving their traffic, revenue, or design, and then selling them for a profit. Some people also build websites from scratch specifically to sell once they start generating consistent income.

Average earnings: $2,000–$20,000/month.
Maximum potential: Millions of dollars per year for experienced website investors.

Paid Communities and Knowledge Libraries

Instead of selling a one-time course, you can build a members-only resource library that people pay to access every month. This works well for niches where information changes regularly, such as investing, marketing, AI, fitness, or software tutorials.

Average earnings: $1,000–$15,000/month.
Maximum potential: $500,000+ per month.

Browser Extensions

Browser extensions solve small but frustrating problems for users, such as finding coupon codes, improving productivity, or adding features to existing websites. They can be monetized through subscriptions, affiliate marketing, advertising, or premium upgrades, and a popular extension can attract millions of users.

Average earnings: $500–$10,000/month.
Maximum potential: $250,000+ per month.

API or Data Services

Businesses are constantly looking for reliable data they can access through an API or subscription. If you can collect, organize, or generate valuable information—such as pricing data, real estate statistics, financial information, or AI-generated content—you can sell recurring access to that data instead of individual products.

Average earnings: $2,000–$25,000/month.
Maximum potential: Millions of dollars per year for a successful service.

You don't need to try all of these. In fact, I'd recommend choosing just one you have knowledge about and giving it your full attention.

It pains me to admit this, but I asked ChatGPT how to save $1,000 fast.

Not because I expected some life-changing financial secret.

But because I was curious what an AI would tell someone who wanted to keep an extra grand in their pocket.

So I typed: "How can I save $1,000 as quickly as possible?"

I expected a few practical tips. Instead, I got what felt like financial advice from someone who has never had to pay for groceries.

Let me explain. The first suggestion?

"Cancel unnecessary subscriptions."

Of course.

Apparently, the reason I'm not sitting on an extra thousand dollars is because I forgot to cancel the free trial of a meditation app I downloaded during a stressful Tuesday.

To be fair, it's good advice.

If you're paying for five streaming services and only watching one, canceling the other four makes sense.

But unless you're secretly subscribed to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Apple TV+, three gym memberships, and a monthly llama-of-the-month club, you're probably not finding $1,000 overnight.

Next came eating at home. Again... fair enough.

ChatGPT confidently explained that making coffee at home instead of buying it every morning could save hundreds of dollars each year. Each year.

The problem is I asked how to save $1,000 fast.

Unless your daily Starbucks order includes caviar and gold flakes, this wasn't exactly the shortcut I had in mind.

Then it suggested making a budget.

Now we're talking.

Except... Making a budget doesn't magically create money.

It's kind of like buying a treadmill. Owning it doesn't make you healthier. You still have to use it.

A budget is incredibly useful, but it only works if you're willing to stick to it.

Then came one of my favorites.

"Sell items you no longer need."

Finally, something I could actually do.

The funny part is ChatGPT made it sound like everyone has an attic full of vintage Pokémon cards and unopened iPhones.

Most of us are looking around the house thinking, "I guess I could sell this old printer..."

The truth is, selling unused stuff is probably one of the fastest legitimate ways to put together a few hundred dollars.

Just don't expect your collection of tangled charging cables to fund your vacation.

The advice kept coming.... Use coupons, buy generic brands, meal prep, negotiate your bills, drive less, lower your thermostat and so on.

Every suggestion made perfect sense.

Individually.

But together they felt like someone saying, "If you simply spend less money than you make..."

Thanks. Problem solved.

TBH, none of ChatGPT's ideas were actually bad. They were just... Obvious.

Saving $1,000 usually isn't about discovering one magical trick.

Ironically, the biggest lesson wasn't anything ChatGPT actually said.

It was what it didn't say. If you really want to save $1,000 quickly, sometimes the fastest way isn't cutting expenses. It's earning a little more. Work a few extra hours, sell something online, pick up a weekend side hustle, take a few paid surveys while you're watching TV or whatever it takes to make a few bucks.

Combine that with spending a little less, and saving your first thousand dollars doesn't feel nearly as impossible.

So was ChatGPT helpful?

TBH... yes. Just not in the way I expected.

It didn't reveal some secret financial hack that banks don't want you to know just reminded me that personal finance is usually pretty boring.

Spend a little less, earn a little more...repeat!

It's not exciting enough to go viral on social media but it works.

My uncle makes around $500/m by renting a small storage room in his shop for travelers' luggage.

People often arrive hours before they can check into their hotel, or they have to check out long before their flight. Instead of dragging suitcases around town all day, they pay a few dollars to leave them somewhere safe.

I had no idea there were platforms for this, kind of like Airbnb, until he told me. He signed up with one of them, and now tourists simply book online, stop by, leave their bags, and pick them up later.

Most days he spends less than 10 minutes dealing with customers.

If you own a café, restaurant, convenience store, souvenir shop, repair shop, or almost any business in a tourist area, you might already have everything you need to start.

On average, I found myself spending about $10 daily on fast food. 

Curious about the potential savings, I decided to crunch some numbers and see just how much I could save by bringing my own lunch to work. 

Armed with a shopping list, I headed to my local Walmart to break down the costs of my packed lunch consisting of a ham sandwich, a bag of chips, a pack of crackers, and a banana.

1. Ham Sandwich: Total for the sandwich: $0.20 (bread) + $0.35 (ham) + $0.30 (cheese) + $0.15 (extras) = $1.00

2. Bag of Chips: A large bag costs around $3.00 and might contain 8 servings, so about $0.38 per serving.

3. Pack of Crackers: A box costing $2.50 with 10 packs inside would be $0.25 per pack.

4. Banana: A banana from Walmart is about $0.27 each.

Adding these up gives me the total cost for my lunch:

• Ham Sandwich: $1.00
• Bag of Chips: $0.38
• Pack of Crackers: $0.25
• Banana: $0.27

Total Cost: $1.00 + $0.38 + $0.25 + $0.27 = $1.90

So, my packed lunch would cost approximately $1.90. Do note that these prices can vary based on location, brand, and any sales or discounts available.

Assuming the average cost of eating out for lunch is around $10 per day, and a packed lunch costs about $1.90 to make, I would save $8.10 each day I bring my lunch to work.

1. Daily Savings: $10 (eating out) - $1.90 (packed lunch) = $8.10
2. Weekly Savings (5 workdays): $8.10 x 5 = $40.50
3. Monthly Savings (assuming 4 weeks): $40.50 x 4 = $162
4. Yearly Savings: $162 x 12 = $1,944

So, by packing my lunch instead of eating out, I could potentially save around $1,944 a year. 

How much could you save by packing lunch for work? The answer, of course, depends on several factors: where you live, your workplace amenities like a cafeteria, whether you cook at home, and if you can bring leftovers, among other things. 

But generally, your potential savings might not be too different from mine. Even in challenging situations, like for an overhead crane operator stuck for 12 hours without access to a fridge or microwave, using a thermos can keep food warm.