9 Amazing Ways to Save $300 Every Month
- UpdatedDec 22, 2024
- Save $300 a month with a few changes.
- Socialize at home more, and exercise outside instead of at the gym.
- Buy cheaper brands and shop expensive necessities like insurance.
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What could you do with an extra $300 a month? You know the saying “every penny counts,” yet how do you make those pennies add up to dollars? A few small changes can help you save money every day and keep more in your pocket.
Imagine how $300 could be put toward a car payment, pay down a medical bill, or help get your kid their dream toy for a birthday present.
These 9 budget tips can help you save money fast to provide some financial “breathing room” or to use toward a special savings goal.
Host a Game Night
Instead of meeting friends out for dinner, have them come over for dessert and board games. To cut costs, ask them to contribute a bottle of wine or a six-pack toward the festivities.
Cancel Your Gym Membership
If you’re a gym regular, keep it up and enjoy yourself! But if you don’t go to the gym at least 3 times a week, you may be wasting some money. Check out a local recreation center where there is a fitness room. These gyms can cost as little as $24 a month and might be half that price if you’re 50 or older.
Empty Your Storage Unit
The average monthly fee for a 10’x10’ storage unit is $100. Evaluate what you need versus the “maybe we’ll use that … someday” items—and as you hold each item ask yourself if it’s worth $1,200 per year?
Have Coffee In vs. Coffee Out
Learn to make lattes at home and you can save almost $10 each week.
Search for Coupons
As internet shopping becomes commonplace, always take a moment to search for an online coupon before Checkout. Often you can save on shipping or receive 10% off all for a few clicks.
Switch Cell Phone Plans
Ask about different plans to see which best fit your needs and might cost less. Or consider switching to a less pricey providers or get a prepaid plan.
Buy Generic
At the supermarket, store-brand groceries can cost 10% less than name-brand products. So if you spend $100 a week on name-brand groceries, buying store brands instead is an easy way to save $10 or more.
Call Your Insurance Company
See if there are discounts available for having multiple policies with the same provider. And if you have enough savings on-hand to cover expenses for filing a claim, then consider raising the deductibles on your policies as this will lower the annual premiums.
Lower Your Energy Usage
There are multiple ways to save on energy costs by managing air drafts, adjusting hot water heaters, and monitoring the washing/drying of clothes.
Air Drafts: Check for spots where outside air can enter your home—the most common locations are doors and windows, followed by locks, electric outlets, air conditioners, and recessed light fixtures. Install weather stripping and door sweeps, plus cover outside vents, including air conditioning units.
Water Heater: Adjust the water heater temperature to 120 degrees or, if you have only a knob, turn it down a level. You can save up to 10 percent on energy costs, yet still have all the hot water you need.
Washing/Drying of Clothes: Using the cold cycle in the washer can save up to 90 percent of the energy costs. While a clothes dryer is one of the highest energy vampires, use a clothesline (inside or outside) to hang dry as many items as possible.
Looking for more ways to save money? Check out these money-saving tips.
Debt relief by the numbers
We looked at a sample of data from Freedom Debt Relief of people seeking debt relief during November 2024. This data reveals the diversity of individuals seeking help and provides insights into some of their key characteristics.
Credit card balances by age group for those seeking debt relief
How do credit card balances vary across different age groups? In November 2024, people seeking debt relief showed the following trends in their open credit card tradelines and average credit card balances:
Ages 18-25: Average balance of $9,117 with a monthly payment of $282
Ages 26-35: Average balance of $12,438 with a monthly payment of $390
Ages 36-50: Average balance of $15,436 with a monthly payment of $431
Ages 51-65: Average balance of $16,159 with a monthly payment of $529
Ages 65+: Average balance of $16,546 with a monthly payment of $499
These figures show that credit card debt can affect anyone, regardless of age. Managing credit card debt can be challenging, whether you're just starting out or nearing retirement.
Collection accounts balances – average debt by selected states.
Collection debt is one example of consumers struggling to pay their bills. According to 2023, data from the Urban Institute, 26% of people had a debt in collection.
In November 2024, 30% of debt relief seekers had a collection balance. The average amount of open collection account debt was $3,203.
Here is a quick look at the top five states by average collection debt balance.
State | % with collection balance | Avg. collection balance |
---|---|---|
District of Columbia | 23 | $4,899 |
Montana | 24 | $4,481 |
Kansas | 32 | $4,468 |
Nevada | 32 | $4,328 |
Idaho | 27 | $4,305 |
The statistics are based on all debt relief seekers with a collection account balance over $0.
If you’re facing similar challenges, remember you’re not alone. Seeking help is a good first step to managing your debt.
Tackle Financial Challenges
Don’t let debt overwhelm you. Learn more about debt relief options. They can help you tackle your financial challenges. This is true whether you have high credit card balances or many tradelines. Start your path to recovery with the first step.
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