I’m sure everyone has a method of how they personally save money, but I thought I would share with you some of mine.
Every day living
I have been dubbed the Coupon Queen. So that would be secret #1. Whenever you go to a store, check beforehand if you can use a coupon. I use the RetailMeNot app and they usually have all available coupons for major stores. Also, if a store has a membership card that doesn’t require signing up for a credit card, I have most likely signed up for it. It doesn’t affect my credit, only my email inbox, and acquiring points and getting coupons from them actually does save me quite a bit of money.
Now if you are on a shopping ban and don’t go to retail stores and have no need for those coupons, there is a solution to save additional money on your necessary purchases. My secret #2 is using another app called Ibotta, which is mainly for grocery shopping. Each week when you shop, you can scan the app’s list of items, check off which ones you bought, scan your receipt and earn money back! Here is a referral code hxgnrnd to get you started.
While these secrets don’t save hundreds of dollars, unless you are a big spender, each penny saved counts toward something! There’s a reason for the saying, “a little goes a long way.”
During travel
Secret #3: An easy way for me to save money while traveling is to use my CapitalOne Quicksilver credit card. Ironic, right? Spend money to save money. But it does make sense. First, this particular card doesn’t have international fees. So if you are planning on traveling outside of the country, no need to worry about paying that extra $.60 or so every time you use the card. Another way I save money with this card is that I earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, which can in turn be credited to my bill. You’re gonna spend the money anyway, so why not earn some of it back at the same time?
When it comes to accommodation when traveling, I usually book Airbnb’s or stay at hostels, using HostelWorld, secrets #4 and #5. I like staying at hostels because they are generally cheaper and have a helpful staff with information about the city. There are usually a lot of young travelers who stay in hostels as well, so it’s always interesting to meet new people, learn where they have been and what they have done in the city. Another reason why I like them is that I generally choose to stay at places that offer free breakfast, which is another way to save money while traveling.
A lot of Americans tend to be adverse to staying in hostels because they don’t like the idea of sharing a room with strangers. It could be because hostels are not as common here as they are in Europe or Asia, so it’s unfamiliar. But I have never had an issue with them. It’s almost like living in a dorm room. Of course, you have different options of how to share rooms too. You can select a mixed 18 bed room, or a female only 4 bed room. Some hostels even offer private rooms. It really just depends on your budget and preference.
The other option of where to stay during your travels is using Airbnbs. It’s a bit more expensive than a hostel (depending on how you book your rooms), but still cheaper than a hotel. You can book different ways with this as well, either a private room in someone’s home, or a place entirely to yourself. Plus there are tours you can book through the site too.
If you are looking to book tours, another good option is to use Viator. I believe it’s more reasonably priced than through Airbnb. I tend to plan my own tours and venture without a guide, so I haven’t personally used the site, but do whatever floats your boat.
And don’t forget about secret #6: your airline memberships! Flights are expensive, so you might as well get credit where you can when purchasing those tickets. I don’t have a credit card through those airlines, although you probably earn miles faster with the card, but you can still get a free membership though them. I have yet to acquire enough points to get any benefits, but maybe one day.
That’s all for my list of money-saving secrets. At least for now. Hopefully one of these will prove to be helpful! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! Thanks again for reading. Stay safe and stay happy. 질문 있으면, 물어요. 다시 읽어줘서 고마워요. 안전 하고 행복하게 지내세요.
Sam's Scenes & Soliloquies 