How to save money fast is no myth. Following these easy money saving tips is extremely achievable right now. Money is tight, especially right now.

If money is short for you, it’s time to sit down and take a look at where your money is going each month. Write down every monthly bill you have, everything that is sucking money from your bank account or racking up your credit card.

Doing so will put everything in front of you so you can take a good look and make some informed decisions. With that in mind, look at the following tips on how to save money fast and see what you can do. You don’t necessarily have to save money like a minimalist, but I’m sure there are some tips you can use.

Cancel unnecessary subscription services and memberships

Cancelling unused subscriptions are a great example of how to save money fast. Do you have subscriptions to several of the streaming channels? What about movie channels with cable or satellite TV? Do you really watch them all?

There is not enough time in the day to watch even a few of those subscriptions and all of them are costing you money every month. Narrow down your TV subscriptions to just the ones you watch often. You will find that you won’t miss the ones you rarely watch, and it will save you money right away.

What about your cable or satellite TV subscription?  Most of them range from $150 and up per month, even for basic packages. Consider streaming your TV with something like Youtube TV or Sling. I use Youtube TV and love it. $64.95 a month for a basic cable package with unlimited cloud DVR and no equipment rental. There are also so many channels available for free through broadcast TV (over the air). Just get a good HD broadcast TV antenna and you can pull them in for free.

What about software or app monthly subscriptions? If you have them, do you use them? Individually, most of these monthly subscriptions might not seem like much but if you cut out what you don’t use and stream your cable TV it can add up pretty fast.

Put these savings into a savings account or put it toward bills immediately. Cancelling unused subscriptions are one of the best saving money tips on this list.

Before purchasing an item ask yourself if you really need it

This is a fundamental rule of minimalism but can easily be applied to anyone. Imagine the item in or around your house and if you will think the same of it six months from now. Will it become just more clutter around the house that you eventually get rid of? If you really need it or is something special to you then by all means get it.

Stop paying for convenience items

One quick money saving tip is to stop paying for convenience items. Take time out of your day to brew your own coffee or make breakfast instead of getting it out. These convenience items can rack up quickly without realizing all the additional costs of things you can easily do yourself. It’s OK to treat yourself now and again but don’t make these conveniences a daily habit.

Automate and control your budget with an app

There are so many apps that can help you manage your budget and increase savings. Some offer free versions with upgrades to premium accounts, depending on your needs. Some include Acorn, Pocketsmith, and Mint. It’s not a bad idea to sign up for the free version and see how you like it and then upgrade if you need.

Pocketsmith is one that offers a free version. Most of these apps will spell out where your money is going and help you establish a savings plan to help you start or increase your savings.

Set up automatic payments for bills

We are all so busy. It’s easy to forget to pay all our bills on time. One easy way on how to save money fast is to pay your bills when they’re due, assuming you can afford to do so. Companies charge you late fees for overdue bills. While one or two late fees may not seem like much, those fees quickly add up.

Credit card late fees can be a lot more expensive and include added interest. Your bank probably has options to let you set up automatic payments for your bills through them. You can even set up automatic savings deposits with your bank. This little strategy is one of the great saving money tips.

Sign up for rewards and discount cards

Sign up for discount cards at grocery stores, gas stations, drug stores, and any other store where you shop that offers a reward or discount program. Regularly using these programs can help you save money or help you earn rewards toward future purchases.

Pay with cash or set a control on your card

One tip on how to save money fast is paying with cash for most purchases instead of using your credit card. You will instantly know your limit by not being able to spend more than what cash you have on hand. When constantly using credit cards for your purchases it becomes too easy to lose track of your credit card balance. On that note, when you can control your credit card spending you have a much better chance at paying down or paying off your credit card balance.

Use cash back credit cards

Even if you cut back on using your credit card, you may still need to use it. Almost every credit card has some kind of rewards program, but nothing beats getting real money back for using your credit card. Look for credit cards that give cash-back on purchases and have no annual fee. They are out there. Capital One offers one such card with no annual fee.

Reevaluate your mortgage and insurance costs

When was the last time you looked at your home mortgage interest rate or how much you are paying for home and auto insurance? We tend to forget about these but there may be better opportunities out there. Shop around to see what the rates are for refinancing your home to get a lower interest rate. It’s free to talk to lenders and get an idea of how much you could save. Be sure to account for the lending fee to refinance but that can usually be made up fairly quickly.

You may be able to considerably cut down your monthly mortgage payment. Same goes for home and auto insurance. Your current insurance provider may be steadily increasing your payments and you don’t realize how high it has become. Shopping around for cheaper insurance may also save you a considerable amount of money each month.

Take advantage of coupons and sales

Another how to save money fast tip is using store coupons and looking for sales. Almost every store, especially grocery stores, have in store sales throughout the week. Look for the sale flyer when you first come in the store to see what sales they currently have. Many stores will also email the sales flyer directly to your inbox.

This is a simple way to see store sales and delete if there is nothing you want or need. Some stores provide deeper discounts to rewards members which goes hand-in-hand with the rewards programs we covered earlier. There are plenty of online coupon sites that you can go to for coupons, but I would not recommend them. Most are very spammy and I have even seen them hijack your web browser when you go to their site.

Eliminate one weekly spending habit

There’s probably one treat or convenience item that you’re paying for each day or a couple times a week that you can live without. That morning latte on the way to work, eating out for lunch every day, eating out for dinner three or four times a week. Try making your lunch one or two times a week. Make dinner at home just one more time each week, even if it is a pre-made throw in the oven meal. Over time, you may get used to skipping this item and it will no longer be a habit.

How to save money fast?

I have listed some great saving money tips that you can do today to cut down on expenses and spend your money a little smarter. You don’t have to be a minimalist, but you can save money like a minimalist with even just a few tweaks. You can do this. Take one step at a time and you should start seeing results quickly.

See my Youtube video on saving money fast.