Tips for Saving Money

1. Ask for cash instead of specific gifts. Trends pass, hobbies fade, and stores close. When these things happen, you can be left with items you no longer value or gift cards that really have no value. Instead of asking for specific gifts or gift cards, ask for cash the next time a celebration rolls around, and you can keep it in the bank until you’re ready for tip #2 and #3.
2. Invest your money. The two main ways to do this are by investing in the stock market, which you can do as soon as you turn 18, or by investing in real estate. I opened up my brokerage accounts with Charles Schwab and Robinhood immediately after I turned 18, and I plan to invest in real estate after graduation. If you want to see a post on value investing, how to pick stocks, and how to balance your portfolio, let me know in the comments below.
3. MAKE money when you shop! One of my favorite ways to earn cash back is through Ebates. When you sign up and make your first purchase above $25, you automatically get $10 – just for shopping! They partner with retailers such as Sephora, Walgreens, Expedia, and Macy’s, just to name a few, and can offer up to 40% cash back. When you shop online, make sure you download the Ebates Cash Back button on your browser; it will tell you if there are any cash back deals on the website you’re currently browsing. When you shop in stores, make sure you download the Ebates app and check for any in-store cash back deals. It may not seem like it, but saving 1% or 5% here and there will truly add up in the long run. Plus, the more money you get back, the more money you’ll have to fulfill tip #2.
4. SAVE money when you shop. One of the best ways to save money when you shop is to wait for a sale. Retailers typically have seasonal sales, and virtually every retailer on the market has a Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale. I know instant gratification is tempting and can be very satisfying, but, trust me, it is much more satisfying calculating your savings at the end of the year. You can use that money that you saved for tip #2, or, if you feel the urge to do some retail therapy, make sure you do tip #3!
5. Price shop. This is one of the best ways to make sure you’re getting the best deal you can possibly get. Price shopping involves comparing several retailers’ prices of the product you’re looking for. The most convenient way to do this is by entering the name of the product into Google and clicking the ‘Shopping’ feature at the top of the results page; from there, you can compare the prices of hundreds of stores. It helps to be as specific as possible so you can narrow down search results.
6. Make use of introductory offers. Many retailers offer a discount when you sign up for their newsletter online. Take advantage of this, and you’ll also get notified of upcoming sales so you can fulfill tip #4.

There are plenty of ways to save money, so don’t leave any on the table!