Wednesday, May 27, 2026
See how to save money with practical spending habits. Learn how to avoid impulse buying, compare prices, and cut dining out costs to grow your savings.
The high cost of living has many of us feeling stuck with our money. Struggling to save while paying more than necessary for even just the basics is a challenge we’re all facing. Saving money isn’t impossible, though.
Many people think they need to cut their biggest expenses, but making small changes and consistently sticking to them adds up over time. Finding the right balance between wants and needs and creating new spending habits are the key to growing your savings. Here’s some of the best spending habits that will help you save money.
We’ve all been in the store and seen something we didn’t come for but bought it anyway. The same goes for online shopping.
Stopping impulse buying is just one easy way to save money. There are a few ways it can be done.
This is always helpful at the grocery store. Making a list of the things you need before you go doesn’t just help you remember what to buy, it also helps you avoid impulse buying.
Here’s a good way to put this into practice:
If it’s not on the list, don’t buy it.
This way you’ll only buy what you came for, and your bank account will thank you when you get to the checkout line.
Before buying anything, ask yourself, “Do I really NEED this?” If you can’t truly justify it as a necessity, it’s probably best not to buy it.
Apply this thinking to EVERYTHING you buy. A $4 coffee on the way to work, that shirt you saw online, a new baseball glove, think about do you really NEED it?
Separating wants and needs can be challenging, especially when items feel appealing or convenient. One way to make it easier is to create a short waiting period before making non-essential purchases, like 24 hours for smaller items or a week for larger ones.
Often, after giving yourself time to think, you’ll realize you don’t actually need the item.
Leave your credit card at home when out shopping. Using cash and debit will make you think more about your spending.
Credit cards make it seem like you’ll pay later and should be avoided for everyday purchases. They’re designed to get you to overspend. By leaving your credit card at home, you force yourself to make intentional choices about what you truly need.
Many people buy something from the first place they see it without ever considering if there might be a cheaper option. Spending even just 10 minutes comparing prices before buying something can make a huge difference. Here are some easy ways to do it.
Before heading out to the stores, check multiple stores’ websites online. This is a great thing to do for expensive items particularly. You may find that the store you typically order from has the item for full price, while one of their competitors has it on sale for 20% off.
Spending the time to research prices can add up to big savings for you and your bank account.
We all struggle to find lower prices on food these days, but there are ways to get ahead. Apps like Flipp allow you to browse the flyers of all the local grocery stores to compare prices with ease.
You can even search for a certain item specifically to see if it’s on sale anywhere.
This way you’ll know for sure that you’re getting the best deal when you go out for your food shopping.
Many major retailers, particularly grocery stores, offer price matching policies that match competitors' lower prices. When a store price matches, you just need to present proof of a lower price, such as a phone screenshot, to receive the discounted rate.
While grocery shopping is expensive, it’s nothing compared to restaurant prices these days. Which brings us to our final way to save money with good spending habits. Avoiding takeout or dining out as often.
Imagine a couple that dines out once per week at a relatively cheap restaurant, spending $60 per meal. That's $3,120 a year on restaurant meals. Even just going out every other week instead would save them $1,560 per year.
That’s money that could go toward savings, debt repayment, or other financial goals.
Dedicate some time each week to meal planning for each night of the week. You’ll be less tempted to go out if you have a plan for each night of the week.
Keep easy meal components like frozen vegetables, pasta, and rice on hand for quick home-cooked meals when motivation runs low.
Over time, these small steps can free up hundreds of dollars a month that would otherwise go toward expensive takeout or convenience foods.
If you’re struggling to control your spending and falling behind on debt, one of our Licensed Insolvency Trustees can help. Our Trustees work with you to find practical solutions to your financial challenges.
The first consultation is free of charge and can be completed in as little as one hour.
Our trustees provide support in a judgment-free environment. They listen to your situation, answer your questions, and guide you through options that fit your unique circumstances.
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
See how to save money with practical spending habits. Learn how to avoid impulse buying, compare prices, and cut dining out costs to grow your savings.
