When you’re trying to get ahead, you don’t need complicated financial theory, you need actionable money tips that make a real difference.
I learned after coming to the U.S. with nothing that the biggest changes don’t come from giant leaps. They come from the small, smart steps you take every single day.
This page is where I share those steps with you.
Every day, I will post one quick, practical, and proven tip to help you save more, make more, or take better control of your finances.
So come back each day for a new money tip!
Bookmark This Page Now (press Ctrl+D or ⌘+D).
There will be no promotion or affiliate link either (even if I’m an affiliate of a product that happens to be part of the daily tip).
These are real money tips that work.
Using these tips you can build a stronger financial future, one day at a time.
Today’s Money Tip – October 29, 2025
Get Approved Faster by Stating Your ‘Household’ Income
You’re filling out a credit card or loan application, and it asks for your annual income. You punch in your base salary and hit submit. That’s a mistake that can cost you.
Here’s the part the banks don’t scream from the rooftops: You are legally allowed to include any income you have “reasonable access” to. This doesn’t mean you’re lying; it means you’re playing by their rules. That can include your spouse or partner’s income, child support, Social Security benefits, retirement account distributions, and even consistent side hustle money.
The insider move is to add it all up into your total “household income.” This one change instantly lowers your debt-to-income ratio, which is the magic number for getting approved and for securing a lower interest rate.
The MoneyPantry Tip Archive
Welcome to the vault.
This living library is just getting started, and you’re here at the very beginning.
Every single day, the new “Today’s Tip” from above will be added to this collection.
Check back often and watch as this grows into a massive, searchable resource packed with hundreds of our best money-making and money-saving ideas.
Lower Your Mortgage Without Refinancing
Date: October 28 2025| Category: Save Money
So you get a bonus or an inheritance and want to use it to lower your monthly mortgage payment. Everyone says you have to refinance. But that costs thousands in fees, and in a high-rate market, you’d be crazy to give up your old, low interest rate.
Here’s the move the banks don’t advertise: It’s called recasting.
You make a large, lump-sum payment directly toward your loan’s principal. Then, for a small admin fee (usually just a few hundred bucks), you can formally ask the lender to re-amortize the loan. They will re-calculate your monthly payment based on the new, lower balance while keeping your original interest rate and payoff date. Your monthly bill drops, and you just saved a fortune.
Chase Bank has a great guide on their website that explains loan recasting clearly: https://www.chase.com/personal/mortgage/recast
Slash Your Private School Bill with a 529 Plan
Date: October 27 2025| Category: Save Money
You have a 529 plan, and you think that money is locked up until your kid turns 18, right? Wrong. A huge change to the tax law a few years ago opened up an amazing loophole.
You can now withdraw up to $10,000 from your 529 plan, per child, every single year to pay for K-12 private school tuition. The money in that account grows completely tax-free.
For parents already paying for private school, this is a game-changer. You can even “cycle” your tuition money through the account: contribute the cash, get a state income tax deduction for the contribution (in most states), and then immediately withdraw it tax-free to pay the school. You’re giving yourself a free discount on a bill you were going to pay anyway.
Get a 30% Discount on Your Uber and Lyft Rides
Date: October 26 2025| Category: Save Money
You have that commuter benefits card through your job, right? The one you use to load pre-tax money for your train pass or parking garage. Well, it has a secret power you’re probably not using.
Here’s the trick: Most of these programs now allow you to pay for your Uber Pool or Lyft Shared rides with that same pre-tax money. You just load your commuter benefits card into the app as a payment method. Since the system treats these shared rides as mass transit, the charge goes through.
That means you’re paying with money that hasn’t been taxed yet, which is like getting an instant 20-40% discount on every single ride, depending on your tax bracket. It’s one of the easiest ways to save a fortune on getting around the city.
Force Your Movers to Give You an Honest Price
Date: October 25 2025| Category: Save Money
You get a quote from a moving company, and it looks great. But on moving day, after all your stuff is on their truck, they hit you with a final bill that’s hundreds of dollars higher. You’re trapped.
Here’s how you beat them at their own game. When you ask for quotes, you need to demand one specific type of contract: a “binding not-to-exceed estimate.”
This is a legal document that flips the power back to you. The price they quote is the absolute most you will pay. If your stuff weighs less than they guessed, your bill actually goes down. But if it weighs more, the price legally cannot go up one penny. This forces them to be honest and accurate from the start, protecting you from those nasty last-minute surprise fees.
Turn a Lost Suitcase into a Free Shopping Trip
Date: October 24 2025| Category: Save Money
Your flight landed, but your checked bag didn’t. The airline promises they’ll find it, and you’re stuck at your destination with nothing. Don’t just sit in your hotel waiting.
Here’s the secret the airlines don’t advertise: They are legally required to reimburse you for “reasonable and necessary” items you have to buy while your bag is delayed. Their definition of “reasonable” is broader than you think. This isn’t just about a toothbrush. If you’re on a business trip, a new suit can be necessary. If you’re on a beach vacation, a new swimsuit is reasonable.
The move is to go buy what you need to continue your trip, and keep every single receipt. Then, submit those receipts to the airline for reimbursement. The law is on your side.
You can read the official rules for yourself in the Department of Transportation’s “Fly Rights” guide under the baggage section: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/fly-rights.
Maximize Your Tax Refund by “Appraising” Your Junk
Date: October 23 2025| Category: Save Money
You drop a big bag of old clothes at Goodwill, they hand you a blank receipt, and you drive away. Months later, doing your taxes, you pull a number out of thin air: “$100 for the whole bag.” You just cost yourself real money.
You are legally entitled to deduct the “fair market value” for every single item you donate. The secret is that you don’t have to guess this value. Non-profits like Goodwill and the Salvation Army actually publish valuation guides that list the IRS-approved average price for thousands of specific items, from dress shirts to coffee tables.
Before you donate, take five minutes to list out the big-ticket items. Then, use one of these guides to find their real value. That “bag of clothes” is actually ten shirts, three pairs of jeans, and a jacket. Using the guide, your lazy $100 deduction might turn into a carefully documented $450 deduction, which means a much bigger tax refund for you.
Goodwill provides a comprehensive guide right on its website: https://goodwillnne.org/donate/donation-value-guide/
Check the Government’s Math on Your Future Paycheck
Date: October 22 2025| Category: Make Money
You probably think your future Social Security check is set in stone, that the government’s numbers are always right. That’s a dangerously expensive assumption.
Here’s the secret: Your future benefit is calculated from your lifetime earnings record, and the government’s record is often full of mistakes. An employer could have misreported your income ten years ago. A name change after marriage might have created a gap in your file. These errors will permanently lower the monthly check you get for the rest of your life.
The move is to be your own auditor. Go to the Social Security Administration’s official website, create a “my Social Security” account, and look at your earnings record. You need to check it, year by year, and make sure their numbers match what you actually earned. Finding and fixing one mistake is a five-minute task that can put thousands of dollars back into your pocket during retirement. You can set up your free account here: https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
Use a Free Insurance Your Credit Card Hides
Date: October 21 2025| Category: Save Money
You’re standing at the rental car counter after a long flight, and the agent starts the high-pressure pitch for their daily insurance plan. It’s confusing, it’s expensive, and you feel cornered.
Don’t fall for it. Check your wallet first. Most travel credit cards come with a free, hidden benefit: a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is a policy that covers theft or damage to the rental car. The best cards offer primary coverage, which is key. That means you don’t even have to get your own personal car insurance involved if there’s an accident. You get to bypass their entire claims process.
The move is simple: find out which of your credit cards offers this perk before your trip, and make sure you use that exact card to pay for the rental. That’s all it takes to activate the coverage and confidently decline their expensive daily fee.
Erase a Collection from Your Credit Report
Date: October 20 2025| Category: Debt
So you finally decide to pay off that old collection account that’s been haunting your credit report. You think that paying it makes the problem go away. But it doesn’t.
When you pay a collection, the negative mark stays on your report for seven years. The only thing that changes is the status, to “paid collection,” which still damages your score.
The real insider move is to negotiate a “pay for delete.” You call the collection agency and offer to pay the balance (you can even negotiate a lower amount) only if they agree in writing to completely remove the account from your credit report, as if it never existed. This is a pure negotiation, and many agencies will do it to get the cash. The most important part: get the agreement in an email or letter before you send them a dime. A verbal promise is worthless.
Skip Return Fees with This Simple Scribble
Date: October 19 2025| Category: Save Money
You get a package, and the second it arrives you have buyer’s remorse. But now you have to deal with printing a label and, worse, paying for the return shipping.
Here’s the trick: Don’t open the box. At all.
Just grab a marker and write “Return to Sender” clearly on the unopened package and drop it back in the mail. The postal service treats this as a “refused” delivery and sends it right back to the company on their own dime, not yours. When the company gets their perfectly new, unopened item back, they have to process your refund. It’s the simplest way to sidestep a company’s annoying return shipping fees. The USPS confirms this is a valid mail-handling procedure.
Fix Your Car for Free with a “Secret Warranty”
Date: October 18 2025| Category: Save Money
You’re at the dealership, your car is just out of warranty, and they quote you $1,000 for a repair. It feels like just bad luck. But before you pay, you need to check for a “Technical Service Bulletin” or TSB.
TSBs are essentially “secret warranties” issued by manufacturers for known defects that aren’t dangerous enough for a public recall. Dealers often won’t volunteer this information, but if you find a TSB that matches your problem, they will often fix it for free—even if your official warranty has expired. You just have to know to ask.
You can look up your car’s TSBs for free on the official federal government site: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls
Force the Hospital to Forgive Your Bill
Date: October 17 2025| Category: Save Money
You get a crushing medical bill from a non-profit hospital. You can’t pay it, so you think your only choice is a painful payment plan or ruining your credit. But the hospital is hiding a third option from you.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, non-profit hospitals (which are most hospitals in the U.S.) are legally required to have a Financial Assistance Policy, also known as “charity care.” They have to tell you about it, but they often do the bare minimum.
You have to be the one to make the move. Go to the hospital’s website and search for their “Financial Assistance Policy.” You’ll find an application. I’ve seen these programs completely wipe out a six-figure bill for a middle-class family because the income limits are often much higher than you’d think. It’s the law, but it only works if you use it. The non-profit Dollar For helps people navigate this process for free.
Your Credit Card Is Your Secret Weapon in a Bad Deal
Date: October 16 2025| Category: Save Money
You paid a contractor who did a terrible job and now they’re ghosting you. Or you bought something that fell apart and the store is refusing a refund. You feel stuck. But you have a secret weapon.
If you paid with a credit card, you can initiate a “chargeback.” This isn’t just asking for a refund; you’re telling the credit card company that the merchant didn’t hold up their end of the deal. The bank immediately pulls the money back from the merchant’s account while they investigate. This puts all the pressure on the merchant, not you, to prove they delivered the goods or services as promised. It’s one of the most powerful consumer protections you have, and most people think it’s only for fraudulent charges. It’s not. It’s for bad deals, too.
Ask the Pharmacist This Secret Question
Date: October 15 2025| Category: Save Money
You’ve got insurance, so when the pharmacist tells you the co-pay is $25, you pay it. You figure that’s the best price you can get. Not even close.
The next time you pick up a prescription, look the pharmacist in the eye and ask, “Can you check what the price would be if you ran this through GoodRx instead of my insurance?”
The cash price using a free discount app like GoodRx is often dramatically cheaper than your own insurance co-pay, especially for generic drugs. The system won’t let them volunteer this info; you have to be the one to ask them to check. A 30-second question can literally cut your bill in half right at the counter.
Ditch PMI Early and Slash Your Mortgage Payment
Date: October 14, 2025| Category: Save Money
If you bought your house with less than 20% down, you’re likely paying for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) every single month. It’s a complete waste of money that only protects your lender, not you.
Your lender told you it will automatically fall off when your loan balance hits 78% of the original purchase price.
Here’s the part they don’t volunteer: if home values in your neighborhood have gone up, you don’t have to wait.
The law says you can request to have your PMI dropped as soon as your mortgage balance is 80% of your home’s new, current market value. You have to be the one to kickstart the process.
You call your lender and tell them you want to cancel your PMI based on an updated appraisal. Yes, you’ll have to pay for the appraisal, but that few hundred bucks could save you thousands by eliminating your PMI payments years ahead of schedule.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has an official guide explaining your rights.
Stop Paying a Hidden Fee on Your Insurance Bill
Date: October 13, 2025| Category: Save Money
You know that monthly car insurance payment you make? It’s a rip-off. Insurers love when you pay month-to-month because they quietly bake a “convenience fee” or “service charge” into every single payment. It doesn’t even show up as a separate line item.
Call your insurer and ask to switch to a “paid-in-full” plan. Pay the entire six- or twelve-month premium at once. I’ve seen this single change save people anywhere from 8% to 20% on their total bill. It’s one of the easiest ways to give yourself a massive discount on a bill you were going to pay anyway.
Force a Hotel to Give You a Better Deal
Date: October 12, 2025| Category: Save Money
So you book a hotel room directly on their official website (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt…)thinking you’re getting the best price. But then you spot the exact same room on a site like Kayak or Expedia for $20 less. Don’t just get annoyed. You’ve just found a winning lottery ticket.
Here’s the trick: Almost every major hotel chain has a “Best Rate Guarantee.” If you find a lower price on another site within 24 hours of booking, you can file a claim online. But here’s the part they don’t advertise: they won’t just match the price.
To reward you for finding their mistake, they will give you a further discount (like an extra 25% off the cheaper price) or a huge chunk of valuable loyalty points.
Use the “Zombie Debt” Law to Your Advantage
Date: October 11, 2025| Category: Debt
Picture this…you get a random call about an old credit card bill from seven years ago. You barely even remember it. Turns out, some debt collector bought that old account for pennies and is now trying to squeeze money out of you.
Here’s what they won’t tell you: most debt expires. It’s called the statute of limitations (basically, the time limit on how long a collector can legally sue you for payment). Once that time’s up, they can still ask you for the money, but they can’t actually force you to pay.
The sneaky part? If you make any payment at all (even a few bucks just to shut them up) you could accidentally restart that clock. That old, “dead” debt suddenly comes back to life, and you’re on the hook again.
Your best move: don’t pay, don’t admit the debt is yours over the phone. Instead, send a certified letter asking them to validate the debt and prove it’s still within your state’s statute of limitations.
Turn a Leftover 529 Plan into a Roth IRA
Date: October 10, 2025| Category: Investment
Everyone has that one nagging fear about saving in a 529 college fund: “What if my kid doesn’t go to college, or gets a huge scholarship?” You’re worried the money will be trapped. That’s how it used to be, but a recent law change created an incredible escape hatch. Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, after a 529 account has been open for 15 years, you can now roll over the leftover money directly into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary (your child), tax- and penalty-free. This is a complete game-changer. It means you can over-save for college without fear. If the money isn’t needed for tuition, you’re not stuck—you’re just giving your kid a massive, tax-free head start on their own retirement. It turns a college fund into a flexible wealth-building machine.
Check the Secret Report Insurers Use Against You
Date: October 9, 2025| Category: Save Money
You get your home or auto insurance renewal, and the price has jumped for no good reason. You haven’t made any claims, but your premium is still going up. What gives? Here’s the secret: Just like you have a credit report for loans, you have a “secret” insurance report that companies use to judge how risky you are. It’s called a C.L.U.E. (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report, and it tracks every single property claim or even an inquiry you’ve made for the past seven years. I’ve seen it happen where just calling to ask if a small leak is covered can create an entry on this report and flag you as a higher risk, raising your rates for years. The law says you are entitled to a free copy of your own C.L.U.E. report every single year. You need to pull it and check it for errors. Finding and correcting one mistake (like a claim that was never paid out) could slash hundreds of dollars off your insurance bills. You can order your official, free report directly from the company that manages the database, LexisNexis: https://consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com/
Lower Your Property Taxes with the Hidden ‘Assessor File’ on Your House
Date: October 8, 2025| Category: Save Money
That property tax bill you pay every year? It’s based on a “secret file” of data your county assessor keeps on your home (square footage, number of bathrooms, basement condition, etc.). The thing is, this data is often wrong. I’ve seen it firsthand where the county had a house listed with four bedrooms when it only had three, or they were counting a leaky, unfinished basement as liveable space. Go to your county assessor’s website and search for your home’s official “property record card” or “assessor’s data.” It’s public information. If you find a single factual error, you’ve just found the easiest way to win a property tax appeal and get your bill lowered for good. You’re not arguing subjective market values; you’re simply correcting their bad data!
Fly to a Different State to Save Thousands on Medical Procedures
Date: October 7, 2025| Category: Save Money
You get a quote for a major dental procedure or a non-emergency surgery, and the price is astronomical. You shop around locally, but all the quotes are in the same ballpark. What most people never think to do is shop for their healthcare in a different state. Here’s the secret: The price for the exact same medical procedure can vary by thousands of dollars depending on the city you’re in. A dental implant that costs $5,000 in Los Angeles might only be $2,500 in Phoenix. You can use free websites like FAIR Health Consumer to look up the average cost of procedures in different zip codes. Even after buying a cheap plane ticket and getting a hotel room, you can still come out thousands of dollars ahead on major work by simply having it done somewhere with a lower cost of living. It’s like medical tourism, but you don’t need a passport. You can check procedure costs on the free, independent FAIR Health site.
Get Free Cell Phone Insurance and Ditch Your Carrier’s Plan
Date: October 6, 2025| Category: Save Money
That extra $15 you pay every month for cell phone insurance through your carrier? It’s probably a waste of money. Over two years, that’s $360, and the deductibles when you actually need to use it are still sky-high. Check your wallet instead. Many popular rewards credit cards, even ones without huge annual fees, give you complimentary cell phone protection as a built-in perk. All you have to do is pay your monthly cell phone bill with that card. If you break or get your phone stolen, the card’s insurance kicks in and covers the cost of repair or replacement, usually with a much smaller deductible than the carrier’s plan. You can cancel that monthly insurance plan today and start saving.
Slash Your Medical Bill by Demanding a Receipt
Date: October 5, 2025| Category: Save Money
You get a bill from a hospital stay, and it has a huge, vague number next to a line like “Medical Supplies” or “Pharmacy Services.” Don’t just pay it. That single number is often hiding hundreds of absurdly overpriced charges. Call the billing department and say you need a “fully itemized statement” with a line for every single thing they charged you for. This forces them to show you their ridiculous internal prices, like $38 for a pair of sterile gloves or $50 for a single Tylenol. These are the charges they can’t defend. Finding them gives you powerful leverage to dispute the bill and often get those bogus charges wiped out.
Never Pay to Return an Online Order Again
Date: October 4, 2025| Category: Save Money
You buy something online, it shows up, and… it’s not what you expected. Maybe the color’s off, or it fits weird. But when you go to return it, the store wants to charge you for the shipping label or hit you with a “restocking fee.” It feels like you’re being punished for their bad product photos.
Here’s the secret weapon you might not know you have: Check your credit card’s benefits guide for “Return Protection.” This is an insurance policy that a ton of cards, especially from American Express, have built-in. If a store won’t accept your return or wants to charge you fees, this benefit allows you to file a claim, ship the item to the credit card’s benefits administrator instead, and get a full refund from them. It’s your personal “get-out-of-a-bad-purchase-free” card. It’s perfect for final sale items or dealing with retailers that have difficult return policies.
Get a Second Check from a Car Accident
Date: October 3, 2025| Category: Make Money
Imagine someone hits your car. It wasn’t your fault, and their insurance company pays to fix it, good as new. But here’s the part they don’t tell you: your car is now worth less money, even when perfectly repaired, simply because it has an accident on its permanent record. That loss of value is called “diminished value,” and the at-fault party’s insurance owes you that money in a separate check after the repairs are done. You have to be the one to demand it. This isn’t a few bucks; a diminished value claim can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It’s a standard part of insurance claims that most people never know to ask for. The legal experts at the Insurance Information Institute, Inc. have a great article that explain everything you need to know about Diminished Value and how to file a claim for it.
Shut a Debt Collector Up — With One Letter!
Date: October 2, 2025| Category: Debt
When collectors start blowing up your phone, don’t argue or explain. Anything you say can be used against you, and they thrive on pressure tactics. Here’s what to do: force everything into writing. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you can send a certified letter telling them to only contact you by mail. Once they get it, they’re legally required to stop calling your home or work. This takes the emotion out, gives you breathing room, and creates a paper trail if they slip up. The CFPB even has sample letters you can copy.
Turn a Store’s Clearance Aisle into Your Side Hustle
Date: October 1, 2025| Category: Save Money
You’ve seen a super-discounted toy or kitchen gadget in the clearance aisle and thought, “I bet I could sell that for more online.” But it’s always a gamble. Here’s how you take the guesswork out of it. Download the free Amazon Seller app to your phone. When you’re in the store, just use the app to scan the barcode of that clearance item. It will instantly show you what that exact item is currently selling for on Amazon, all the selling and shipping fees, and exactly how much profit you would make. It turns a risky guess into a simple math problem. You’ll know in seconds if something is a dud or a potential goldmine before you even put it in your cart. You can download the app and learn how it works on Amazon’s official site.
Stop Wasting Money by Buying Things Over and Over
Date: September 30, 2025| Category: Save Money
Think about all the cheap umbrellas or phone chargers you’ve gone through over the years. They break, you toss them, and then buy another one. It’s a constant money drain. Here’s the smarter move: don’t buy the cheapest version. Buy the one you only have to purchase once. This is the “Buy It For Life” strategy. Top brands like L.L.Bean, Craftsman tools, and JanSport backpacks are famous for lifetime warranties. You might spend more upfront on a backpack or wrench set, but when it inevitably wears out 10 years later, they’ll repair or replace it for free. You’re not just buying a product, you’re buying a permanent solution. Before your next purchase, search online for “[product name] with lifetime warranty”. You’ll find tons of long-lasting options, plus communities dedicated to spotting these deals. A great place to start is the subreddit r/BuyItForLife.
Double Your Retirement Savings on a Single Income
Date: September 29, 2025| Category: Investment
Think you need a paying job to contribute to an IRA? That’s what most people believe, but it’s a myth that costs families a fortune in lost retirement savings. There’s a little-known rule specifically for single-income households. Here’s the trick: If you’re the working spouse, you can open and fund a completely separate IRA for your non-working partner, known as a “Spousal IRA.” This means your family can potentially double the amount it saves in tax-advantaged accounts each year, even with only one paycheck. It’s a huge deal because it allows the non-working partner to build their own personal nest egg for the future, not just rely on a joint account. Major investment firms outline exactly how to do this. You can read the simple guide from Vanguard here.
Maximize Your Cash Back by Assigning a Card to One Job
Date: September 28, 2025| Category: Save Money
We all have that one monthly expense that’s always way too high, maybe it’s your grocery bill or gas. Instead of using a generic 1.5% cash-back card on everything, why not get serious and focus your rewards where it counts most? Grab a card that lets you pick a category to earn 5% cash back. Then give that card one job only. It becomes your dedicated “grocery card” or “gas card.” Suddenly, instead of getting a tiny 1.5% back, you’re stacking 5% cash back on hundreds of dollars every month. That adds up fast. It’s basically an automatic 5% discount on your biggest budget item.
Get a Guaranteed 15% Return with Your Paycheck
Date: September 27, 2025| Category: Investment
If your company offers an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), don’t just delete that email from HR. Think of it as a secret “free money” program hiding in your benefits package. Basically you set aside a small amount from each paycheck over a 6-month period. Then, the company uses that cash to buy its own stock for you at a huge discount (usually 15% off the market price). Now to make it even better you want to sell the stock the same day you get it. You’re not gambling on whether the stock will go up or down. You are simply cashing in on that 15% discount, locking in a massive and near-guaranteed return on your money. You will owe some tax on the profit, but it’s still one of the fastest ways to build your savings offered anywhere. Investopedia has a fantastic article that breaks down the mechanics in simple terms here.
Save on flights with the “Hidden City” hack
Date: September 26, 2025| Category: Save Money
Say you’re flying from Chicago to Los Angeles and the price is ridiculous because everyone wants that route. Instead of booking LA directly, book a flight through LA to a smaller city, like San Jose. Airlines sometimes charge less for the whole trip, even though you only want the layover city. This is called the “hidden city” trick. You just get off at your layover and skip the final stop. Feels a little sneaky, but it works. One big catch: you can’t check a bag, because your bag will end up at the ticket’s final destination. You can use Skiplagged which will find these hidden city flights for you automatically. Done right, this move can save you hundreds of dollars.
Use Your Library Card for Power Tools
Date: September 25, 2025| Category: Save Money
That DIY project always looks simple enough on YouTube… until you find out you need a $150 tile saw you’ll probably use once. Before you blow cash at Home Depot, check if your city has a tool library. Most people have no idea these even exist. They work just like a regular library, except instead of books, you can borrow drills, pressure washers, saws…you name it. Some are totally free, others just charge a small annual membership fee. I once borrowed a commercial floor sander (the kind that costs over a grand to buy) for sixty bucks a year. That single rental paid for itself ten times over. If you want to see if there’s one near you, check the Local Tools directory here: localtools.org/find.
The Free “Energy Audit” Your Utility Company Doesn’t Want You to Know About
Date: September 24, 2025| Category: Save Money
Most people have no clue their utility company already offers a service that can slash those costs. Many utilities want you to use less power during peak hours, so they offer a free (or really cheap) professional home energy assessment. You just call, and a specialist will come to your house to hunt down all the “energy leaks” quietly draining your wallet. They’ll use thermal cameras to spot bad insulation, check for air leaks around doors and windows, and even look at your old appliances. When they’re done, you get a custom report with exact fixes that will save you the most money. Some audits uncover issues that save hundreds of dollars a year, and the best part? It’s free. You can learn more about it on the official website of U.S. Department of Energy.
The Hidden “Cosmetic Damage” Discount Stores Don’t Advertise
Date: September 23, 2025| Category: Save Money
Most people see a dented box or ripped packaging and instantly put it back on the shelf. Big mistake. That ugly box is actually your ticket to a discount. Stores like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy don’t want the hassle of sending a perfectly fine product back to the warehouse just because the packaging looks rough. They’d rather move it fast. All you have to do is flag down an employee (or better yet, the department manager) and say something like: “I’d like to buy this, but the box is damaged. Could you offer a discount on it as-is?” I’ve personally seen 10–20% come off instantly just for asking. It works on everything from small kitchen gadgets to big-ticket items like TVs.
The FSA Deadline “Time-Travel” Hack
Date: September 22, 2025| Category: Investment
I get it, the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule on your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is designed to make you panic-buy a truckload of band-aids in December. But you don’t have to waste that money. The insider move is to “time-travel” your spending. You can use this year’s FSA funds to pre-pay for medical services you know you’ll need next year. Think bigger than just glasses. Call your dentist or orthodontist in November and ask to pay upfront for your kid’s braces adjustment appointments for the first half of the upcoming year. Many providers are happy to take payment early. You get to use your expiring funds for a definite future expense, saving your future cash for something else. To see a huge list of eligible (and sometimes surprising) expenses you can pay for, check out the official FSA Store.
Turn Your Stock Market Losses into a Tax Refund
Date: September 21, 2025| Category: Investment
If you are an investor, seeing a stock or ETF drop in value feels terrible. It feels like you’ve lost money, and the instinct is to wait for it to recover. But savvy investors know a loss isn’t a total loss, it’s a tool. This is called “tax-loss harvesting.” You sell that losing investment, which officially “realizes” the loss on paper. Then, you can use that loss to wipe out the taxes you’d owe on any investment gains you have. Even better, if your losses are greater than your gains, you can use up to $3,000 of it each year to directly lower your taxable ordinary income, which could mean getting a bigger tax refund. You just have to be careful to avoid the “wash sale” rule by not buying a substantially identical investment 30 days before or after the sale. It’s the closest thing to turning a market lemon into lemonade. Fidelity has a great, clear guide on the tax-loss harvesting here.
The “Zombie Subscription” Killer Card
Date: September 20, 2025| Category: Save Money
We’ve all been there. You sign up for a “free trial,” enter your credit card, and then completely forget about it. Next thing you know, you’re looking at your statement and realize you’ve been paying a “zombie subscription” for the last four months. Here’s how you put a stop to that for good. Use a service that creates virtual, single-use credit card numbers. The most well-known and trusted one is called Privacy.com. When you sign up for a trial, you give them a new, unique card number from this service instead of your real one. Then, you can set a spending limit on that virtual card (even as low as $1) or simply “pause” it with one click after you sign up. When the company tries to bill you, the charge is automatically declined. It puts you back in complete control and makes it impossible for companies to sneak charges past you.
The “SKU Glitch” That Unlocks Hidden Clearance Deals
Date: September 19, 2025| Category: Save Money
You know how annoying it is when you hear about a crazy clearance deal at Target or Walmart, but your store is still charging full price? Here’s the trick most shoppers don’t know: clearance pricing isn’t the same everywhere, it’s based on each store’s inventory.
The hack is using an online inventory checker like BrickSeek. Just grab the product’s SKU or UPC number (it’s on the tag or you can look it up online), type it into BrickSeek, and it’ll show you the exact price and stock at every store near you.
I’ve used this myself. Once, I scored a $300 grill for just $75 because one Walmart nearby was overstocked. Other stores had it full price, but thanks to BrickSeek I knew where the hidden deal was waiting.
How to Turn a credit Card Denial into an Approval
Date: September 18, 2025| Category: Save Money
A credit card denial isn’t always the end. Most banks have a reconsideration line which is a direct number where you can talk to a real underwriter. A quick, polite call can flip a “no” into a “yes.” Mention your good payment history, clear up any issues on your credit report, or offer to shift credit from another card with that bank. I’ve seen plenty of people approved this way in just minutes. Grab the full list of reconsideration phone numbers here.
The “Backdoor Roth” Tax-Free Retirement Trick
Date: September 17, 2025| Category: Investment
You work hard, make a good living, and then the government tells you that you earn too much to contribute to a tax-free Roth IRA. It feels like you’re being penalized for success. But many high-earners use a completely legal method to get around this income limit. It’s called the “Backdoor Roth IRA.” Here’s how to set yours up: First contribute to a traditional IRA, which has no income limits for making a contribution. Then, a day or two later, you simply convert that traditional IRA into a Roth IRA. Because the money was only in the traditional account for a short time, there are no investment gains, making the conversion virtually tax-free. You’ve just legally sidestepped the income caps and can now grow your money tax-free for retirement
The “Rent-Your-Own-House” Tax Loophole You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Date: September 16, 2025| Category: Save Money
Finding real tax write-offs feels like searching for coins under the couch cushions. Most of the obvious ones are already gone. But there’s one little-known tax break that even plenty of accountants don’t mention: the Augusta Rule. Here’s how it works. The IRS lets you rent out your personal home for up to 14 days a year without reporting a dime of that income. Now, if you run a small business or have an S-Corp/LLC, you can actually rent your own house to your business for legit purposes (think annual meetings, planning sessions, or strategy days.) The business writes it off as a rental expense, and you pocket that money totally tax-free. It’s a rare loophole that legally shifts cash from your business account to your personal pocket, no strings attached. You can find the rule on IRS’s official website here.
“Fire” Your Zero-Interest Checking Account
Date: September 15, 2025| Category: Save Money
Still using a big bank checking account that pays 0.01%? You’re leaving money on the table. Look for high-yield rewards checking accounts (usually at community banks or credit unions). Many pay 2%–3% on your balance if you meet simple requirements like a few debit card swipes each month. That’s hundreds of dollars a year just for moving where your paycheck lands. It’s basically free passive income.
Get Next Year’s Products for Free
Date: September 14, 2025| Category: Save Money
Big brands like Nike, McCormick, and Procter & Gamble give out free stuff before it even hits the shelves. Why? Because they need regular people to test it and give feedback. These aren’t scams, it’s all through official “consumer advisory panels” or “product testing programs.” Go to the corporate website of your favorite brands and search for “product testing” or “consumer panel.” You sign up, they send you free products (everything from shoes to food to cleaning supplies), you use them, and you give them your honest feedback. I’ve done this for years, and it’s one of the easiest ways to cut your household budget without changing a thing.
Price Tags Are Lying To You. Here’s the Real Price
Date: September 13, 2025| Category: Save Money
That $500 TV? It’s not really $500. The real price is the hours of your life you’ve got to trade to pay for it. Here’s how to see it: take your actual paycheck after taxes, divide it by the hours you work, and boom, you’ve got your real hourly wage. If you bring home $25 an hour, that TV is actually 20 hours of your life. So ask yourself, “Is this thing worth 20 hours of me sitting in an office?” For me, that one question has stopped a ton of impulse buys. Once you start looking at stuff this way, you’ll only spend on things that are truly worth your time on this planet.
Use a 401(k) Loan as a Secret Emergency Fund
Date: September 12, 2025| Category: Investment
I know this sounds crazy, but hear me out. Everyone tells you to have a 3-6 month cash emergency fund, but letting that much cash sit in a savings account means you’re losing big to inflation. If you have a stable job, you can use a 401(k) loan as a super-charged emergency fund instead. Unlike a regular withdrawal, you’re borrowing from yourself and paying the interest back to your own account. It’s faster than getting a bank loan, the interest rate is often lower than a home equity line, and the “interest” is just you paying yourself back. It’s not for everyone, but I’ve seen this move help people avoid selling stocks at a bad time or taking on high-interest debt when a real emergency strikes.
Ask for a “Payoff Letter” Before Clearing a Loan
Date: September 11, 2025| Category: Save Money
If you’re about to pay off a loan (car, personal, even mortgage), don’t just send the money. Always request a payoff letter from the lender first. Why? Because lenders often tack on extra interest, insurance add-ons, or small fees that aren’t obvious in your statement. A payoff letter is a legally binding document that locks in the exact amount you owe to close the loan. I’ve seen people save hundreds by avoiding surprise “trailing interest” charges that show up after they thought they were done paying. It’s a simple step that most borrowers never take.
Turn a Health Savings Account into a Secret Retirement Fund
Date: September 10, 2025| Category: Investment
Most people with an HSA (Health Savings Account) treat it like a medical piggy bank, but here’s the insider play: don’t spend it now, invest it. HSAs are triple tax-advantaged, which means money goes in tax-free, grows tax-free, and comes out tax-free for medical expenses. But here’s the kicker: once you hit 65, you can withdraw the money for anything (not just medical bills) and it’s taxed just like a 401(k). If you pay current medical expenses out of pocket and let the HSA grow, you’re basically building a hidden retirement account that beats traditional IRAs on tax savings. Hardly anyone uses it this way.
Get “Unclaimed Refunds” Hiding in Class Action Settlements
Date: September 9, 2025| Category: Save Money
Every year, companies quietly settle lawsuits and set aside millions for customer refunds. The thing is, you don’t need to have receipts or proof most of the time, you just fill out a simple online form. Sites like TopClassActions.com list active settlements where everyday people can claim $10, $50, sometimes hundreds. I’ve personally seen payouts for things like cereal, batteries, and even bank fees. Most people never hear about them, but it’s basically free money for stuff you already bought.
Turn Library Cards into Free Streaming & Subscriptions
Date: September 8, 2025| Category: Save Money
Your local library card is worth way more than books. Many libraries give free access to paid services like Kanopy (movies), Hoopla (TV, audiobooks, comics), and even The New York Times or Wall Street Journal online. Some also cover pricey learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning or Coursera. You don’t need to set foot in the library, just use your card number to log in through their site. It’s basically hundreds of dollars in free subscriptions sitting in your wallet, and almost nobody uses it.
The “Free Night Refund” Hotel Hack
Date: September 7, 2025| Category: Save Money
If you ever check into a hotel and something’s wrong (dirty room, broken A/C, loud construction) don’t just ask for a fix. Ask the front desk for a “service recovery credit.” Hotels, especially big chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, have budgets set aside to keep guests happy. That can mean a free night, big points credited to your loyalty account, or a hefty discount off your stay. The key is to calmly document the issue (a quick photo on your phone helps) and politely escalate it to a manager. Most travelers never bother, but it’s one of the easiest ways to turn a bad stay into free money or free nights.
Use “Bill Pay Overdraft Padding” to Avoid Bank Fees
Date: September 6, 2025| Category: Save Money
Here’s a sneaky bank hack most people don’t know: if you pay bills directly through your bank’s online bill pay system (instead of mailing a check or paying on the company’s site), many banks quietly cover overdrafts or timing issues without charging you a fee. Why? Because they don’t want to risk a bounced bill payment to a utility or lender, it makes them look unreliable. I’ve seen people avoid $35 overdraft fees just by routing payments through bill pay instead of their debit card. It’s like built-in insurance against bad timing.
Get Paid for Broken or Delayed Packages with “Delivery Guarantees”
Date: September 5, 2025| Category: Save Money
Most people don’t know this, but if a UPS or FedEx delivery shows up late (even just a day) you can actually get the shipping cost refunded. It’s part of their “money-back guarantee.” The catch? They’re not going to hand it over unless you ask. Same deal if your box shows up banged up. You just hop online, file a quick claim, and in many cases the carrier (not the store you ordered from) eats the cost. Even Amazon packages that come through UPS or FedEx can qualify if you push for it. Takes five minutes, and it can put $20, $40, even $80 back in your pocket. Most people never bother, which is why it’s such an easy win.
Use the “Package Intercept” Trick to Dodge Return Fees
Date: September 4, 2025| Category: Save Money
Ever bought something online, regretted it instantly, and then dreaded paying return shipping? Here’s the move: if your order hasn’t been delivered yet, many carriers (like USPS, UPS, and FedEx) let you use a little-known service called Package Intercept or Delivery Manager. You can redirect the package back to the seller before it even hits your doorstep. Since it’s technically an “undeliverable return,” a lot of retailers will refund you in full without charging their usual return fee. It’s a clean way to undo an impulse buy and keep your money from slipping away.
Turn Leftover Gift Cards into Cash with a Little-Known Law
Date: September 3, 2025| Category: Save Money
Got a few bucks left on an old gift card? Don’t let it rot. In some states, you can actually turn that leftover balance into real cash. For example, in California, retailers have to give you cash back if the balance is under $10. In Colorado and Maine, the cutoff is $5 (with Maine adding a twist, the card had to originally be worth more than $5). That means your $4.37 Target card isn’t worthless, it’s basically free money. Just ask the cashier to cash it out. Hardly anyone knows this, but it works. And here’s the kicker: the rule applies no matter where the gift card was originally purchased, as long as you’re redeeming it in one of those states.
Slash Your Insurance Bill with the “Telematics Test Drive” Hack
Date: September 2, 2025| Category: Save Money
Most shoppers swipe their store card and hope they get a deal, but they’re leaving money behind. Stores like Kroger, Safeway, and Publix have digital coupons that load straight onto your loyalty account. These can stack with manufacturer coupons or cash-back apps like Ibotta and Fetch, no clipping required. Just link your account, check the weekly offers, and you’re looking at an easy 10–30% off groceries on top of sale prices. It’s free money most people never bother to grab.
Hack Grocery Rewards with Automatic Digital Coupons
Date: September 1, 2025| Category: Save Money
Most shoppers swipe their store card and hope they get a deal, but they’re leaving money behind. Stores like Kroger, Safeway, and Publix have digital coupons that load straight onto your loyalty account. These can stack with manufacturer coupons or cash-back apps like Ibotta and Fetch, no clipping required. Just link your account, check the weekly offers, and you’re looking at an easy 10–30% off groceries on top of sale prices. It’s free money most people never bother to grab.
Get a Refund for Bank Mistakes You Didn’t Even Notice
Date: August 31, 2025| Category: Save Money
Most people never check their bank statements closely enough. Banks make tiny errors all the time (accidentally or not!) like double charges, small fee miscalculations, or misposted ATM withdrawals. Call your bank and ask for a correction. Even $5–$20 here and there adds up over a year. Most banks will refund without question if you catch it quickly, and most people never bother, leaving free money on the table.
Turn Your Utility Bills into a Hidden Cash Back Machine
Date: August 30, 2025| Category: Make Money
Most people just pay their utility, insurance, or even rent bills and move on. Here’s a secret: put those payments on a card that gives 2% cash back (like the Citi Double Cash or Wells Fargo Active Cash.) You’re basically getting a discount on bills you’d pay anyway. Just watch out for third-party fees if you use a service like Plastiq.
Your Medical Bill is a Negotiation, Not a Demand
Date: August 29, 2025| Category: Debt & Credit
A huge medical bill feels like a punch to the gut. But don’t just pay it. Hospitals and clinics use thousands of billing codes for procedures, and errors are incredibly common. Before you do anything else, call the provider’s billing department and politely say, “Could you please conduct a line-by-line coding review of my statement for accuracy?” This is the insider way of asking them to audit the bill. You’re not being aggressive; you’re just asking for a professional review. I’ve personally seen this single question find duplicate charges or incorrect codes that have wiped hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars off a bill.
Debt Stacking Method: The Best Way to Pay Off Debt Faster and Save on Interest
Date: August 28, 2025| Category: Debt & Credit
Most people follow the “Debt Snowball” method (paying off the smallest balance first) or the “Debt Avalanche” (tackling the highest-interest debt). The problem? Snowball is motivating but expensive, Avalanche saves you money but feels like a grind. Here’s a smarter hybrid: the Debt Stacking payoff method. Pay the minimum on all your balances, then throw every extra dollar at the second-highest interest debt first. Once that’s gone, stack that payment onto the highest-interest debt. This way, you get a quicker win than Avalanche while still saving way more money on credit card interest than the Snowball method ever could.
The “Goodwill Saturation” Credit Report Hack
Date: August 27, 2025| Category: Debt & Credit
If you have a single late payment mark on your credit report from an otherwise good account, a standard goodwill letter to customer service might work. But to get real results, you need to go higher. The “Goodwill Saturation” technique involves sending a short, polite letter explaining the one-time mistake not just to the general customer service address, but to the publicly listed corporate mailing addresses of the company’s CEO, CFO, and VPs. These executive offices often have special customer relations teams empowered to fix problems and retain good customers. Your request gets escalated and has a much higher chance of being granted.
Amazon Subscribe and Cancel Hack: How to Save 15% Instantly on Amazon Purchases
Date: August 26, 2025| Category: Save Money
You don’t have to wait for Prime Day or coupons to save money on Amazon. Here’s the trick: if a product has the Subscribe & Save option, you can snag an automatic 5–15% discount even if you only want it once. Just choose “Subscribe & Save” at checkout, let the order ship, then hop into your account’s Subscribe & Save section and cancel the subscription. There’s no penalty, no fee, just an easy, legit way to create your own discount on thousands of everyday items.
Never Cancel a Credit Card with an Annual Fee
Date: August 25, 2025| Category: Debt & Credit
When a credit card’s annual fee hits, most people think they have two choices: pay it or cancel the card. But canceling can hurt your credit score. Here’s the insider option: Call the bank and ask for a “product change” or a “downgrade” to a no-annual-fee card in the same family. This is a simple request they almost always grant. You keep your account history and credit line (which protects your credit score), but you eliminate the fee.
The Chat Box Trick for Instant Online Discounts
Date: August 24, 2025| Category: Save Money
Next time you’re about to buy something online, before checking out, open the customer service chat box on the site and ask a simple, polite question: “Hi, I’m ready to buy this, but I was wondering if there are any active promo codes I could use?” Many companies let their support agents to give out a 10% or 15% discount on the spot just to secure the sale. It’s a two-minute action that can save you real money they don’t advertise.
Amazon Price Drop Alert Hack: How to Make Amazon Tell You When Prices Go Down
Date: August 23, 2025| Category: Save Money
Don’t buy that item on Amazon right away. Instead, add it to your cart and hit “Save for later.” Here’s why: Amazon hates leaving sales on the table, so it tracks those items and will often show you a little “price dropped” alert the next time you check your cart. It’s like turning your wish list into a free Amazon price tracker. Simple, automatic, and the easiest way to make sure you never overpay.
Credit Card Retention Offer Hack: How to Waive Your Annual Fee or Get Bonus Points
Date: August 22, 2025| Category: Debt & Credit
When your credit card’s annual fee shows up, don’t just pay it. Banks literally set aside money to keep good customers from canceling. Here’s the move: call the number on the back of your card and say you’re thinking of closing the account to avoid the annual fee—then ask if there are any “retention offers” available (use that exact phrase). You’d be surprised how often they’ll waive the fee, give you a statement credit, or even throw in thousands of bonus points just to keep you.
Car Lease MSD Hack: How Multiple Security Deposits Can Save You Thousands
Date: August 21, 2025| Category: Save Money
Here’s a car leasing trick dealers rarely talk about: some brands offer a Multiple Security Deposit (MSD) program. Instead of just putting down one deposit, you can pay several upfront (all fully refundable) and in return, the dealer lowers your lease interest rate—aka the money factor—for the entire term. It’s basically one of the only guaranteed returns on cash in personal finance. Just ask the finance manager, “Does this brand offer an MSD program?” and you could save thousands over the life of your lease.
Costco Price Tag Secrets: How to Spot Clearance Deals and Discontinued Items
Date: August 20, 2025| Category: Save Money
Next time you’re at Costco (or another warehouse club), pay attention to the price tags. They speak a secret language. Two things to look for: an asterisk (*) in the top-right corner means the item is being discontinued and won’t be restocked. That’s usually the lowest price you’ll ever see it at. And if you spot a price ending in .97, that’s almost always a manager’s markdown, basically a clearance deal hiding in plain sight. Learn these two codes, and you’ve got a built-in cheat sheet for the best Costco deals.
Hidden Credit Score Boost Trick Before a Big Loan
Date: August 19, 2025| Category: Debt & Credit
Credit scoring models ding you for having balances on too many cards, even small ones. The month before a major loan, like a mortgage, try the All Zero Except One method, or AZEO. Pay all your credit cards to $0 before the statement closes, but leave a tiny $5-$10 balance on one card. This tells the system you’re low-risk and responsible, and it can give your credit score a quick boost right when you need it.
Hidden Grocery Discount Hack: How to Save Money on Produce
Date: August 18, 2025| Category: Saving Money
See a black marker line through the barcode on produce? That usually means it’s marked down. Don’t wait. Ask an employee if they can ring it up at the discounted price now. It’s an easy way to save money on groceries, grab grocery markdowns, and get perfectly good food for less before it disappears into the back.
Extended Warranty Negotiation Hack: How to Get a Lower Price at the Dealership
Date: August 17, 2025| Category: Saving Money
Extended warranties are a huge profit center for car dealerships, and the first price they give you is almost never the real price. Treat it like a negotiation. Tell them it’s too high and that you’ll skip it. Most of the time, they’ll lower the price to avoid losing the upsell completely. It’s an easy way to save money on car warranties without giving up coverage you might actually want.
Bakery Discount Hack: How to Score End-of-Day Deals
Date: August 16, 2025| Category: Saving Money
Most bakeries and grocery stores need to clear out unsold bread and pastries at the end of the night. Staff usually can’t advertise it, but if you show up about 30 minutes before closing and ask what’s left, you can often get these items at a big discount. It’s a simple way to save money on baked goods without waiting for a sale.
Best Day to Find Walmart Toy and Clothing Markdowns
Date: August 15, 2025| Category: Saving Money
Looking for the best deals at Walmart? Plan your trip for a Tuesday or Wednesday. That’s when managers often mark down seasonal items like toys, clothes, and outdoor gear to make room for new inventory. For the best selection, ask a manager if they can check upcoming markdowns, you might score items for up to 50% off before they even hit the clearance aisle. It’s an easy way to save money on Walmart toys and clothes.
Unlock Free Premium Subscriptions with Your Library Card
Date: August 14, 2025| Category: Saving Money
Your library card isn’t just for books. Check your library’s website for “Digital Resources” or “Online Learning” and you’ll often get free access to expensive services like Kanopy (tons of movies) or LinkedIn Learning (thousands of professional courses). Using your library card this way is a simple hack to save money on premium subscriptions without paying a dime.
72-Hour Cooling-Off Rule to Stop Impulse Spending
Date: August 13, 2025| Category: Saving Money
If you’re tempted by an unplanned purchase over $50, don’t buy it right away. Add it to a 72-hour list on your phone or a notepad. If you still really want it after three days, then consider buying it. Most of the time, that “urgent need” will disappear, saving you money without feeling deprived. This is a simple hack to avoid impulse spending.
Find Your Lost Money on State Websites (It’s Real)
Date: August 12, 2025| Category: Saving Money
This is not a gimmick. State governments are holding billions of dollars in unclaimed property from old bank accounts, insurance policies, and final paychecks. I once found $68 from an old utility deposit I forgot about. Go to unclaimed.org (a safe site run by states, not a private company) and search your name in every state you’ve ever lived in. It’s a 5-minute search that could put real money back in your pocket.
Find and Rescue Your ‘Orphaned’ 401(k)s
Date: August 11, 2025 | Category: Investing
If you’ve had past jobs, you might have “orphaned” 401(k) accounts that are slowly losing money to fees. Search for your old employer on Capitalize or the National Registry of Unclaimed Retirement Benefits. Rolling those accounts into your current 401(k) or an IRA saves you fees and gets your money back to work. A practical hack to maximize retirement savings.
Your House Might Be Over-Assessed for Taxes (Here’s How to Check)
Date: August 10, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
Many homeowners are overpaying property taxes because their home’s assessed value is too high. Don’t just accept the number. Go to Zillow or Redfin, look up the recent sale prices of 3-4 houses very similar to yours in your immediate neighborhood. If your home’s official assessed value is higher than what these homes actually sold for, you have a strong case to appeal. Most local governments have a simple form you can fill out. This can save you hundreds, even thousands, a year.
Get a Refund on a Purchase After You’ve Already Bought It
Date: August 9, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
Most major credit cards like Chase and Capital One have price protection. If the price of something you bought drops within 30-90 days, you can file a claim and get the difference back. Check your card’s benefit guide first. It’s like a retroactive coupon that saves you money without hunting for deals.
Call Your Bank to Waive Monthly Checking Fees
Date: August 8, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
Paying a $5 or $10 monthly maintenance fee on your checking account? Call your bank and ask, “What do I need to do to have the monthly fee waived?” Usually it’s simple, like setting up direct deposit or keeping a minimum balance. Most banks just assume you won’t ask. It’s an easy hack to stop paying bank fees.
Focus on Your Savings Rate, Not Just Your Paycheck
Date: August 7, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
We all want to earn more, but what really builds wealth is the percentage of your money you actually keep. This is your “savings rate.” I’ve seen people who make $50,000 a year but save 30% of it get rich faster than people who make $100,000 and save only 5%. Figure out your savings rate this month (Total Saved ÷ Total Income). The real secret is turning the act of increasing it into a habit.
Hunt for Big Savings, Not Tiny Coupons
Date: August 6, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
It’s easy to get obsessed with clipping coupons to save 50 cents, but your time is valuable. A single 20-minute phone call to lower your car insurance has a much bigger impact. Instead of chasing tiny savings, focus on your 3-5 biggest expenses (rent, insurance, loans) and ask for a better deal once a year. That’s how you find thousands in savings, not just pocket change.
Use the “Thinking of Leaving” Script to Lower Bills
Date: August 5, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
Your internet, cable, and phone providers have a secret budget just for keeping customers from canceling. Your job is to make them use it on you. Simply call and say, “My bill is too high and I need to review my options.” Be polite, and then wait. They’ll usually transfer you to a retention department that can offer an unadvertised discount. It’s an easy way to lower monthly bills without switching providers.
Buy Prescriptions at Costco or Sam’s Club Without a Membership
Date: August 4, 2025 | Category: Saving Money
Here’s a little-known secret: by law, warehouse club pharmacies like Costco and Sam’s Club must sell to the public. You do not need a membership to buy prescriptions there. Before you fill a prescription, especially if your insurance co-pay is high, call the pharmacy at a local warehouse club and ask for the cash price. You could save hundreds on prescriptions without ever buying a membership. It’s a simple drugstore savings hack.
