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 – September 5, 2025
Get Paid for Broken or Delayed Packages with “Delivery Guarantees”
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.
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.
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.
