Resolve to save money in 2026? Great! Big budget moves – like shopping around for insurance or skipping that second vacation – can make a real dent. But what about the everyday stuff you buy without even thinking? It’s easy to assume those costs are fixed…but spoiler alert, they don’t have to be.
Here are tried-and-true tips from the HerMoney community for how to save money on everyday essentials.
SAVING ON GROCERIES
Your freezer = food waste’s #1 enemy: Jennifer is proudly self-described as a “freezer lady.” Her strategy? Freeze everything. Yogurt for future smoothies. Bread. Leftover tomato paste. Extra homemade pea soup. “You name it, I freeze it,” she says. Translation? Less food waste, more money in your bank account.
Bring the coffee shop home: Who needs a pricy coffee run? “I bought my own chai latte maker and the same syrup as used at the local coffee house,” shares Wendy. Same cozy vibes (and dare we say, cozier?) at a cheaper cost per cup.
Buy in bulk – strategically: When the math works, bulk buys can be a big win. Pantry staples like cereal and broths are especially worth it. So are things like hard cheeses and butter, which, btw, freeze beautifully. When there’s a deal to be had, meat can be worth stocking up on, too. “I haven’t been eating much meat because it’s been so expensive, but I recently got some meat that was on super sale,” says Lori. “My bill was $220 after saving $160…that’s what freezers are for.”
Meal delivery can actually help you save: At first glance, having meals delivered to your door doesn’t exactly scream “saving money.” But for many fans, meal kits and prepared meals help them do just that. They reduce impulse grocery buys, cut way down on food waste and make it easier to stick to a plan (no last-minute takeout required!). And yes, the deals help. Some of the top meal delivery services (like HelloFresh, Purple Carrot and Factor) are offering special discounts just for HerMoney readers.
Click, clip, save: “Using each store’s digital coupons really makes a difference,” says Phyl. “It’s annoying to have to load them each week, but a few minutes online can save a lot!”
SAVING ON CLOTHING
Secondhand shopping, first-rate finds: Pat swears by eBay and Poshmark. Her tip – know the exact size you’re looking for and the style name. “You can also try on a clothing item you’d like to buy in a store first if you need to get the right sizing,” she says. The HerMoney team is also big fans of ShopGoodwill.com, which is where Goodwill stores from across the country list high-end finds. Here’s your how-to guide to shopping the site.
Let a browser extension do the work: This writer swears by the Capital One Shopping browser extension. In 2025 alone, it helped her net over $500 in rewards – money she turned into gift cards at major retailers.
Consider a capsule wardrobe: Owning less clothing can actually end your “nothing to wear” spiral, saving you time and money. That’s the idea behind a capsule wardrobe, a small collection of versatile, mostly seasonless basics. Here’s how to build one.
SAVING ON ENTERTAINMENT
Cut unused subscriptions: If you’re wondering how to save money on entertainment, eliminating streaming subscriptions is a great place to start. The average person spends $1,080 per year on subscriptions (streaming and otherwise), $200 of which goes toward those they don’t even use. Tools like Rocket Money can help you track what you’re paying for and easily cancel what you don’t need.
Your library card is a hidden superpower: “Use the Libby app to check out audiobooks, magazines and ebooks from the library (or just go to the library, of course) instead of buying books and audiobooks,” suggests Pat.
Movie nights, but cheaper: Many theaters offer senior discounts – and midweek deals can be clutch. Regal Cinemas, for example, offers discounted tickets to members of their loyalty club on Tuesdays.
Learn something new, for free: Heading back to class can be one of the best ways to boost your brainpower – and your budget. Yvonne is a big fan of courses from LinkedIn Learning (which offers a one-month free trial), Microsoft Learn and Google that help improve her tech-savvy skills – especially those focused on AI.
SAVING ON PETS
Pet insurance = peace of mind (and lower bills): HerMoney CEO Jean Chatzky swears by it. When her dog, Norman, stepped on a freshly-cleaned carpet – and then licked his paws – he ended up in the ER. Pet insurance saved her thousands and has continued to help cover costs related to allergies, anxiety, and ear infections.
Never pay full price for pet supplies: Elizabeth only buys cat necessities when she has a 40% coupon at Pet Supplies Plus or when Rakuten offers 20% cash-back at PetSmart. “I stock up when it’s on sale so I’m never paying full price,” she shares. “And I save my receipts just in case they suddenly decide they hate their current food.”
Yes, your pets can have meal delivery too: Just like meal delivery can help lower your grocery bill, it can also help you save money on pet food. We’re hooking readers up with special discounts, like 35% off your first Chewy order.
BONUS TIPS FOR HOW TO SAVE ON ESSENTIALS
Channel your inner bargain boss: From your cable to cell phone bills, never hesitate to ask for a better rate. “I always procrastinate these calls because I know they’ll take a minimum of an hour,” shares Anne, who says this is her best tip for how to save money. “But I think that’s their MO…and it’s time I stop paying the creeping prices that have become ridiculous!”
Use budgeting apps: If you really want to level up, budgeting apps, like this one, can help you see where every dollar is going and scale back if you veer into overspending territory.
Join “Buy Nothing” groups: HerMoney readers swear by these for everything from spices to furniture. “I am a member of two buy-nothing groups, so I can usually find what I need or get rid of what I don’t pretty easily,” says Mary Beth.
Add speed bumps to online shopping: “If you must shop on Amazon, disable the ‘Buy Now’ option and make sure to let things sit in your cart for at least a day,” suggests Pat. “It’s the same with every other retail site. Don’t buy the first time you think you want something.”
Don’t forget to tap your credit card perks: “Some of my credit cards give me an Instacart discount of $20 each month on grocery purchases,” says Tina. “I use in-store pick-up to buy seven half gallons of organic milk at a time. $15 for $35 worth of milk!”
Have a tip for how to save money on essentials that we missed? Don’t gatekeep it. Join the private HerMoney Facebook group and share the wealth!
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