Earning money is hard, but saving money is even more challenging. After working 40-plus hours each week, we just want to spend our paychecks and splurge like there is no tomorrow. We deserve it, but we know this only perpetuates a vicious cycle.
Working hard made me realize one thing. That we deserve more. Our freedom from being trapped in our jobs for the next 30 years. It is not that we want to quit our jobs right this minute. On the contrary, we deem ourselves privileged to have found a fulfilling career. What we want is to get to a point when working becomes optional.
Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices easy life.
Jerzy Gregorek of The Happy Body
This quote comes up every time I am faced with important decisions. The brain faced with various daily choices, from figuring out if it makes sense to hit the snooze button for the third time to considering the possibility of contributing to the company retirement plan, always takes the path of least resistance.
When humans still live in the wild, decisions must be made quickly because delays could be fatal. To survive in the present, the brain has adapted to go for the easy choice, but sometimes these decisions are not the best for us in the future.
Yes, Saving is a hard choice. Mainly because the goal is so distant that there is a disconnect. The brain wants to enjoy a cookie right now rather than have two cookies in the future.
But it does not have to be that hard. Every little decision counts! Here are some ways we found how to save money every year.
7. Switch to LED light bulbs
Why: Although it costs more, an LED bulb costs 17 cents less than 60-watt incandescent bulbs if you leave both turned on for the whole day. Also, it would not need to be replaced as much because LEDs also last 50 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs.
How: Check if the old incandescent bulbs are still in the house. Then, replace them and enjoy the savings from not paying too much on your energy bill and not replacing light bulbs as often.
Annual Savings: $301.12 *comparison made on 33 light bulbs running 5 hours each day
6. Shop for Car Insurance every 6 months
Why: When car insurance companies see that you are unlikely to change your policy and just keep renewing each year, they often practice price optimization, increasing premiums at your expense.
This a low-hanging fruit on how to save money. Shopping around could often get you the same or better coverage for less premium. It is strange how new customers are rewarded more than loyal customers, but that is how they play.
How: Remind yourself at the end of your current policy to shop for car insurance. Update all your information. This is very important because it could affect your premiums. For example, if you paid off your car, you could downgrade some required coverage to save more, and if your credit score improved, your premiums might also go down.
Once you have found a better coverage option, call your current provider to see if they could match it. If they can, renew, but if not, cancel the policy and get the new one. You will always get better rates if you pay for 6 months at a time than monthly. Then, set a reminder to shop again after 6 months.
Annual Savings: $420
5. Filter your Own Water
Why: This is one of the easiest ways how to save money. Bottled water is expensive, not because of the water itself. The price difference is due to manufacturing, transporting, and advertising costs to get the bottle. You don’t incur these costs when you filter your tap water.
How: Install a water filter on the kitchen faucet or get those pitchers with filters in them. Replace as directed.
Annual Savings: $ 649.46 *based on consumption of 365 gallons each year
4. Eat Plant-Based
Why: Almost 20% of our budget is spent on food. Finding ways to save in this line item is challenging without sacrificing nutrition and taste. Although it is not the only reason, the higher cost of meat compared to vegetables and grains is one of the considerations that made us try a plant-based diet.
How: Start by slowly replacing a meal or two with plant-based meals. For example, for could have instant oats with fruits, nuts, and seeds and a cup of coffee for breakfast. Lunch and dinner are mostly rice with vegetables and beans in different sauces.
It would be a struggle for the first few days because of the cravings, but as you continue with the diet, your taste buds change, and you start to love your plant-based meals. Now is an excellent time to try this because many people are in it now, and they have explored many options for us to try. Search for a meal you want and add “plant-based or vegan.” I am sure there will be pages of recipes you can try!
Annual Savings: $2600
3. Plan your Meals
Why: Most of the time, we are just too lazy to prepare our meals when there is nothing to eat when we get home from work. It seems so easy just to go for a drive at a restaurant, pick up something to go to, or have our dinner delivered.
Most businesses charge about 300% markup on their meals, not including gas and the time you spend getting there. There are also surprise fees and order minimums on food to-go and delivery, so this option does not offer much savings on food expenses.
How: Write down every meal you want to eat for a week. Then, prepare and store them in big batches. Then, when it is time to eat, you take away the stress of deciding what to eat and where to get it. Just heat and serve.
We cook about 3 dishes and store them in the fridge. If we run out, I have frozen vegetables and sauces in the freezer for minute meals. Our slow cooker is one of our best purchases because it can cook while we are at work or sleeping.
Annual Savings: $6240 *comparison made on weekday dinners
2. Travel to Low Cost of Living Places
Why: We love to travel, but it can be expensive. If we are not careful, it could wreak havoc on our savings goals. Fortunately, there are a lot of beautiful places to travel to that will not break the bank.
On top of the airline costs, staying in touristy cities could be expensive. When visiting other countries, we want to be immersed in the experience and be there for weeks, so we had to be creative in finding ways to save money.
How: Research the low cost of living areas in the region where you want to travel. It usually helps to search “cheap places to retire” and also pulls up safer areas. If you want to go to an expensive city, look for nearby towns offering lower rates. See if it makes sense to take public transportation. After you have all the information, build your budget, and save for your vacation fund.
Annual Savings: $6000 *4 weeks of travel, twice a year
Check out our Travel Blogs on the Trial Retirements tab on our Homepage.
1. Rent your Rooms
Why: Your house has a lot of potential. We spend about 30 – 50 % of our income on housing expenses (rent or mortgage). So finding ways to bring it down can quickly accelerate our savings. In addition, there are always people looking for a short or long-term stay you can accommodate.
How: Do you have a spare bedroom collecting dust and cobwebs waiting for the “someday” guests? Turn it into an income-producing asset that could cover your home expenses.
Browse room-for-rent websites (Roomies, Hotpads, Facebook Marketplace) to find how much a room rents in your area. Does it make sense? Fix up the space and list it.
Annual Savings: $18,900
Watch the video below for an in-depth tutorial on how we House Hacked!
There are many ways to save money, just hiding in your monthly bills. Take time to examine it. Look at each line item. Ask if you still need it, if it gives you value, or if you could have it for less.
Take over your finances. Implement small changes. Make the hard decisions now to live an intentional life moving forward.
About Us
We are a Pinoy Physical Therapist duo living somewhat unconventional but intentional lives. Trying to be smarter and better than before, we surround ourselves with content, experiences, and people that help us discover practical yet powerful ways to achieve our goals.
We aim to be financially independent by making small changes to our lives. We invite you to join our journey! We hope that you learn something valuable from our experiences.
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DISCLAIMER
We are NOT certified financial advisors, analysts, or CPAs. Investing strategies shared in this article and the website are not financial advice but our opinions for educational purposes only. We want you to treat our content as a preview to do your research so you can make intelligent financial decisions.
Happy Saving!
TheraFIRE 
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