4 easy ways to save money in 2018 (that you can actually commit to)

Jan 24 2018, 5:47 am

A new year is a time for new beginnings, but if you’re heading into 2018 light on cash (and, worse, heavy on debt), then it’s time to commit to making this the year of smart money moves.

To help you along the path to financial fitness, we’ve put together a list of easy money-saving changes you can make to your life to start saving more of your hard-earned cash — all thanks to your smartphone.

Get over your fear of couponing

Coupons aren’t just for uber-organized parents and reality stars on TLC’s Extreme Couponing; they’re a legit way to significantly save on your weekly shopping bills.

Today, “clipping coupons” means putting down the scissors and picking up your phone. Check out the Flipp app, which automatically shows you the latest flyers and best deals for the stores and brands you love. If you prefer to do your shopping online, Honey, automatically searches for any active coupon codes before you finalize your purchase.

Bonus: Couponing on your smartphone means never having to tell your friends that’s what you’re actually doing.

Get a second opinion on your everyday spending

Even the smallest purchases have the ability to add up to something much bigger than our budgets can handle. In the app world, the reigning champ of keeping tabs on finances is Mint. The app lets you know where every single cent was spent on a daily basis, and even alerts you when you’re close to surpassing any of your set budgets.

If you prefer to be proactive about saving, an app like Mylo could change your life. It rounds all of your card purchases up to the next dollar, and puts the difference into your savings account.

Keep you and your finances in shape 

Fitness is important, but gyms, yoga classes and cycle clubs can add up to hundreds of dollars a month. Luckily, there are apps out there to help us keep on top of our fitness goals and make 2018 the year of the brag-worthy body (and bank account).

Free virtual personal trainers like Nike Training Club or Gorilla Fitness are great options for anyone looking for the advice and added accountability of a personal trainer. Both apps are free and offer an array of workouts designed to meet your fitness goals. Nike also uses its celebrity connections to give users a little extra inspiration from sporty stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Serena Williams.

Get more value for your wireless dollars 

From finances to fitness, our phones help manage almost every aspect of our daily lives. Did you know that if you own your phone (or can convince your upgrade-obsessed friend to sell you their old iPhone 7 on the cheap) you can get a sweet wireless plan with more-than-enough data through Public Mobile for less than $50/month?

Public Mobile is Canada’s no-frills wireless carrier, which provides extraordinary value by letting you pay only for the stuff you want, not the stuff you don’t (plans start at only $20). You can lower your bill even further with rewards like $2 off per month by setting up autopay on your credit or debit card and $1 off per month for every friend you refer (hey, sharing is caring).

The best part? Your new value-priced phone plan will have reliable coast-to-coast coverage on Canada’s largest mobile network.

The only downside is that you can no longer use dead zones as an excuse to avoid your mom’s calls.

Mike SholarsMike Sholars

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