There are more money saving tips than just putting money aside into a savings account or money market account.

Those things are important and shouldn’t be ignored, but the true essence of saving money absolutely lies in spending less.

Read on for everyday money saving tips that will help get you on track to spending less so you can save more.

There’s no denying that money is an essential tool that gets us what we want and need. Although, those wants are usually unnecessary expenditures that can easily be cut.

Not that this means you shouldn’t have fun – it’s your money and you worked hard for it. Life isn’t just about paying bills after all. But the beautiful thing about saving money is that you can tighten the coin purse a little and still have your cake too.

Here are my top money saving tips to reduce spending in every aspect of your life.

30 Money Saving Tips You Can Apply Today

I’ve broken down the top tips in a few main categories.

Check them all out. You may be surprised when you look at your finances how much money you are simply throwing away.

Saving Money Starts at Home

1. Avoid and unsubscribe

Temptations come in all forms, and online shopping is a big problem for some.

Try to unsubscribe from a few marketing newsletters and limit your visits to your favorite shopping sites. That way you’ll be less likely to buy things impulsively.

Also, remind yourself to not buy what you don’t need and can’t afford. Place a sticky note on your monitor if you must.

2. Maintain your house, car, and appliances

It’s frustrating when something breaks, especially when you have to fork over hundreds of dollars to repair or replace it.

Instead, try to keep up with regular maintenance of your car and house.

It’s much cheaper in the long run to maintain something than having to fix it.

3. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate

My best money saving tip for the home simply involves paying less for things like bills.

Call around to get the best deals on house and car insurance, and don’t be shy about letting the company know you’ve gotten a better deal – they will try to beat it.

4. Refinance Your Mortgage

Have a look at your mortgage and interest rate.

Refinancing is a good option if you can get your interest rate reduced, which is likely to happen if you’ve been paying on time for years.

Plus, your credit score might be better now than it was back when you applied.

5. Scrimp where you can

We’re often guilty of using more of certain things than we have to.

For instance, the washing powder sold today is extremely concentrated and you only have to use a little to get your clothes clean, usually even less than the packaging suggests.

6. Turn down the heat

Water heaters are almost always warmer than they need to be. The Department of Energy recommends that a water heater should be set to 120 degrees.

Also, if things are too warm in the house, consider closing the blinds or curtains in the room (a very effective method for keeping the heat out) instead of turning on an aircon or fan.

7. Grow your own

It’s much cheaper to grow your own food and many vegetables and herbs can grow in pots so you don’t even need a big yard to do it.

Entertainment Money Saving Tips

8. Find free activities

When you’re bored, find free activities like going for a hike and bringing a picnic instead of walking around the mall aimlessly and later walking out with a bunch of stuff you didn’t need and a meal at an attached restaurant.

9. Find cheaper alternatives

Things like cable bills can be cut in favor of streaming services.

These are often cheaper and provide the same amount of entertainment.

10. Try hobbies that get cheaper over time

Boardgames, for instance, may seem relatively costly when you initially buy them, but they’re one of the cheapest forms of entertainment.

It’s a one-off expense and you and others can get dozens or even hundreds of hours of fun out of it.

11. Look for discounts

Get the early bird tickets or keep track of your favorite places and see when they have discounts. Theme parks often have seasonal discounts.

Groupon is also still running. If you haven’t heard of this company yet, I suggest you read up on them now.

Money Saving Ideas For Shopping

12. Get crafty

Shopping may be a cathartic experience for some, but getting creative can feel just as fulfilling, and it’s often cheaper too.

You can make your own soaps, gifts, art, and even furniture.

13. Do it at home

Make your own breakfast and coffee at home in the morning instead of stopping for fast food or paying for the cafeteria at work.

14. Write a shopping list

Write down a shopping list (not when you’re hungry!) and stick to it when you go to the store.

That way you won’t impulsively buy treats.

15. Try the store brand

What name brand products do you use that could be replaced with the store brand?

If you hate it, go back to name brand the next month, but if you don’t notice a difference then you can save that much every time you buy.

Start with toiletries (toilet paper, paper towels, kleenex, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.).

16. Use rewards cards

Lots of retailers and shopping centers have rewards cards that you can use to both save money and earn rewards like points or cash.

17. Quality over quantity

People usually think it’s better to buy cheap clothes or furniture but prioritizing quality can be cheaper in the long run.

It’s better to buy more expensive clothes that last for years than having to buy new pieces every season.

18. Eat out less

Cook more because it’s cheaper and you can reuse ingredients.

Instead of going out with friends, rotate who’s house you go to and make meals together or have everyone bring something.

19. Pick the cheaper option

When you do eat out at restaurants, first scan the menu for the cheapest items and see if they sound good.

You don’t always have to order the cheapest thing, but might as well check it out before jumping right to that $50 steak.

Most restaurants give you so much food that you end up with leftovers. Consider skipping an appetizer/upgraded sides.

Plus alcohol and drinks always have big markups at restaurants and you can save by opting for water (it’s healthier too).

20. Sell & Buy Cheaper Gift Cards

I talked about Cardpool a few years ago, but it’s still going strong, and a good way to save money through gift cards.

The basic premise of the site is that you can sell any gift cards you don’t want to use and, if you want, you can also buy discounted gift cards other people are selling on the site.

Saving on Transportation

21. Carpool

Do any of your co-workers live near you?

You could carpool and save money on gas and put fewer miles on your car for future car repairs.

22. Use public transportation

Public transportation is a cheaper alternative to driving yourself and you can try to find coupons or online deals that make it even cheaper.

Of course, this money-saving tip only works if there’s a reliable public transport system in your area.

23. Walk when things are nearby

Do you drive to places that are close by?

Could you walk or ride your bike?

Bonus – if you get extra exercise like this maybe you can cut your gym membership.

Saving on Healthcare

24. Use generic brands

Try the generic over-the-counter medicine and ask your doctor for generic alternatives when he/she is writing out a prescription.

25. Be healthy

Being healthy means you’ll have to spend less on your health overall through fewer visit to medical professionals.

It can also mean a reduction in your health insurance.

26. Let go of unhealthy habits

Stop smoking.

It’s expensive.

27. Exercise at home

There are plenty of ways to get a workout at home (YouTube can help, depending on what type of workout you want) and forego the expensive gym membership.

Save Money While Traveling

28. Try credit rewards cards

When used correctly, a credit card can be beneficial in more ways than one.

Many credit card companies offer travel rewards cards that collect points you can redeem for either cash or cheaper travel. There are plenty of cards to choose from these days.

29. Try backpacker hotels

Sure you’ll have to share the facilities with a few other people, but if you spend less on accommodation then you can both save and spend more on things like food and attractions.

There are plenty of tips online on how to choose a backpacker hotel and how to stay safe no matter where you are.

30. Make friends in new places

A great thing about the internet is that it’s possible to become friends with anyone anywhere in the world.

Take advantage of that and get a penpal who you can stay with when visiting a new country.

If you’re keen on saving for your next trip in addition to while you’re traveling, you can also check out these 20 ways to save for a vacation.

The Bottom Line

Changing spending habits to save money can be easy if you put your mind to it.

One final tip: Think of time worked instead of dollars spent.

That way, you’ll get a new perspective on spending money. For instance, if you want to buy something for $100, think of how many hours you had to work to afford that thing and then consider whether it’s worth it.

If you have any great money saving tips of your own, share them in the comments!

Life always seems to be getting more expensive and saving up for anything can seem like a daunting task when every cent counts. Here are my tips on how to save money – whether you’re saving for a big splurge or a rainy day.

I normally talk about all the different ways there are to make money, and while there are plenty, it’s just as important to think about what you’re going to do with that money once you get it.

Not to get preachy here, but:

One of the benefits of making side-cash is that it’s easier to save that money than your regular income because it’s cash that wouldn’t have been in your pocket anyway.

Resist the urge of overspending and follow some of these savings tips. Start saving now and you too can have more than a gum wrapper and some old gift cards in your wallet when the inevitable end of the month rolls around.

The Best Way To Save Money

I could give dozens of small tips and tricks about saving money but that won’t matter to someone who isn’t committed to following them.

A big element of saving money is having the right mindset.

Truly, the best way to save money is to simply make a mind-shift towards a more frugal way of living. That’s half the battle won.

Of course, knowing how to save money is the other half. In all my research, I’ve found that the best way to save money is through a savings account.

Why choose a savings account?

It yields lower interest than some other methods like money market funds and high-yield bank accounts, but it’s also the lowest-risk option.

Money in a savings account (in the US at least) is also insured up to a certain amount by the FDIC, making it a very safe and secure method of putting away your hard-earned income.

Plus, savings accounts typically don’t allow the money to be drawn through normal methods like check-writing or they limit the number of times per month you can withdraw, which can result in less spur of the moment spending.

Top Ways to Save Money in 2019

I went digging and found some general tips as well as more in-depth methods of saving money through a savings account.

5 General Savings Tricks

1. Establish a Budget

Your budget is your first line of defense against spending what you don’t have, but it’s also the only way you’re going to know how much you can save.

You can either take pen to paper or go the digital route (there are plenty of nice budgeting apps out there) and start taking all of your expenses into account. It’s probably best to save up all your receipts for the first month to see what your spending habits are like and then set up a fixed budget from there.

Make sure there’s a savings account on the debits side of your list.

2. Save Where You Can

One of the most common benefits of setting up a budget is that it allows you to see where you can cut expenses and save more.

There are almost always places where we can scrimp a little so we can put the difference into a savings account.

3. Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is the easiest way to save money.

Say you’re going to a festival or planning a trip; the only way to know you’re not going to overspend is to plan your way through it. Things like meals, travel expenses, and buying souvenirs can all be planned ahead.

On a side note: If you’re serious about saving up for your next vacation then check out my guide on the top 20 ways to save money for your next vacation – without the stress!

4. Set Up Saving Goals

Having a goal to work towards assures success more often than not when it comes to saving money.

Short-term goals are better than long-term ones because it feels easier to aim for $50 a week, for instance, than trying to save $1000 in 3 months.

5. Find Those Discounts

There are plenty of ways to spend less and save money. Finding discounts is one of the most common ways to do just that.

Newspapers, some blogs, and supermarket fliers usually have discounts or coupons and it’s easy to stay up to date. In fact, plenty of people only buy certain stuff when they’re on discount.

Also, look out for seasonal discounts on clothes and events like Cyber Monday for big-ticket items like electronics.

Then put the difference between the item’s original price and discounted price into your savings account.

4 Easy To Follow Ways to Save Money

1. Set Up an Automatic Savings Plan

Many banks or employers allow you to auto set a portion of each paycheck to go into a retirement account or savings account.

You can discuss this with either your HR person at work or with your bank.

This way, the saving is done automatically for you every time you get a paycheck. What makes this so easy is that, after a while, you don’t even see that money as spendable income anymore since it automatically goes into your savings account.

2. Save Any Unexpected Gains

Whether it’s a present from a relative, tax returns, or a bonus at work, getting money unexpectedly is always a nice surprise.

Sometimes, that cash comes in handy for things we really need, but usually, most people just end up spending the cash because it’s there. Instead, opt to put that windfall into a savings account so you can boost your savings with cash you wouldn’t otherwise have had.

3. Throw Away Your Loose Change… Into Your Savings

Loose change might not seem like much, but you’d be surprised by how quickly it can all add up.

The next time you receive change, throw all of that into a container to take to the bank. They have change counters that can quickly count all those coins and bills so you don’t have to.

4. Get Bigger by Eating Out Less

Yeah this is a pretty common tip, but that’s because it works. Eating out can be cheap depending on where you go, but it becomes expensive when you do it a lot.

Buying and making food at home is much cheaper in the long run because you get a lot more out of the ingredients. The money you save by eating at home can then help your savings account grow instead.

Hunker Down and Try These 6 Serious Money Saving Tips

1. Limit Buyers Remorse

One way to save money is by waiting before you make any big purchases.

Impulse buying is the mortal enemy of any budget and all money experts agree that it’s good to wait a few hours before buying an item, preferably 24 hours if you can.

2. Match Up Your Spending and Saving

When you buy any non-essential items, match up your savings first. If you can’t afford to save the same amount that you want to spend, then it’s probably a good idea to forgo that purchase.

Follow-up is key here too:

If you can match your spending and saving, then it’s important to not just give yourself the go-ahead to spend that money but also put the same amount into your savings account.

3. Start a Separate Account for Big Purchases

This might seem like a pain to do, but it pays off in the end because you don’t end up accidentally spending that money on something else.

It might take a couple of months before you buy that thing you want, but you’ll know it’s something you want and you won’t be paying the interest you would have been paying if you had put it on a credit card.

4. Get an App That Rounds Up

A lot of people pay through digital methods like Samsung Pay and Zapper these days.

Apps are extremely convenient and this convenience also extends to apps that help you save.

Qapital and BoostUp are two examples of apps that “round up” your purchase and put the difference into a savings account. There are plenty of variations, including ones that invest your change or automatically save money in your debit account based on your purchasing habits.

An app can be an easy way to start saving money without even thinking about it.

5. Wait as Long as You Can Before Creating New Debt

Try to wait as long as possible to buy a new car, for instance, if your current car is already paid off. Each month without that car payment is money that can go directly into your savings account.

6. Opt for Cash Instead of a Card

People find it much easier to give away money when they don’t actually see that money going out of their pockets.

Using cash is a good way to keep track of how much you’re actually spending and usually helps keep overspending in check.

The Bottom Line

Saving money can seem just as complicated as getting it.

But just like there here are easy ways to make money, saving money can be a cinch too if you know how to do it and stick with it.

Everyone knows babies are expensive, but free baby samples can help alleviate some of the costs.

If you’re a new parent, you most likely just realized how wet wipes and diapers can add up and actually put a dent on your monthly budget.

As a slightly more experienced parent, I’m here to tell you that’s it’s perfectly OK and normal. Most middle-income American families spend about $13,000 per child every year.

This is the reason you should grab every freebie you can get. There is a lot of free baby stuff to be found all over the Internet.

You just need to know where to look.

Where to Find Free Baby Stuff

It can be very overwhelming to go through thousands of websites. I know it firsthand. To create this post, I’ve visited all of them.

But here’s how you can categorize them easier:

• Companies with Baby Products or Services

Companies like Huggies, Pampers, Avent, etc. are all vying for your love. They want you to choose them. And they’re willing to give away baby stuff for free, so you and your baby could try out their products and hopefully become a loyal customer for at least 2 to 3 years.

Most of the time, you need to register with their respective websites and become a part of the “club.” It’s free, so go crazy with joining all of them.

• Coupon, voucher and rewards sites

You can find coupon websites aimed exclusively for parents (or a general one), but both types of sites give you access to vouchers or coupons with discounts ranging from 5% to whopping 90% off.

• Online stores and other Websites to Join or Bookmark

General stores like Target, Walmart, Costco, and other similar stores, as well as smaller companies selling baby stuff may also offer freebies every now and then. Sometimes, the freebie can be a welcome gift, seasonal offers, and so on.

• Websites that send out free baby samples by mail

These websites are special because not all deals you see will send out samples by mail 100% free. This types of offers can fall under any of the three categories above; the main difference is that you can actually receive baby products directly on your doorstep.

48 Ways to Get Free Baby Samples

First, create a FREE Amazon Family account if you have a newborn or a new baby on the way.

They will ship you giant welcome box FILLED with all kinds of free baby stuff. Plus, you get insane discounts on baby essentials and cash back bonuses.

If you’re new to this parenting thing, it’s good to get as much free baby samples as you can, especially from diaper companies, milk and other items that you’d use most often from the time your baby is born and the next 24 months after.

1. Huggies – Aside from the Rewards system that allows you to keep earning points and exchange them for Huggies products, the company also has sweepstakes and coupons straight off the website.
2. Pampers – Pampers always has an offer for newcomers who are joining its e-mail list. This can be free baby diapers, Ergobaby products, discounts on specific items, or other offers.
3. Enfamil – Become a member of the company’s “Family Beginnings” and receive vouchers, coupons and a chance at a $25,000 scholarship for your baby. Enfamil isn’t just perfect for expecting moms/dads, the company even gives away milk for toddlers if you request it here.
4. Luvs Diapers – Register on the site and receive year-round offers, promotions and a chance to win a year’s supply of diapers for your kid.
5. Similac – Become one of “Similac Strong Moms” and receive free baby samples every now and then, on top of regular discounts and coupons for milk formula.
6. GoodNites – For potty training moms and dads in need of bedwetting protection, join GoodNites for discounts and freebies.
7. The Honest Co. – This Jessica Alba’s eco-friendly, wellness brand. You can get an Essentials Bundle or Diapers+Wipes Bundle free by joining the site, choosing your kit, and checking out. You only pay for the $5.95 shipping charge. But make sure to cancel your account sometime in the next 7 days.
8. Bambo Nature – Bambo Nature sometimes offer freebies on the site, but if you’re already a customer, join the club for its Rewards Program. Newcomers can also take advantage of the company’s own baby registry.
9. Seventh Generation – Makers of chlorine-free cleaning products, Seventh Generation has also expanded into baby items like diapers, wipes, body wash, lotion, and more. If you’re interested in free baby stuff, join the subscription service and receive a trial package that include a set of diapers and wipes.
10. Gerber – While Gerber’s website is currently down, the company has been known to offer free samples with its MyGerber program. Call Gerber’s customer service at 1-800-408-7277 to check if they can mail some baby stuff to your area.
11. Nature’s One – Get free baby formula by registering online, checking out products and choosing the sample SKU when you add the product you want to try into your shopping cart. Click “Add Free Sample” button, answer a quick survey, pay for shipping, and wait for the items at home.
12. Cuties – Want to try out another diaper brand? Cuties may have ongoing free diaper samples, so make sure to register for its newsletter to be notified whenever free samples become available.
13. The National Diaper Bank Network – This isn’t a private company (like the rest from this list), but this movement helps low-income families score free diapers they could pick up locally, anytime of the year. Check the website for the assigned contact person per state.
14. Rufflebuns.com – Use the promo code “RB60OFF” and get a $60 discount, which can buy about three pairs of ruffled baby bloomers.
15. Baby Box University – Not only can you get a free baby box (where newborns sleep instead of a crib as a way to reduce infant mortality rate), new parents also receive free parenting classes online. The baby box also includes other baby stuff like diapers and wipes. Check if your state is included; You’ll only need to take a quiz to join the program.
16. BabsyBooks.com – Use the code “GET5FREEBOOKS” and receive baby board books for free. Just pay for shipping fees and you’ll get five board books that would normally cost $40.
17. BabyLeggings.com – Receive worth $50 of baby leggings (that’s around 5 pairs) as long as use the code SPRING50.
18. Everyday Happy – Get free diapers and soft bamboo wipes in a free trial box.
19. CarSeatCanopy.com – Use the code “FREECANOPY1” and get a canopy worth $49.95 for free. You need to pay for shipping, though.
20. Seven Baby – If you’re interested in baby wearing, you can get a free baby sling (worth $39.95) by entering the code “FREESLING4ME” at the checkout. You need to shoulder shipping fees though.
21. Dollar Diaper Club – This subscription-based organic diaper company has a free trial that includes 10 wipes and 6 diapers. You just have to pay $5.95 for shipping and handling.
22. CustomPacifiers.com – Receive 3 free pacifiers that you can customize by entering the code “50261DA82” at the checkout.
23. NursingPillows.com – Pay for shipping and use the code “PJBABY” to receive a free nursing pillow worth $39.95.
24. LittleWanderers.com – Get two pairs of baby shoes free by entering the code “SUMMER” at checkout.
25. Simply Right – Receive a free bundle of wipes and diapers by filling out a form.
26. LittleFans.com – For parent-to-be’s who are fans of NFL, MBA and NCAA, you can get sports themed baby items like pacifiers, bibs, clothing on the site. Register so you can receive $35 worth of freebies.

This list isn’t complete.

There’s still a chance to get freebies from brands that do not have free baby samples listed on their websites. There’s no harm in asking via e-mail, online chat, or phone. You’d be surprised at how many companies are generous enough to send free baby stuff by mail, especially if you’re willing to shoulder shipping cost.

Of course, be ready for rejection because this doesn’t always work. But sending out baby sample requests are worth your time – after all, it could slash over $500 of your annual expenses for the first few years of your baby’s life.

Free Online Vouchers for Baby-related Stuff

Some of these websites were made exclusively for babies, while others are sources of general vouchers (with baby categories you need to search manually):

27. Retail Me Not – Get dollar-offs or percentage discounts on baby clothes, food, transportation and other items.
28. Cash Back Base – Receive cashbacks from baby items you purchase from Amazon. This website only lists down existing deals currently available.
29. Natural Baby Company – This company has a comprehensive range of baby products from toys to clothing, furniture to transportation, and other items. Every time you buy from this store, you’ll earn rewards. You get 5 points for every dollar spent. You can then use these points to save future purchases, since 100 points can deduct a dollar from your total.
30. The Baby Cubby – While this site sells baby accessories and furniture like mattresses, strollers, and diaper bags, it also carries basic needs like wipes and clothing. Create an account and you’ll be included in the rewards program automatically. Each dollar you spend on the store gets you back 5 points, which you can use to get more free baby stuff in the future.
31. TargetRED – This rewards card from Target gives customers 5% cashback anytime, anyday.
32. Kmart’s Shop Your Way – This is Kmart’s rewards points program, which exchanges 1000 points to $1. Members also receive coupons regularly for exclusive discounts.
33. Kelly’s Closet – Join the Diaper Dollars Rewards Program and take home free diapers. A dollar spent equals 1 point, which you can use for future purchases. Collect 225 points for $10 gift card, 500 points for $30 gift card, 750 points for $50 GC, and 1000 points for $75 GC.
34. The Green Nursery’s Baby Books – Collect points or “Baby Bucks” by joining the rewards program, referring friends to join and every time you buy from the store. Every 100 points is worth $1, while every 100 points spent equals $1.

Many people just throw product packaging without a thought. If you’re guilty with this, make sure to double-check packaging since promo codes and freebies are often printed there.

Get-paid-to sites also let you save money for shopping baby items. With these websites, you’ll need to complete a quick task, such as filling out a form, signing up, downloading an app, playing online games, watching videos, shopping online, taking surveys, browsing the web, etc., and rewarded with points (redeemable as cash or vouchers), gift cards, or sometimes PayPal cash.

We’ve got a long, long list of get-paid-to sites featured in the past, such as Swagbucks, Ebates, and InboxDollars, but here are some more sites to check out: TreasureTrooper, Irazoo, SquishyCash, GrabPoints, CreationsRewards, Gift Hunter Club, Perk, Coins Rewarder, SuperPay, Earnably, FreebiePoints, QuickRewards, EarnHoney, Grindabuck, BeFrugal, Loot Palace, ShopAtHome and many more.

These websites often have a sign-up bonus ranging from $1 to $10, which can easily add up if you join them all.

Must-Join Online Stores that Give Away Free Baby Stuff

The following websites are mostly free to join. The following sites are a mix of online stores, parenting communities, magazines, info sites, baby registries, and other websites that you should join and bookmark if you’re looking for free baby stuff.

35. HelpAMotherOut.org – This organization was built to provide disposable diapers to low-income families in the Northern and Southern California.
36. Babycenter – As a comprehensive guide for new parents, pregnancy, toddlerhood and everything about babies, this website has a ton of advertisers who are more than willing to enter this target market using free baby stuff.
37. NeedHelpPayingBills.com – Not only does this organization help people pay their bills during their darkest hours, it also helps parents with free baby diapers.
38. Freebie Mom – As a master of everything free and for babies, this blog shares vouchers, discounts, exclusive promos, and other deals for the mom wise enough to grab baby-related freebies.
39. Babysamples.com – This blog does the job for you in searching for new (and old) deals, discounts and free baby samples available across different brands. You don’t need to register; just bookmark the site to check new updates.
40. Everyday Family – Join the program and enter regular diaper contests (with prizes worth $750). If you’re not lucky enough to win, you still have plenty of information about baby stuff freebies and coupons for baby companies.
41. Amazon Mom – This program from Amazon gives parents 20% discount on diaper purchases with free 2-day shipping. Newcomers even receive a free trial and $10 Amazon credit if you refer people to the program.
42. My Momma Taught Me – This blog teaches parents how to get free stuff using online coupons and shopping deals. You don’t have to pay a fee, just follow this momma for good advice.

Companies with baby registries, such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, Kohl’s and others also give out free baby samples to new members. Check out what each of them has in store:

43. Amazon Family – There are a lot of perks for creating a baby registry here, including 10% discount on items that have not been “purchased” yet, 20% off on diapers, free parenting eBooks, and more.
44. Babylist – Looking for baby stuff not found in ordinary online stores? You may find it here. And if you’re eligible to receive the free, Hello Baby Box, just pay $4.95 shipping fee and wait for the package to arrive.
45. Target – You can get Target’s free baby samples worth $100 absolutely free if you decide to sign-up for your baby registry here. The only catch is you’d have to pick up your gift at the nearest Target.
46. Kohl’s – You won’t find any ads about free baby samples anymore on the website, but you can get up to 20% discount from your in-store purchases or 15% off for the remaining items on your list.
47. Buy Buy Baby – Register and receive “The Goody Box,” which contains coupons and free baby samples.
48. Walmart Baby – Receive a free welcome box when you create a baby registry on Walmart. Plus for having price-match guarantee, which means you’ll always be getting the cheapest price of the baby stuff you want.

The Bottom Line

The websites above don’t even make up ALL the ways you can get free baby samples. We’re sure there’s a whole lot more you can find in the depths of the internet and social media. Even Facebook and Reddit have exclusive groups dedicated to landing free baby stuff.

Also look out for photo contests and companies who give away free baby stuff by mail in exchange for a review of the item/s you’ll receive.

When you’re trying to land offers of free baby samples by mail, but find it harder than collecting coupons, you can always earn some other way for extra cash. For example, this long list ways to save money for a vacation can be customized to accommodate your personal “baby shopping cash fund.”

Money you earn from mom-at-home side gigs and remote jobs can also be saved for when the baby comes. Or you can even use up the birthday freebies you’ve collected to shop for the arrival of your baby.

There really is no wrong or right way to get free baby samples. As long as you don’t pay a dubiously large amount of money upfront, there’s no reason not to join all the websites above.

Whether you’ve promised your kids a trip to Disney, have a personal travel checklist to tick with a month-long stay in Japan, or you’re halfway through your Europe trip fund, it’s no secret that saving for vacation can be super stressful not only financially, but also mentally and emotionally.

But with plenty of side hustle, part-time jobs, and passive income-generating opportunities available these days both online and offline, why stress out?

With proper planning and time management, you can save money for vacation even while you sleep…

Here are 20 tried-and-tested ways you can make and save money.

5 Ways to Earn passive Income

Passive income is defined as earnings you get on a regular basis resulting from a task that require no or little effort to maintain. This means you work hard initially, then reap the benefits of your labor for years to come.

Having a rental property fits the bill quite perfectly, since you won’t have to spend a lot of money anymore after investing in the purchase or construction of your rented property.

When it comes to earning passive income online, these 5 are the most common routes to take:

1. Blog

It may sound so simple, like a girl’s diary of her day-to-day life, but blogging has so much potential no matter the niche you decide to take.

When you share a family’s secret recipe, for example, you can add a photo, video and text instructions in one post. You can incorporate AdSense ads all over your post, and use YouTube for your recipe tutorials.

Within this same post, you can recommend which pans and pots to use and direct your readers where to buy the supplies and equipment you just used. If they buy anything from that store, you get a commission. In short, use affiliate marketing wisely.

Earnings from your blogging will depend largely on how much posting you do, how relatable your topic is, and how much marketing you’re willing to invest in the blog, since let’s face it, you have to spread the word about your blog to attract new people in.

2. Publish an e-book

If you have flair for words and a topic you’re passionate about (magic, physics, making money online, or anything under the sun), publishing an e-book is easier than you think.

And if done right, this business is a set-and-forget kind, so once you’ve written a book, published it as an e-book, and performed some marketing, the potential for passive income is higher. Want to learn how? Check out stories of people who did the ebook business right here.

What’s cool about ebook publishing is that you can even extend you success in online publishing by turning your ebook into audiobook and adding another income stream overnight.

As an example of the money you can pull in with an ebook and audiobook combo, ” if you’re bringing in $1,500 a month in ebook sales, you could expect to make an extra $150 to $300 in audiobook sales.” How awesome is this income possibility for just a couple of days or weeks of work?

3. Create something and get paid for it over and over

Aside from an ebook and audiobook that you technically “create” and get paid over and over for it, you can also do this for other things like:

• Mobile apps – the demand for these see no decline, but creating mobile apps require high technical skills. Learn how to become a mobile app developer here.
• Photographs – Take any kind of photographs (even with just your phone), then sell royalties for them. If you’re not a pro, you can check out these 4 apps that pay for your photos.
• Sewing or craft patterns – Are you a master seamstress? tailor? or just a self-taught patternmaker? You can create one for pet clothes, home decor, clothing, and other items, then sell it on Etsy, on your blog, or even on social media.
• Graphic design products – Go wild with creativity creating calendars, maps, journal templates, stamps, brushes, background paper and other graphic design products.
• Greeting cards and comics – Whether you’re good with words, or crazy-good with cartoons, you can get a never-ending paycheck for creating greeting cards.

This is just the beginning.

I’m sure there are plenty of other examples that fall under this category.

4. Master automation

When it comes to earning passive income online, one can truly feel that you’re “earning while you sleep” if you have finally mastered automation.

Here are 4 simple examples of utilizing automation on websites:

• Set-and-forget a Dropshipping Store – With a dropshipping ecommerce store, you don’t maintain an inventory of products. Instead, you seek suppliers who are willing to ship out orders to your customers once an order comes in from your store. You either pay the supplier a cut for the sale, or earn a referral commission instead. Either way, setting up such a shop can grow quickly if done right.
• Build a niche website – An educational website packed with information about a specific niche can survive for a long time after the initial set-up. While the first 10 or so pages require hard work, if you provide helpful content, that would be enough to earn followers, ad revenues, memberships, and other income streams of your choice. You still need to update the site eventually though (to keep up with the all mighty Google updates), but it wouldn’t be a daily thing.
• Comparison site – Another set-and-forget website that could work automated is a comparison site. This can focus on a wide range of things from hosting or domain packages to cameras, mobile phones, any kind of gadgets, home equipment, construction tools, and other things that would benefit from a comparison chart.
• Directory site – It is one of the oldest types of websites around, but it continues to be a good money earner if you know how to automate the searches, advertising and overall site operations.

5. Become a Print-on-Demand Artist

Print-on-Demand (PoD) allows any person to create designs and showcase them on PoD sites. Once a customer decides to buy your design and have it printed on a t-shirt, canvas, notebook, poster, or any other material, you just sit back and let the PoD site handle everything for you (from printing to after-sales customer support, shipping, and even marketing).

The downside though is that sites like Design by Humans, Threadless and other PoD sites will get a big cut of the sale.

6 Money-Saving Habits You Should Get Used to

You don’t have to actively look for side hustle to save money for your vacation.You just have to do things differently than you’re used to.

You won’t strike rich doing the following things, but you’d be surprised that it could save you money you never even think you were losing before.

1. Walk and earn

Some of these gigs offer monetary rewards, while others give you credits to pay for necessities like medical prescriptions.

2. Get paid to watch TV or movies

Nielsen, the company that rates TV shows and movies, seek the help of regular folk like you and me to give them access to what we’re watching.

This data will earn you $50 a year plus a chance to win prizes as well.

3. Earn money by listening to music

If you love exploring new music and artists, check out ways how you can earn credits from your regular music-listening.

4. Use Ibotta and ShopTracker for Shopping

Available in Google Play and iTunes, this cashback rewards app not only gives you $10 just for creating an account, but also saves you plenty of cash by giving you access to discounts and coupons before checking out from a store.

ShopTracker, meanwhile, pays you to give them access to your Amazon purchase history.

5. Use Bing with Your Online Search

Skip Google and use Bing for your online searching instead. Use this on your mobile as well, and invite friends to switch to earn credits. You can exchange these credits for airline miles, hotel discounts, and gift cards on Amazon, Sephora, Shutterfly and more, along with several fast-food favorites like IHOP, Applebee’s and Starbucks.

If I were you and you’re still plotting how to save money for a trip, join Swagbucks.com to check what day-to-day tasks you can incorporate into your “money saving/ money making” plan.

6. Invest Your Change with Acorns

Install Acorns on your phone today and get a quick $5 just for signing up.

That’s not even the coolest part yet!

Acorns saves your “change” from all the purchases you make for the day and invests it on your behalf. For a $3.5 coffee, the app rounds up the amount to the nearest dollar and sets the 50 cents aside for you.

What’s cool about money-saving opportunities like these is that they don’t have to be exclusively for your “how to save for a vacation” plan. It can be for other long-term savings, such as purchase for a car, your dream espresso machine, and so on.

6 Quick Ways of Making Extra Cash

Saving for vacation funds are hard, but if you’re almost about to reach your target, but need some extra push before your due date, here are 6 ways you can make money online fast:

1. Perform Micro gigs

Easy tasks like creating a logo, writing a Facebook ad, and so on are paid as low as $5, but are everywhere on micro job websites like Fiverr, Roundshelf, Zeerk, Fiverup, SEOClerks, GigBucks and Amazon Mechanical Turk, and more.

Don’t expect fair wages with these websites, but if you’re in need of quick gigs without being put through interviews and exams, micro gigs are the way to go.

2. Install apps

Just install these apps and forget they’re on your phone.

Apps from ShopTracker, ebates, and Nielsen Mobile Panel (among others) will pay you $10 to join install their apps.

3. Sign up to websites and get a “joining bonus”

Here’s another way how to save money for vacation without stressing it out.

Collect a list of websites that will pay you from $5 to $20 just for joining. Samples of these websites include Inbox Dollars, eBates, Swagbucks, ibotta, TopCashback, MyPoints, and etc.

4. Test websites

You don’t have to be a programmer to participate in website-testing. You just have to know what constitutes a good-looking, speedy, and well-functional website…and you can be in.

It’s a quick job too! Each testing only lasts about 20 to 30 minutes and gets you $10 a pop.

Websites like Userfeel and other 15 companies on this list are looking for website testers, so better check them out.

5. Answer Surveys

You’d probably been warned enough about the numerous survey firm scams that have plagued the world wide web for decades. What you probably don’t know is that answering surveys is still one of the quickest ways to make money in a day.

Google Opinion Rewards is a good example of a legitimate survey you can try. There’s also the survey offers from Swagbucks, Inbox Dollars, and reputable survey sites like InstaGC, Earnhoney, and Prizehoney.

6. Write reviews

If you love reading books and leaving reviews online, you can turn this hobby into a money-making side hustle.

Pay for book reviews vary completely on the length of book, literature, or other text available for review, but requirements are lax and the jobs are open for anyone.

These quick-cash tasks can’t be used alone for saving for vacation, especially since many of these gigs only pay you once (or take longer times for the next gigs to appear), but they definitely help if you’re left with only a couple of hundred dollars until your target date.

3 Old-school Methods of Raising Funds

As long as you’re not doing anything illegal, you can always include traditional fundraising methods in planning how to save money for vacation.

1. Sell online

You can sell clothes, old toys, books you no longer have space for, or anything else you wish to dispose but other people may still find useful. There are even apps made specifically for online selling.

Don’t know which marketplace to move your stuff? Here’s a quick online selling guide.

2. Help others

You’d be surprised that you can save money for vacation simply by finding ways to help other people. For example, check with your neighbors who are planning to go on a vacation themselves and volunteer to be a house sitter (this is a legit career for most people, so I’m sure your neighbors will be more than happy to pay you to keep their home safe).

Other ways of helping people while earning extra cash include:

• tutor students
• teach English to non-ESL kids and adults
• help people lose weight
• assist other people prepare tax returns
• create custom travel itineraries for others
• become a life coach
• remind people to take their meds as Pleio’s GoodStart Mentor
• …and many more.

3. Get an online job

If you just finalized a destination for your next vacation, targeted a date, or began planning for ways to save money and earn extra income, taking on an online job could be a huge game changer.

You don’t even have to get a full-time, online job to replace your office-based job. Even a part-time gig that you do after work, or during weekends, could add a dent to your travel fund.

This list of 75 legit online jobs could give you a head-start. You can choose which job/s best fit your skills, time availability, and amount of cash you need for your vacation.

The Bottom Line

It’s up to you which method to choose – pick one from each category, do it all, whichever you feel could help you reach your target.

Once you’ve experienced saving for vacation fund and successfully reaching your goal amount, I’m sure you’d use this fundraising plan continuously.

As always, I recommend choosing one passive income-generating opportunity with any side hustle. Having this kind of income stream goes beyond saving for vacation – it’s saving for your future as well.