Ways to make money online: a guide

1. Get creative with gifts

You can save money with affordable gift ideas, like herb gardens and books, or go the do-it-yourself route. Baking cookies, creating art, or preparing someone dinner can demonstrate that you care just as much as making an expensive purchase, and perhaps even more so. You can also shower someone with the gift of your time by offering to take them to a local (free) museum or other event.

To plan for costs, create a calendar for all the important gift-giving events for the year. Then create a savings bucket or “sinking fund” specifically for gifts, and buy the items during major sale periods like Prime Day or Black Friday.

2. Join initiatives to get free items

Initiatives like The Freecycle Network and Buy Nothing groups make it possible to get items you need for free. You can exchange items locally for free with the goal of reducing waste and helping the environment. If you’re looking for free clothing, check out community swap events.

3. Cash in on your birthday

Once a year, set aside extra money by getting freebies and discounts on your birthday. You could get free food or rewards to redeem on clothing purchases. We compiled a list of dozens of companies that offer birthday freebies.

4. Lower your car costs

Refinancing your auto loan and taking advantage of lower interest rates could save you considerably over the life of your loan. Shopping around for car insurance regularly can also help you cut costs compared with simply letting your current policy auto-renew. You can cut ongoing car maintenance costs by driving less, removing heavy items from your trunk, and avoiding unnecessary rapid acceleration.

5. Reduce your gas usage

You can’t control gas prices, but you can do several things to save on fuel, such as adhering to your car’s maintenance schedule and stacking errands to avoid unnecessary trips. Try using a gas app to pinch pennies when you do fill up.

6. Use car-sharing services

If you require a car rental, think about alternatives like car-sharing options Turo or Getaround. Research to determine if car-sharing options are more affordable than major, reputable rental firms. If you don’t use your vehicle often due to remote work or opting not to own one, you might discover that utilizing car-sharing services is less expensive than owning a car or relying on taxis.

7. Minimize restaurant spending

One of the easiest expenses to cut when you want to save more is restaurant meals since eating out tends to be pricier than cooking at home. If you still want to eat at restaurants, try to reduce the frequency and take advantage of credit cards for restaurant rewards.

You can also opt for appetizers or split an entree with your dining companion to eat out on a budget. Skipping drinks and dessert or indulging in both at home post-dinner can help stretch your budget as well.

8. Get discounts on entertainment

You can take advantage of free days at museums and national parks to save on entertainment costs.You can also play Hellspin Casino at no cost. Your local community might offer free concerts and other in-person or virtual events; check your local calendar before splurging on pricey tickets to private events. You can also ask about discounts for older adults, students, military members or veterans, first responders, and more.

9. Enjoy community events

Getting out and having new experiences can be expensive. Find free (or cheap) things to do in your community by checking listings at libraries, churches, and websites like Eventbrite. Or enter your city and “events” in a search engine to find some things to do.

Got kids tugging on your shirt tail? Community events can be an inexpensive way to keep little ones engaged and spend quality time together. For outdoor events, pack snacks and water to minimize the amount you spend on food.

10. Map out major purchases

You can save by timing your purchases of appliances, furniture, cars, electronics, and more according to annual sale periods. And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can check out Prime-exclusive sales in July and October.

It’s also worth confirming a deal is a deal by tracking prices over time. You can use a shopping browser extension to automate the deal-tracking and couponing process. For example, the Camelizer extension from Camelcamelcamel makes it easy to view prices over time on Amazon, and the Honey extension will automatically find and apply coupons while you shop online.