6 Easy Actions to Save or Make Hundreds in 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. For more info read my disclosure.
Every year it becomes a routine to consider what you’ll do differently, what lessons you learned, or how you can be better (and save) in the upcoming year. For many of us, our year comes with unpredicted costs, budgeting and a general desire that if you had more money… life would be better. Chances are, you are spending money on things that you could be saving on. Now, not all of these actions will feel like significant changes, however consider year after year, month after month. Any savings is savings added up- and that could significantly change your life!
Tax Deductions
In preparation for tax season, always remember that you can save money by remembering to apply tax deductions to your income tax bill. In order to prepare ahead make sure to organize your receipts either digitally or in folders. Try utilizing a program like Quickbooks to help you organize your life! If you need more details, consult an accountant for more.
Small Business Tax Deductions may include:
- Advertising and Promotion
- Business use of your car
- Education
- Home Office
- Business Insurance
- Business Meals
- Moving Expenses
- Telephone Internet, AND Business Expenses
Personal Tax Deductions may include:
- Student loan interest deductions
- HSA deductions
- Charitable contributions
- Gambling Losses
- IRA Deduction
- Mortgage interest deductions
Speciality Bills
Did you know that you could save money on your phone bill? Consider giving your phone company a call to get a break down of what you currently pay for and see if the company is willing to negotiate down and or consider what you may be able to save on! You may be able to save hundreds a month by giving them a call!
- Data
- Call Minutes
- Hot spot
- Internet
- Cable
Grant Applications
If you are looking to save money this year, but still have a small business to upkeep- consider applying for grants. Grants are a great way to apply for money from organizations, corporations or businesses that are looking to help support or scale small businesses. These grants will have their own subset of rules and regulations but a standard grant with no speciality could be used for things like:
- Event cost
- Startup Costs
- Employment
- Tech Fees
- Miscellaneous
It’s important to understand that there are grant opportunities through federal programs, states, small business administration and non-profit organizations. There are millions (if not billions) of dollars waiting for small businesses to claim.
I have been awarded over $30,000 in grants that have helped jumpstart and or support my business in ways that I would never think we’re possible. I give you all the tips and tricks on my Substack called Grants for Small Business Owners, check it out!
Subscriptions
It’s crazy to think that you could be paying for tons of services that you may not use- and it’s being ignored every month, 3 months or year. Unless you are sitting down and going through each statement individually- it’s very common for people to forget about what they might have signed up for in the past! To save money this year, organize your thoughts regarding what is a necessity and what can be cancelled– after all subscriptions are expensive!
Rocket Money allows you to easily see all of your subscriptions and cancel them all in one place while doing it all hassle-free. No need for 20 different logins and unorganized receipts!
Cleaning + Selling
A side hustle that many disregard is reselling your items online. This might be on a storefront on Etsy with branding and the whole 9 yards OR it could just be a listing Facebook Marketplace. If you’re already getting ahead of planning your “spring” cleaning, it’s the perfect time to consider reselling online to make extra money and to give your unused items a new home! Consider cleaning out and reselling:
- Furniture
- Clothes
- Jewelry
- Handbags
- Shoes
- Cars
- Tools
- Books
- Toys
- Electronics
- Sporting Goods
Sustainability Mindset
Consider moving into the new year with questioning what sustainability looks like in your household, and how that could save you hundreds a month. Maybe that’s bulk-buying food and beginning to meal prep, or maybe it’s replacing plastic water bottles with a reusable one. Small changes like this seem so minor, but when you have the same resources in different forms, why spend the money on it twice?
Maybe sustainability in your life has to do with money, how can you sustainably make MORE money? What hobby or interest can keep you going for months and years on end! Find a side hustle is just asking yourself that question exactly! From affiliate marketing to opening your own paint shop, the ideas are endless but you have to understand what works for you.
Being able to work with financial discipline is one of the best things you can do for yourself!
Whatever you choose to do this year, I wish you success and greatness! Consider all the way you could be saving money and begin to see it take effect on your bills, your savings account and peace of mind! If you are looking to learn more understanding financial discipline, saving and ways to up your money listen to The Money Exchange Podcast!
