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7 ways to save money on a tight budget

Even when you're on a shoestring budget, there are ways to save for your future.

Yahoo Personal Finance· Getty Images
Updated 6 min read

If you feel like you're skimping and scraping to get by and are barely making ends meet, you're certainly not alone. In a recent study of American workers, nearly half of the respondents said they had less than $1,000 in savings, and 75% said they considered themselves to be living paycheck to paycheck.

Putting money away in a savings account is critical to end the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle. But when you're strapped for cash, finding the extra money can be incredibly difficult.

However, there are some small ways to save money on a tight budget. By making these changes, you can start saving for a rainy day and plan for the future.

If it feels like it's harder to cover your bills right now, it's not your imagination. There are several reasons why many people are feeling squeezed for cash:

Some level of inflation is considered normal and even healthy for the economy. But when inflation gets too high, the cost of everyday essentials, such as groceries and fuel, becomes more expensive. This also means your money has less buying power.

Currently, the inflation rate is over 3%, which is higher than the government's target of 2%, so your money won't go as far at the gas pump or store.

Read more: How to protect your savings against inflation

Despite inflation rates being higher than usual, wages aren't keeping pace with the increased prices. You may find that your employer offers lower raises than usual, or may freeze pay bumps and bonuses entirely. In fact, a recent study found that nearly half of employers said they reduced pay rates for some roles over the past year.

With stagnated wages and higher inflation, your income won't stretch as far as it used to, making it harder to cover your bills.

In addition to pay rates flatlining, the unemployment rate has increased. Several major companies, including Amazon, Google, and Tesla, have announced significant layoffs.

In certain fields where layoffs are common, it could take longer to find a job after a layoff, decreasing your savings.

With rising costs, higher levels of debt are common. Consumers are carrying more student loan debt, auto loan balances, and credit card debt. If you have outstanding debt, high interest rates and the required monthly payments can drain your budget, leaving less for your expenses.

Even if you're on a tight budget, there are some strategies you can use to set aside some extra money and build your savings. Use these seven ways to save money:

If you're living paycheck to paycheck, you're likely aware of all of your bills and how much everything costs. However, diligently tracking your spending and routinely looking for ways to cut back can help you trim your spending.

Budgeting apps such as Quicken Simplifi or PocketGuard can help you track your spending, or you can do it manually with a paper budget or electronic spreadsheet.

Hot tip: Yahoo Finance readers can try Simplifi free for 90 days. Act now!

You don't need chunks of extra cash to build an emergency fund; apps such as Acorns, Chime, and Qapital are financial platforms that have roundup features. You can link your debit card, checking account, or credit card to the platform; whenever you make a purchase, the company rounds up the amount to the next full dollar and deposits the extra change to your savings account.

For example, say your grocery checkout total was $49.30. The app rounds the transaction total to $50.00, depositing the additional $0.70 to your savings.

Even though these apps use your spare change, they can produce significant results over time, and you may be surprised by how much your savings grow.

Read more: The 10 best high-yield savings accounts available today

Before purchasing new items — such as furniture, kitchen supplies, or accessories — check your local "buy nothing" group. These groups connect people together in local communities; when someone has an item they no longer need, they post it for free. You can also post requests for specific items, and you may be able to acquire the things you need at no cost.

If you're currently employed, you may qualify for extra cash you aren't aware of through company programs. For example, many companies offer matching 401(k) retirement contributions or student loan repayment assistance. With these types of benefits, you could get free money for your retirement or to pay off your student loans.

If your utility bills seem high, you may be able to negotiate with your providers to lower the cost. From your cell phone service to the internet, you can often negotiate a cheaper price.

Although you can do it yourself by calling your provider and asking about potential discounts and discussing competitor pricing, there may be an easier way. There are several tools that can negotiate your bills for you. Apps such as Rocket Money, Trim, and PocketGuard will negotiate on your behalf, and they don't require upfront fees. Instead, they take a percentage of the savings when they're successful.

You can jumpstart your savings by selling unused items that you have in your home, such as clothing that no longer fits, toys your child outgrew, or an old tablet or cell phone. With a little bit of work, these items can be turned into cash and give you a financial cushion. These are some platforms you can use to sell old items:

  • Clothing and accessories: Sell shoes, clothing, and handbags on sites such as Poshmark and ThredUp.

  • Collectibles and toys: Collectible figures and toys are good fits for eBay or Mercari.

  • Electronics: Sell your used phones, tablets, laptops, or computers on Gazelle or Decluttr.

When you have tried cutting expenses and still can't find extra money to save, you need to find some way to earn additional cash. While getting a second job or a side hustle may not be realistic due to your family's needs, you may be able to earn money in the following ways:

  • Rent out extra space: Rent out a spare closet or garage space to neighbors in need of a safe place to store their items on sites such as StoreAtMyHouse or Neighbor.

  • List a parking spot: If you have an unused garage stall or driveway, you may be able to rent out your parking space by the day, week, or month on sites such as CurbFlip or Spacer.

  • Take on one-time gigs: If you can't commit to a steady work schedule, another way to earn extra cash is to take on one-time gigs, such as cleaning houses when someone moves or wrapping gifts during the holidays. You can find potential on-demand gigs on TaskRabbit, Jobble, or GigSmart.

Earning even a relatively small amount, such as $25 to $50 per month, from these platforms can help you build a safety net over time.

Read more: How much can I save in a year with $10,000 in a savings account?