Being an adult means taking on various responsibilities, from deciding what to eat for dinner to managing your finances. It’s a journey filled with choices, both large and small, that shape our lives and futures.

And when it comes to finances, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the endless stream of bills. To help ease your adult life a little bit, we compiled 18 practical strategies to cut your monthly expenses and take control of your financial destiny.

1. Cancel Unused Subscriptions and Memberships

Many people sign up for various services, such as streaming platforms, gym memberships, and magazine subscriptions. However, with time, they forget about them and stop using them. These unused subscriptions can add up over time and drain your finances.

Take the time to review your subscriptions and memberships and cancel those that you no longer use. You can cancel subscriptions by contacting the service provider directly or visiting the provider’s website.

2. Negotiate Lower Rates for Services

Service providers like cable companies and internet providers are willing to negotiate rates to retain customers.

Start by researching current rates and promotions offered by competing providers in your area. Armed with this information, contact your current providers and inquire about any available discounts or loyalty incentives. Be polite but firm in expressing your desire to lower monthly expenses and your willingness to switch providers if necessary.

3. Plan Meals and Cook at Home

Planning your meals reduces your temptation to eat out or order takeout, which can be more expensive. Create a weekly meal plan based on your budget, dietary preferences, and available ingredients.

Consider planning meals around affordable staple foods like grains, legumes, and vegetables. To minimize waste, aim to incorporate leftovers into future meals.

4. Use Public Transportation

Public transportation options such as buses, trains, subways, and trams offer a cost-effective alternative to driving, especially in urban areas. If it’s available, public transportation fares are much lower than the costs of owning a car, including fuel, insurance, maintenance, and parking fees.

Public transportation also helps reduce one’s environmental footprint by decreasing air pollution and traffic congestion associated with individual car use.

5. Switch to Generic Brands for Household Items

Generic or store-brand products offer similar quality to name-brand products but at a lower cost due to reduced marketing expenses and more straightforward packaging. When shopping for cleaning products, toiletries, and pantry staples, compare prices between name-brand and generic options.

In many cases, generic brands are significantly cheaper, allowing you to save money without compromising on essential items.

6. Consider Downsizing

Downsizing can take various forms, from moving to a smaller home to reducing discretionary spending on non-essential items. It can result in lower rent, reduced utility bills, and reduced maintenance costs.

You’ll reduce spending on unnecessary purchases and activities when downsizing by simplifying your possessions and lifestyle.

7. Sell Unnecessary Items for Cash

Selling unnecessary items allows you to earn money and frees up space in your home. Consider selling common items such as clothing, electronics, furniture, household appliances, and collectibles.

To sell unnecessary items, start by decluttering your home and identifying items with a good resale value. Take high-quality photos and write detailed descriptions to attract potential buyers. You can then list the items for sale on online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace.

8. Use Energy Efficient Appliances

Energy-efficient appliances are designed to consume less energy while providing the same level of performance as standard appliances. When shopping for appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners, look for models with the ENERGY STAR label.

Appliances with this label meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They use 50% less energy than standard models.

9. Switch to a Cheaper Cell Phone Plan

Cell phone carriers offer a variety of plans at different price points, allowing you to choose one that fits your budget and usage needs. Review your current cell phone plan and identify areas where you may be overpaying for services you don’t use. Consider factors like data usage and talk and text allowances.

Once you have a clear understanding of your usage patterns and needs, research alternative cell phone plans and find one with comparable services at a lower cost.

10. Use DIY Solutions

Do-it-yourself (DIY) projects allow you to tackle repairs, maintenance, and improvements without hiring professional services.

DIY tasks you can handle include fixing leaky faucets, repairing minor electrical and plumbing issues, building furniture, painting rooms, creating home décor, and landscaping.

11. Rent Out Unused Space in Your Home

Some homeowners have spare rooms, basements, garages, or even entire properties that are not fully utilized. Renting out these spaces can cut monthly maintenance costs while providing a steady stream of income.

You can rent out a spare bedroom to a long-term tenant or use short-term rental platforms like Airbnb. Also, you could rent out storage space in your garage to individuals or businesses needing extra storage.

12. Shop at Thrift Stores

Thrift stores offer a wide selection of gently used or preloved items at significantly discounted prices compared to traditional retail stores. Whether it’s clothing, accessories, kitchenware, home décor, or furniture, thrift stores have a diverse selection of items.

To make the most of thrift shopping, visit thrift stores regularly and keep an open mind while searching. You never know what treasures you may find.

13. Participate in Clothing Swaps

Clothing swaps involve trading or exchanging gently used clothing and accessories with friends and family. This allows people to find new items while decluttering their closets.

Start by gathering a group of friends and family interested in swapping clothes. Let each participant bring clothes, shoes, and accessories they no longer wear but are still in good condition. Then, each participant can browse the items and choose pieces to take home.

14. Explore Low-Cost Hobbies

Hobbies provide opportunities for creativity, relaxation, and fun, and many affordable options exist. One low-cost hobby is reading. Public libraries offer a vast selection of books and magazines for free. You can also join book clubs or participate in community-ready events.

Gardening is another budget-friendly hobby. Growing your fruits, vegetables, or flowers can be both rewarding and cost-effective. Other low-cost hobbies include hiking, photography, drawing, writing, cooking, and DIY crafts.

15. Rent or Borrow Items

Whether it’s tools, equipment, appliances, or recreational gear, renting or borrowing can save you money while still allowing you to accomplish your tasks. Many items you need for a short period, like home improvement tools, can be rented from hardware and rental shops.

Borrowing items from friends, family, and neighbors allows you to access them for free. It also fosters a sense of community and sharing among those involved.

16. Group Errands to Minimize Fuel Costs

Instead of making multiple weekly trips for different errands, try to consolidate your errands into one trip if possible. This will reduce driving time, minimize fuel consumption, and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle.

To maximize the effectiveness of grouping errands, list all the errands you need to run. Plan your route to minimize backtracking and unnecessary driving. Also, try to schedule errands during off-peak traffic times to reduce travel time further.

17. Use Coupons

Coupons provide discounts or special offers on products and services, allowing you to stretch your budget further. You can find coupons in newspapers, magazines, store flyers, and online coupon websites. Some retailers also offer digital coupons that can be accessed and redeemed through their websites or mobile apps.

Also, consider signing up for loyalty programs or emailing newsletters from your favorite retailers to receive exclusive discounts and special offers.

18. Get Some Insulation

Insulation acts as a barrier to heat flow, helping to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Insulation reduces heat transfer between your home’s exterior and interior.

Add insulation to your attics, walls, flows, and crawl spaces. This prevents heat loss or gain, lowers energy costs, and increases energy efficiency, thereby reducing monthly expenses.