8 money hacks to increase your savings in 2025

While working, parenting, and generally trying to live your best life, the last thing you want to do is stress about money. But you know it's important. Luckily, we've got the top money tips you need to help fill those coffers.

Whether you're opening your first savings account or thinking about retirement, keep reading to discover the eight best savings tips in 2025. 

Make a budget: The 50/30/20 rule

Establishing a workable budget is essential to building your savings. Building a budget can be a simple process using the 50/30/20/ rule to divide your monthly income into helpful categories. Here's a breakdown:

• 50% needs: This category is for living expenses or things you can't go without, such as groceries, transportation, bills, and housing.

• 30% wants: This portion of your budget is reserved for things you enjoy but may not be essential, such as streaming service subscriptions, late-night takeout, or holiday gifts.

• 20% savings: The last line of the budget may be the most important. Many experts recommend putting away at least 20% of your income into savings. Doing so can also help you set short-term and long-term savings goals like buying a car or retiring.

Set it and forget it: Automate your savings 

Be a financially smart family!

Be a financially smart family!

From saving for the future to understanding credit, see how families are thriving with Greenlight.

Try Greenlight today

Pay yourself first! Automation is a major money hack. Consider automatically transferring a certain dollar amount to your savings account every month. That way, the money’s already allocated, which helps avoid overspending. Just make sure there’s enough in your account each month for the transfer. 

You can also join programs that round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and deposit the difference into your savings account. For example, if you use your debit card to buy a pair of jeans on sale for $29.50, that extra 50 cents is automatically deposited into your savings account (or whichever account you direct it to). This means even your spending habits help you save.

Audit your subscriptions

Remember when you signed up for a seven-day free trial to watch that new series? If you haven't checked your subscriptions recently, you could be paying for services you don't use. Comb through your bank statement every month to catch any forgotten charges (or fraudulent ones). 

Cash back reward apps: Earn while you spend

Many people make a little extra with cash-back apps that keep track of purchases and give you money back, often through digital coupons or rebates. This is a fantastic savings hack since it lets you earn money on purchases you're likely already making. Earning as little as 1% cash back on day-to-day expenses adds up over time. 

Some credit and debit card companies offer cash-back apps and browser extensions to earn money while online shopping, too.  

Shop cheaper and smarter

If you can't tell the difference between the name-brand cookies and the knockoffs, why not save a little money on groceries? Keep your eyes open for bargains and stick to your budget. You may be leaving money on the table if you're not comparison shopping for cheaper alternatives.

Keep in mind that many loyalty programs and reward incentives are designed to entice you to spend more money. Some deals are legitimate, but make sure you’ll get your money’s worth. If you only need a little milk, buying a 6-gallon pack to save a few bucks per carton will cost you money if that milk expires before you can drink it.

Shop with discount cards

Using discount cards is another saving money hack that requires little effort. Discount and rewards cards can help you save money on groceries, prescriptions, and everyday items. With each scan, you might get discounted pricing or cash back, which helps grow your savings. 

Prescription discount cards are particularly advantageous. In some cases, prescription discount cards or drugmaker discount programs can drastically lower the price of your prescription medications, saving you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. 

Manage and pay off debt

High-interest debt payments are one of the biggest obstacles to building sturdy savings. If you pay only the monthly minimum on your car or credit card debt, you end up paying more over the life of the loan. 

For starters, avoid unnecessary debt by saving for major purchases. If you have to incur debt, the quicker you pay it off, the less you'll spend on interest. Put simply, paying off your debt early frees up more of your income for both short-term and long-term savings.

Create a meal plan

You're driving home after work and have all the ingredients to make a beautiful roast — which will be done in about three hours. Since you're hungry now, you swing through and grab takeout instead. We all do it! But doing it consistently could cost you thousands of dollars over the year. 

Instead, plan ahead. Build a weekly meal plan and try to cook 1-2 of them ahead of time to cut down on eating out. Consider making your lunches for the week on Sunday night, so they're ready to go when you head out the door. Plan simple one-pot or five-ingredient meals, or opt for leftovers on nights you'll have little time (or energy) to cook. 

Audit your utility bills

Everybody makes mistakes — even utility companies. Make a monthly habit of checking your electricity, water, gas, and internet bills, plus any other utility bills you may have. This is especially important if your bills are set to autopay since you might pay more than you should.

If you suspect you've been overcharged, contact the company and dispute the charge. It never hurts to ask for clarity, and it might help put more change in your pocket.

Give kids and teens a head start on money smarts

People who start saving early in life often have a huge advantage. Pass these easy money hacks on to your kids and teens as soon as you think they're ready. Greenlight can help! Level Up™, a financial literacy game, makes learning to manage money fun, building the financial tools they need to save for the future. Try Greenlight today.