Amelia Bikes

Some of the most impactful things we can do, are small things over a long, sustained period of time, when we do them collectively. If you’re frustrated with large corporations screwing you over and don’t want to give them your money anymore – here are 20 ways to opt out and save your money instead.

1. Review and cancel unnecessary subscriptions. Things like Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime add up. Go through a credit card statement and identify all of your recurring subscriptions and decide which ones you absolutely need, and which ones can go.
2. Stop going out to eat and getting delivery food. Speaking of Instacart and DoorDash, try a cheaper food delivery service like HelloFresh, or spend time researching some new recipes to spice up dinner at home and save money on ingredients. If you must get takeout, opt for ordering directly from the restaurant and picking it up yourself to avoid extra delivery fees.
3. Get a library card. In addition to books, there are all kinds of discounts, museum passes and movies you can borrow instead of subscribing to streaming services.
4. Cancel your gym membership. Try running, walking, hiking or biking instead of keeping an expensive gym membership. Check out November Project for free community workouts in your city or look on Meetup.com for other fitness groups.
5. Cut your phone bill. Move your phone plan to a major network subsidiary like Cricket Wireless, Boost Mobile or Tello, or opt for a prepaid plan instead of a post paid plan. Pair up with a friend or two for a family plan and save extra money.
6. Switch insurance companies. Get quotes for new car or home insurance policies once a year. Even though most companies offer discounts for “loyalty”, other companies may give you lower rates overall for the same policy.
7. Cancel insurance policies. If you have pet insurance, a home warranty or other type of insurance policy that doesn’t pay out that much – consider saving your monthly payments into a high yield savings account instead of paying for insurance that may or may not give you your money back.
8. Buy & sell used items. Save items from an untimely demise in a landfill and save money, as well as turning your unwanted clutter into cash.
   • Electronics: Get great refurbished electronics like phones, computers and more at BackMarket. (Use code 9d91ceeb2a515995 for an extra $25 credit). You can trade in products and upgrade your electronics.
   • Clothes: Find great items on websites like Vinted, ThredUp or Poshmark. Alternatively, organize a clothing swap with friends to declutter and find some new outfits. Donate the leftovers.
   • Furniture: Check Habitat for Humanity Re-store for great finds, or find used items on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, or Craigslist.
   • Other Items: Join a local Buy Nothing group and get great items from people in your neighborhood! Offering items for free are the quickest way to get rid of items you don’t want!
9. Grow your own food. You don’t necessarily need a whole farm to grow extra food. Grow herbs inside, or get a mushroom kit to keep on your kitchen counter. Save some extra money by growing your own items. Avoid buying from large grocery stores by joining a local farm share, shopping at a farmer’s market.
10. Clean out your kitchen. Instead of buying more food, take an inventory of what’s actually in your kitchen and pantry. You likely already have things you aren’t using.
11. Clean out your clutter. Clean out cabinets, closets and drawers. You’ll possibly find unused gift cards, money, and things you don’t need to re-buy. You may also find things you no longer need and can donate (document for tax deductions), or sell.
12. Reduce your taxable income. Start maxing out your 401k, enroll in pre-tax deductions, keep a record of your charitable donations and meet with a financial advisor to find other deductions you may qualify for. If you’re on the cusp of a different tax bracket, some of these activities can save you thousands of dollars.
13. Find money you’re owed. See if you’re owed any unclaimed money by state or federal organizations. Find a whole list here: https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money
14. Get a new bank account. Checking and savings accounts provided by large banks often give little to no interest on your cash. Consider switching to an online bank like SoFi for a higher interest rate on both checking and savings. This can result in hundreds or thousands of extra dollars of interest each year.
15. Cash out your credit card rewards. Don’t let your money sit there! Cash out your rewards before you lose them. You likely have more rewards than you realize.
16. Do It Yourself. Learn a new skill and learn how to do something yourself – whether that’s painting your kitchen yourself, learning how to do an oil change, or giving yourself a manicure. Save money by doing it on your own.
17. Barter System. Many small business owners are open to bartering! If you have a service or product you can offer in return for something, talk to them and suggest something! Likewise, barter with other parents and trade off on child care or dog walking, or trade chores with neighbors like raking leaves, or helping with other home projects.
18. Free Transportation. For short trips, opt for walking, biking, scootering or rollerblading to get around. Get your steps in and also save gas money.
19. Shop Local Shop International. Medication is often less expensive internationally, even after using insurance. If you’re able to travel and get medications abroad, you may be able to save money.
20. Downsize your living expenses. Consider getting a roommate, or rent out parking space on your property through Neighbor.com.

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