10 Switches That Can Save You Money Each Year

I saved money by switching to… Geico. Just kidding!

Do you remember your mom telling you to clip coupons to save money on groceries? Or your grandma going on about canning her garden goodies and line-drying the laundry? Me too.

Most of us know that we can save money by switching some of our buying habits, but if we are being honest, we’re not great at taking action on that wisdom. If you are nodding along with me right now, this is for you. 

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Our Top Ten List of Ways to Save Money by Switching

1. Monthly Car Insurance Payments → Annual Payments

Switching from monthly to annual payments, you’ll save on processing fees. Many insurers offer 5-10% discounts for paying upfront. Tip: Get new quotes annually—loyalty doesn’t always pay in insurance.

2. Major Carrier → Prepaid Wireless Plans

This is something I ask about every time I review a new client’s budget.

Ditch Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile for MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) like Mint Mobile, US Mobile, or Visible. Get the same network coverage for $15-30/month instead of $60-100+.

If you’re still making payments on your phone, you’ll want to pay that off before you switch. And while we’re talking about this: Buying your phone on installments is costing you hundreds of dollars. Next time you need to replace your phone, buy it through your favorite online retailer and pay cash. (Bonus points – use a certified refurbished program and save even more!)

Want to check out US Mobile? Sometimes they have special offers available for added savings. (referral link). 

3. Name Brand → Store Brand Groceries

By switching name brands for store brands on staples like flour, sugar, pasta, canned goods, and dairy, you can save 20-40%. Go one step further and change-up your local store for a discount grocery like Aldi, Lidl, and others can also help you bring home the bacon (literally and figuratively). 

4. Streaming Subscriptions → Library Cards

Ditch a few streaming services and visit your local library for movies, TV shows (via Hoopla or Kanopy), audiobooks, ebooks, and even magazine subscriptions. Save $30-50/month while supporting community resources.

5. Restaurant Dining → Home Entertaining

Eating out is costing you more than your cash. The average conversation at a restaurant is 55 minutes. Get your coins and your community back by hosting potluck dinners, game nights, or backyard BBQs instead of meeting friends at restaurants. You’ll save 60-70% on the same social time, eat healthier home-cooked meals, and create more meaningful connections.

6. Fast Food Habit → Meal Prep Sundays

Skip the drive-thru and batch-cook healthy meals on Sundays. An $8 fast food meal becomes a $2-3 home-cooked portion. Take those savings and put them back into your food budget. When you have extra, use it for something fun for the whole family (or an extra debt payment if you’re still paying down debt).

7. Coffee Shop Runs → At-Home Brewing

We all know the daily $5 lattes add up. I asked Claude to do the math. A $5 coffee is costing you $1875  per year. Instead, invest in a quality coffee maker or French press ($30-100 one-time), buy good beans, and make café-quality drinks at home for pennies per cup.

I make my own healthy chai lattes (email me for the recipe!) and purchased matcha mix and lavender syrup online to make my favorite matcha at home. How can you make your coffee or tea feel like an extra special treat? What about taking that favorite tumbler or mug out of storage?

Now I’d love to know, what are you going to do with that extra $1875 next year?

8. Cable TV → (Antenna +) One Streaming Service

Paying for that bloated cable package? Swap that $100+ cable bill for a digital antenna (free local channels, one-time $20-40 cost) plus one rotating streaming subscription. Total returned to your budget? About $1,000 per year.

Want to still save money without ditching most of your streaming services? You can turn most streaming services on and off as you please. So when you’re binge watching a series on Amazon, and you know you’ll be there until you finish it, you can safely pause your Paramount+ or Disney+ subscriptions. 

9. Gym Membership → Outdoor/Home Workouts

Fitness is an important part of life, but if you’re finding it hard to keep paying the gym, you have options. By swapping that $50-80/month gym membership for free YouTube fitness channels, walking/running trails, bodyweight exercises, or investing in basic home equipment (resistance bands, dumbbells), you can save hundreds each year.

This is also a great move for the person who isn’t using their membership. Unsure about making this move? Tell yourself you can only keep the membership if you go X days this month. Either you’ll make it to the gym—GREAT!—or you won’t and you’ll cut the membership. So either way, it’s a win. 

10. New Books → Libraries + Used Bookstores

This one hurts. I’m a bookworm too. But buying new releases at $15-30 each kills your budget. Another option? Consider checking your library and having them notify you when it comes in (free!), shop used bookstores ($3-8), or join book swap communities. Avid readers can save $300-500/year while reading just as much. Now that’s what I call a win-win!

Now It’s Your Turn to Save Money by Switching It Up

Are you ready for a challenge? Pick one (or come up with your own) and make the switch today. Email me and tell me what you’re switching and saving this month. 

Want to see your win in action? Track your savings in a dedicated account and watch it grow. Seeing progress builds momentum for more switches!