Someone Asked For Small Money-Saving Habits That Made A Big Difference And The Responses Poured In—'Can't Touch It If You Don't See It'

When it comes to saving money, it’s often the little things that add up over time. A Reddit user recently asked the frugal community to share their best small, low-effort habits that have saved them a surprising amount of money—and the responses came flooding in. From cutting out fast food to unsubscribing from sales emails, people shared all kinds of simple yet effective strategies for keeping more cash in their pockets.

Simple Habits That Save Money

One of the most common money-saving hacks? Unsubscribing from marketing emails. "Keep temptations out of my email inbox," one person said, noting that they stopped getting lured into sales they didn’t need to shop in the first place. Another user took it a step further: "I have a separate email account for that and only check it when I'm already committed to buying something and want to see if I can get an additional percentage off."

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Many Redditors emphasized the importance of pausing before making a purchase. One popular comment suggested: "Before buying something, ask yourself if you have time to keep it clean. If it's going to sit on a shelf and get dusty, don't buy it." Others follow a simple rule: "If I want it, I wait at least until the next day.” Most of the time, you’ll realize you don't really need it.

Food expenses were a major focus, with many users pointing out that cooking at home saves a significant amount of money. Many people stopped buying fast food. Some for health, others because they were spending too much money on it. Another person added: "Checking the fridge and pantry and coming up with a list of dinners I can make with food we already have BEFORE going to the grocery store."

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Others recommended skipping expensive drinks: "I don't order drinks at restaurants—no beer, no cocktails, no iced tea. Restaurant bills are halved." And for those who love their morning caffeine? "Make the coffee at home and stop buying “designer” overpriced burnt coffee from chains and franchises," one person said.

Another highly upvoted comment emphasized the power of automation: "Can't touch it if you don't see it.” Set up automatic transfers to your savings so you don't even have to think about it. Others take it even further, automating everything from savings to bill payments. "Automate all finances. Direct deposits, auto-deduct pre and post-retirement accounts, automate savings, automate paying full balances to credit cards every month, etc." 

A simple trick that worked for many? Leaving things in their cart for a while. One user wrote: "Leaving things in my cart for 24-48 hours. I usually come back and realize I don't actually want any of that crap." Sometimes, stores even offer discounts to encourage the purchase.

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Several people found that shopping was often a coping mechanism. One user admitted, "I stopped buying things for emotional regulation. From no saving to 1k saving (each month) in months.” Others walk around their neighborhood, read, or do something with their hands instead of spending money. 

These tiny, intentional habits prove that saving money doesn't have to be complicated. A little self-awareness, automation, and smart daily decisions can result in serious financial benefits over time. As one user summed it up perfectly: "This is going to sound very boomer-ish: I have learned to not take things for granted and be happy with what I have. Every time I think I want to buy something, I ask myself, ‘Why?'"

Sometimes, that’s all it takes to keep more money in your pocket.

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