11 of the best ways I save money post-grad

I love a great deal, I love saving money, and I love being able to do these things while still having a ~fruitful life~.

For context, I got a paid internship just out of college and it later turned into my first full-time job. I commute to and from NYC and I’ve been working on saving a lot of my paycheck while still reaping the benefits of living at home for just a bit longer as I figure out my next move. So, of course, not paying rent is a huge money-saver that I’m fortunate to be able to do. That being said, there are a lot of other ways I save money.

Here is how I save money post-grad that might just inspire you to create some new habits.

As I mentioned, I live at home

Of course, this isn’t possible for everyone. I am so so so grateful that I live close to where my job is and that my parents are letting me stay at home for as long as it takes for me to feel financially, mentally, and emotionally ready to move out.

As much as I can’t wait to have my first apartment and as much as it can be incredibly frustrating to live at home, I know that it’s helping me out a lot financially in the long-run.

I check the prices of events and restaurants before agreeing to plans with friends

As much as I’d love to do everything, I’ve become really aware of two things: some things just aren’t worth the money and my friends are very understanding if I want to bail on a plan or propose an alternative plan.

For example, if a friend wants to go to a brunch that costs about $50 per person, there’s a good chance I might suggest a different, more affordable place instead or plan to see them a different time. As annoying as it may seem, everyone in my life is usually on the same page about wanting to save money and I’ve found that as long as I am honest and offer alternative plans, canceling or changing things up isn’t such a huge deal.

At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with turning down a plan if you’re not comfortable with the cost.

I bring my lunch to work every day

Bringing lunch every day isn’t exactly amazing but it saves me around $15 each day. I usually bring leftovers from dinner, simple salami, banana pepper, and cheese sandwiches, or basic chickpea salads.

I only eat out when it’s a social gathering or I’m with friends

Generally, I don’t order food unless I’m with friends. It makes dining out or ordering food feel a lot more special and it helps me avoid tempting take-out orders.

I buy my essentials in bulk or wait for them to be on sale

When it comes to purchasing makeup I wear every day, I wait until there’s a good BOGO sale. Or if I’m buying something I know I’ll use a lot of, I buy it in bulk. This also means not waiting until I run out of something to buy it because if you’re in a pinch you’re forced to pay whatever price you can find.

I also do this when it comes to buying food and litter for my cats. Before buying anything, I always wait until Chewy (one of my fave places to order cat food from!) sends me a coupon. This is how I save money post-grad while still buying everything I need.

Sometimes I choose to walk instead of paying for public transit

This only really applies when the weather is nice and I’m not walking very far, but it pays off just a little bit. $2.75 could be better spent going toward a coffee than toward a two-subway-stop trip. Plus, it forces me to walk more.

I track everything I spend

I’ve mentioned it before, but the app Wally is great for tracking one’s income and spending habits. It’s incredibly useful for creating a realistic budget or for tracking how much money I have left to spend in a month if I want to stick to my savings budget.

There’s even a feature that allows you to set how much you want to save a month (say $1,200) and it breaks down your remaining budget by day, so if you have two days in the month left and $14,00 in your monthly income, it’d tell you that you have about $100 to spend each day. Super helpful!

I shop smarter when it comes to clothes and accessories

I used to always hunt for the cheapest items possible and not even think twice before buying clothing, shoes, and accessories that I liked at least a little bit. But now? I’m a lot more careful with my purchases. I now refuse to have things in my closet that I have never worn and don’t actually love.

Read More:  The Ultimate Guide to Decluttering Your Wardrobe

Yesterday I spent $65 on a pair of sneakers and didn’t even think twice and I think that’s truly a testament to how much better I’ve gotten at being willing to spring for quality and being willing to spend a bit more to buy something I know I’ll get a lot of use out of.

I consider how much I’ll realistically wear something when I purchase it and how great the quality of an item actually is. This doesn’t mean I’m no longer a sucker for sales, but it does mean I’m a lot more strict with myself when I shop.

When I do travel, I plan trips in advance and look for deals

Cutting back on spending doesn’t mean I cut out travel. Instead, when I plan trips I make a point to book as much as possible in advance because it’s definitely cheaper. Plus, it’s a lot less stressful!

Read More: 12 Tips for Planning A Trip With Friends

I also make a point to spend time researching the hotels with the best value and the cheapest flight times.

I borrow books and I never buy them

I think me and my dad are the New York Public Library’s biggest fans. Seriously, we both have huge stacks of books at all times and I think we both find a special satisfaction with cracking open a new library book and picking up brand-new books we’d placed on reserve. I read a lot on the ferry and train every morning and evening.

Reading is the only thing that makes my commute tolerable and if I didn’t take advantage of the library, I’d be spending over $150 each month just to keep up with how quickly I read books.

I’ve also realized that buying books doesn’t bring me much joy. I have books that I bought TEN YEARS AGO still sitting, unread, on my bookshelf. There are other things worth buying instead!

I use my cash back credit card

I’m not exactly saving money by doing this, but it does help me to get some money back on my purchases. I recommend the Citi Double cash card, as you get cash back when you spend and when you pay your bill on time.

Plus, building credit is always a smart move. Just remember to never spend more than you can realistically afford.