Need To Save Some Money? These 10 Simple Ways Will Help You

There are two types of people; those who save their money and those who spend it. And by spend it, we mean they probably run to the mall or their favorite restaurant the minute they get paid. "Spenders" want to buy stuff in the moment, while "savers" would rather set their money aside for a bigger future purchase.

If you have a goal in mind, like paying off student loans, buying your S.O. a nice gift, or going on vacation, you should save money now! But how do you save money when you love spending it on things like iced coffee, cool sneakers, and fancy meals? With these 10 easy steps, you can save A LOT of money. Thank us later.

Admit it. You have an iced coffee addiction (or any other type of coffee). It can be snowing out and you'll still pull up to the Starbucks drive-thru for your usual grande iced vanilla latte (with almond milk). As fun as it is, this daily routine adds up. Let's say you get a $5 medium iced coffee 5 times a week for a month - that's $100 a month on coffee!

So instead of giving your local barista a hard time with all your order modifications, become your own barista at home. Making coffee at home will save you a ton of extra cash (and you won't be late to work anymore for stopping at the drive-thru). It's easy to recreate your fave drinks and you don't even have to brew fresh coffee. The grocery store sells huge bottles of cold brew and iced lattes that can last you a while. Just add ice, milk, and a pretty straw!

Why do salads taste so much better when someone else makes them for you? And why do they cost $200?! Getting fancy salads and even fast food at work can add up. You shouldn't be spending money on food everyday when you probably have a fully stocked fridge at home. Think of what you'd order at work, then recreate it yourself at home. So if you usually get a burrito bowl, prep a bowl of rice, avocado, grilled chicken and some veggies. Don't want a sad sandwich? Put your favorite cold-cuts on a fancy bread and top it with chipotle aioli to make everyone in the office jealous.

When that direct deposit hits it can be so tempting to spend it. Seeing money in your bank account makes you think since you have money, you can afford things that you probably can't (or shouldn't buy). So instead of spending your whole paycheck, put at least 10% into a savings account each time you get paid. Putting away just a few dollars every time you get babysitting money, birthday gifts, or a paycheck can build up with interest. If you have a goal or a purchase you want to make, saving 10% is a good start. After putting it in a separate account, don't even touch it until you really need the money. See how much you can make in just a month!

It's no secret everyone has a slight phone addiction. Having a spending addiction isn't that surprising either when we think about the fact that we use our phones to shop and pay for a lot of things. So when we mindlessly spend money with our phones and linked credit cards, it's hard to keep track of purchases. If you're not sure how to spend your money you should get a budgeting app like Mint or Clarity Money link to your bank account to see how much you really (over)spend on categories like iced coffee (food), going to the nail salon (entertainment), and sneakers (shopping). Based on this information, they can help you cut back on unnecessary spending. Who needs a financial advisor when you have a phone and a credit card?

Remember when you said you'd go to the gym every day? Yeah, we don't either. If you pay for a gym membership you don't even use, you're just throwing away money. You might think, "Oh it's just 20$", but that adds up at the end of the year. Cancelling your membership can save you so much money each month. Have those fun beauty or clothing subscription boxes but you seem to never like the stuff they send you? Canceled. Recurring cable bills can also be canceled if you barely watch TV. They did invent something called "Netflix", you know?

Have you ever felt a little guilty using your roommate's ex-boyfriend's cousin's Netflix account? Time's are tough, but you're an adult and should pay for things you use. So to save money and not get involved with boyfriend drama, see if your siblings or friends would split a streaming account with you (Hulu, Netflix, HBO). You're always watching the same shows together anyway, so why not split the cost each month? Some plans start at $5.99 - that's cheaper than a Chipotle bowl. By splitting the bill, you'll have more money to spend (or save) on other things.

Going to the grocery store can be overwhelming. There are so many options! It's even more stressful when you go hungry and without a plan. You can end up leaving with just bags of candy and chips, or a cart full of stuff you panic threw in. Not making a list beforehand can cause you to overspend on food you won't end up eating and going to waste. So to save more money at the supermarket, create not just a list but a meal plan. Plan what you're going to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner (and snacks, duh) that week and just buy the ingredients for those meals.

Buddha bowl is a cheap lunch that can last a week; stock up on your favorite grain (quinoa, rice, farro) and add veggies like sweet potato, frozen broccoli, cherry tomatoes, etc. Homemade egg, cheese, avocado sandwiches are super easy and cheap to make too. Stick to your list and you'll be set!

If your mouth is on the floor when you get your water bill, you're doing something wrong. Utility bills can skyrocket if you're not aware of how much you're actually using them. 45 minute showers and leaving the lights on when you're not home will cost you a fortune. So to lower your bills and save the environment, be more eco-conscious. Turn off lights, unplug appliances like the toaster when you're not using it, and do less laundry if you can. If you lose track of time in the shower, try setting a timer for 20 minutes MAX. And instead of spending money on single-use paper towels, invest in some cute dishtowels to cut costs and save a tree.

Students pick and choose what they spend their money on. Buying that $100 book you need for class or going for drinks with friends? Hmm, that's a tough one. But when they spend like crazy and can only afford Easy Mac for dinner, they wished they'd save on other things. So how do you live your life but still save money? Flash your student ID when shopping! A lot of stores offer student discounts from 10-30% off. Unidays.com lists a bunch of clothing, beauty, and food stores that give students discounts. Did you know Seamless has discounts?! And Adidas!

Have expensive taste but a tight budget? There's a way to treat yourself to that designer bag you've been saving up for. The secret is: shop consignment. People can sell their lightly used designer bags on sites like TheRealReal and Bag Borrow or Steal. They have thousands of choices from any price point so you don't have to overspend. Shopping at vintage, resale, or off-price stores can also help save a lot of money. You'd be surprised by how many cool t-shirts you can get at Goodwill. And stores like Ross or Marshall's always have hidden gems from last season you can now afford.

Saving money is much harder than spending it but by changing a few daily habits, you can save a ton of money!