I'm A Massive Savings Nerd. Here's How I Saved Myself $12k in the Past 3 Months (With Minimal Effort).

Every year, I try to find ways to cut unnecessary expenses without making any major sacrifices.

This time, I focused on small, simple changes that could make a huge difference. Those changes added up to a massive $12,000 in savings, and most of these took just a few minutes to set up.

Here’s exactly what I did.

1. Switched car insurance carriers (savings: $1,300/year).

I was shocked to find out how much I was being overcharged for car insurance.

Because I was with one of the major providers, I’d been assuming for years that I’d been getting a good deal.

I used Coverage.com to compare offers and in just a few minutes I’d found something much better for the same exact coverage.

It’s crazy how many people stick with the same company out of habit when they could be saving hundreds (or even thousands) just by shopping around.

2. Got a financial advisor (savings: $7,000/year).

People who use financial advisors typically see ~3% more in net returns per year which makes a huge difference over time. And it takes a ton of stress/work off your plate.

I was about to make a pretty simple bond purchase and didn’t realize there were insane taxes associated (would have cost me $7k+). My advisor stepped in and saved me a lot of money.

If you don’t know one personally, use something like financialadvisor.net to find somebody with good reviews.

3. Cut unused and fraudulent subscriptions (savings: $4,154/year).

Honestly, it’s a bit embarassing to admit how many subscriptions I was paying for without realizing it. Turns out I had a ton of totally dormant apps from an old business that I had completley forgotten about.

I used Rocket Money, an app that tracks your subscriptions and helps you cancel them automatically.

Their free version is solid, but I went for the paid one and it turns out the savings were more than worth it. Just cleaning up my unused subscriptions saved me over $4k.

4. Started testing games & apps for cash (earnings: ~$40/day on average).

This one surprised me.

I found Freecash, a platform that pays you to test mobile games and apps. Some days are more protifable than others, but it averages out around $40/day when I put in the time.

Obviously, this isn’t a full-time income, but as an easy and enjoyable side hustle, it adds up fast.

5. Switched to a balance transfer credit card (savings: ~$1,000).

Based on my current interest rates, it looks like switching to a balance transfer credit card will save me around $1,000-$2,000.

Some of these cards offer 0% interest APR for up to 18 months, which means I can pay off my balance without racking up more debt.

Citi Double Cash seems like a solid option, but there are plenty of others. Just make sure to compare offers based on your situation. Putting off interest payments for 18 months is no joke.

6. Started using a price comparison app when shopping online (savings: ~$400/year).

Like most people, I do most of my shopping online, and I used to assume I was getting decent deals.

Turns out, we’re all overpaying, by a lot. I started using the Capital One Shopping, a browser extension that automatically finds lower prices and applies discount codes at checkout.

I barely have to think about it, and it saves me hundreds of dollars every year.

If you shop online regularly, this is one of the easiest ways to keep more money in your pocket.

7. Get access to a bunch of discounts.

You’ve probably heard of AARP, but here’s something I didn’t know until recently: you don’t have to be over 50 to join. While a few perks are reserved for the 50+ crowd, there are still plenty of benefits worth checking out.

They offer discounts on a ton of stuff – dining, travel, gas, groceries, entertainment, etc. So if you like saving money (who doesn’t?), it’s worth checking out.

Membership is ~$16/year, but if you make the most of their offers, it pretty much pays for itself.

Plus, they have some solid resources and tools that can come in handy for things like managing finances or planning for the future.

Not saying it’s for everyone, but if you like getting a good deal, it might be worth a look. Head to their site here.

8. Let a company pay off your debt for you (save: ~23%).

Very few people know about it, but If you have $10k+ in debt, you can technically ask a debt relief to come in and take over the process for you.

It’ll typically save you 23% off your total debt, after fees (according to NDR, a big debt relief company).

They’ll negotiate with your creditors and try to get your debt reduced (then they take a cut of the savings).

Here’s a little calculator you can use to see how much you’d potentially save: link.

9. Get a company to pay repairs for you.

If you have a home warranty, your warranty company will likely pay your home repair bills for you.

If you don’t have a warranty yet, think about getting yourself one. Choice Warranty is pretty good (link here).

Home warranty companies usually have pre-vetted maintenance and repair workers ready to get the job done (which is one less thing to worry about).

If you’re interested just enter your zip code here to look at pricing etc. Could save you a bunch of money the next time something breaks down.

10. Switch home insurance providers (save up to $1,000/year).

Some homeowners are able to save over $1,000/year simply by switching their home insurance provider. A savings that often surpasses the typical savings from switching auto insurance.

If it’s been more than a year since you last reviewed your rates, it may be worth taking a few minutes to compare options.

Here’s a home insurance comparison tool I’ve personally used: link.

That’s all (for now).

Thanks for reading!