Modern Money - Dollars and Sense - 10 sensible ways to shave your spending

I’ve written about how to reduce your cell phone and internet bill, how to cool your spending in winter and how to save money around the house.
With an economic downturn/recession on the horizon, prices of almost everything increasing, corporate shenanigans being a regular occurrence, here are 10 sensible and practical ways to shave your spending.

Transform your savings via Autobots
No, Optimus Prime won’t help you save money but you can automate your savings account contributions. Pick a sustainable amount and set up your account to transfer that money weekly/bi-weekly straight to a savings account. 

Slice your subscriptions
Streaming services do have a place in most households, however having one of each should be reexamined to determine your actual needs.
Same applies for a gym membership if you seldom go. Consider investing in a few pieces of equipment you can use at home.

Flatten your financial fees
Do you really need that high interest credit card that comes with a pricey year fee?
Some might but if you’re unsure, check out other credit card offerings with lower interest rates.
Take a peek at your banking fees and see if changing your account type can save you some money. Banking fees are borderline criminal to begin with so any savings you can realistically achieve is thoroughly worth it. 

Cut the cord
Unless there’s a dire need for cable television in your home, sharpen your verbal scissors and cut that expense. Nearly everything that’s on cable tv can be streamed or found on social media.

Batch please
Cooking for a week at a time, also known as batch cooking is a great way to save money as you’re buying in bulk and it also saves time. Additionally, it reduces potential wasted food as it’s all prepared at the same time.
Bonus points for it reducing decision anxiety and dramatically lowers the chances of “I don’t feel like cooking, let’s order in.”

Power points
If you’ve got a plethora of reward points that can be cashed in for git cards, redeem those and transform them into cash. From gas stations, grocery stores, retail shops and several others, there could be real money waiting for you that’s only a few clicks away. 

Hang in there
Running a dryer is one of the most expensive uses of power in your home. To wring out the most amount of savings, invest in a drying rack and go old-school. Bonus points in the winter as it’ll add some moisture to the dry air. 

It’s not rude to point
The majority of retailers offer some type of reward points system. You’re spending money there anyway, so why not start accumulating some money as you spend.
Gas stations and grocery stores are known for this, but also consider switching/adding places where you shop to stretch your hard-earned dollars. 

Pop the question
If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Fire up that rarely used feature on your smartphone (the phone part) and call up every company you pay and ask them how to reduce your bill.
Play the longevity/loyalty card, ask about a lower package/plan, and most important of all, don’t be a sullen jerk about it. Be polite, be courteous and it’s a conversation, not a fight or attack.
I encourage everyone to shop around once every 3 months to see if there’s savings worth moving companies for. From insurance to telecommunications to credit cards to your gym membership and everything in-between.
Sometimes you’re stuck with one provider (Region of Peel’s water bill) but for nearly everything else, a bit of time today can save you money tomorrow.

Do you have any great coupons?
Of course you do! All you have to do is look. There’s absolutely no shame in couponing. Sure, it was seen as cheap previously but if I can save money on something I’m buying anyway and use that saved money toward something I want (instead of need, say, a new guitar…) then I’m all in.
Check their websites, social media pages, deal finding websites and if you’re on a mailing list, they might pop in there as well. 

What are your tips and techniques for saving money?