Sneaky ways to save money when you don’t have any.

It’s not easy to save money, especially when you’re totally broke-ass. But here’s the thing: In order to stop being broke, you need to save money. The good news is that it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and over time you can create quite the little nest egg for yourself. Even small changes can make a huge difference.

Here’s how to save money within your itty bitty budget:

1. Ask for lower interest rates

No, but seriously. According to Bankrate, a national survey found that 56 percent of consumers who called credit card companies and asked for a lower interest rate had positive results:

“A five-minute phone call to your credit card issuer could save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in interest charges. ‘There’s no incentive for them to lower your rate unless you call. The squeaky wheel gets the oil,’ says Brad Dakake, a consumer advocate with Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.”

2. Keep your home organized

When your home is tidy, your entire life becomes more efficient: You’ll save time, since it won’t take you 20 minutes to find your other shoe. You’ll save money, since you won’t be buying things you think you’re out of, only to find you’ve got six months worth. You’ll also waste less across the board, which is a win for both you and the environment.

3. Make a game of it

Starting this week, deposit one dollar into your savings account. Next week, save two dollars. The following week, save three dollars, and so forth. One year from now, you’ll have a total of $1,378 in your emergency fund. Bam.

4. Shop with a list

When you go grocery shopping, bring a list of what you need to buy and stick to it. This tunnel vision approach to shopping will not only keep financial damage to a minimum, but help reduce food waste.

5. Deposit your paycheck into your savings

One of the reasons why we spend too much is because our cash is too easily accessible. If you’re struggling to save money, try depositing your paycheck into your savings account and only transfer money into your checking account as you need to pay bills. Since savings accounts only allow a certain number of withdrawals per month before service charges kick in, it can help you reduce frivolous spending. (And at the end of the month, the cash you don’t need is already in your savings.)

6. Treat your savings like a bill

Pay your savings account much like you would a bill, instead of treating it like an account you casually add money to when you can. Even depositing as little as five dollars per paycheck can go a long way toward building a solid emergency fund.

7. Cut the cord

You can save hundreds of dollars a year by cancelling your cable subscription. Just imagine not having to pay for duplicate or foreign channels anymore! Best of all, you can subscribe to services like Hulu Plus or Netflix to keep tabs on your fave shows without breaking the bank.

8. Use your credit card to your advantage

There are plenty of credit cards out there that allow you to earn points, which are then converted into cash. Since you’re going to be paying bills and buying groceries anyway, charge them to your card and use the extra earnings on a rainy day or in an emergency. You know, just remember to pay your card off every month.

9. Make more money

Many of us are so focused on how to cut costs (and often do so by sacrificing and denying ourselves) that we completely ignore the fact that there’s another side to the coin: Making more money. Instead of spending all of your time on new ways to deprive yourself, spend half thinking about new ways to save money, and half thinking about ways to earn more. When you become too strict with yourself, that’s when regretful splurges happen. (In fact, “Regretful Splurges” will probably be the name of my autobiography.)

Related on EcoSalon

7 Financial Goals You Can Actually Stick to in 2015

10 Ways Women Can Save Money Now on Everyday Essentials

11 Simple Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays

Save money image via Shutterstock

The post 9 Ways to Save Money When You’re Broke AF appeared first on EcoSalon.

From deodorant to shaving cream, unisex clothing to dry cleaning, women pay more than men for their everyday essentials. Here are easy ways to save money on the products you buy most:

1. Use Coupons + Gift Cards
Follow your favorite stores on social media and subscribe to their mailing lists for up-to-the-minute deals you can save money with. Another great way to save money is by purchasing discounted gift cards (and alternately, selling gift cards you’re not going to use): Websites like Gift Card Granny sell unwanted gift cards at discounted prices (up to 85 percent off!).

2. Plan Ahead
There are always huge savings at the end of every season – stock up for next winter at the end of this winter, and keep track of your fave store’s semi-annual sales for crazy-amazing clearance prices. It’s also worth researching trailblazers who are helping women save money: Phil Masiello, for instance, is changing the way woman buy razors at 800razors.com.

3. Calculate Your Splurges
Let’s say you buy two different tops: One cheap, one expensive. If you calculate the cost of the tops based on how often you’re going to wear them instead of their initial cost, you might find the expensive top you’re going to wear hundreds of times costs less in the long run than the cheap top you’re only going to wear twice!

4. Try Before You Buy
How many times have you purchased a product and it turns out not to suit your needs? Before you purchase, see if there are samples available you can take home, or purchase a trial size. If you like it, you can buy the full-size version, and no harm no foul if you don’t.

5. Speak Up
Have you ever bought something and then the following week it popped up in a sale flyer? Instead of throwing up, mosey on over to the store with your receipt and ask for a price match. (I mean, c’mon here people!)

6. Buy Multipurpose Products
All cosmetic companies now make 2-in-1 and 3-in-1 products, which will help you save money and space in your makeup bag. “Don’t let companies limit the way you use a particular beauty product,” says Miranda Reiter, Certified Financial Planner and founder of She & Money. “Use conditioner instead of shave gel, use baking soda and peroxide as toothpaste. Just because the packaging doesn’t give you permission to do so doesn’t mean you can’t.”

7. Buy No-Name Brands
“I’m one of those girls easily pulled in by pretty packaging,” says Sonia Baghdady, fashion/beauty coach for “Veria Living Live” and founder of Style Confessions. “But don’t discount the drug store when it comes to beauty.” Take mascara for example: “The biggest difference you’ll find between some higher priced mascara and their drugstore counterparts is the wand.” Baghdady suggests indulging in one tube of the higher priced mascara, saving and washing the wand, and using it with a drugstore brand instead. (This will save you roughly $22 per tube!)

8. Go DIY
Very few things are more relaxing than getting your nails and toes done at a salon, but if you do this regularly it’ll run you roughly $1,000 per year (and depending on the add-on services you choose, maybe more!). Invest in your fave colors and maintain your fingers and toes at home. This will save you about $850+ per year! Save more by hosting mani/pedi get-togethers with your friends and swap colors.

9. Reuse / Repurpose
Jon Lal, smart shopping expert and founder of BeFrugal.com finds that women can save oodles of money if they reuse and repurpose items they already have. For example, using old tees and socks for rags, purchasing reusable cloth napkins instead of disposable, and using strong paper towels on your Swiffer handle instead of expensive Swiffer brand cleaning sheets. “They’re nearly the same size, and you can get it wet with a bit of water or cleaner first if you’d like,” he says.

10. Download Apps
There are plenty of apps out there to help you find the best discounts on everything from beauty products and clothing to travel and accessories. For example: Ibotta is a free mobile app where you can earn cash by purchasing your fave products. (Their users earned more than $5 million last year alone, and all on items they already buy.) When your balance reaches $5 or more, you can have the money transferred to your Paypal account or a gift card.

Many of your favorite stores likely have apps customized specifically for their customers to help them save on what they purchase most (For example, Target’s Cartwheel app).

What are your fave ways to save money on the essentials?

Related on EcoSalon

4 Ways The Sharing Economy Can Save You Money

The Fearless Wallet: Important Money Questions for Women

The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Simplifying, Saying No and Saving Money

Image: Tax Credits

The post 10 Ways Women Can Save Money Now on Everyday Essentials appeared first on EcoSalon.