15 No-Brainer Ways to Save More Money in 2022

Whether you're just starting your journey to financial wellness or have been adeptly managing your finances for many years, there's no denying that more than ever in recent times, most of us are looking for ways to save money. Even saving an extra few hundred dollars a month can give you more cash to put toward your emergency fund, invest, save, or simply put to better use for whatever your personal financial goals may be.

On that note, here are 15 tried-and-true ways to save more money in 2022 and beyond.

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It seems that everything costs more these days, and keeping your spending at reasonable levels so you can put some money away each month for things like saving and investing isn't always easy. One simple way to keep track of your outlay without too much effort is to divide your monthly income into separate spending categories.

You can outline your recurring and expected expenses -- plus a little extra for life's unexpected events -- quite easily in a spreadsheet, and allocate the categories as you see fit. For example, you could divide your monthly expenses into something as simple as save and spend categories, or split it up further (e.g., one category for housing/rent, one category for food costs, one category for gas, one category for your nest egg, etc.).

ALSO READ: Doing This One Thing Could Be Your Ticket to Getting a Mortgage

It's amazing how quickly a few additional purchases here and there can add up. If you're looking to save a little extra on a monthly basis, consider capping the amount of money you'll spend on nonessential expenses for the next few months.

Not only can you determine when and where you might be able to more effectively use your money, but if you find that you have a tendency toward impulse buys, this could help enact a temporary moratorium to reset your spending choices. In the future, you might think twice before you make purchases that you don't necessarily need and instead find that you'd rather put that money toward other sources, such as your nest egg.

No need to remove food delivery and restaurant dining from the menu altogether. However, an easy and practical way to save extra money each month is to limit those to special occasions rather than a regular mainstay.

ALSO READ: Order Food Delivery a Lot? Here's an Easy Way to Save Money

One of the fastest ways to accumulate debt and put a dent into your financial wellness plan is to lump your discretionary and nondiscretionary spending together. If you find that you tend to spend money and think about the purchase after, there's an easy way to break that habit. In taking a moment to mentally separate potential buys into the need versus want category before you press the buy button, this can help you visualize the impact of that purchase and determine whether it's a situation where your money might be better spent elsewhere, or not spent at all.

If you've found that you tend to make your least beneficial spending choices at night, you're certainly not alone. In fact, research shows that people tend to make even more online purchases after midnight than they do during the day. Of course, when you're tired, you might end up making a purchase that doesn't seem quite so essential in the clear light of day.

If you find something you want to buy late at night, you can always add it to your cart, then wait until the next day to confirm the purchase once you've had a chance to sleep on it.

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If you leverage credit cards responsibly, they can lend significant benefits to your financial tool kit. From gaining rewards that can help pay for expenses ranging from groceries to flights, to generating cash back that you can put toward reducing your balance each month, try to only use credit cards that make your money work for you.

ALSO READ: Best Credit Cards of June 2022

Even as a responsible spender, when you have a busy schedule, sometimes a bill or two might fall by the wayside. The trouble is, if this happens, you might end up paying unnecessary fees for late payments or interest. One easy way to avoid that dent in your monthly earnings is to automate your bill payments for everything from your phone bill to credit card payments.

One key thing to note here -- if the amount you're paying for certain bills varies each month, be sure to log into your account a few days before the payment is to be withdrawn to ensure the amount is correct and you're not paying more or less than required.

From streaming services to fitness companies, there's no shortage of businesses vying for your attention (and money) with affordable and accessible subscription options. Individually, these subscriptions may cost little more than a large coffee at your favorite shop, but together these expenses can really add up.

No one's saying you need to go cancel all your subscriptions, but consider checking your list of subscriptions on the regular to ensure you're really using all of them. If you haven't used a particular subscription service for a few months or longer, it might be time to pare back.

ALSO READ: How to Spend Less While Actually Living Your Life

Everyone's financial goals and journey to attaining them looks a little bit different. If you have big long-term goals like paying off college debt or buying a house, be sure to intersperse those with shorter-term goals that you can regularly move toward and achieve. In setting goals that aren't so far off, you can keep those objectives front of mind when considering a potential purchase and make smarter spending decisions that will help you enjoy the satisfaction of achieving them sooner rather than later.

In a day and age where identify theft and internet scams are more common than ever, it's a good idea to check your accounts every day or at least a few times a week. If you ever happen to see an unfamiliar purchase come through, you can deal with the matter swiftly with your bank or credit card company.

An easy way to also keep track of your spending but also monitor any suspicious activity is to set up alerts that come to your phone and/or email for any purchase with your debit or credit card. Not only will you be alerted right away of potentially fraudulent purchases, but seeing those purchases come through as you make them can be a great mental reminder to regulate your spending.

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Part of having a solid saving strategy -- and ensuring you don't end up in a difficult financial position if an unexpected life event happens -- is to regularly add to your emergency fund. If you find that you get to the end of each month without making much headway in growing your emergency fund (which should contain anywhere from six to 12 months of expenses in the event of something like job loss, illness, etc.), consider allocating a set dollar amount from your paycheck biweekly or monthly.

ALSO READ: Investors: The Stock Market Is Not Your Emergency Fund

One of the easiest ways to put your savings in peril is to accumulate debt. While not all debt falls into the same boat, focusing on paying down any high-interest debt you currently have will enable you to save more moving forward.

While certain forms of debt (like a mortgage) can be a key part of your overall financial wellness plan and moving toward your personal financial goals, other types of debt (like credit card debt) should be avoided if at all possible. If you currently have credit card debt and are unable to pay it off at once, set a realistic and achievable plan (e.g., a 12-month payment schedule) for divesting yourself of these liabilities.

Always be sure to pay at least the minimum due on your credit cards in order to mitigate outrageous interest fees.

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Not all financing is created equal, and when used wisely, buy now, pay later options can certainly be just another helpful tool in your financial tool kit. On the flip side, buy now, pay later options can sometimes present a tempting opportunity to spend money on things you don't need and can't afford because you don't have to foot the full bill up front.

No matter how much money you make, living below your means is key to building a stronger financial future. In short, if you're struggling to manage your finances responsibly with a salary of say, $50,000 a year, you might also just as easily struggle with an annual salary of $200,000 if you don't manage your money wisely.

Put another way, if your spending increases as your earnings do, you might find yourself making minimal headway in your savings goals even though you're technically making more money. However, if you can moderate and maintain your level of financial outlay even as you gradually increase your earnings over time, you can more effectively build wealth in a variety of market and economic environments.

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Presented by Motley Fool Stock Advisor
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Even saving a few hundred extra dollars a month can give you more cash to put toward your personal financial goals. Switching to a mindset of saving is half the battle. That doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy the product of your hard work.

But in the words of Warren Buffett, "Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving."

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