99 Great Ways to Save 2024 Edition

Make your money work harder for you — and save on entertainment, health care and groceries

Beth Braverman, Amanda Gengler and David Schiff,

AARP

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Published July 01, 2024

Jordan Metcalf

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Home improvement • Yard and garden • Personal finance • Entertainment • Health care • Dental care • Phone and TV • Make it last • Utilities • Insurance • AARP member benefits • Travel • Groceries • Freebies • Car costs • Everyday shopping • Bonus Tips

Welcome to the 15th annual edition of 99 Great Ways to Save. We’ve seen a lot of economic changes in the years we’ve been doing this — inflation, higher interest rates, a rise in online shopping, to name a few. In turbulent economic times, saving a buck is more important than ever. So we consulted with professionals to get their best advice for saving on home improvements, car care, travel and more. Not every tip will work for you, but try a few and see if you can’t keep some of those dollars. Saving can be habit-forming, and following our experts’ advice can help make you more mindful of money-smart attitudes. Find tips that fit your lifestyle, and watch your savings grow.

Home improvement

Liam Eisenberg

1. Observe the golden rule of insulation. If you can see the top of the floor joists in your attic, you’ll likely save energy dollars by adding insulation. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15 percent by sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces, and basements.

2. And batten down the hatch. Insulating your attic entry — often called the hatch —could save $150 a year in energy costs. The goal is to keep heat out of the attic. Since heat rises, an uninsulated hatch drains heat from your home. Home centers carry hatch insulation to fit most situations.

3. Know when to prime. Painting over low-gloss and using a similar color? Skip the primer. But in other situations, primer will save you money. Use primer when painting porous surfaces, such as bare drywall or wood or surfaces with high-gloss paint.

4. Wait for winter. Many people don’t want to start indoor projects during the winter due to the cold and holidays. But this means contractors are looking for work during those months and are more likely to give you a better deal as well as their full attention.

5. Know how to improve home value. If you plan to sell your home down the road, check out Remodeling Magazine’s helpful annual Cost vs. Value survey at remodeling.hw.net. Most financially helpful in 2023 was converting a fossil-fuel furnace to an electric heat pump, averaging an $18,366 return on $17,747 in cost. By comparison, a $23,430 deck would return just $9,325.

6. Rehab your tub. Replacing a stained and worn bathtub can run you $10,000 or more because you’ll likely have to replace everything that surrounds it too. But for $150 or less, you can refinish it with an epoxy-based finish, such as Ekopel 2k or the Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit.

Yard and garden

7. Go native. Plants indigenous to your region provide several cost-saving benefits: They thrive in local soil (so less need for fertilizers) and at local rain levels (so less watering). If they are grown at area nurseries, they may be less expensive than their more exotic cousins.

8. Partner with your neighbors. If all of you hire the same mowing or snow-removal crew, the business may be open to offering a discount since it can take care of all your homes at once.

9. Give your air conditioner space. Proper airflow around your outdoor condenser unit allows it to work more efficiently.

10. Make beds that last. Though mulch and flowering annuals look beautiful, you’ll need to pay to replace them. Using stones, perennial plants and other materials that last for many years will lower your outdoor maintenance expenses.

Personal finance

11. Upgrade bank savings accounts. If yours still pays 1 percent or less, switch now while you can find rates of 4 to 5 percent thanks to the Federal Reserve’s inflation-battling moves. Find comparisons at websites Bankrate and NerdWallet. On a $10,000 balance, a 5 percent interest rate could net you $400 in a year if you are making 1 percent now.

12. Set reminders for card payments. A recent report shows how much the credit card industry leans into late fees — they make up more than 10 percent of all interest and fees collected. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is pushing to limit these fees to the single digits; now they can reach $41 per late check arrival. Set a calendar reminder to pay your card on time.

13. Consider a robo-adviser. If you can’t afford a financial planner, a so-called robo-adviser program could help place your cash smartly across various sectors, using complex algorithms. Annual fees are typically 0.25 to 0.50 percent of the portfolio value, compared with the typical 1 percent for a human adviser. Most major investing companies, such as Fidelity and Vanguard, offer robo-adviser options.

14. Cut taxes for your heirs. As of 2020, many adult children who inherit an IRA must empty the account within 10 years. Problem is, that’s often in their prime earning years, when their tax rate is high. To spare your heirs, convert traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs and pay taxes in years when your own tax rate is low — maybe after retirement. Your kids won’t owe taxes on their Roth withdrawals.

15. Tap your 401(k) for emergencies. The recent Secure 2.0 Act allows you to withdraw $1,000 from a 401(k) or IRA once a year without the usual 10 percent penalty for those younger than 59.5, as long as the money is needed for an emergency. This can be a better option than racking up high-interest-rate debt.

16. Know your credit card savings perks. These may include discounted or early access concert tickets, extended warranties, purchase protection against damage or theft, and rental car insurance. Find out what perks your card offers and use them.

Entertainment

17. Wait to buy your tickets for sporting events. For most regular season games across all major sports, prices usually drop as the event approaches. Watch for tickets leading up to the game.

18. But not for concerts. Tickets for top musical acts almost never drop in price as the event approaches. In fact, your goal is to buy tickets the first day they go on sale and directly from the venue or its official ticket-selling agency, both to get better seats and to lock in more reasonable, often-band-approved costs. If you wait, you’ll likely pay more to ticket resellers.

19. Hit the movies midweek. Early afternoon matinees have long been the way to save on movie tickets, but some theaters also offer discounts on evening shows playing on, say, Tuesday or Wednesday, charging as little as $5. You might even get a deal on popcorn.

20. Buy lunch takeout for dinner. Restaurants often offer more food for less money at lunch. A lunch special may include, for example, a soup or salad and sides. Plan ahead, and order takeout at lunchtime, then stick it in the refrigerator until the evening meal.

21. Let a deal drive a vacation. Stay flexible about where you’d like to go and watch for specials. Travelzoo continuously features package deals to various destinations. Or stay flexible on timing. Sites such as Hopper let you set an alert for a specific destination, and you’ll be notified when there is a deal.

22. Use your workplace benefits. Many employees miss entertainment perks offered through their employers, such as discounted tickets to amusement parks, museums, Broadway shows, concerts and more. Also, check out what is offered by your professional groups and organizations such as AAA.

23. Arrive together, but sit separately. Sure, it takes some of the social fun out of it, but you can often save on theater tickets by buying single seats. Chat during intermission — or not.

Health care

Liam Eisenberg

24. Consider a surgical center. Need a surgery that doesn’t require an overnight hospital stay? Ask your doctor if there’s a nearby surgical center equipped to handle outpatient procedures. It’s likely to cost you significantly less than a hospital. For example, the Medicare copay for cataract surgery is $363 at a surgical center versus $588 at a hospital.

25. Get a free gym membership. Enrolled in Medicare? Many Advantage and Medigap plans include a free gym membership, often through the SilverSneakers program or other options.

26. Use up your OTC benefit. Most Medicare Advantage plans include a prepaid card you can use to purchase over-the-counter medicines and health-related items. The allowance expires monthly or quarterly, so stock up before the card resets.

27. Try virtual visits. During the pandemic, Medicare began covering many types of medical appointments via computer, tablet or phone. Coverage for these telehealth services was recently extended through the end of 2024, including services with physical therapists, speech pathologists and others. Meeting virtually may save you the cost of a ride or parking, or the time you need to take off work.

28. Need an X-ray? Shop around. One study found that prices for common radiology services (X-rays, MRIs, scans) can vary nearly fourfold — that’s 400 percent — depending on the provider and insurance network. If you are paying out of pocket, or have a high deductible, comparing costs can mean big savings.

29. Get help with high drug costs. The Inflation Reduction Act expanded a program that helps some people with their drug costs. This year, more Medicare users will pay no premium or deductible and a reduced amount for generic and brand drugs. The program is based on your income and assets. Learn more at medicare.gov/extrahelp.

30. Ask your insurer about free screenings. More companies cover some tests without a copay. They know that catching health issues early saves money for them as well as for you. Early diagnosis can save you suffering — maybe even your life.

Dental care

31. Join a dental savings plan. These noninsurance plans negotiate dental discounts, averaging 50 percent, and typically cost about $150 per year as long as you use a dentist who accepts the plan. Search for plans in your area at DentalPlans.com.

32. Or join a dentist membership plan. Some dentists have their own plans. A monthly fee includes maintenance at no extra charge and other procedures at a discount. These dentists know that regular dental care will save you money while providing them with a regular income.

33. Check Medicare plans. Original Medicare doesn’t pay for most dental work, but many Advantage plans and some Medigap plans either pay or provide discounts for preventive dental care such as exams, cleaning and X-rays; a few mitigate the cost of work including crowns, bridges and root canals.

34. Be a skeptical patient. Before green-lighting expensive dental work, take a pause. Do online research, so you can ask the tough questions: Do you really need an implant, or would a much cheaper bridge do just fine? Why do fillings need to be replaced? Always ask for a range of options.

35. Check out stand-alone dental plans. If you don’t have dental coverage through your health plan, shop for a stand-alone plan. Compare prices at eHealthInsurance.com.

36. For cleanings and X-rays, visit a hygienist instead. At least 42 states allow dental hygienists to treat patients without supervision or authorization by a dentist. Rules vary, but in most of those states, a hygienist can do your cleaning, X-rays, sealant and fluoride treatments. The cost is often less than at a dentist’s office.

Phone and TV

a woman relaxes with her smartphone surrounded by images of activities

Liam Eisenberg

37. Try free streaming services. A fast-growing segment of the TV-over-the-internet industry is services you can tune in to at no charge. You’ll have to sit through ads, but you’ll pay nothing to watch a lot of shows and movies. Popular services include Amazon Freevee, Pluto TV, Tubi, the Roku Channel and Crackle.

38. Time your buy. You can often find subscription discounts during big sales days such as Black Friday. Also check out your credit card and phone companies to see if they offer free subscriptions to streaming services such as Disney+, ESPN or Hulu.

39. Binge and rotate. Most TV streaming services are available by the month. There is no cost to turn off a service for a few months, waiting for it to have several shows or movies you want to watch, enjoying them across several weeks, then turning the service off again. Your goal: Have no more than two paid streaming channels at any given time.

40. Skip the usual phone brands. Most Americans carry an Apple or Samsung phone. Research in Consumer Reports shows that other devices — from Motorola, OnePlus, Google and beyond — can cost less, yet offer excellent quality and service.

41. Mobile phones. The major players, such as Apple, as well as third-party retailers, such as Walmart, sell pre-owned, refurbished phones at heavily discounted prices. Companies do a responsible job checking them to make sure they operate optimally. Pre-owned phones usually come with a warranty. Walmart was recently selling a new 128-gig iPhone 14 for $530 and a “restored” version of the same phone for $423, for a savings of $107.

42. Buy a good phone case. Forget color and style, and seek maximum phone protection. Focus first on these features: a raised edge around the front of the screen; some cushioning within the case; and a snug, assured fit. Only when you’ve found a case that can handle the occasional hard drop should you look at the color and design choices.

Make it last

43. Clothes washers. Every year, check with a level to see if the top of the washer is still perfectly parallel to the floor. If your washer is even slightly uneven, the basket will be out of balance, straining the motor and bearings, and shortening the life of the machine. YouTube has lots of videos, probably even one specific to your washer.

44. Refrigerators. Unless your fridge is labeled “zero clearance” or is front-vented, jamming it up against the wall or side cabinets will shorten its life because it’ll have to work harder to dissipate heat. For the same reason, don’t store items on top of the fridge. Make sure there’s at least 1 inch of clearance on all sides.

45. Dishwashers. Clean the drain trap! This quick chore will prevent clogs that can shorten the life of your dishwasher, and it will result in cleaner dishes. With typical use, clean the trap about once a month. Check your dishwasher owner’s manual or YouTube.

46. Sewing machines. Keep covered when not in use. Dust can turn the oil that lubricates the parts into gunk that increases wear. Use the cover that came with the machine, or pick up a plastic cover at any fabric store.

47. Clothes. Keep stain-remover pens in strategic places: a work drawer, your handbag, the garage, the kitchen, even your car’s glove compartment. The sooner you treat a stain, the more likely you’ll be able to remove it completely in the next washing.

Utilities

Liam Eisenberg

48. Check with your electricity provider about dynamic pricing. Two states — California and Massachusetts — mandate that electricity prices vary based on peak versus off-peak times, but more utilities are putting such programs in place on their own. If rates are discounted at night, that’s the time to run the dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, and even charge all your mobile devices. Savings range from $60 to $240 per year, according to several energy research groups.

49. Apply window film. Window insulation film, used on the inside or outside of your windows, can keep hot air inside during the winter months and reduce rays from the sun entering the house in the summer. The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save 10 to 15 percent a year on your energy bill.

50. Don’t open your oven when cooking. The temperature inside the oven can fall 25 degrees every time you open the door. That means wasted energy to heat back up. Turn on the oven light instead to check, or simply rely on a timer.

Insurance

51. Get serious about comparison shopping. Home, car, health and even life insurers are making lots of adjustments to their rates after a few years when costs for parts, labor and medical care soared, and fatalities, thefts and weather-related incidents jumped. So the overall insurance market is very competitive.

52. Talk to your insurer about life changes. Retiring? Switching careers? Credit score taken a nice upswing? Started carpooling or using public transportation? Installed a security camera? These are just some of the changes that could trigger discounts on your home or auto insurance rates. But you can’t get them if you don’t share the news with your insurer or agent.

53. Ask questions. Each insurer has its own list of ways to earn a discount, such as enrolling in automatic payments or paperless statements, bundling home and auto coverage, taking driver safety classes or adding anti-theft devices or security alarms. Your insurer’s website may not list all the possible discounts. Your best bet is to get on the phone with your insurer and inquire about ways to save.

54. Compare Medicare Part D plans. Starting next year, out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients with a Part D drug plan will be capped at $2,000. Insurers selling Part D plans are expected to make some big adjustments as a result, which may change which plan makes the most sense for you. Open enrollment starts Oct. 15; go the extra mile this year to compare different insurers’ offerings.

55. Enroll in a driving course. One of the largest auto insurance discounts available — up to 25 percent on key coverage areas — may be granted after you complete a safe driving course. The classes can be online or in person and usually run four to eight hours. They discuss new laws and safe driving tips. AARP members can find discounted safe driving courses at aarpdriversafety.org.

56. Put that phone down and pull over! Beware getting a traffic ticket for driving while dialing, texting or web browsing on a mobile phone. Not only is it expensive, insurers are cracking down, and just one ticket for texting can push up your insurance premium an average of 23 percent and as much as 45 percent, depending on your state and insurer, according to a recent study.

AARP member benefits

57. Prescription savings. AARP members get deeper discounts on medications, home delivery and coverage for dependents through AARP Prescription Discounts provided by Optum Rx.

58. Consumer Cellular. Members save with two lines of unlimited talk, text and data for $55/month or 5 percent off monthly fees and 30 percent off accessories.

59. Allstate Roadside. Roadside protection plans starting at $5.50/month, including Roadside Assist and Roadside Elite.

60. Flowers and gifts. 25 percent off sitewide and 30 percent off select items from FTD and Proflowers.

61. Vision discounts. Members and their families get exclusive savings at Target Optical and LensCrafters through AARP Vision Discounts provided by EyeMed.

62. RushMyPassport.com. AARP members and their families can purchase exclusive passport renewal bundles that include shipping and government fees. Special pricing and expedited services are available for all passport types.

63. Restaurants. Up to 15 percent off at Denny’s, Outback Steakhouse, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Bonefish Grill, plus favorite local spots.

64. Walmart+. Members save $20 off every year of their Walmart+ annual membership. Walmart+ members receive free delivery from their store on orders over $35, free shipping with no order minimum, gas savings and more. Terms apply.

65. Paramount+. Members can save 10 percent on any Paramount+ plan and can start streaming more than 45,000 episodes and blockbuster movies, live sports, news and exclusive originals all in one place.

66. Car rentals. Up to 35 percent off base rates when members choose the Pay Now option at the time of reservation or up to 30 percent off when they choose to Pay Later at the pickup counter. Members can get a free upgrade on compact to full-size car class bookings when available, plus an additional driver at no cost at Avis and Budget.

Travel

Liam Eisenberg

67. Reconsider hostels. These cheap accommodations don’t exclusively attract young, party-focused travelers. Read hostel reviews before booking. It can be cheaper to buy out a full room at a hostel (with four beds and a bathroom) than to stay in another local accommodation.

68. Buy a reusable water bottle. It needs to be empty to get through airport security. Then fill it for the flight, then again when you land, and before you leave your hotel each day. Your goal: Spend zero dollars on basic hydration when traveling.

69. Be a Night Owl. Amtrak continues to offer ultralow Night Owl fares for trips between stations along the Northeast Corridor from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. A Night Owl fare from Philadelphia to Baltimore is only $5, and you can travel from New York to Washington, D.C., for $20.

70. Lock in Christmas travel in early October. Data from Google Flights shows that for flights starting in mid-December, average prices bottom out 71 days before departure.

71. Book flights way ahead if using miles. Airplane tickets booked with points are typically fully refundable, and your miles or points simply go back into your account. That means you can use points to buy a ticket as soon as it’s available. After that, you can monitor the cash price for tickets until the flight. If you see a great cash price, go ahead and make the purchase and cancel the award ticket.

72. Check out direct prices for hotel rooms. Before booking a room through an online aggregation site, see if it’s available at a lower price from the hotel directly. Some hotels push lower prices on their own websites because they don’t want to pay a share to the aggregator.

73. Buy groceries, book travel. You can book your next car rental, vacation package or hotel through warehouse club stores. Prices are often cheaper, and you might get perks such as waived daily resort fees. What’s more, you might nab a gift card to stock up on groceries at your destination.

74. Skip the restaurant, have a picnic. At least once every vacation, pick up food at a market and set yourself up in a park for an alfresco meal. This is not only a great way to eat well for less but also an opportunity to people watch and truly relax.

Groceries

75. Try team shopping. Shop with a partner to double your savings. Share discounts, buy in bulk, divide and conquer. What items can you split and save? Think fresh herbs, family-size meat packs, double boxes of cereal, large sacks of potatoes and so on. You can also save on BOGO (“buy one, get one …”) and other deals.

76. Skip one-use ingredients. Unless you intend to use it all at once, avoid buying ingredients such as buttermilk, fresh herbs or unique jarred products for one single recipe; this often leads to expired or moldy food going into the garbage. Instead, make substitutions at home. You can find common ingredient substitutions at AllRecipes.com, ThriftyFrugalMom.com or ChefStore.com.

77. Try “imperfect” food. Imperfect Foods and Misfits Market, two companies that deliver food weekly on a subscription basis, recently merged, although both brands are still available. Their foods have slight imperfections or are overstocked. By carefully shaping your weekly delivery, you can save big bucks compared with a typical grocery store run.

78. Let grocery stores compete for your dollar. Flipp is a unique app that gathers up sales flyers in your region; you can then review them on your phone. If you live in an area with several competing grocery stores, you can save serious money by finding out in advance where the best prices are for the things you want.

79. Shop your pantry and fridge. Before you head out to do your week’s grocery shopping, take a careful look at what you already have on hand. Be sure to explore stuff that’s shuffled its way to the back. Challenge yourself to come up with recipes that use up your inventory — especially items that will expire soon. If you can find enough food on hand to make one meal a week, you could easily cut your grocery bill by $10 a trip. That would translate to saving $520 a year.

Buy it used

80. Gift cards. You can find unused gift cards for sale at less than face value on sites such as CardCash or Raise. Discounts vary but generally range from a few percentage points to 25 percent off or more at name-brand retailers.

81. Sporting goods. To find deals on used sports equipment, search sport-specific sites such as SidelineSwap. A used Scott Speedster road bicycle was listed there recently for $650 — new, it goes for $1,199. Large items such as bikes or kayaks can also be found on local listing sites such as Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace.

82. Furniture. Estate sales have moved online, through sites such as AuctionNinja.com and EstateSales.org. It may be safer to pay through these legitimate sites than to show up at a stranger’s house with a wad of cash. Downside: You can’t evaluate the actual item until it’s delivered.

Freebies

83. Build a free children’s library. Enter your kid’s or grandkid’s age at Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website. Depending on your address, you may receive age-appropriate free books each month until they reach age 5.

84. Do this on Facebook. Search for your town’s name and the words “buy nothing,” and you’ll likely find several pages dedicated to locals looking to give away items they no longer want or need. Such groups are a particularly good way to find gently used products such as books or children’s toys and clothes.

85. Scan freebie sites. There are several websites and blogs dedicated to sharing free samples offered by brands that are promoting consumer products. You’ll have to share your name and email and postal addresses to get the deals. A few sites to explore include FreeStuffFinder, ILFT and FreeFlys.

86. Keep track of national food holidays. Whether it’s National Pizza Day (Feb. 9), National Pretzel Day (April 26) or National Coffee Day (Sept. 29), you may find restaurants offering discounts and extras, often with purchase, to recognize the date. Find an extensive list of such holidays at NationalDayCalendar.com, then check the websites of appropriate food and drink purveyors for a deal.

87. “Free” gift cards! Walmart’s Gadget to Gift Cards program will send you free gift cards in exchange for old electronics, including cellphones, speakers and smartwatches that you no longer use. Visit the retailer’s Gadget to Gift Cards website to get a printable packing label. The value of the cards varies, from a few dollars for an older Fitbit to hundreds for a newer iPad. (Walmart pays AARP a royalty for use of its intellectual property and provides a benefit to AARP members.)

88. Go back to school. Public colleges, including the University of Colorado, the University of Maine and California’s state universities, allow older learners to audit classes for free when space is available. Contact your local university for more information.

Car costs

a car with dollars in its gas cap at a gas pump

Liam Eisenberg

89. Use cruise control smartly to save gas. Driving aggressively and letting your speed vary while on the freeway can lower your highway gas mileage by 15 to 30 percent. Use cruise control to save money on long and level stretches.

90. Buy small, rent big. If you need to haul compost, furniture or road-trip gear just a few times a year, you could save on gas, insurance and car costs by buying an economy vehicle, then renting a pickup or minivan for those occasional heavy lifts.

91. Find the cheapest gas. There are many apps that will help you find the best gas price. Examples: GasBuddy shows nearby prices and offers a savings program. The navigation app Waze will list gas prices near you and direct you to the location you choose.

Everyday shopping

92. Add shopping app folders. About 1 in 3 major retailers have an app that often offers extra discounts and benefits. Download these apps and put them into folders on your phone — one for grocery stores, one for restaurants and so on.

93. Keep your change. Several finance apps help you stash small amounts of money at a time. For example, Chime automatically rounds up all your debit card purchases to the next dollar and deposits the change in a savings account. Acorns will put round-ups into an investment account. Qapital lets you set “savings rules,” such as stashing cash every time you get takeout food.

94. Pick up your purchases. More than half of online retailers offer customers the option of picking up their purchases in the store. Choosing this option means you don’t have to pay shipping fees, which most retailers charge for purchases below an average free-shipping threshold of $64.

95. Try to drop off your returns. Many online retailers have started charging again for mailing back returns. If the retailer has physical stores, items bought online usually can be returned to the store for no fee.

96. Don’t shop for clothes when you’re hungry. It’s not just grocery shopping you should avoid when starving. Studies have shown that hungry shoppers are more likely to make impulse buys on nonfood items as well.

97. Rethink Amazon Prime. If you enjoy the free, fast shipping but don’t use a lot of Prime’s other features, such as the video or music services, you may not need to pay the $139 per year to be a member. You can often bundle together a few items to get free shipping. Plus, waiting to buy until you hit that minimum may reduce impulse purchases.

98. Practice patience for online shopping. For certain Amazon purchases, you can earn a credit or a discount when you choose at checkout not to have your item speedily delivered in the standard day or two we’ve become accustomed to. The credit can be used to, say, buy music or a video on your Prime account.

99. Have an email account for shopping. Then have all promotions from retailers sent there. You can pursue deals that require an email address without giving up your primary address. Home Depot recently offered a $5 coupon for its customers’ email addresses, while American Eagle was giving 10 percent off.

DIGITAL EXTRA

20 MORE Great Ways to Save!

As a welcome to AARP Members Edition, we’re giving you a special bonus — 20 extra savings tips that, if you can use them all, could put up to $13,962 back in your pocket. Even if you only use a couple, the savings should make your day.

1. Change these two filters. Modern cars typically have two air filters: one for the engine, another for the cabin. During a routine maintenance visit, a Hyundai dealer quoted $152 to change both. A quick look at YouTube videos revealed that the filters could easily be replaced with no tools. Both were purchased online for a total of $28 and installed in just 15 minutes. Savings: $124! Note that filters are trickier to replace on some vehicles. It’s important that they are installed properly, so check out videos for your model before proceeding.

2. Factor in insurance. In 2023, the average U.S. cost for full insurance coverage for a Subaru Outback was $1,603; for a Cadillac Escalade, $2,743; for a Tesla Model X, $4,364, according to a Bankrate report. Get insurance quotes for the cars you are considering before making a final choice, and you can save about $1,000 a year.

3. Skip the raking. If your municipality or homeowners association allows it, let your leaves lie. “Then you can just mow over them in the spring, and it creates a natural mulch, which is good for your lawn,” says Matt Schmitz, managing editor at HomeServe. This shift could save you an average of $300 (depending on where you live and the size of your yard) that landscapers would charge for leaf removal.

4. Rejuvenate your wood floor. The average cost in the U.S. to refinish a hardwood floor is $1,828, according to the Spruce. And what a mess and hassle! If the problem is just scratches in the finish, you can renew your floor with a DIY hardwood repair kit that often costs less than $25. Most include a wide range of color fillers, so you can get a very close match to the floor’s shade.

5. Use an app that helps you save. Oportun’s Set & Save mobile phone app automates savings by learning your spending patterns and saving smart amounts for you. Using a unique algorithm, the app makes saving effortless. It allows you to set specific savings goals and helps set aside money regularly to get you there. Oportun says its members save an average of more than $1,800 annually.

6. Mind the gaps. Hold a candle in front of your doors and windows. If the flame flickers, that’s a sign of air leaks that could lead to heat loss. Use caulk or weather stripping to seal potential cracks or gaps. That could save an average of 11 percent off total energy costs, or about $200 per year.

7. Lower your water heater temperature. Some manufacturers set water heater thermostats automatically to an unnecessarily high 140 degrees. The U.S. Department of Energy says reducing that temperature to 120 degrees could save you more than $400 a year — and lower the risk of scalding water. Water heating is typically the second-largest energy expense in a home, after air conditioning and heating.

8. Unplug unused devices. When they’re turned off, most electric devices move into “standby mode,” in which they still use a small amount of electricity while they’re plugged in. Eliminate the power suckers by unplugging products when not in use or by plugging them into a power strip with an “off” switch. Potential savings: Up to $100 per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

9. Switch to small credit card issuers. The average credit card interest rate for outstanding balances tops 20 percent, the highest rate in decades. If you don’t pay off your credit card balance each month (about half of Americans don’t), move your business to a small bank or credit union. A recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found that smaller credit card issuers offered lower interest rates than the top 25 largest issuers. On a $5,000 balance, the annual savings could reach $500.

10. BYO airplane meals. Many airlines no longer offer free in-flight meal service. Rather than shelling out for high-cost, low-quality meals at the airport or on the plane, bring a sandwich or other travel-friendly meal from home, recommends Darley Newman, host, creator and producer of the PBS show Travels With Darley. Potential savings: $25 per couple, round trip.

11. Stay where you are on Sundays. Pricing trends evolve, but research from Hopper shows that Sundays are the most expensive day of the week to fly in the United States. Leaving on a Wednesday or Thursday instead will save you, on average, $45, or about 15 percent off the cost of your flight.

12. Pack lightly. Most large American carriers raised their fees for checked bags this year. You may avoid these fees if you have frequent flyer status or are using an airline-branded credit card. Otherwise, packing all your items into a carry-on (or one checked suitcase for two people) can save $70 or more on a round-trip flight.

13. Scope out urgent care centers. Knowing their location, hours and the services they provide may give you more confidence in visiting one of these facilities rather than making a trip to a hospital. Going to an urgent care center not only means you’ll likely get treated more quickly, it also can cost $2,515 less than an ER visit.

14. Sign up for automatic payments and paperless statements. Many phone carriers will give you a $5 to $10 discount (or even more with multiple phone lines) each month if you sign up for automatic payments and paperless statements — a savings of up to $120 a year.

15. Create a referral network. Many companies have incentive programs for getting a friend or family member to sign up, but we often avoid them as we don’t want to be a nuisance to those we care for. Turn that on its head: Gather a group and orchestrate these referrals for maximum benefit, advises Andrea Woroch, a consumer savings writer and speaker. Some of these deals are substantial. Discover recently offered a credit of up to $500 a year to cardholders who referred new customers, while Verizon was giving a $15 monthly credit on its bill to customers and to the eligible friends they referred.

16. Use cheaper gas. Stick with regular fuel unless your owner’s manual states, “Premium fuel required.” Testing has found no appreciable improvement in performance when premium is “recommended” but not required. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed that premium cost an average of 89 cents more per gallon than regular. Switching may save an average of more than $14 per 16-gallon tank of gas — $364 a year if you fill up every two weeks.

17. DIY on interior painting. Exterior painting, which requires high ladders and strenuous prep work, might best be left to pros. But painting a room is easy enough, especially with today’s better-quality latex paints that provide excellent coverage and clean up with water. Assuming you own brushes, rollers and other basic equipment, painting a 400-square-foot room yourself will cost about $100 for two gallons of paint versus the $1,876 you might pay a pro.

18. Earn energy tax credits. The Inflation Reduction Act extended and amended tax credits for certain energy-efficient improvements you make on your primary residence through 2032. The new credit is up to 30 percent of the cost of the project, with an annual limit of $1,200. If you spread out your home upgrades over nine years, you could receive up to $10,800 back on your taxes versus the previous credit’s $500 lifetime max.

19. Brag to your insurance company. If you have done necessary home repairs and upgrades that have made your home safer, your insurer may lower your homeowner premiums. Replacing a 20-year-old roof, for example, could shave more than $600 per year off the cost of insurance, according to an analysis by ValuePenguin.

20. Discover senior discount days. Ask at the checkout whether your grocery store offers a senior discount day — usually 5 or 10 percent on Wednesdays or Thursdays. The discount is on top of coupons and sales. Don’t forget to have the clerk apply the discount if you use the self-checkout line. It’s easy to spend $200 at the grocery store these days, so that 5 percent could leave your pocketbook $10 heavier for a week’s shopping — an annual savings of $520.

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To compile advice for 99 Great Ways to Save, our writers consulted dozens of experts, including: Becky Blaine, senior editor at The Points Guy; Mike Crossen, automotive technician at Consumer Reports; Angie Hicks, cofounder and chief customer officer, Angititle; Kate Holmes, founder of Too Good to Be Threw’s Products for the Professional Resaler; Kourtnee Jackson, specialist in TV streaming services and home entertainment at CNET; Courtney Klosterman, home insights specialist with Hippo home insurance; Chris Leyden, director of growth and marketing at SeatGeek; Courtney Lindwall, technology writer at Consumer Reports; Shannon Martin, insurance analyst at Bankrate; Kristin McGrath, shopping specialist with RetailMeNot; Darley Newman, host, creator and producer of the PBS show Travels With Darley; Lisa Niver, author of Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty; Andrew Perroy, general manager with Honey Homes; Mike Quincy, autos tester and writer at Consumer Reports; Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate; Shang Saavedra, founder and CEO of Save My Cents; Matt Schmitz, managing editor at HomeServe.; Jonathan Wainberg, senior vice president and general manager at CareCredit Pet at Synchrony; Jim Willcox, senior electronics editor at Consumer Reports; Andrea Woroch, consumer savings writer and speaker; Karen Curtiss, executive director of The Care Partner Project

Beth Braverman is a personal finance writer who’s written for Money and CNBC.com. Amanda Gengler is a financial writer who worked for Money magazine. David Schiff is a writer and editor who’s worked for Consumer Reports and Reader’s Digest.