12 Things to Cut When Money Gets Tight

Let’s be real: managing money can feel like a full-time job. Between bills, credit cards, subscriptions, and the occasional impulse buy, it’s easy to lose track.

I’ve spent years digging into the most common ways people waste money – and trust me, some of them are shockingly easy to fix.

Here are the biggest money-wasters I’ve found (and what to do instead):

1. Auto Insurance: Cut Your Payment by $400+/Year*

Sticking with the same auto insurance year after year?

It could be costing you.

The average American family still overspends by $416¹ or more per year on car insurance – often without realizing it.

I usually pull up Auto Savings – a free site that compares offers from trusted insurers. It takes just 2 minutes to see what’s out there.

Here’s how:

• Click below to open Auto Savings
• Answer a few quick questions
• Compare real offers instantly

That’s all it takes. You’ll likely save yourself a bunch of money.

*Savings vary by zip code and driving record.

2. Still Overpaying on Your Home Insurance?

Home insurance protects your biggest asset — but that doesn’t mean you should overpay for it.

Most people don’t realize they can switch providers anytime, and potentially save hundreds per year without losing coverage.

We’ve found a top-rated tool that lets you compare multiple home insurance offers in one place. Just enter your zip and basic info — it only takes a minute.

Here’s the home insurance comparison site I typically use: Link

3. Protect Your Vehicle From Expensive Repairs

That dreaded check engine light? Never good — especially if your warranty’s expired.

Endurance helps drivers avoid costly repairs with extended auto warranty plans that cover engines, transmissions, brakes, air conditioners, and more.

They’ve protected millions of vehicles over nearly 20 years and earned top reviews on Google.

Just enter your vehicle details and get matched with a plan that fits your car and your budget. Coverage is affordable, flexible, and built to save you money.

Don’t let repairs drain your savings.

4. Ask This Company to Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt

If you have a lot of debt, getting out of it can feel stressful (and nearly impossible). Here’s the problem: the longer you put off tackling it, the harder it gets to fix.

If you don’t take control of it early on, it can add undue stress to your life for years.

But what if there was a way to get out of debt once and for all?

National Debt Relief could help. If you have more than $10,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives might be able to assist you in consolidating your debt into one low monthly program payment.

Best of all? There are zero fees until your debt is resolved, and you could be debt-free in 24-48 months. To get started, just answer a few simple questions. It only takes 30 seconds to see if you qualify!

Try National Debt Relief

5. The Mortgage Rate Mistake That Could Cost You $73,000

When it comes to mortgages, most people go with whoever they already bank with. It’s convenient – but it’s expensive.

Bankrate compared their 2025 average rate against the national average and found the typical borrower saved $73,000 over 30 years just by finding a better rate.⁵ And their top offers beat 99.7% of rates from 300+ surveyed banks and credit unions last year.⁶

The process is simple:

• Enter your zip code on Bankrate Mortgages
• Answer a few questions about your loan
• Compare real-time offers from 45+ lenders – no credit impact to browse

Bankrate has connected over 400,000 people with mortgage lenders. It takes about 2 minutes to see what you’d actually qualify for.

⁵Comparison of 2025 avg. Bankrate rate vs. nat’l avg rate for 30yr term. ⁶Based on Bankrate’s best rates in 2025 vs. 300+ surveyed lenders.

6. The $90/Month Bottled Water Mistake

Americans spend $60-90 a month on bottled water assuming it’s the healthy choice. But here’s what the bottle doesn’t tell you: those plastic containers are leaching microplastics directly into your body — particles now linked to weight gain, gut damage, and metabolic dysfunction.

The NIH recently confirmed that microplastics “boost the growth and accumulation of fat cells.” Scientists literally call them obesogens.

Dr. Steven Gundry — who lost 70 lbs himself and has kept it off for 25 years — found that the missing link for gut health isn’t just what you eat. It’s hydrogen. Your good gut bacteria need hydrogen to produce butyrate, the “repairman” compound that fixes your gut lining and fires up your metabolism.

His Ultimate H2 tablets deliver 5 parts per million of hydrogen (3x the competition) in just 2 minutes:

• Metabolism support for easier weight management
• Mental clarity without caffeine jitters
• Smoother digestion — goodbye bloating
• Better sleep quality
• Backed by a 90-day guarantee 

7. Diversify Your Retirement Savings With Gold

If you’ve spent decades building your nest egg, the last thing you want is to watch inflation or a market crash take a bite out of it. That’s exactly why more Americans are adding gold and silver to their retirement portfolios.

American Hartford Gold specializes in helping people do just that — whether it’s physical precious metals or a gold/silver IRA. And the historical case is hard to ignore: gold climbed 330% between 2005 and 2020, and actually gained 25% during the 2008 stock market crash.⁷

Getting started takes three steps:

• Request your free Gold IRA guide
• Talk to a dedicated specialist about what makes sense for your situation
• Transfer or invest to start diversifying

They carry an A+ BBB rating, hold the #1 spot on the Inc. 5000 list of gold companies, and are exclusively endorsed by Bill O’Reilly. If you’re serious about protecting what you’ve built, this is worth a look. 

8. Need Cash? Your Home Might Already Have It

If you’ve built up equity in your home, a HELOC lets you borrow against it — kind of like a credit card, but typically with better interest rates and terms.

It’s a flexible way to access funds for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other expenses without refinancing your existing mortgage.

How it works:

• You borrow only what you need, when you need it
• Pay interest only on what you use
• Access funds as needed during your draw period

Use LendingTree’s calculator to see how much equity you could access:

• Enter your home details
• Compare offers from multiple lenders
• Check rates with no credit score impact

9. Credit Card Debt? Pay 0% Intro APR Interest Until Nearly 2028

Still paying sky-high interest on credit card debt? You may have better options — including 0% intro APR offers that last up to 21 months on balance transfers.

We’ve partnered with Bankrate to spotlight some of the top-rated balance transfer credit cards of 2026 — all in one place. These cards can give you the breathing room to finally get ahead, without the monthly interest charges holding you back.

•  Compare top-rated balance transfer cards
•  See intro APR terms as long as 21 months
•  No impact to your credit score to explore options

Click below to view the current top balance transfer offers — curated by Bankrate and presented in partnership with Greensprout.

10. Homeowners Save Up to $1,429/Year by Bundling Auto + Home Insurance

Here’s something most homeowners don’t realize: if you have home insurance with one company and auto insurance with another, you could be leaving money on the table.

Bundling your home and auto policies with the same insurer can save you up to 25% – that’s up to $1,429³ per year, according to State Farm’s 2025 national survey.

And you’re not alone if you haven’t done this yet. According to J.D. Power’s 2025 Insurance Shopping Study, 1 in 3 drivers⁴ shopping for auto insurance are now looking to bundle with their home policy.

Here’s how to check if you qualify:

• Click below to enter your zip code
• Answer a few quick questions about your car
• See bundled offers from top insurers in your area

It takes about 2 minutes – and could put over $1,000 back in your pocket this year.

11. Have $2M Saved for Retirement? What Can You Actually Spend Per Year?

It’s one of the most common retirement questions out there – and honestly, there’s no simple answer. The right number depends on your tax situation, Social Security timing, investment mix, healthcare costs, and other things many people don’t think about until it’s too late.

The smart move? Ask a pro.

SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area and are legally required to act in your best interest – not their own. You can have a free introductory call with each match before you commit to anything.

Here’s how it works:

• Answer a few quick questions to find a match near you
• Get connected with vetted fiduciary advisors in minutes
• Chat with them for free and choose who you actually want to work with

No pressure, no strings – just a clearer picture of what your retirement can actually look like.

12. Erase Interest Until Nearly 2027— 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers

Stop bogging yourself down with those high-interest credit card payments. It seriously limits your spending power. If your monthly interest payments are starting to creep out of control, you might need to take a look at changing things up with your current credit card by transferring your balance to a card with a 0% intro APR.

We’ve done the research and identified some of the best options to help you take back control. These cards offer a generous 0% intro APR on balance transfers until nearly 2027, which means you could get the breathing room you need to tackle your debt without being hamstrung by interest payments for a whole year.

On top of that, you can earn up to 5% cash back on everyday purchases and enjoy a $0 annual fee. It’s really a no-brainer when you consider you could save on interest and earn on everyday purchases.