12 Things to Cut When Money Gets Tight
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Updated April 21st 2026
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.
See how much you can save on car insurance
*Savings vary by zip code and driving record.
2. The Savings Account Upgrade Most People Never Think to Make
Most people don't realize this: some high-yield savings accounts are offering up to 4.00% APY as of March 2026, while the national average sits around 0.57% APY*, according to the FDIC.
That's about 7 times higher returns for doing absolutely nothing different.
Here's the math: $10,000 in a regular savings account earns you $57 per year. The same money in a high-yield account? $444 annually. That's an extra $387 just for banking somewhere smarter.
See which banks are paying the most on savings right now
3. 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.
Otto Home Insurance helps you compare multiple home insurance offers in one place. Just enter your zip and basic info - it only takes a minute.
- Enter your zip code
- Answer a few quick questions
- Compare offers from multiple carriers
Compare home insurance quotes with Otto
4. 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 coverage plans that can include engines, transmissions, brakes, air conditioners, and more.
They've protected millions of vehicles over nearly 20 years and earned strong reviews online.
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.
5. 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 $30,000 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!
6. 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.
See current mortgage rates from 45+ lenders
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.
7. Home Repair Bill? Let Someone Else Foot the Bill
Your AC breaks in the summer. Your fridge dies without warning. Stuff like this happens more often than you think - and it's almost never cheap.
That's where a home warranty helps. It's like backup coverage for appliances, plumbing, electrical, and more - things your homeowners insurance typically doesn't cover.
Choice Home Warranty has been protecting homeowners since 2008, with a 24/7 claims line and a nationwide network of service technicians ready to handle issues quickly.
Want to see if your home qualifies?
- Enter your zip code
- Answer a few quick questions
- Lock in your 2026 rate and get $50 off + 1 month free
It could save you thousands the next time something breaks down.
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
Calculate your home equity options
9. Getting Price-Gouged When You Shop Online
You might be surprised how often you're overpaying on Amazon and other retailers. Big stores like Amazon know that nobody has time to price shop across dozens of websites, so there's often little incentive for them to offer their lowest prices.
I typically hate browser extensions with a fiery passion, but if you don't have Capital One Shopping installed yet, do yourself a favor and add it.
When you shop online (on Amazon or elsewhere) it will:
- Auto-apply coupon codes to potentially help you save money
- Compare prices from other sellers to help ensure you're not missing out on a better deal
Here's a quick example of how it works:
Whenever the extension finds an available discount, you'll see a little savings alert pop up. For instance, here you can save $40 on this coffee maker.
Here's a link to add Capital One Shopping, if you're interested.
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.
See how much you can save when you bundle
11. 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.
View Balance Transfer Card Offers
12. 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 (minimum IRA investment is $15,000)
- 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.
Today’s Top Home Equity Financing Offers
See how much you could borrow (and at what rate) by comparing real-time HELOC and home equity loan offers from trusted lenders. Rates are updated daily and checking won’t impact your credit.