If You Feel Like You’re Not Getting Ahead Financially…
If you feel like there’s never money left over after payday, or you just can’t seem to hit your savings goals, you’re definitely not alone.
Nearly 75% of Americans fell short of their savings and spending goals last year.
And honestly? I get why.
Saving money usually isn’t glamorous.
It’s rarely about one big thing. It’s usually a bunch of tiny, boring habits repeated over and over.
The truth is, most of the habits that helped me build wealth weren’t exciting at all. They were simple. Repetitive. Sometimes inconvenient.
But they worked.
9 Boring Habits That Have Saved Me Thousands Every Year
I’ll try not to bore you to death, but I can’t make any promises… 😉
Let’s dive right in!
1. I Brought My Lunch to Work 99% of the Time
When I worked a traditional job, I brought my lunch to work 99% of the time.
That’s not an exaggeration.
I rarely went out to eat with coworkers, even though many of them went out every single day.
Lunch costs have gone up significantly over the years. The avearge lunch costs between $18 and $23.
So, let’s say you spend $20 on lunch each workday and you work 260 days a year…
That’s:
$5,200 per year
That’s a vacation.
That’s an investment account.
That’s a big chunk toward a down payment.
For me, doing a little prep work the night before saved me thousands over the years.
2. I Always Carry My Water Bottle (and a Snack)
One habit that has quietly saved me a lot of money?
I always carry a water bottle.
I drink water almost exclusively anyway—at home, at restaurants, everywhere.
Americans spend about $850 a year on soda alone! Just soda.
That doesn’t include:
- Coffee
- Energy drinks
- Alcohol
- Fancy “healthy” drinks
That adds up fast.
I also always keep a Larabar in my purse (or mixed nuts).
This keeps me from making random gas station stops when I’m hungry.
Because let’s be honest…
Those “quick” $6 stops add up.
And usually they’re not even healthy.
3. I Don’t Upgrade My Phone, Laptop, or Car Constantly
This one saves a fortune.
I’ve had my phone since 2020.
It still works great.
The camera still works great.
Why replace it?
A new phone can easily cost $1,000–$2,000.
Same with laptops.
I had my last MacBook for 9 years before finally replacing it after the “black screen of death.” Did you know that’s a thing? I learned that the hard way…
That’s a lot of years not spending $2,000 over and over.
And my car?
I bought it in 2018 and it’s fully paid off.
It still runs great.
Sure, it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles.
But it gets me where I need to go and comfortably I might add.
And that matters more.
The average car payment today is around:
- $770/month new
- $531/month used
If we go between those and say your car payment is $600/month, that’s:
$7,200 a year
Imagine investing that money instead.
Contributing $600 per month to an investment account over 5 years would give you $47,501.05. 😱
Think about that for a minute.
4. I Grow My Own Food
This has become one of my favorite ways to save money.
I grow:
- Peas
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Boysenberries
- Tomatoes
- Apples
- Peaches
- Cucumbers
- Peppers
- Onions
- Lettuce
- Squash
And what I love is how cheap it can be.
A packet of seeds cost me $2–$3 and can grow multiple plants.
Even better?
Some of them come back every year!
My strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes have been.
Last year I even dried my peas and replanted them this year.
Free food from last year’s food.
That’s hard to beat.
And yes, I live in Utah, so gardening isn’t always easy.
But I make it work.
Plus, you control what’s going into and onto your food.
Don’t have a yard?
Try:
- Patio containers
- Deck planters
- Indoor hydroponics
You can still save here and there with a few plants.
Just a bonus habit, I also eat what is in season.
This goes hand-in-hand with gardening.
If grapes aren’t in season?
I’m not buying them.
Why?
Because they’re expensive.
Eating produce in season saves money because supply is higher.
It’s also fresher.
Simple rule:
Buy what’s naturally growing right now.
Your grocery bill will thank you.
5. I Buy In Bulk
I personally eat the same thing for breakfast pretty much every day.
I eat oatmeal. I put some cinnamon in with my oats, protein powder, some peanut butter and honey.
Then I add whatever fruit is in season or the fruits in my backyard.
And that’s what I eat for breakfast every day.
Those items I’m consistently eating, I’m buying in bulk because it’s usually less expensive.
I’ve bought the large pails of oats before or even the large bags.
I’m not wasting money buying items in bulk that I’m not actually going to eat.
Think about what you eat the most of and start purchasing those foods in bulk and the savings will add up.
6. I Skip the Gym
I know this one surprises people.
But I don’t pay for a gym membership.
Instead, I do:
- Free fitness classes
- Hiking
- Walking
- YouTube workouts
I also teach fitness classes.
The average gym membership is around $65/month.
That’s:
$780 per year
And if you’re not using it consistently?
That’s even worse.
Exercise doesn’t have to be expensive.
Some of the best workouts are free.
And honestly, hiking in Utah is way better than a treadmill!
7. I Pay Myself First
This is probably one of the biggest wealth-building habits I’ve ever learned.
Before bills.
Before spending.
Before “fun money.”
I pay myself first.
I automate transfers into savings (well, now into my investment account, after I built my emergency fund).
And I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this is.
A friend came to one of my presentations and set up automatic savings that same day.
Months later she texted me and said she had saved more money than ever before.
Why?
Because she stopped relying on willpower.
Automation changes everything.
For me personally, I pay myself and God first.
That has changed my finances—and honestly, my life.
If you’re paying yourself last, you’re most likely not getting paid and that doesn’t help anyone.
8. I Keep My Money Harder to Access
This goes with paying yourself first.
I keep savings separate from my checking.
Because if it’s sitting there in checking…
It’s way easier to spend.
Out of sight really does help.
When you remove easy access, you create friction.
And friction protects your goals.
I personally like using a high-yield saving account for an emergency fund.
Because why wouldn’t you want to make hundreds extra by doing nothing?
Check out my favorite High Yield Savings accounts here.
9. I Turn My Hobbies Into Income
This might be my favorite one.
Instead of hobbies that only cost money…
I look for hobbies that can make money.
That mindset shift changes everything.
For example:
I spend a lot of time in my backyard.
I garden. I eat outside. I’ve invested money into making it beautiful.
So I started asking:
How can I monetize this?
One idea I’ve had?
Renting it out to photographers.
That’s turning an expense into an asset.
I also turned content creation into income.
Things like:
- YouTube
- Blogging
- The Amazon Influencer Program
With Amazon, I review products I already buy.
Sometimes sellers pay me to create review videos too.
That hobby has made me real money.
And it’s fun.
That’s the sweet spot.
Final Thoughts
Building wealth usually doesn’t look flashy.
It often looks like:
Packing your lunch.
Drinking water.
Keeping your paid-off car.
Growing peas in your backyard.
Automating savings.
It’s not sexy.
But it works.
And over time?
These tiny habits can save you tens of thousands, even $100,000.
That’s how wealth gets built.
Quietly.
Consistently.
Intentionally.
Boring.
Unsexy.
If you Loved This Post, You’ll Love These Posts:
- How I Run My Finances (Step-by-Step) — And How It Helped Me Become a Millionaire
- How to Get Your Finances Together in Your 40s
- The Problem With Being Rich at 65 But Cash-Poor at 45
- How I Made $70K Working Part-Time With The Amazon Influencer Program
- Realistic Fitness Routine for Women Over 40
