5 Creative Ways to Save Money Today

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Looking for money-saving hacks? Us, too. It's tough to save up for things like travel or to add to your savings when you've got all these expenses like rent, mortgage, streaming services, transportation, and food.

If you’re on a mission to make your money go further and love uncovering clever ways to save, you’re in the right place. We all enjoy finding those golden opportunities where we can get more for less, whether it’s through discounts on our favorite products or snatching up deals that keep giving.

We’re exploring unexpected hacks to save money and spotlighting offers that can boost your budget and help you live smarter with long-term savings on products and services you actually need (and some you also want). Let's do it!

Money-Saving Deals to Check Out

1. One-Year The Club Card Membership with BJ’s Easy Renewal: Best for a variety of savings
2. 6.8" foldable touchscreen car display: Avoid purchasing a new car for smart features
3. Lifetime access to the Fooducate meal-tracking app: One-time fee health app
4. Koofr Cloud Storage: avoid monthly cloud storage fees
5. VPN Unlimited: Big savings on online security and privacy

How to Know If It's Worth It

When exploring money-saving hacks, consider the following:

• Initial Cost vs. Long-Term Savings
  • What is the upfront cost?
  • How much could it save you over time?
  • Balance out the above two numbers to see if it's a go
    
    
• Frequency of Use
  • Think about how often you'd use the item or service
  • Is it a daily-use item, or will you only use it here and there?
  • Is it something you've already been thinking about getting?

• Operation Costs and Quality
  • Account for any ongoing costs
  • Are there any maintenance, updating, or additional accessories needed?
  • Will the quality hold up for a decent amount of time?

Unexpected Hacks to Save Money

Everyday savings with a BJ's The Club Card Membership

One of the top names in wholesale clubs, BJ's helps members spend less on everyday essentials, including food, snacks, and household necessities, and offers other members-only goods and services.

Features

• A year's worth of everyday savings and value
• BJ's Easy Renewal
• Reduce price on Club Card Membership

Pros

• 25% savings over grocery store prices every day
• Fun seasonal items
• Top brands at wholesale prices
• Wide selection of national brands
• Convenient ways to pay, including ExpressPay and curbside pickup
• Exclusive services and perks like BJ’s Optical, BJ’s Tire Center, BJ’s travel
• BJ's exclusive gasoline prices

Cons

• Offer is only available to new members

Get it now: one-time purchase of $20.

Hold off on buying a new car with this dash display

If your older car lacks modern wireless support, this easy addition can get you more years out of an otherwise well-running vehicle.

Features

• A 6.8-inch IPS screen with HD resolution
• Rearview camera support
• Touchscreen
• Wireless access to apps

Pros

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible
• Access navigation, music, and other apps right from the screen
• Push a button for Siri or Google Assistant voice commands
• Screencast allows you to mirror your phone's screen
• A safer way to drive
• Foldable design 
• Multi-language support

Cons

• Overuse of the foldable design could add extra wear-and-tear

Get it now: one-time purchase of $90.

A lifetime of Koofr cloud storage

You don't have to pay monthly fees through your device to get extra cloud storage. Koofr is a cloud storage solution that only requires you to pay once.

Features

• Includes 1TB of storage
• Lifetime access
• Advanced file management
• Instant redemption

Pros

• Store or backup important files, photos, and videos
• Wide accessibility
• File encryption for privacy
• User-friendly interface
• Easily connect existing cloud services with Koofr

Cons

• Must create a free Koofr account to redeem

Get it now: one-time purchase of $160.

Protect yourself online with VPN Unlimited

Virtual Private Networks like VPN Unlimited act like cloaks for your online activity, giving you a more private and secure digital experience. With this reliable service, you'll protect yourself from potential cybercriminals stealing your information.

Features

• A network of 3,000+ servers
• Coverage in more than 80 countries
• High-level encryption 
• Protects and shields your activity and data

Pros

• No-log policy
• Wide server coverage
• Optimized for streaming
• Combines several credible apps for robust protection
• High-speed servers
• Access restricted content

Cons

• Offer is only for new users

Get it now: one-time price of $70.

Track your nutrition with the Fooducate Pro Meal-Tracking App lifetime subscription

You don't have to pay a continuous monthly fee to get wellness tools to help you live your healthiest life. The Fooducate app is a MyFitnessPal alternative that offers a lifetime subscription to help you track meals and reach your health goals.

Features

• Nutrition and food tracker
• Also tracks sleep, mood, and feelings of hunger
• Vast food database
• Personalized experience

Pros

• Track calories, macros, and exercise
• Scan foods to find hidden ingredients (e.g., artificial sweeteners)
• Check food grades for quality
• Offers healthy alternatives
• See new recipes
• Connect with others in Fooducate community
• Meal-planning tools
• One price gives lifetime access

Cons

• Only available to new users
• Available in certain countries only (check here)

Get it now: one-time price of $50.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: So I need to spend money to save money?

A: Kind of. Making small investments now can save you money in the long run. Determine which, if any, is the best fit for you before making your purchase.

Q: Is shelling out for a lifetime subscription really worth it? 

A: Based on these deals, yes. We are already so bombarded with constant monthly fees between necessities and entertainment. Having lifetime access to something is a major win.

Hidden Money-Saving Hacks Are Everywhere

Whether you're trying to tighten up the monthly budget or save up for something big like a wedding, a home, or a dream trip, saving money isn't only about cutting current costs that have gotten out of hand or aren't necessary anymore. 

As you look down the road to the future, there are ways to act now to save future you (hi, future you!) time, money, and potential frustration. If you do want to streamline time and your personal or professional life, these AI-powered apps can assist.

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