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13 Money Saving Strategies From TikTok You Can Actually Start Trying Today

Now watch as your savings grow before your very eyes.

Saving money is often easier said than done, especially when you have no idea where to start. But with some dedication and a little creativity, you can come up with a savings plan that works for you — and that's exactly what these TikTok creators have done.

We scoured TikTok to find some of the best strategies for saving extra cash. And while TikTok may have some questionable content when it comes to personal finance, these tried-and-true tips are actually pretty solid.

Now, of course, you should ALWAYS do your own research and consider your own circumstances before taking any financial advice from anyone besides a financial planner. 

FYI, although many of these strategies mention using of cash, if you'd prefer to do things electronically, you can replicate some steps by making transfers into your savings account instead. And while saving cash can be super motivating (especially when you can actually *watch* your piggy bank explode into a pile of folded bills!), saving money in a high-yield savings account can make your money work even harder for you. It'll earn you interest each month, which can help you reach your goals just a little more quickly. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to get motivated to start saving; the approach you choose is up to you! 

1. This tip from @itsjustdonishaa is sure to keep at least some of your cash ~safe~ from being totally spent.

The idea here is simple — all you need is a toy safe that locks, and you can start feeding some cash into it. You may even be less tempted to prematurely spend the money you set aside when you have to punch in a combination. But the real fun happens when you're finally ready to use some of your cash and you open up the safe to see all your hard work sitting in there!

2. This video from @budgetbrospodcast provides a clever yet digestible way to save a little money every day:

Here's their method: Look at your checking account balance at the end of the day. Take the last digit and move an equivalent amount to your savings account. Repeat this process every day for a week.

After one week, they've saved $24. But the REAL magic happens after doing this every week for a whole year. They'll have saved approximately $1,248.

If you're hungry for more ways to save, take a look through our roundup of money-saving challenges. We're talking everything from having no-spend days to the 365-day penny challenge. 

3. This very important strategy from @lisafrumin0 proves that it doesn't matter how small your first step is — it only matters that you take that step.

Person speaking in a video

TikToker @lisafumin0 suggests saving just $1 every day — that's it; no fancy math needed! If you can save just $1 a day for an entire month, you'll already have $30 more than you did the previous month. And after a year, you'll have $365!

The approach is especially convenient for people who are new to saving or don't have a lot of extra cash lying around.

4. Check out this exciting envelope challenge shown by @gee_nuh_gee — you won't know how much you have to save until you randomly pick an envelope for the day!

Here's how it works: You get 100 envelopes and number them from 1–100 (the numbers = the amount you'd have to save that day). Shuffle 'em up, and put 'em in a box. Every day, pull a random envelope, and save that amount in cash.

By the end of the 100 days, you should have saved $5,050. You can also modify this challenge by shortening the number of days to 50 or even 25, or you can pull one envelope per week instead of one per day. 

5. This similar challenge from @danisodope uses slips of paper instead of numbered envelopes.

The idea resembles the 100 envelope challenge, but the difference is that you'll be pulling numbered slips of paper every day. You'll just save the equivalent cash amount in a separate jar.

@danisodope

Week 2 of my #liquorbottlepiggybank challenge. Catch me on YouTube for weekly updates on this project #fyp #moneysavingtips #moneysavingchallenge

♬ Steven Universe - L.Dre

6. Try this tip from @beckyturoczi so you can literally give yourself a gold star every time you save some money.

Remember how good it felt to get a gold star on your homework in the first grade? This method uses a similar tactic to help you track your progress and stay motivated. You'll need a jar or can, a piece of paper numbered from 1–100 (to tape to the jar), and some star-shaped stickers. Each day, you'll save your desired amount of money and use a sticker to mark off the number you save until all the numbers are covered in stickers.

You can modify this strategy by only doing numbers 1–50 or 1–25, or by saving money a few times a week (or a few times a month) instead of every single day.

7. Try this quick rundown on the $5 bill challenge from @diosajas — who used the tactic and wound up saving $1,600!!!

Basically, you get a container and save all the $5 bills you come into contact with — sounds simple enough, right? By making it a point to never spend your $5 bills, you'll build your savings pretty quickly.

@diosajas

#stitch with @kassandralopez39 this is your sign to save all $5s you have. #fyp #foryoupage #moneysavingtips #moneysaving #moneysavinghacks #4u

♬ Home - Edith Whiskers
FYI, the first few seconds of the TikTok mentions saving all your $1 bills — and that's an equally smart technique for saving! You can just choose whichever method works best for you.

8. This video from @djskiweezy shows how saving up all those quarters, dimes, pennies, and nickels can really ~pay off~.

All you really need is a designated bottle or container, and you'll be ready to collect all your spare change from everyday purchases. Then, take your change to a coin counter machine (you may be able to find one at your local bank, grocery store, or check-cashing store). Those dimes and quarters add up fast — the above TikToker amassed over $246 just by doing this!

FYI, most coin counters charge a small service fee, but it shouldn't put too much of a dent in the total cash you accumulate. 

9. This goal tracker idea from @andylasirena26 is sure to keep you motivated to save for your goals.

Saving for a large purchase may feel daunting, but if you break up the total amount and save a little each week, it may feel easier to manage. That's the idea behind this strategy. This TikToker printed out a "calendar" for saving different amounts of money toward their goal and taped it to the back of their money box. Each time they save one of the specified amounts of money, they color in the box to show that they're a little closer to reaching that goal. 

10. This classic ceramic money jar idea from @skydanielletaylor will keep things as simple as possible.

There's no real method when it comes to turning to a good, ol' piggy bank for saving money. You'll just have to insert your cash to build your savings. And when you're ready to use the money, you can smash it open and watch the cash pour out!

11. This method from @thetrustedbanker will help you save $465 in just 30 days.

The TikToker designed a worksheet where you give yourself 30 days to save $465. For each day of the challenge, you'll save a corresponding amount of money — so on day eight, you'll save $8, on day nine, you'll save $9, and so on. 

You can do something similar for basically any amount of time — if you're up for it, try a 50-day challenge, or even a 100-day challenge! 

12. This idea from @heyfinndon has you save a certain amount of money every time it rains in your city.

In this video, the TikToker describes adding £2 to your savings every time it rains. Saving on cue can be a fun way to grow your savings over time, and you can adapt it any way you want. Maybe you'll save $5 every time it snows this winter. You can even turn it into a challenge where you save money and manage a bad habit — like maybe you'll save $3 every time you bite your nails or show up late somewhere.

@heyfinndon

Let us know if you’re joining in! Ty @savewithelvs for the ✨inspiration✨ #heyfinndon #savingchallenge #money

♬ Buss It - Erica Banks

13. And this clever (and fun) strategy from @vienguyen2 puts the fate of your savings in the hands of a spinner app.

Basically, you use an online spinner with different money amounts all around. You'll take a spin and save the amount it lands on. It's kind of like your own personal wheel of fortune!

And if you wanna get crafty, you can make your own spinner with a paper tack, cardboard, paper, and paint.

What are your favorite strategies for saving some cash? Let us know in the comments below! And while you're at it, check out our other personal finance posts.