The Small Money Moves That Helped Me Save over $500/Month
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as both a regular human trying to “get it together” and an investment advisor watching people build wealth over time, it’s this:
You don’t need a six-figure salary or a trust fund to get ahead.
You just need to be intentional.
Not perfect.
Not extreme.
Just intentional.
And for me, that started in 2022–2023 when I found myself carrying credit card debt while also trying to save for my future. Something had to give. So I started looking at my routines, my habits, and my “little” monthly expenses — the ones that feel harmless individually but snowball over time.
Here are the small, non-dramatic, real-life changes I made that now save me over $500/month (and full disclosure: I invest most of that money so it can actually grow instead of evaporate).
1. Swapping Expensive Workouts for Something Sustainable
I loved OrangeTheory, truly. But $150/month was hitting differently once my credit card statements started yelling at me.
Instead of giving up on fitness altogether, I switched to the gym at our office — which is under $50/month.
Monthly savings: ~$100
And the best part? I still get my workouts in, but now the financial guilt doesn’t come along with it.
2. Cutting Back on Subscriptions I Honestly Didn’t Use
I’m looking at you, Nuuly.
I realized I could recreate plenty of cute, fresh outfits with the wardrobe I already had. (And honestly? It got me more creative with styling.)
Monthly savings: ~$80
It’s wild how subscription services sneak up on us because they feel “just $10–$80 a month.” But stacked together? They drain you.
3. Cooking at Home More (For Savings and Sanity)
DoorDash was our third roommate for a while. We were spending close to $150/month on delivery fees, convenience fees, tipping, and meals that cost twice as much as they should’ve.
Shifting to more home-cooked meals made a huge difference — financially and in how we feel.
Monthly savings: ~$150
Plus, I love putting on music and cooking with Merle or the pups running around the kitchen. It’s grounding.
4. Coloring My Own Red Locks (And Yes, They Still Look Good)
Salons charge at least $175 for hair color. My customized E Salon kit? $35 every three months.
Savings: ~$50/month
Not only do I save money, but I get more compliments than ever. Turns out, DIY doesn’t always mean “worse.”
5. Trading in My $700/Month Jeep Payment
I adored my Jeep Wrangler… but not the $700/month payment.
I traded it in for a reliable VW Tiguan lease at $375/month, and when this lease ends, the plan is to buy a great used car and pay it off quickly.
Monthly savings: ~$325
Sometimes the smartest money move is checking your ego at the dealership door.
6. Airbnb-ing Our Home When We Travel
Especially during Mardi Gras and LSU football season, this move is a game-changer.
Airbnb income has helped us:
Offset our travel costs
Travel more frequently
Use the 14-day Augusta Rule to keep that rental income tax-free
Savings + income benefit: varies, but often hundreds
(And I didn’t even include this in my $700/month total.)
So How Did These Changes Add Up?
Gym swap: $100
Subscription cuts: $80
Less DoorDash: $150
DIY hair color: $50
Car payment change: $325
Total: ~$705/month saved
Not counting Airbnb income.
That’s $8,460 per year I now have control over.
And here’s where the magic happens…
Why I Don’t Let That $700/Month Just Sit in Cash
Saving money feels good. But saving alone doesn’t build wealth.
Investing does.
Because $700/month invested consistently over decades — even into something simple like a diversified index fund — is where compound growth shows up to do the heavy lifting.
Here’s a quick example:
If you invest $700/month with an average long-term market return of around 8%, here’s what it can grow into:
10 years: ~$128,000
20 years: ~$354,000
30 years: ~$882,000
From cutting subscriptions…
switching gyms…
doing my own hair…
and not overspending on a car payment.
This is why I preach intentionality over perfection.
This is why I want women to feel powerful with their money, not guilty.
This is why small decisions matter.
The Real Point: You Don’t Need to “Overhaul Your Life” to Get Ahead
Most people think the only way to save money is to:
Stop living your life
Never go out
Sacrifice everything fun
Eat beans and rice forever
Absolutely not.
What actually works is choosing the areas in your life where you can cut back without cutting joy — and then putting that freed-up money to work.
Wealth is built from consistency, not chaos.
And if reading this made you think, “I could make two or three small changes too,” then you’re already on the right track.
