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You are here: Home » Personal Finance Tips » Budgeting » How to Save Money When You Have None

June 1, 2020 By Stacy Williams

How to Save Money When You Have None

Filed Under: Personal Budget, Personal Finance TipsTagged With: Frugal Living, Ways to Budget

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Ya’ll, let me tell you. My husband just dropped a huge financial bomb (full-time travel once our girls graduate!) on me the other day that has my brain in overdrive. Not a bad one, mind you, but one that means we will need to add around $100,000 to our savings over the next three years or so. I am positive we could do it cheaper and very likely will, but I am okay spending that amount of money for the place where we will ultimately spend the rest of our lives together. But…

Cue the panic attack.

The whole conversation got me thinking; and remembering. I didn’t always have a second income. In fact, I didn’t always have a livable income. I grew up in a trailer that my Dad paid $5,000 to the church for, lived on any public assistance I could receive until I was 27 and spent the majority of 2010 in a homeless shelter with my daughter.

I remember how impossible it felt to save money when you simply don’t make enough money to survive. And now that we don’t struggle that way, I wanted to do a post to help you save money when you have none.

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, unemployed or just never seem to have enough money, building some savings probably seems impossible. It's not! These tips will show you how to save money when you have none (without going without your needs!)

I remember that I used to tell people that I didn’t want to be rich; I just wanted enough money to pay my bills and feed my daughter with a little left over.

Sound familiar? I’m sure it does.

But these days, it seems that more and more families are struggling not only to save money but also to just make ends meet. This is one – and probably the biggest – reason that learning how to save money when you have none is so incredibly important.

I have a Free Gift for You

When I created Six Dollar Family, I did so with one goal in mind; to help you and others like you to save as much money as possible without having to sacrifice your quality of life.

and now, I am extending that help to you in e-book form!

Join our community of other like minded money savers and in return, I’ll give you a FREE copy of my e-book “The Ultimate Guide to Cutting Your Household Expenses!” Not only that, but but you’ll also receive the very best frugal (Six Dollar Family) tips, recipes, DIY and tips I have to offer!

and yes! It’s really free with no strings attached!

Once you join our community, be sure to check your email for your free e-book!

Click Here to Get Your Free Copy of “The Ultimate Guide to Cutting Your Household Expenses”

It gives you the buffer you need if you have a month or two where you just can’t pay everything on your regular income.

How to Save Money When You Have None

Before you even begin trying to save money when you’re broke though, I want you to understand something.

What you are trying to do will be incredibly difficult if you are already struggling, BUT not impossible.

The key to being successful at is lies in how you manage your money from here on out, in getting current on all of your financial obligations and in how badly you truly want to save.

This means that there are a couple of things I think you should do before you get started. They are:

  • Create a budget if you do not already have one – or update your budget if you do. You can learn how to create a simple budget HERE.
  • Buy an expense tracker like THIS one.
  • Switch your savings account to an external bank. I like CIT Bank for this. I’ll explain this in a moment.

Are You Monitoring Your Credit Score and Identity?

If you are working on raising your credit score or just want to keep track and monitor your identity, make sure you have signed up for a Credit Sesame account. It is 100% free to sign up and monitor your credit score, report and more.

When you sign up for Credit Sesame, you’ll get regular updates on your credit score from Equifax and other credit reporting bureaus, free identity theft monitoring and more! And it’s all 100% FREE! Really, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain!

Click Here to Sign Up for Credit Sesame

How to Save Money When You’re Broke

Once you’ve either created or updated your budget, It’s time to get started saving more of your money than you are right now.

To start, make absolutely certain that you need every expense that is on your new budget. Chances are that there are at least one or two that can be removed.

These can include things such as subscriptions you no longer need, old debts that are paid off and kids activities they no longer participate in.

Take them off your budget and assign that cash some place else.

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck currently, it’s wisest to use that money to help catch up bills or other things you’re behind on.

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, this is a great time to put a fewtips for helping you stop living paycheck to paycheck into place. The quicker you can free yourself up a bit, the better.

If you’re living anyway other than paycheck to paycheck, take the money you just opened up in your budget and immediately put it into your savings account or under the mattress.

Ready to Take Your Savings to the Next Level?

We all hit a wall with our savings sometimes and need a little bit of help kick starting things again. If this is how you feel, my book, “Six Dollar Family: From Six Dollars to Six Figures” can help!

Not only is it packed with great ways to save money, simple budgeting tips and more, but you’ll also get great my own personal DIY recipes to help you save even more money!

Available in both Kindle and paperback, it’s perfect for anyone; no matter how long they’ve been saving money!

Click Here to Get Your Copy of the Six Dollar Family book

How to Save Money if You Live Paycheck to Paycheck

You should also decide how intense you want to be at your attempts at saving money while you’re broke. You have the choice of only going at it mildly or getting so intense that saving money becomes your only active goal.

I recommend you either go somewhere in the middle or fully intense and focused.

If you choose to go at it only a little bit, know that it will take you considerably longer and you may not actually make the goals you’ve set for yourself.

When we don’t firmly set a goal in our minds, it’s easy for us to pass it off; especially when it comes to spending money and allowing ourselves to be talked into it.

Will you walk with me down Memory Lane with me?


It’s 2011 and there I am; a single Mom, newly sober, fresh out of a homeless shelter due to divorce with my 5-year old daughter, no job and living by public assistance the best I could.

I was stressed. I was struggling. I was terrified.

And then, I started a blog and stumbled into the greatest business and financial decision I have ever made and our lives have not been the same since.

And now; I want to teach you to do the same thing with my FREE 14-day How to Blog Course!

Give me just 14 days and I’ll show you how to create a blog, how to make money at it and more; all 100% free!

Click Here to Start Your Journey to Blogging Here

This is why intensity is important; especially when you’re working on saving money but don’t seem to have a lot to save. Dave Ramsey, one of my favorite financial guru’s, calls this “gazelle intense.”

When you’re living with this much intensity, your only goal – or your main goal – is to save which brings us to the next step.

How to Save on Organic Supplies

No one wants to overspend on the things they need which is why I love Grove for natural DIY supplies, organic cleaning products and organic beauty supplies. If you’ve never heard of them, head over sign up for a Grove account. They offer great prices on organic and sustainable essential oils (Six Dollar Family), carrier oils, health and beauty and household items. They even have great prices on diapers for baby and gifts (Six Dollar Family) for moms! New Grove customers automatically score a FREE Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Set with their first order of $25 or more! It’s one of my favorite places to buy organic supplies from!

Click Here to Sign Up for a Grove Account & Get a Free Mrs. Meyers Cleaning Set

How to Save Money Intensely

After you’ve removed the things from your budget that you no longer need to be paying for, the next thing you will want to do is take a second look at your budget.

This time, remove anything that could be considered a want with one exception; choose one fun activity that you currently pay for and keep it.

We all need a bit of fun in our lives and unless it’s a multi-hundred dollar hobby, it won’t make much of a difference in your savings.

If you’re trying to build savings, you shouldn’t be paying for anything other than your basic necessities.

Take all wants out of your budget. Put that money into your savings account each month.

What Do I Do When I Can’t Afford My Home?

Consider downsizing!

If you are considering downsizing to save money, consider living in a hotel full-time, you will want to choose an extended stay hotel. They offer cheaper rates for longer stays, full kitchenettes and more that appeal to long term stays. I did this myself with my daughter and dog in 2017 to cut expenses and travel full-time. You can read my experience – and tips! – right HERE. I personally choose Woodsprings Suites when I have to say in a hotel for more than a few days. The savings is worth it and I have never had a bad experience. I HIGHLY recommend them if you’re considering it!

Click Here to Visit WoodSpring Suites

How to Cut Your Expenses to Build Your Savings Account

Now that your budget is taken care of, it’s time to look at your other expenses. The more you are able to reduce your necessary expenses the more money you’ll have to save.

They may not seem as if they will be much help, but even small savings add up. Things such as:

  • Using printable grocery coupons whenever possible
  • Using grocery rebates such as what Ibotta offers
  • Earning free gift cards to pay for things instead of cash with Swagbucks (HERE) and InstaGC (HERE)
  • Skipping your morning coffee or making it at home
  • Putting your lights on a timer
  • Raising your thermostat by 2 degrees in the summer or lowering it by 2 degrees in the winter
  • Walk more instead of driving
  • Do what you can to reduce food waste.
  • Make more at home so you can buy less.

They are all small actions but the more small actions you do, the more money you’ll have to save.

Pennies do add up my friends.

How to Save on Organic Groceries

When I first began to remove as many processed chemicals from our home, one of the first areas I began with was our food. These days, I love to eat organic foods and prefer organic household goods and supplies, but I absolutely hate the cost. If you’re like me, consider checking out Thrive Market right. You’ll get great prices on organic, gluten free, grain free and other groceries, household items, beauty products and more! Plus they have amazing prices on supplements too! Plus, you’ll save up to 20% off your first order or get a FREE gift depending on which coupon they have available for new customers!

Click Here to Save Up to 20% at Thrive Market

Saving money – even when you don’t have any – is harder than it is for those who have extra income.

But if you keep a positive attitude and really work at it, you will slowly but surely build your savings up.

You can do it. I have faith in you!

Looking for more ways to save money? Try these:

Homemade hand soap is incredibly easy to make and works just as well - if not better - than the original! This copycat SoftSoap recipe is just what your home needs! All for pennies on the dollar compared to buying it!

Homemade hand soap is incredibly easy to make and works just as well – if not better – than the original! THIS copycat SoftSoap recipe is just what your home needs! All for pennies on the dollar compared to buying it!

Are you wasting money in your budget? Probably so and you don't even know it! Check out these 20 most common wastes of money and stop throwing your money away on them today!

Are you wasting money in your budget? Probably so and you don’t even know it! Check out THESE 20 most common wastes of money and stop throwing your money away on them today!

If you have been looking for things to make, these 30 things to make at home to save money are a great place to start! I've saved over $2500 with them!

If you have been looking for things to make, THESE 30 things to make at home to save money are a great place to start! I’ve saved over $2500 with them!


Previous Post: « How to Make Homemade Hand Soap {Copycat SoftSoap Recipe}
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Bio of Stacy Williams, blogger and authorI’m Stacy - 1/4 of the Six Dollar Family. I'm on a journey to become a six figure family and I would love if you came along with me! We'll kick off our shoes, sip sweet tea, eat loads of goodies, save some money and maybe even learn a thing or two along the way! Six Dollar Family Bio

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