36 Things That Make It Easy to Budget and Save

Just like any new work out regimen starts with shopping for new work out gear, any new budget regimen, perhaps ironically, starts with some spending too. The right gear inspires you to exercise and the right products help you create and stick to a budget.

In the interest of budgets and saving money, we've scoured Amazon and found 18 resources and products that will help you learn about finances, create a budget, and shop more efficiently. We then collected 18 more products that will help you stick to your new budget by saving you money. All together we have 36 things that make budgeting and saving so much easier.

We hope you find these products as awesome as we do. Just an FYI: We are a participant in the Amazon affiliate program, and may receive a share of sales from links on this page. Prices on Amazon fluctuate so anything mentioned below might change as soon we publish it!
We hope you find these handy products as awesome as we do. Just an FYI: We participate in affiliate programs and may get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

The Total Money Makeover Workbook Will Help You Create a Financial Plan and Stick to it

via: Amazon

If you don't know where to begin when it comes to your finances, begin with The Total Money Makeover Workbook. The workbook will help you understand your finances and guide you through exactly what you need to do to reach your financial goals. This workbook is a companion and follow up to the New York Times bestseller The Total Money Makeover. Author Dave Ramsey has five New York Times bestsellers on money and finance, so he knows what he's talking about.

The Cash Envelope System Ensures You Never Spend More Than You Have

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Sticking to a strict spending budget can be hard. But if you really want to commit, try using cash only and implementing a Cash Envelope System. Label the rip-proof envelopes for each budget category you have like groceries, gas, entertainment, etc. Place your monthly or weekly allowance for each category in the envelope, track your spending on the handy ledger, and when the cash runs out, that's it.

Stay Super Organized With This Budget Planner

via: Amazon

With twelve monthly pockets for receipts and bills, monthly budget worksheets where you can track your expected vs your actual expenditures, and pages where you can keep track of long term goals and expenses, this Budget Planner is perfect if you want to have a comprehensive understanding of where you dollars are spent. Having a full year of spending in one place will help you really understand and plan for your expenses.

These Divider Sticky Notes are Perfect For Taking Notes While Reading

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On this list we're recommending several different books that can help you budget and save. But it's impossible to retain all the tidbits of brilliance you'll come across in your reading. These Divider Sticky Notes give you enough room to jot down some notes, and they bookmark the page for you. These sticky notes are a great addition to any budget workbook or ledger you keep as well.

This 90-Day Finance Planner Pad is Designed to Help You Stick With Your Goals

via: Amazon

Keep track of all the little spending you do every day with this 90-Day Finance Planner Pad. Next to each line item is the question, "Did it add value to my life?" Maybe that impulse buy did, but maybe it didn't. By taking a moment to evaluate each purchase, you will think twice next time. Instead of thinking of budgeting as a constant diligence, an exercise of self denial, this pad helps you see which dollars bring you happiness, and which don't.

Learn How to Save Like a Pro With Extreme Couponing

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According to author Joni Meyer-Crothers, one should never pay full price for anything. In fact, she says, there are some items you should never pay for at all. Using her tips and strategies laid out in Extreme Couponing, consumers can get many products completely free - like toothpaste, razors, and other sundries. For everything else, a little bit of upfront effort pays off at the register with deep discounts.

Use This Grocery Coupon Organizer to Streamline Your Coupon Shopping

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Just because you coupon, doesn't mean you don't want to look great while doing it. Coupon in style with this pretty organizer. You also won't hold up the line fishing through your purse or wallet for the coupons you need. Made with sturdy fabrics and handy dividers, this Grocery Coupon Organizer ensures that you will be able to find and use your coupons quickly and easily.

If You Want to be Serious About Couponing, You'll Need a Coupon Saver Starter Pack

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Organization is key to successful couponing. This Coupon Saver Starter Pack is perfect for your fledgling coupon habit. Before heading to the store, you'll just flip through your binder full of coupons to gather the ones you need. This pack comes with binder pages full of pockets of various sizes to accommodate every type of coupon. There is also a handy coupon glossary and terms index to help beginners out.

GalsShopper Keeps Your Grocery List Handy While You Shop

via: Amazon

We admit that GalsShopper does not have the greatest name. (There is a black version they call "GuysShopper" which is equally cringeworthy.) However, despite questionable branding, the device is super handy and the people who use it love it. It clips onto your shopping cart (or stroller) and keeps your list, coupons, and phone right in front of you while you shop, allowing you to keep your hands free and your eyes up.

Never Forget What You Came For Again With This Handy Grocery Pad

via: Amazon

Do you forget one thing you needed every time you go to the grocery store? I do. It's usually one of the basics that you've run out of like salt or vinegar. Do you find yourself wandering the market aisles, buying all sorts of extras on a whim? If you want to start saving, you'll need to kick that habit. This Grocery Pad will help you keep track of things as you run out of them, and will keep you on task while at the store.

Help Your Kids Develop Good Money Habits With How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000

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If you're interested in raising financially literate kids, then you're going to want to check out this book. How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 is written in an easy, conversational tone, and is filled with humor and easy to understand and entertaining graphics. Help your kids learn about earning, saving, spending, and investing. You might just pick up a tip or two too! Financially secure kids will be able to put you into a nicer home one day...

The Moonjar Classic Moneybox Teaches Kids How to Spend, Save, and Share

via: Amazon

Part of financial literacy is knowing that every dollar in your pocket isn't a dollar you get to spend on toys and candy. Just like adult paychecks are divided into categories, kids can learn that any money they have should be appropriately designated. Some is for spending on fun things you want. Some is for saving for big ticket items. And some is for donating to causes that matter to you. The Moonjar Classic Moneybox is an innovative tool to help kids understand the power and responsibility of money. Most kids are naturally caring and charitable, and they love that they can pick a charity and make a difference!

I Will Teach You To Be Rich is a No Nonsense Program Aimed at 20-35 Year Olds

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This is a six week program designed to put those just starting out on the path to financial freedom. I Will Teach You To Be Rich is easy to read and follow, and speaks specifically to people of author Ramit Sethi's generation. Based on the "four pillars" of personal finance - banking, saving, budgeting, and investing, this book provides practical advice that can take someone from completely financially illiterate, to financially smart in just six weeks.

This 52 Week Food Planner Will Help You Eat Right, and Save Time and Money

via: Amazon/Amazon Customer

This little planner is a win on all fronts. If you want to make improvements to your health, weight, finances, and time management, then this 52 Week Food Planner is for you! Each page includes a week of meal planning, a corresponding grocery list, and a space for breakfast and lunch ideas. The planner fits easily into your purse, making it easy to stick to your plans. Imagine having a whole year's worth of meals and grocery lists at your fingertips!

The One-Page Financial Plan is Simple, Straightforward, and Full of Good Advice

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It turns out, the biggest key to financial success isn't technical or complicated, and has nothing to do with markets or indexes. The secret is simply knowing what's important to you. According to The One-Page Financial Plan, the first step towards reaching your goals is simply defining your goals. Your financial plan should fit on one page and it should be aligned with your life goals and priorities.

The Simple Elephant Planner is the Planner for Anyone Who Wants to be More Organized and Mindful

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While the The Simple Elephant Planner isn't specifically a financial planner, its open, free form style is designed to help users become, and remain, goal oriented. With proven techniques like mind maps, vision boards, and annual, weekly, and overall goal setting, the Elephant Journal is all about setting you up for success. Taking the time to set goals, and then being reminded of them every time you open your planner, makes staying on track much easier.

Budget Fill-in Planner Stickers are Perfect For People Who Like to Mix Creativity With Their Oganization

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Being organized is really the key to budgeting and saving success, and organization can look different to different people. For some, it's all about reading books, taking notes, and making lists in order to stay on track. For others, organization has to be fun. If you fall into that category, then a free form planner and these Budget Fill-in Planner Stickers might be just what you need. Just because lists and planners leave you cold doesn't mean you don't have what it takes to set goals and stick to them.

Learn How to Get More For Much, Much Less With How to Shop for Free

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Author Kathy Spencer can turn a $267.22 grocery bill into a $0.01 grocery bill. Yes, one penny. She shares her tips and tricks in How to Shop for Free. This book is full of specifics about loyalty programs, manufacturer discount websites, coupon websites, and more. We're talking specifics for popular stores, prescription meds, and online shopping. This practical guide includes exactly what websites to visit, exactly how to maximize various stores' reward programs, and defines confusing merchant lingo so you can start spending less on the things you're already buying.

You Will be Shocked at How Long Your Zojirushi Stainless Mug Will Keep Your Coffee Hot

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A basic tenet of saving money is to stop spending money where you really don't have to. Those little expenditures add up. A $2 or $3 (or more!) cup of coffee every day adds up to over a thousand dollars in a year! Instead, brew your coffee at home and pour it into a Zojirushi Stainless Mug. Even if you don't need another cup of coffee until you hit that afternoon slump, a hot drink will still be hot 6, 7, 8 hours later. (Same for cold beverages.) I'm talking steaming hot or ice cold, half a day later. These are not your average insulated mugs.

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Containers Help You Store What You Buy in Bulk on Sale

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An easy trick to save money on your grocery bills is to buy in bulk when things are on sale. Your favorite brand of ground beef is on sale? Terrific! Make up a batch of meatballs or tacos for dinner. Even better, double, triple, or quadruple your recipe. Place the right sized portions for your family into these Rubbermaid Containers and pop them in the freezer. You'll save yourself a ton of money in the long run, AND you'll have dinner in a pinch one day when you have no time, energy, or food in your fridge.

Sugru Moldable Glue Lets You Fix Things Instead of Replacing Them

The best way to save money is to just not spend it in the first place. Sounds obvious, but sometimes you need to buy stuff, like when something you own breaks and you need a new one. Right? Not necessarily.Sugru Moldable Glue can be used for almost anything - from fixing broken hoses to fixing broken charging cables to fixing the rack of your dishwasher! There are so many ways this stuff can be used to save you money it's mind boggling.

Find Out Which Appliances are Costing You Money With the Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

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Maybe you're spending money where you really don't have to right this moment. The Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor allows you to see which of your appliances are/are not running efficiently. It can calculate your electrical expenses for any given appliance by the day, week, month or year to give you a real picture of your power usage and where you can improve it.

Save Money by Actually Eating the Foods You Buy With the Bluapple Produce Freshness Extender

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Nothing is worse than throwing out unused produce. Fruits and vegetables are expensive, and we buy them with the best of intentions, but, for one reason or another, we all end up tossing soft, slimy, brown, and mushy produce because we didn't use it in time. It's a waste of food AND money. The Bluapple Produce Freshness Extender is a refillable little apple that absorbs ethylene gas, which is what causes your produce to over ripen. Each one lasts about 3 months, buying you more time to get around to eating the fruits and veggies you buy.

A Programmable Thermostat Can Save You a Surprising Amount on Your Energy Bill

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Saving money 101: don't keep the lights on in rooms no one is using, and don't warm or cool your house when no one is home. Switching off the lights is a handy habit to try to adopt, but remembering to turn your heat or AC off? Then you could come home to a freezing or sweltering house, and no one wants that. Replacing your standard thermostat with a Programmable Thermostat can save you money in the long run. These handy gadgets allow you to program Wake, Leave, Return, and Sleep temperature settings for each day of the week, or weekdays/weekends. This way, your house can be cool while you're away, but the heat can come back on 30 minutes before you arrive back home.

Quit Your Bottled Water Habit and Get a Brita Water Filter Pitcher Instead

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Buying bottled water is a waste of everything. It's tremendously expensive over time, and the environmental impacts are disastrous. Tap water isn't necessarily the only alternative. Luckily, you can save money AND be a good environmental steward simply by getting a Brita Water Filter Pitcher. It fits nicely in the door of your fridge, and the filter eliminates any unpleasant flavors your tap water might have.

Stop Spending Your Money on New Batteries With This AA Rechargeable Batteries and Battery Charger Set

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Any time you can reuse something rather than tossing it and buying a new one, you're going to save money. Sounds obvious, and maybe you've already replaced some disposable items around your house with reusable ones. Good job! Here's one you may not have thought of: batteries. Batteries are expensive and always running out when you need them. This set of AA Rechargeable Batteries and Battery Charger will keep your electronics going and save you money.

The Roku Express is an Inexpensive Alternative to Cable

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If you look at your monthly expenses, I bet your cable bill is among the biggest. If you are serious about cutting back on spending, it might be time to cut the cord. "But my cable is bundled with my internet and home phone," you say. It's 2018, you don't need a home phone, and internet alone is cheaper than your cable TV package. Luckily, there are so many streaming services, and they're getting better every year, so it's never been easier to make that break. The Roku Express costs less than $30, and gives you access to all of your subscription channels - like Netflix and Hulu - plus some free ones.

The Spatty & Spatty Daddy Help You Get Every Last Drop

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It's hard to use up every last drop of some jars and bottles. So, we spend money to buy replacements, even when we have some product left. The Spatty & Spatty Daddy solve that problem. These clever little spatulas reach into cosmetic, lotion, and condiment containers, allowing you to scoop up what you otherwise would throw out. You spent good money on that foundation; make sure you get to use it all!

Stop Buying Plastic Wrap and Use Silicone Stretch Lids Instead

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This is another instance where replacing something disposable with something reusable will save you money. These Silicone Stretch Lids will replace almost all your uses for plastic wrap. They fit on round or square or other containers. They fit directly onto fruits and vegetables like lemons, watermelons, and tomatoes. Saving money is all about little changes that are easy to stick with and products like this really do make it painless.

Cut Your Dry Cleaning Budget Entirely With Dryel In-Dryer Cleaning Starter Kit

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Dryel is an alternate way to care for your dry clean only clothes, and other delicates. Simply place your clothes in the included zippered bag with a sheet of Dryel, and then place the bag into your dryer for about 30 minutes. This works for hand washables too, and for wool and linen. Not only will you save money by skipping the dry cleaner, but your clothes will last longer because this is a super safe and gentle way to clean them!

Save Money on Takeout With Copycat Recipes: Making Restaurants’ Most Popular Recipes at Home

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Takeout is great, but if you're serious about budgeting and saving, you know it's one of the first things that's going to have to go. Fear not! You can still enjoy your favorite foods. Copycat Recipes: Making Restaurants’ Most Popular Recipes at Home is a cookbook for the takeout lover. The recipes include popular dishes from specific restaurants like Panda Express’ Crispy Orange Chicken and even Copycat Swedish Meatballs from Ikea.

No Need to Spend Money on Dryer Sheets With Wool Dryer Balls

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Wool Dryer Balls save you money in a couple of ways. You can stop buying those expensive, chemical laden dryer sheets, first of all, because using dryer balls ensures that your clothes come out soft, static free, and fluffed. Second, using dryer balls cuts down on your drying time. Think of the energy savings when you can cut down each dryer cycle by up to 30-40%! Extra bonus: your clothes will last longer, and so will your dryer!

This Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker Takes the Place of All Those Cups of Iced Coffee You're Buying

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I've been pretty good about not buying coffee out for awhile now. But that only refers to hot coffee. I'm still a sucker for a refreshing iced coffee on a hot summer day. If you are too, but want to cut back on spending, try this Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker. This one quart coffee maker fits easily into most fridge doors and costs less than $20. It will pay for itself quickly if you're an avid coffee drinker!

Replace Your Regular K-Cups With Reusable K-Cups and You'll See Huge Savings Immediately

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Those single serve coffee pods are extremely convenient and extremely expensive. If you're a die-hard Keurig user, swap out your regular K-Cups for these Reusable K-Cups. Buying ground coffee by the pound is much less expensive than buying K-Cups, not to mention so much better from a waste/environment perspective! These little mesh cups are universally compatible with any K-Cup brewing system. They rinse out easily and will last forever.

The Flip-It Saves You Money by Eliminating Food Waste

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Manufacturers are FINALLY designing bottles that stand with the dispensing end down, but most condiments still come in senseless, dispensing side UP bottles. This means that we need to shake and shake and shake them, trying to get our dressing or ketchup to the dispensing end. Invariably, we give up and buy a new one while there is still plenty of stuff left in the bottle. The Flip-It turns any bottle into a smart, dispensing side down bottle. It's genius and everyone needs one.

This Self-Haircut Kit Might Just Eliminate the Barber From Your Life

Not every haircut can be achieved with this Self Haircut Kit, but if you or someone you share a budget with has the kind of haircut that can, you can save hundreds of dollars a year! This clever little shaver fits into the palm your hand so you can reach your entire head; the cutting edge is curved perfectly, and the entire thing is waterproof so you can shave your head in the shower.