50 Best Money-Saving Blogs and Websites

50 Best Money-Saving Blogs and Websites

Wednesday, 29 August 2012 11:58 Written by  Savvy Girl  

Whether the recession ends up being a single, double, or even triple dip (heaven help us), one thing we've learned over the last few dollar-stretching years is that it is NEVER too late get your savvy on, get smarter about how you spend your money and live a rich, creative, abundant life with whatever you've got to work with.

On the quest for fabulous frugality, we've met a lot of like-minded savvistas and felt it was high time we formally introduced them to you.  Whether you're tightening your financial belt for the short term or the long (long! long! long!), let these whip-smart, out-of-the-box-thinking writers, bloggers, savvistas and communities inspire and be your partners in living the savvy good life for less.  Everyone grab a buddy, because remember what mom always said: “Savvy in Numbers!”

MONEY
1.    Squawkfox is a budget drill sergeant and will whip you into savvy shape faster than fast.  Now drop and give her 10 before you read The Real Reason You’re Broke
2.    And Then She Saved blogger Anna Newell Jones had mega-debt until she went on a spending “fast.”  Find out how you can do it here.
3.    The Simple Dollar managed to get out of debt, save $600k (!) and lives his dream of making his living as an artist. Try this savvy no-brainer, Spending Less Than You Earn. 
4.    RetailMeNot. We don’t buy a thing without checking this super-useful site for coupons first.
5.    Mint.com lets you link up all your accounts, giving you uber-helpful at-a-glance breakdowns of where your money flows and goes each month. Sign up here but don’t miss out on regular money-saving columns.
6.    Budgets Are Sexy is another “got out of debt and lived to tell the tale” dream blog.  Don’t miss How I Accomplished My Goal of Full-Time Blogging.
7.    Unconsumption helps clarify the whole consumer debt conundrum alongside fun and useful repurposing posts like “Wine O’Clock.”

HOME
8.    Thrifty Fun is our fave mega-hub of everything related to saving money at home.  They’re a fab resource for homemade gifts, crafts and decorating, particularly around holidays, birthdays and special occasions.
9.    Ikea Hackers is for those times you gotta go with the cheap, Scandinavian flow, but you really want to make a piece zing! Check out “What to do with your kid’s artwork”
10.    Not Just a Housewife turns clearance-rack sow’s ears into silk purses almost every day, with super ideas for savvy décor.  Check out this FAB mason jar wall planter (swoon!). 
11.    ElegantThrifter points us toward so many Martha-quality makeovers like this repurposed Hi-Fi-turned sideboard, you’ll be hitting your local thrift shops in search of throwaway gems you can prettify yourself. 
12.    FrugalBabe and Mr. FrugalBabe are happily self-employed (from home! with kids!) and make it all work with savvy strategies like mega-harvesting, preserving and canning their own goods.
13.    Daily Danny designs and decorates with an eye on budget-friendly, upcycling home solutions.  Read: How to Find $500 Really Fast.
14.    DIY Life is a soothing site to hit when you feel like tackling projects on your own.  They’re also savvy enough to tell you when it’s time to put down the power tools and call the pros.  Check out: 10 Home Projects You Should Never DIY
15.    Design*Sponge. While not overtly budget-minded, Design Sponge nevertheless inspires us to make our home a sanctuary of loveliness so we’re less tempted to throw money away willy-nilly on dining and entertaining out.  D*S’s Before & After projects like this geometric rug are pure inspirational manna from the heavens.

FOOD
16.    Field to Plate educates us about seasonal produce picks, meaning spending less money, enjoying more flavor. Bookmark What’s in Season in Your Region
17.    Dinner Tool lets you plug in ingredients you’ve got on hand so you can whip up a meal in a flash without wasting a thing.  They’ve even got budget and healthy options for keeping it savvy and sweet. 
18.    Allrecipes is another supah-bad ingredient search site and pulls up so many community-generated recipes, you’ll never waste another half-pound of produce again. 
19.    Wise Bread has frugal everything, from food to travel to personal finance.  Don’t miss their Frugal Living columns like these 25 Quick, Cheap Lunch Ideas. 
20.    99 Cent Chef makes really great food with really cheap ingredients.  Try Peas, Mint & Salmon Pasta. 
21.    Smitten Kitchen has made “dining in” sexy again making unique recipes from “everyday” ingredients. Check out author Deb’s drool-worthy photos and Roasted Tomato Soup With Broiled Cheddar.

TRAVEL
22.    Kayak remains our number one pick for nabbing a savvy airfare deal.  We know there are others but this one always seems to turn up the price we click on.
23.    Airfarewatchdog is our go-to for booking flights when we’ve got a destination in mind and a little extra time before we pull out the credit card.  Just sign up for airfare alerts, keep your eyes peeled and buy when you see the price you like.
24.    Travelzoo rounds up megadeals on hotels and travel packages all around the world.  Sign up for your favorite cities and keep an eye out for a “keeper.”
25.    IgoUgo is our fave info-sharing site for the best scoop on deals and destinations from your fellow travelers.  Just type in your city and check out what users have to say. 
26.    AirBnB is our new fave site for scooping up accommodation deals all around the world.  Forget budget-busting hotels when you can stay in a comfy, stylish flat in Paris for $60/night or Berlin for $40/night.  (True story, email us if you want deets)

GREEN LIVING
27.    Treehugger is a metropolis of green info and also has a super-sweet forum for all your queries and quandaries about living a more sustainable, budget-friendly life. 
28.    The Daily Green is a one-stop green-your-life shop with savvy money-saving ideas like these 19 Easy Winterization Tips. 
29.    Green Upgrader constantly makes us think twice before throwing something away.  Try Repair[ing] Old Shoes to Save Resources and Cash
30.    Grow and Make is the go-to site anytime we need green solutions such as these cheap, homemade, all-natural cleaners. 
31.    The Green Mom Review reminds us that child-rearing doesn’t have to become a giant financial and consumer-waste pileup.  Try these Green Tips for Back-to-School.

FASHION
32.    The Swapoholics remind us that it’s never too late to get some swapping action going with your girlfriends--y'all will end up saving a ton revitalizing the stuff y'all have already got.  Find or list a swap here. 
33.    The Budget Fashionista will inspire you to adopt the motto: frugality doesn't have to equal frumpality (well, almost. ;-).  Required Reading: Recession Proof Your Closet.
34.    Cheap Jap will restore your love of thrifting with her savvy sifting tips and brilliant finds.  Get inspired by her sartorial hit-the-jackpot post Damage-Free Digging. 
35.    PS I Made This is a wonderland of DIY fashion and home projects often made from nothing more than everyday household objects.  Try this Hepburn-worthy chunky pearl necklace.
36.    Cheap Chicas whips up super savvy style with budget-friendly buys that won't put the slightest pressure on your wallet.  Don't miss 30 Looks for under $150. 
37.    EcoSalon puts sustainable fashion and beauty ideas right in the palm of your green hand.  Try 5 Fashion Trends to Thrift Right Now.

BEAUTY & HEALTH
38.    Makeup Alley is an uber-smart beauty product review/board/swap webopolus that helps you try or find out which products are worth the dough before you blow your wad. 
39.    Jezebel.  Our favorite repository of topical sass has recently started turning out a pretty fine column, “Worth It” spotlighting beauty products the writers swear by (but don’t get for free, because they are SERIOUS journalists, not beauty bloggers, dur) 
40.    Makeup and Beauty Blog not only has smartly-written reviews galore, they’ve also got a sweet, regular “bargains’ column we love to hit when we’re looking for a cheap thrill.
41.    NouveauCheap not only treats you to fab affordable beauty finds, they also lasso up sweet super-coups* as well. (* = coupons, dur.)
42.    My Home Remedies is surely not the site to go to if you’re having an emergency, but for minor cuts, scrapes and colds, we’ve found many a cheap, helpful home remedy on their friendly and useful boards. 
43.    Weight Watchers appears to be the only program that teaches sustainable life-long weight loss and maintenance. We regularly cruise their Fitness and Food columns for budget-friendly, liveable solutions. 
44.    Greatist gives you zippy, peppy, actionable ideas for boosting your activity, fitness and health goals.  Don’t miss The Greatist Challenge Series: Fitness on a Budget.

FAMILY & CHARITY
45.    Simple Mom hacks the home scene with smart tips, worksheets and eye-mazing projects like What to do with Bad Paintings. 
46.    Freebies4Mom has about a bazillion freebies every day.  Get on their RSS feed or follow them on Twitter, STAT!
47.    Social Moms is a warm friendly blankie of useful, money-saving info.  Snuggle up to What to do With Leftover Baby Cereal for starters. 
48.    Money Saving Mom doesn’t go bananas with crafts you can’t use, just dishes up super deals and ideas for living simply and affordably.  Check out 3 Ways You Can Save Money Without Changing Your Spending.
49.    Savvy Sassy Moms deals out fun, fab mom solutions like a budget-super-star. Try her Tips on Throwing a Green Birthday Party.
50.    Charity Navigator is the first, last and only site we hit before we want to do that savvy donation thing.  Find out how savvy (or not!) your fave charity is before you dig deep.

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  • 2011-11-07 06:55:18 | molly3
    This is a great list—a lot of them I wasn't aware of. One place I visit daily for deals is cuckooforcoupons—Deidre Shirley Gunnels does a great job of aggregating almost all of the available deals out there, and is especially known for "extreme couponing" which quite often results in you getting money back for buying something.

    http://www.cuckooforcoupondeals.com/
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  • 2011-11-11 12:06:40 | | 24Savvy
    molly3, you're the best! We're adding cuckooforcoupons to our next list of "Savvy 51-100." LOL, there's NO such thing as too much "savvy"
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  • 2012-01-26 06:17:15 | | Eric  - Lifehacker
    Lifehacker is a great site that has helped me save money over the years as well. A lot of it is techie stuff, but every week or so they offer tips and advice on how to save money on various things like photography and cooking your own food the restaurant way.
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  • 2012-01-27 11:26:51 | 24Savvy
    @Eric, nice call. We LOVE Lifehacker and you're right, the tips and tutorials are awesome. Have you ever tried their homemade donut recipe with biscuit dough? Heaven on a stick. http://lifehacker.com/5743833/make-easy-homemade-doughnuts-with-canned-biscuit- dough
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  • 2013-04-18 22:37:15 | | J and J Business 2013  - Great Info for beginners
    I appreciate your informatiev website. I am abot 72 hrs new in this and I am sick of all the scams and bogus links out there. its refreshing to read a good post. Am going to give this a try and we will see where this goes..I figured I won't quit my day job anytime soon, but its fun so far anyways.....thanks again and come check out my progress at eitehr of my sites.....I will take anyones suggestions on improvements.
    www.makingandsavingmoneyfromhome.com
    http://astore.amazon.com/makandsavmonl-20
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  • 2011-11-11 12:26:31 | | SavingMentor
    Wish I was included in this list! Looks like a nice collection of sites you got there. Cool to see Squawkfox at number 1!
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  • 2011-11-11 12:41:46 | 24Savvy
    @SavingMentor, thank you for stopping by! We may just have to make a second list, there were just too many great sites like yours!
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  • 2012-03-12 21:18:29 | Nicole
    This is a great list, I visit many of these sites weekly! Another one that I frequent is http://Embracingbeauty.com. They have great deals and couponing advice but I love their beauty deals most of all!
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  • 2012-03-13 09:57:06 | 24Savvy
    Nicole, that's a great one, thank you for sharing!!!!
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  • 2012-04-15 15:27:33 | | mark  - Howard Clarks 12 ways to save money
    '''[http://www.eyebuyexpress.com A Dozen Ways to Save a Dollar]'''
    Clark Howard is a down-to-earth self-made millionaire with a syndicated raido show and a popular website (www.clarkhoward.com). He's the one you see on HLN in a simple studio, standing with a boom microphone as he takes calls from viewers and tells them how to save money and make money.
    Some of his saving money tips I have used that I found worked very well I have listed here. I would think that everyone should be able to use a few of these.
    1. '''Buy your a teen a Peek''', the poor mans blackberry and get unlimited texts and emails for $10
    2. '''Order prescription eye glasses''' for as little as $7 a pair with your prescription lenses included from www.eyebuyexpress.com
    3. '''Fire your cable provider''' and watch cable television for $7.99 a month on Hulu or Netflix
    4. '''If your an occasional movie watcher''', rent through www.redbox.com which unlike netflix charges you by the re...
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  • 2012-04-24 18:01:38 | | FTGOAorg  - Great Blog! More On Money Tips
    Thank you for adding the sections about Family and Charity. A wonderful new charity that aims at more generous giving and at open-book accounting is http://www.FTGOA.org

    FTGOA stands for the phrase "For the Good of All"

    FTGOA.org is new, and is wanting to receive emails from 1,000 new people who want to be added to the financial aid /assistance waiting list.

    Beginning on April 25, 2012 this charity is going to be advertised on the front page of newspapers in 17 different counties for 14 days straight.

    And if the first 1,000 waiting list spots are not filled by then, the ad will be run for longer.

    Now is your change to get on it.

    Do you have a huge medical bill or student loan that is weighing your family down? Contact them, and get on the waiting list.

    No one will be turned away!

    FTGOA is all about making generous charitable actions in the lives of individuals and...
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  • 2012-05-06 23:52:01 | Cynthia  - Cheap Beauty
    a really great site to save money on High Quality beauty products is www.thevanityshoppe.webplusshop.com . Everything is between 2 and 15 dollars, and it's Free shipping on every order. I just stumbled apon it the other day, and I couldn't believe it. Ulta, Stila, Benefit, Smashbox, Missha M, and more.
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  • 2012-05-17 04:28:15 | henrynewton
    Getting loans from conventional lenders is tougher than ever before. Due to the current state of the economy, credit markets are tightening, making it much harder to find lenders to turn to when you’re in need of emergency cash.

    24 hours quick payday loan
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  • 2012-05-22 05:38:40 | | cheap flights
    Great post, cheers.
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  • 2012-07-05 08:19:31 | | Celesccms  - DEBTHELPER
    Debthelper.com is a 501c3 housing and credit counseling agency whose mission is to provide compassionate and professional, financial counseling and education in an ethical manner with efficient, timely and problem-solving client support. Visit our website at http://www.debthelper.com/ for more information. You may also call us, toll free at 1-800-920-2262.
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  • 2012-07-24 13:13:50 | | The Green Mom Review
    I didn't realize our site was on this awesome list. Thank you so much for including The Green Mom Review!
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  • 2012-09-04 17:14:11 | | anna newell jones  - thanks you!
    thank you for including my site (and then she saved) on this fabulous list! i'm honored to be included!
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  • 2012-09-04 17:15:56 | | anna newell jones  - correct link:)
    p.s. here's the correct link :) http://andthenshesaved.com/about-the-spending-fast/
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  • 2012-09-21 21:54:39 | | Elissa  - Save money on Christmas gifts
    You'll find more 40 tips on saving money and time on gift-giving this year at http://www.itsinthestarsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Its-In-The-Stars- Christmas-Countdown-Calendar.pdf
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  • 2012-10-01 21:42:56 | kipa ni  - Regarding money saving
    Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner
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  • 2012-10-02 21:23:19 | Gareth Thomas  - Great list!
    G’day,
    Just wanted to say congrats on compiling such a great list - there is so much great advice to be found from this blog. I was especially drawn to the 'Tips on throwing a green birthday party' It's my son's first birthday party this weekend and I’ll definitely be implementing some of the cool things I picked up from that blog.

    Cheers,
    Gareth.
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  • 2012-10-03 14:36:12 | Gaomodimo  - layout
    The content of this blog is interesting, Try to make the important things distinguishable from the junk. i couldn't tell apart the links from your posts.
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  • 2012-10-05 11:26:11 | | tijuana smith @ po' man meals  - money saving recipes, articles, coupons and more!
    thanks for this great article! the money saving community is so large and it is great to see them all listed on one page. i wanted to introduce my website, po' man meals. i have low cost recipes with the approximate cost of each recipe, $30 for 5 meals, money saving articles, coupons and more! it is great when we all work together to save each other money!
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  • 2012-10-09 23:09:58 | Tristan Brown  - Wonderful Compilation
    Hi Savvy Girl,

    This is a great list of money saving ideas and initiatives.
    This blogpost provides a great range of different ideas for a variety of occassions. I particularly liked the "Money" and "Food" sections.
    Could you please offer an updated version around Christmas time to assist me with my Christmas Shopping!

    Thanks Again.

    Tristan
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  • 2012-12-03 09:39:19 | | Christy  - Great Resource!
    I am always looking for blogs and websites to help save money. Sometimes it's hard to find the good ones though. Thanks for sharing!
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  • 2012-12-12 22:00:16 | | Neil Charlton  - short term loans
    The short term loans is an instant finance solution online. The application is easy and the approval will be on the same day of application also. No need to visit the local office or to risk your work.
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  • 2012-12-12 22:08:23 | | Cha
    Interesting money saving blogs you have here! I myself finds it difficult to save. I really hope I can save before Christmas.

    Cha @ short term loans
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  • 2012-12-19 13:39:52 | | Elio  - more tips
    - Use a PURE filter to make your own drinkable water, instead of buying bottled water (+$40/month)

    - Don’t use gas dryer to dry clothes, but hang your clothes inside to dry (+$50/month)

    - In the winter, the air is very dry. Hang up wet clothes instead of using a humidifier (+$30/month)

    - Keep the temperature at 62° F when sleeping or away from home (+$50/month or more)

    - Use energy efficient light bulbs in all your rooms (+$5/month)

    - Use an energy efficient toilet that uses only a half-gallon of water instead of 3 gallons (+$5/month)

    - Check with insurance companies before your policy ends for best rates to save money.

    - Buying in bulk (when on sale) things that don’t spoil, like dry goods such as mayonnaise, soup, etc.

    - Rent a deep cleaner vacuum instead of hiring a professional to clean (+$100-$300)

    - Look for seasonal/holiday discounts (Before/After Christmas sal...
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  • 2012-12-19 13:45:07 | | Elio  - more tips - 2
    - Avoid eating junk food and snacks, drink water not soda, etc. This is healthier and will save you $!

    - Don’t drink alcohol (or drink less). Don’t smoke (or smoke less). This will save you big money!

    - Always pay your credit card statements and bills on time to avoid late fees

    - Avoid credit cards with annual fees (+$25-$100/year)

    - Lease a car (no $ down) instead of buying. Only needs oil changes.

    - Drink water at home and at restaurants instead of coffee, soda, juice, etc. and save a lot of money

    Full list here - http://www.solex.edu/en/blog/around-solex/money-saving-tips/
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  • 2012-12-19 18:32:34 | | Doug  - great list
    This is a great list, very useful. I was aware of a few of these sites but not all 50! Hope you find some useful tidbits on my site as well =)
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  • 2013-01-09 14:44:06 | | Jentry Nielsen  - Love this!
    I feel like I just landed in heaven! Ha all of my favorite topics all in one area, I just wasted about an hour of my day on this list already and am still not even half way done with the list ha! I will definitely be having to bookmark this for later use! :) Thanks for sharing!!!
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  • 2013-01-14 10:06:11 | | Leigh Carroll  - Supreme Outreach Food Box Program
    If you have not found the little gem then you have to check it out! Currently this program is available in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina.
    It saves your hundreds each month on great quality meats and vegetables that are delivered to sites in the states listed below each month. Your order comes packed frozen, all you have to do is pick it up.
    Their Ultimate Box which contains 25 lbs of vegetables and meats only cost $46! I priced the items at Walmart and it would have cost me $95.
    This is a great program! It also gives back to host sites donations so that they can support other programs in their communities, anyone and everyone can use this program no matter what your income level is.
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  • 2013-01-23 13:12:57 | | kevin  - thanks
    thanks for an awesome list this will defo save me money thanks :)
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  • 2013-01-30 16:01:09 | Sarah Morabito  - What i like
    I don't always get out on the internet every day, so I like using the Coupon Courier service. I can pick what stores I want to receive coupons and they send them to when they become available. I think the coupons are pulled from the Shopping Guru website. Visit CouponCourier.com or ShoppingGuru.com
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  • 2013-02-07 07:30:04 | | life bronze  - great blog
    I strongly recommend you ad this new blog that has short and sweet tips that can save you a lot of money. saveanextrabuck.blogspot.com
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  • 2013-03-04 21:23:23 | Cina  - Great list for those who want to save
    Many sites in the list are really great. This list is useful for me, because I'm a frugal girl and I'm interested in any tips that can help me save. save an extra buck is a good site and I have a visit of it. Usually I like shopping online with online coupons & deals. I get a lot of sving tips from this: http://www.couponsnapshot.com/shopping-tips/.
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  • 2013-02-28 14:13:27 | | Tiffany Mealia  - Thank you!
    Thanks for compiling this list! Always good to stay in the know!
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  • 2013-03-02 21:23:56 | | cashub  - No Time To Spend!
    The secret to saving money is to read all these websites... Then you simply won't have time to spend any money!

    Great resource.
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  • 2013-04-10 10:03:53 | | Marko
    This is great info and resources for money saving tips. hope this can help me dig my way out off a whole. been kinda hooked on payday loans ontario
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  • 2013-04-18 22:38:22 | | J and J Business 2013  - Refreshing comments for a New Beginner
    I appreciate your informatiev website. I am abot 72 hrs new in this and I am sick of all the scams and bogus links out there. its refreshing to read a good post. Am going to give this a try and we will see where this goes..I figured I won't quit my day job anytime soon, but its fun so far anyways.....thanks again and come check out my progress at eitehr of my sites.....I will take anyones suggestions on improvements.
    www.makingandsavingmoneyfromhome.com
    http://astore.amazon.com/makandsavmonl-20
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