By Tommy Tindall, NerdWallet
Are you feeling financially stressed or fiscally encouraged this year?
Over a third of Americans said they feel optimistic (35%) and/or confident (35%) about their finances going into 2026, according to NerdWallet’s 2026 Consumer Outlook Report. But nearly as many feel anxious (32%) and/or stressed (30%).
If you’re in camp nervous, looking for clever ways to cut expenses could chill you out.
I’m no genius, but these couple of money traits keep me clever:
I’m curious enough to question the value of the services I pay for.
I’m willing to try a new service, plan or strategy when potential savings are compelling.
I’ve also gotten more comfortable being uncomfortable. These subtle shifts saved me thousands.
I switched my cell phone plan and sacrificed nothing
I think $90 per month for two lines of cell phone service is too much. That’s about what I was paying for two lines of T-Mobile service. One of my most impactful money moves was leaving T-Mobile proper for its lower-cost Mint Mobile brand a couple years back. I’ve saved hundreds in the time since.
My biggest worry — that I might lose my precious phone number during the change over — was unfounded. Fortunately, the process of porting your number when you change providers has become easy to do yourself.
So is bringing your phone, as long you’re not locked into an installment plan with the previous carrier. I was all good, and switched to Mint in under 30 minutes.
Poor signal strength was another fear, but it’s been just as good as my old plan. Now, my wife and I each pay $20 per month (with the 12-month plan) for a Mint plan. Here’s my math:
Old plan: About $90 per month x 12 months = $1,080 per year.
New plan: $40 per month x 12 months = $480 per year.
Do you want to save on cell phone service? Find a cheap cell phone plan that provides coverage in your area, then visit the brand’s help center or FAQ page. Read the instructions for signing up and transferring your number. If you’re good with the process, get your confidence up and make the switch.
I got cheaper (slightly slower) internet service and still Zoom
I used to have one of those cable internet plans that came with a low introductory rate for the first couple of years, and then doubled in price on day one of year three.
When the sudden increase caught my attention, I researched ways to lower my internet bill. I realized I really didn’t need the level of speed I was paying for.
So, I found and switched to a stripped-down service from Xfinity called Now Internet. There are just two plans. One plan is 100 Mbps internet for $30 per month, the other is 200 Mbps for $45. The modem is included at no extra cost.
I went with the 200 Mbps plan, and it’s been more than adequate. My previous plan had higher download speeds and was about $60 per month. I now save $180 annually and haven’t dropped off a video call yet.
I got rid of a car payment and felt freer
Cars are expensive, and my wife and I each need one. For a time, we had two late-model vehicles, both with loans. The cars were great, but the double shot of monthly payments got me.
So, I decided to sell one (my sporty hatchback) and replace it with something older and cheaper, but still fun. The process was more straightforward than you might think.
I checked around to get a good sense of the car’s value and listed it on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for a fair private party price of $18,000. I still owed around $8,000.
It took a month or so, but a potential buyer messaged me on Facebook and said he wanted the car for his son. After some back and forth and a test drive, we made a deal for pretty close to my asking price.
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I got a check, he got the car. I mailed him the title after I used the money to pay the balance of the loan.
NerdWallet’s autos expert, Shannon Bradley, says people often think selling a car they still owe money on will be complicated.
“But it really doesn’t have to be,” Bradley says. “Talk to your lender first to see how it handles payoffs and titles. When you think you have a likely buyer, be upfront about still having a loan balance on the car.”
Getting out of the second car payment was freeing. What’s even sweeter: I got a steal on a used luxury sport sedan and paid cash for it.
“The savings can go beyond just the payment,” Bradley says. “Paying cash for a reliable used car can reduce insurance costs, registration fees and depreciation losses.”
An even easier — but possibly less lucrative — method is to sell your financed car online to a company like Carvana or Driveway.
I cut out minor conveniences and lived
If you’re not quite ready to sell your car, these other frugal tips I tried take less effort (but may require you to wear a jacket inside).
I put my thermostat on a schedule and stopped touching it: Electricity costs can make up a significant portion of people’s budgets. I cut down my bill by walking over to my thermostat once and using the “schedule” feature to set the air to 65 degrees during the day and 70 at night. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates you can save as much as 10% on your energy bill by going up or down 7-10 degrees, depending on the season.
I delivered takeout to myself: I was on a DoorDash kick until I looked closely at a recent receipt. I had a lunch order of two BLTs. I saw $11 of added costs due to fees and the tip. All so I could avoid a 2-mile drive and stay at my desk. It wasn’t easy, but I quit delivery and try to get out of the house for lunch now. Turns out I like the sun.
I started sending $75 per month to a HYSA: Despite my clever cuts, my expenses are still high in this season of life (multiple kids, amiright?). Every little bit you can save helps. Right now, I send a manageable $75, via automatic transfer, to a high-yield savings account every month. It earns more interest than a regular savings account, and I’ll up the ante as soon my kids stop eating so many frozen waffles.
You, too, can save money without changing your lifestyle
I can honestly say, these little cuts to save money have done wonders for my stress. And I’ll stay on the hunt for more clever ways.
The key was to look for small wins that didn’t require major lifestyle overhauls. For me, and hopefully for you, being clever with money is more about noticing than suffering. Keep curious, be willing to try some cost-cutting, and you’ll probably feel better about your finances in 2026.
Tommy Tindall writes for NerdWallet. Email: ttindall@nerdwallet.com.
The article 6 Clever Ways I’ve Saved Money (That Weren’t as Scary as I Thought) originally appeared on NerdWallet.
