The journey to financial wellness is one filled with all sorts of new discoveries. Once you commit to turning your financial life around, you’ll discover more about yourself, such as your true needs and wants. You’ll also figure out some interesting and simple cost-saving strategies—or life hacks—that you can carry with you for life. We’ve learned a lot of tips over the years through talking with members. Here are some of our favorite things you can do to improve your financial life.
 

Clear browsing history when buying airfare online

When you start searching for flights, airlines leave a digital trail in your cache that alerts them that you are in the market. When they know you are searching, they raise the prices. By clearing your cache, you can save as much as $50 per flight on the exact same day.
 

Opt for cash to curb impulse spending

One of the downsides of debit and credit cards is that they make spending your hard earned money too easy. Studies have shown that people spend less when they carry cash, particularly bills that are hard to break, like $50s and $100s. To kick it up a notch, make sure to ask for new bills. You will be less likely to spend or break a crisp new bill.
 

Carry your groceries

One place where we can overspend without thinking about it is the grocery store. You may go to the store just to pick up a few things and end up with a cart full of groceries. This is because the size of the cart creates a psychological desire to fill it. To prevent this, opt for the basket rather than the cart. You’ll be less tempted to overspend.
 

Delete your credit card from online stores

Online stores are successful because they have figured out ways to make your purchasing experience as frictionless as possible. One way they do this is by storing your credit card information so you can “one-click” purchase. By deleting your credit card, you create an added barrier to impulse shopping that will make you less likely to spend unnecessarily.
 

Use health plan gym discounts

Many health insurance companies try to incentivize healthy behavior by offering benefits for healthy lifestyle choices. Check to see if your health insurance offers discounts or reimbursements for gym memberships. Some insurance providers will reimburse you as much as $240 per year.
 

Switch your light bulbs to LED

Some people may be intimidated by the higher upfront cost of LED light bulbs, but you also have to think about the long-term energy cost savings. LED light bulbs last 10 times as long as incandescent and they use about 20% of the energy. You may end up saving $100 per bulb over its lifetime.
 

Ditch the bookstore for the library

If you are a bookworm, one way to save is to make your hobby completely free. Rather than spend up to $25 per book, you can check books out from your local library. Many libraries will even order the book you want for their permanent collection. Libraries also offer free, family-friendly events. Be sure to check with your local library for affordable entertainment for the whole family.
 

Pack a lunch

One place where people consistently overspend is by going out to lunch on their work break. Instead of spending $10-$15 per workday on food, pack your lunch instead. You’ll save big bucks, particularly if you use leftovers from the night before. Packing a lunch can save you nearly $1,000 per year! 
 

You are not alone

Remember, there’s no single way to achieve financial wellness. It’s a journey as unique as each individual. However, there’s a lot you can learn from people who have been in your shoes before. By taking advantage of these tried and true tips, you will have a new set of tactics you can utilize.