TikTok isn’t only for dance developments and viral recipes anymore. It’s change into a full-blown useful resource for every little thing from psychological well being recommendation to facet hustle methods. And recently, private finance influencers have taken over our “For You” web page with flashy, bite-sized recommendations on easy methods to save severe money every month. However are these TikTok money-saving hacks really useful or simply extra monetary fluff dressed up in aesthetic movies and background music?
We determined to seek out out. After watching, testing, and evaluating 12 of probably the most viral money-saving TikTok suggestions, we’re chopping via the hype and supplying you with the true deal. Some are surprisingly efficient. Others? Let’s simply say they appear higher on digital camera than they work in actual life. Right here’s the breakdown—examined, so that you don’t must.
1. The “Money-Stuffing” Envelope Technique
Money-stuffing entails withdrawing money and allocating it into bodily envelopes labeled for various spending classes like groceries, fuel, and leisure. TikTokers declare it helps scale back overspending and brings consciousness to monetary habits.
Our verdict: This works properly…if you’re disciplined and don’t store on-line. Bodily seeing your cash dwindle makes it more durable to impulse spend, and it provides a tactile reminder of limits. Nevertheless, it’s impractical in a digital-first world the place many transactions are card-based or contactless. Use a hybrid methodology: money for discretionary spending, digital for recurring payments.
2. Rounding Up Your Purchases to Save Robotically
One TikTok hack recommends linking your debit card to an app that rounds up each buy to the closest greenback and deposits the distinction right into a financial savings account.
Our verdict: It is a quiet however efficient option to construct financial savings with out considering. Over time, these pennies add up. The draw back? It really works finest for those who spend recurrently, which will not be superb for those who’re attempting to chop spending altogether. Nonetheless, it’s a strong passive-saving technique.
3. “No-Spend” Problem Days
This development encourages you to designate sure days the place you spend no cash in any respect. TikTokers swear it builds monetary self-discipline and heightens spending consciousness.
Our verdict: Surprisingly efficient, particularly while you monitor your progress. It rewires your habits and encourages planning forward. However watch out. Some customers binge spend the day earlier than or after a no-spend day, which defeats the aim. Use it carefully and pair it with goal-setting for finest outcomes.
4. Meal Prepping to Save on Groceries and Takeout
TikTok meal-prep gurus declare it can save you a whole lot every month by batch-cooking your meals for the week and avoiding last-minute Uber Eats orders. One of the best half? There are numerous TikTok accounts which have simple, inexpensive recipes.
Our verdict: Completely true. We examined this over 4 weeks and located financial savings of practically $200 by skipping simply 2–3 takeout meals per week. The trick is to prep meals you really take pleasure in so that you’re not tempted to desert them. A bit of planning goes a good distance towards actual month-to-month financial savings.
5. The “Unsubscribe From Temptation” Trick
Probably the most underrated TikTok hacks? Unsubscribing from retail e-mail lists to keep away from being tempted by gross sales and new arrivals. Is that this groundbreaking? No. Does it work? Completely.
Our verdict: This one’s a stealth winner. It reduces publicity to impulse-buy triggers and cuts down on the “simply shopping” behavior that always results in spending. Much less advertising and marketing in your inbox = fewer causes to open your pockets. Fast, simple, and immediately efficient.
6. “Revenge Return” Your Regrets
Some TikTokers movie themselves returning impulse purchases weeks after realizing they didn’t want them. The development has been dubbed “revenge returns.”
Our verdict: When you can keep disciplined and return gadgets inside the retailer’s return window, this works like a appeal. It reinforces conscious procuring and reminds you that simply since you can purchase one thing doesn’t imply you ought to. Simply don’t use returns as an excuse to maintain impulse procuring, solely to justify it later.
7. DIY Residence-Cleansing Options As a substitute of Title Manufacturers
Many TikToks present individuals making their very own all-purpose cleaners utilizing components like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.
Our verdict: These DIY hacks are extremely efficient and very low-cost. We made 4 forms of cleaners for lower than the price of one branded bottle. The secret is doing all of your analysis. Some components shouldn’t be blended (like vinegar and bleach). When you’re health-conscious and frugal, this one’s a winner.
8. Changing 1 Streaming Service Per Month
One savvy TikToker suggests biking via one streaming service per 30 days fairly than paying for all of sudden.
Our verdict: Genius-level financial savings for leisure junkies. We rotated Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu—watching every little thing we needed on one earlier than canceling and switching. We lower $30 a month with out actually sacrificing content material. Requires somewhat scheduling, nevertheless it’s a high-impact, low-effort tip.
9. Secondhand-First Procuring Rule
A preferred minimalist TikTok development entails solely shopping for clothes, furnishings, or tech secondhand except you may’t discover it used after 30 days of trying. One of the best half is that not solely does the thought of this prevent cash, nevertheless it’s additionally extraordinarily sustainable.
Our verdict: This saved us about 40% per merchandise, particularly on clothes and small home equipment. Thrift shops, eBay, and Fb Market grew to become our go-to’s. The delay additionally stopped impulse shopping for. This one takes persistence however delivers constant financial savings.
10. Utilizing Retailer Loyalty Apps to Stack Reductions
Some TikTokers present how stacking retailer apps with producer coupons, reward factors, and rebate apps can result in severe money again.
Our verdict: Takes effort, nevertheless it completely works. We examined this with main retailers like Goal and Walgreens and recurrently saved 10–25%. The trick is to stack offers the fitting method and keep organized. It’s a digital-age excessive couponing approach that rewards consistency.
11. “Money-Solely Weekend” Experiments
TikTok customers who went cash-only on weekends (no playing cards, no apps) reported spending much less and considering extra critically about their purchases. The concept is that you simply’re watching your money dwindle versus having the out-of-sight, out-of-mind mindset when utilizing a card or app.
Our verdict: It’s a helpful reset. After we solely used money for weekend spending, we grew to become extra intentional about social plans, eating, and leisure. Even limiting ourselves to $60 made us assume twice earlier than hitting “add to cart.” Think about this a low-pressure finances boot camp.
12. Digitally “Cover” Cash in a Separate Financial institution Account
This hack entails mechanically transferring cash to a hard-to-access financial savings account that isn’t linked to your day by day banking app. Among the best methods to take action is to make use of an app that takes the cash instantly out of your paycheck, so that you by no means see it to start with.
Our verdict: It really works virtually too properly. Out of sight, out of spend. We moved $100 a month to a “hidden” online-only financial savings account, and since it wasn’t seen in our checking dashboard, we utterly forgot about it. Greatest for individuals who battle with temptation or psychological math budgeting.
Not All TikTok Hacks Are Simply Hype
TikTok has a repute for fashionable chaos, however beneath the flashy edits and catchy music are some surprisingly efficient monetary hacks. Many of those examined suggestions work as a result of they modify conduct, not simply budgets. They make saving really feel like a behavior as an alternative of a sacrifice. That mentioned, not each viral development is price your time. Some suggestions solely work for those who apply them persistently. Others are situational. However one of the best ones are those who scale back friction and simplify decision-making with out including stress or guilt.
When you’re uninterested in conventional recommendation that feels outdated or disconnected, TikTok could provide a recent, related option to interact together with your monetary objectives. Simply remember to vet the recommendation with the identical stage of scrutiny you’d give to your financial institution.
Which TikTok money-saving tip have you ever tried, and did it be just right for you or fall flat?
Learn Extra:
10 Fashionable Buys Fuelled by FOMO That Are Quietly Wrecking Your Finances
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Riley is an Arizona native with over 9 years of writing expertise. From private finance to journey to digital advertising and marketing to popular culture, she’s written about every little thing beneath the solar. When she’s not writing, she’s spending her time outdoors, studying, or cuddling together with her two corgis.