Money-Saving Tips from UMCU Members: Making Every Dollar Count

For the month of July, we asked our members to share with us how they save money on essentials like groceries, gasoline, utilities, and more. We received so many amazing responses on how to stretch your dollars and we wanted to share! As one member summarized perfectly, “Even small changes, when practiced consistently, can add up to meaningful savings over time.”

Members Helping Members Save

We appreciate all our community who took the time to write out their responses to our July Financial Literacy Month Contest.  Here’s a list of some of our favorite thrifty money tips from members:

• Make Every Grocery Dollar Count: “People can save money on essentials by planning meals, shopping with a list, buying store brands, using coupons and loyalty rewards, and purchasing items in bulk when it makes sense.”
• Cook More, Spend Less: “I’m careful to read all the ads and specials for grocery stores and plan accordingly. I always eat at home, make my own meals, don’t eat out, and shop the farmers market as much as I can.”
• Time Your Energy Use Wisely: “Energy providers often charge significantly higher rates during summer peak hours. You can offset these high-cost hours by waiting until after 7 p.m. to run the dishwasher, clothes washer, dryer, or pool filter.”
• Small Energy Changes, Big Savings: “To lower utility bills, simple habits like turning off lights, unplugging unused electronics, using energy-efficient LED bulbs, adjusting the thermostat, and running full loads of laundry or dishes can make a noticeable difference. Even small changes, when practiced consistently, can add up to meaningful savings over time.”
• Stretch Every Tank of Gas Further: “For gasoline, combining errands into one trip, keeping tires properly inflated, and using gas rewards or cashback programs can help reduce costs.”
• Stack Savings with Apps: “Using cash back apps can help recoup some of the money spent. I make sure to continue to compare prices though--sometimes you save more money by this way than by using a coupon or cash back. Before I gas up, I check gas prices and discounts on the gas station apps.”

Our Financial Education Team wanted to add some of their top savings strategies as well.

• Shop Around to Save: When insurance, internet, and phone plans increase, contact the existing companies to ask about promotions and loyalty discounts. Also, ask about bundling multiple services for an additional discount.
• Use Rewards Strategically: Credit card rewards usually have sales on certain gift cards periodically. Before making that purchase, wait for a gift card to go on sale to make your reward points stretch even further.
• Silence the Spending Temptations: Periodically unsubscribe from marketing emails and texts. Coupons and discounts can be great ways to save, but if you feel that promotional alerts are causing you to send more money, consider ditching the notifications.

No matter where you are on your financial path, UMCU is here to support you every step of the way. From building savings and reaching financial goals to gaining confidence in managing your money, our Education team is committed to helping you succeed. We offer a variety of resources, educational tools, and personalized guidance designed to meet your needs. Stop by one of our branches across Ann Arbor and southeast Michigan or explore our online financial wellness resources to get started today.

Mark Munzenberger is the Financial Education Manager at UMCU, where he leads financial wellness programs and resources for members across southeast Michigan.