I do not know about you, but recently, I keep opening my wallet to no cash and a bunch of spare change. These days, we teenagers are learning more and more about money and how almost everything we want to do or buy comes with a price. Even if you have a job, somehow it’s a matter of time before your most recent paycheck is already spent. Here are some tips and tricks to save and be smart with your money.

Shop with cash and not a card

The next time you go shopping, try taking out cash and forget the card. By being able to physically see yourself give the money away, you will probably spend a lot less than paying with the simple swipe of a credit card. Once you spend that $20 bill, it’s time to leave.

Store price comparisons (Be smart about where you are shopping)

Why spend $20 on a something when it is $15 somewhere else? Before you make a purchase, compare the price found at different stores. Some highly-praised comparison shopping engines are Google Shopping and Price Grabber.

Start a change jar

The jingly, annoying change that most of us do not use is actually a hidden treasure. If you are not big on using change to make purchases, start collecting it in a jar. Once the jar is full, turn your coins in for cash (most grocery stores have a Coinstar kiosk to make the transaction).

Don’t spend money on lunch every day

This applies to most upperclassmen. Since most of us do not want to eat on campus, we find ourselves going off each day. However, this does not mean you need to buy lunch every day of the week. You can still go off with friends, but try bringing your lunch every once in a while, and you will be surprised how much extra money you find yourself with at the end of the week.

Snatch those savings!

Paying full price for something is silly when sites such as RetailMeNot exist. Search your store and look to see if you can find a coupon that meets your purchase.

Pick a type of bill, and put it to the side

Similar to the change jar, this is another way you could find yourself with some extra cash at the end of the month. Choose a type of bill and every time you receive that bill put it aside. You will be surprised at how much it can add up.

Hopefully, these tips will be useful to you, but nobody is perfect. You will still probably find me eating Chick-Fil-A for the third time this week even though I have food at home. Clearly, I need to listen to my own advice.