Pocketbook Power Plays: 5 Ways to Free Up Cash Right Now

Let’s be real—everything feels more expensive these days. A few years ago, most of us had at least a little breathing room in the budget. Now? Inflation has eaten that cushion and asked for dessert. You may not be able to control the cost of groceries or gas, but you can control how much of your money you get to keep. Here are five practical ways to create some extra wiggle room in your wallet.

1. Trim Your Home and Auto Insurance Costs

Insurance is meant to protect you from big losses—not every cracked windshield or leaky pipe. When we treat it like a maintenance plan, premiums creep up… and up. Remember, insurance companies are for-profit businesses. If small claims keep piling up, you pay for it in the long run.

Two money-saving moves:

• Raise your deductibles.
  Ask yourself: “What could I reasonably cover out of pocket with savings or an emergency fund?” A higher deductible often means a significantly lower premium, and you’re less likely to be dropped for being a frequent filer.
• Bundle up.
  Combine your home, auto, and umbrella coverage with one carrier or one agent. You’ll usually save money and avoid gaps or overlaps in coverage that cost you extra and leave you exposed.

2. Let Your Credit Cards Work for You

Credit cards aren’t the villain if you use them strategically. Points and rewards can cover travel, home projects, or even put actual cash back in your budget.

If you’re not earning rewards on everyday spending, you’re leaving money on the table. Nerdwallet.com is a great place to compare options and choose 3–5 solid cards to keep active.

Bonus: Using revolving credit responsibly helps maintain a strong credit score. Don’t let unused credit lines go stale—if you don’t use credit, you eventually lose it.

3. Make Your Savings Pay You

Too many banks are still paying near-zero interest on savings. Meanwhile, money markets and high-yield accounts are offering 3–4.5%. That difference adds up fast.

Picture this: You’ve got $100,000 sitting at 0.25% interest. Over a year, that’s just $250 in earnings. In a 4.5% account, you’d earn $4,500. That’s a $4,250 swing… for doing nothing but moving your money.

Stop letting your dollars nap when they could be working overtime.

4. Attack Interest Payments

Rates are starting to move—not crashing, but shifting enough to open doors. Different lenders use different benchmarks, so shopping around can make a real difference.

General rule: If you can drop your interest rate by at least one point, refinancing may be worth it. Even if it’s not time yet, figure out which index your rate is tied to and be ready to act if numbers dip.

Carrying credit card debt? Don’t panic—plan.

0% offers still exist, and promotional windows can help you knock down balances faster.

Ask yourself:

• How much extra can you throw at your debt each month?
• What’s the fastest payoff strategy with those dollars?
• Can you use a 0% or low-interest promo to chip away at the balance at a discount?

You don’t have to figure it out alone – we’re here to help - just don’t ignore it.

5. Take Back Taxes Before They Take Yours

With 2026 approaching, there are tax changes on the horizon—especially around things like tips, overtime, age-related deductions, and car purchases. If any apply to you, adjusting your withholding could put more money in your pocket now.

Here’s why that matters: The IRS doesn’t pay interest.

If you overpay by $10,000 in January of 2026 and don’t see that money until April (or even October) of 2027, that’s up to 22 months of lost compounding. Yikes.

This is also a smart time to sync up your financial and tax planning and redirect potential savings toward your future self—like retirement contributions or investments.

Bottom Line: Ideas Don’t Save Money—Action Does

We helped someone build a plan that cut their liabilities by seven figures. Impressive, right? It would’ve been… if they hadn’t let the plan sit on a shelf for a year. Waiting cost them a fortune.

You may not be working with millions, but percentage-wise, your decisions matter just as much. Even small adjustments can create big breathing room.

So don’t just read these five strategies—pick one and act today. Your wallet will thank you.