Saving money every month is easier when you start in the right places. In California, some of the biggest savings come from discounts many people never hear about, on top of simple habits that add up. Each way below shows how fast it helps and what it costs.
Quick answer
To save money every month, start with quick wins like canceling subscriptions you do not use and asking for lower rates on your phone and insurance. Then sign up for California discounts that keep saving while you qualify, like CARE or FERA on electricity and California LifeLine on your phone. Move what you save into savings on payday.
- Discounts like CARE, LifeLine and reduced transit fares keep saving every month while you qualify.
- Being on CalFresh or Medi-Cal can qualify you for other discounts, so start there.
- Working Californians can get up to $3,756 from CalEITC at tax time, plus the federal EITC.
- Applying for these programs is free. Never pay anyone to sign you up.
On this page
Where to start
Quick wins you can do this week
California discounts on your monthly bills
Spend less on food and health care
Claim money you are owed, then save it
Quick wins you can do this week
1Cancel subscriptions you do not use
Look through the last two months of bank and card statements and mark every charge that repeats, like streaming, apps, cloud storage and gym memberships. Cancel anything you have not used in the last 30 days. You can always sign up again later, and many streaming services have a cheaper plan with ads.
2Call your phone, internet and insurance companies
Ask each company for its lowest priced plan, any promotions or loyalty discounts, and whether you pay for extras you do not use. Prepaid phone plans often cost less than regular monthly plans. For car and renters insurance, compare a few quotes once a year.
3Plan meals around the weekly sale ad
Check your store’s weekly ad, plan a few meals around what is on sale, and shop with a list. Store brands, digital coupons in the store’s app and cooking a double batch for lunches all lower the bill. Swapping even two takeout nights a week for meals at home adds up fast.
4Use your library card for free fun
A California public library card is free. Many libraries let you stream movies and borrow digital books and audiobooks through apps like Libby or Kanopy. You can also check out a California State Parks Pass, which gives one car free day use entry at over 200 state park units.
California discounts on your monthly bills
5Get CARE or FERA on your electric bill
CARE takes 30% to 35% off your electric bill and 20% off natural gas. FERA takes 18% off electric for households that earn a little more. Through May 2027, a household of 4 can earn up to $66,000 a year for CARE, and being on Medi-Cal, CalFresh or SSI may also qualify you. Apply with your utility, and see our guide to help paying your electric bill.
6Cut your phone bill with California LifeLine
California LifeLine takes up to $19 a month off a home or cell phone plan, and many LifeLine cell plans include unlimited talk and text at no monthly cost. You qualify if anyone at home is on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, WIC or SSI, or if your household earns up to $50,800 a year for 4 people. Sign up through a participating phone company listed at californialifeline.com.
7Check California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance
Good drivers with a car worth $25,000 or less can buy basic liability coverage at a lower price through California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance program. In 2025, the yearly price ran from $199 to $418, depending on the county, and a household of 4 can earn up to $82,500. It does not pay to fix your own car. Check at mylowcostauto.com or call 1-866-602-8861.
8Ride transit for less with LIFE or Clipper START
In Los Angeles County, Metro’s LIFE program gives new members 90 days of free rides, then 20 free rides a month, if you are on CalFresh, Medi-Cal or SSI or earn up to $58,300 a year for 1 person. In the Bay Area, Clipper START takes 50% off single rides for adults 19 to 64 with lower incomes. Apply at taptogo.net or clipperstartcard.com, or ask your local transit agency about reduced fares.
Spend less on food and health care
9Apply for CalFresh to stretch your grocery budget
CalFresh puts money for groceries on an EBT card each month. Through September 2027, the income limit before taxes is $2,660 a month for 1 person and $5,500 for a family of 4, and a family of 4 can get up to $1,023 a month. Apply at BenefitsCal.com. Most applications are decided within 30 days, or 3 days for households with very little money.
10Families with young kids: sign up for WIC
WIC gives healthy foods on a California WIC Card, plus nutrition help, to pregnant women, new moms and children under 5. Dads, grandparents and foster parents can sign up children in their care. Families on Medi-Cal, CalFresh or CalWORKs meet the income rule, and working families can earn up to $61,050 a year for 4. Find an office at myfamily.wic.ca.gov.
11Get free or low cost health coverage
Medi-Cal gives free or low cost health coverage to Californians with limited incomes, and you can apply any time. If you earn too much, Covered California has financial help that lowers monthly premiums, and most people who buy through it qualify. One application at coveredca.com checks you for both. Open enrollment starts November 1.
Claim money you are owed, then save it
12Claim CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit
These credits can pay you even if you owe no tax. For the 2025 tax year, CalEITC was worth up to $3,756 for people who earned up to $32,900, and the Young Child Tax Credit added up to $1,189 for families with a child under 6. The federal EITC paid up to $8,046 for families with 3 or more children. File a state return every year to claim them.
13File your taxes for free
There is no need to pay a big fee for a simple return. IRS VITA sites prepare taxes for free for people who generally earn about $70,000 or less. Call 800-906-9887 to find one. CalFile lets most Californians file their state return online for free.
14Search for unclaimed money in your name
The California State Controller is holding more than $15 billion in forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks and insurance benefits. Search every name you have used at claimit.ca.gov. It takes a few minutes, and claiming is free, so never pay a company to do it for you.
15Move savings out on payday
Set up an automatic transfer to a separate savings account on the day you get paid, even if it is just $10 or $25. Money you never see is money you do not spend. Each time a bill goes down, add that amount to the transfer. See how to build an emergency fund on a tight budget.
What to avoid when you are trying to save
- Paying anyone to sign you up for CARE, LifeLine, CalFresh or Medi-Cal. Applying is free.
- Companies that charge a fee to find unclaimed money. The State Controller’s search at claimit.ca.gov is free.
- Free trials that turn into paid subscriptions. Set a reminder to cancel before the trial ends.
- Buying things you did not plan for. Wait 24 hours, and most of the time the urge passes.
- Late fees and overdraft fees. Turn on bill reminders and keep a small cushion in checking.
Frequently asked questions
How can I save money every month on a tight budget?▾
Start with free quick wins: cancel subscriptions you do not use, ask your phone and insurance companies for a lower rate, and plan meals around sales. Then sign up for California discounts like CARE and LifeLine, and move what you save into savings on payday.
What discounts can low income Californians get?▾
CARE and FERA lower energy bills, California LifeLine lowers phone bills, and the Low Cost Auto Insurance program lowers car insurance. LIFE and Clipper START lower transit fares, and CalFresh, WIC and Medi-Cal help with food and health costs.
Does being on CalFresh or Medi-Cal qualify me for other discounts?▾
Often, yes. Being on Medi-Cal or CalFresh can qualify you for California LifeLine, CARE and LA Metro’s LIFE program, and it can count toward Low Cost Auto Insurance. Sign up for one, then use it to apply for the others.
How much money should I save each month?▾
Any amount you can keep up is a good start. Many people begin with $10 or $25 a paycheck and raise it as bills go down. When your budget allows, the 50/30/20 rule suggests putting 20% of take home pay toward savings and debt.
What is CalEITC and who can get it?▾
CalEITC is a California tax credit for working people with lower incomes, and you do not need children to get it. For the 2025 tax year, it was worth up to $3,756 for people who earned up to $32,900. You claim it by filing a state tax return.
Short this month while you build savings?
Borrow $100 to $255 online with one flat fee, shown before you sign, and repay it in one payment on your next payday. If you are approved, money can arrive as soon as today.
