Are you done making your list of New Year’s resolutions yet?  Have you vowed NOT to have any resolutions for the coming year?

We all aspire to make a change for the coming year, be it big or small. Some may want to go the traditional route and make a list of resolutions. Some shoot for lofty goals like moving to a new country or buying house. Some may opt for small lifestyle changes, like quitting soda and eating more veggies. Whatever you decide, here are a few simple financial changes that office workers can do upon ushering in the new year. After all, the new year is another chance to wipe the slate clean and start anew proverbially.

At the end of the day, empty out your pockets and collect all the loose change into a jar.

It’s a simple, no-brainer way of saving. Although it might be small, it is a good start. Say you have 20 bucks worth of loose change and small bills every day. That adds up to 7,300 bucks at the end of the year! So go ahead and find a bi jar and start filling it out with loose change.

Year-end total: about 7,300

Make your own coffee

Skip the designer coffee and create your own home brew. A cup of joe at the local coffee shop will set you back a few bucks. I’m not saying you should NEVER buy coffee from local joints. If it brings you joy, then go ahead. Some of the best conversations I’ve had are in artisanal coffee shops, enjoying a custom brew with friends. But if you can skip buying designer brews for a few days a week, that could quickly add up to 100 bucks a month or 5,200 bucks a year.

Year-end total: around 5,200

Always bring a shopping list

Most of us are guilty of doing a “quick” trip to the store after work. We all know the drill, “I’m just going to get milk” and then we leave the store with three bags worth of groceries. That is why it is important to have an “active” shopping list. Tack a piece of paper to your fridge door and write items as you run out of them. You can also use a phone app so that you can share the list of family members. That way, everyone knows what to get when they go out for a “quick”  grocery run.

This is very practical and has a lot of benefits. 1.) It saves you time 2.) It keeps you organized. You can quickly see which items are out and which items have multiple purposes. 3.) It keeps you on the budget. If you do see an item that screams “savings!”, then by all means, get it. But if it’s an impulse buy and will set your budget back, skip it.

Year-end total: approx 1,500

Buy generic when you can

Store brands are not all that bad. Deciding on what branded items to buy and what generic items to get is up to you. You will need to prioritize. Do you absolutely need branded toilet paper rolls? Will generic ones do? What about office supplies? Make a list of things that you can buy that are store brands. Buying generic can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Year-end total: approx. 2,600

Making these simple changes will save you about 16,600 by year’s end. Not bad for pretty small changes, right? Do you have anything to add to these? Let us know in the comments! Remember to stay humble and hustle hard!

Written by Jaie O. – The Help