Practising good financial habits across your life is important - not just in reaching your life goals, but in securing your financial health, improving your credit score and meeting future obligations. As well as choosing smarter loans, you can: Use a monthly budget, Use coupons and flyers to save on necessary expenses, Shop around for better prices, Wait until sales or promotions for big outlays, Make use of rewards cards or cashback, Pay all your debt payments on time to avoid penalties, Save on home costs by investing in insulation, more efficient appliances and so on, Ask your service providers (such as insurance company) about available discounts, Use public transit or car pool to save on transport costs, Take advantage of free resources, such as public pools, libraries and so on, Check your tax filings carefully to maximize deductions and benefits