6 Ways to Save and Make Money in 2025

As the new year approaches, now is the perfect time to plan how you’ll boost your savings and make your money work harder in 2025.

You don’t have to tackle every savings method at once – start small. Whether it’s paying down debt or setting aside a few dollars each paycheck, even minor changes can lead to significant progress over time. 

Pay Off Your Car Loan Early

Your new SUV, truck or car sits in the driveway. You’re caught up on maintenance and are taking good care of your vehicle for potential trade-in value. Plus, you’re making payments on time each month.

Could you take your financial planning one step further and pay off your loan early or make a higher payment each month? Doing so will immediately save you interest.
 

You may not be able to afford a higher monthly payment for the entire life of the loan. Paying off the loan early within your current payment structure still has benefits.

If you paid off the same loan in a lump sum with $5,000 left on the balance, you’d save approximately $250 in interest. Paying off the loan with the balance at $3,000, you’re still saving $100 in interest.

Those savings may seem minimal at first, but they could allow to you bank a few dollars in case of expensive car repairs, new tires or even gas money for a road trip.

Cancel Unused Subscriptions

We’re all guilty of letting a subscription go too long. Give yourself the gift of savings by taking 20 minutes to review your monthly charges. You may discover you’re being charged more than you realize due to a price increase or uncover a paid subscription you forgot about.

If you don’t want to cancel a subscription entirely, consider switching to bi-monthly or purchasing an annual subscription at a reduced rate.

For those that live by their Google or Outlook calendars, set reminders to cancel when you sign up for a free month of a new service.
 

Open a CD

Need a way to earn money without remembering to transfer funds each paycheck? Consider setting aside a lump sum in a certificate of deposit.

Bonus: CDs can be a great way to show your teenager how to make their part-time earnings work harder to help them save for college or a car.
 

Save When You Swipe

One way to make your money work harder is to put it in a savings account that’s earning interest. Every dollar earned counts toward your future financial health.

With busy school schedules, soccer games and holiday outings, transferring money to your savings can go overlooked. That’s where Round Up to Save® comes in.¹

Each time you make a purchase with your SouthState debit card, we’ll round the amount up to the next dollar and transfer the difference from your checking account to your SouthState savings account – automatically. This way, you’re setting aside money every time you swipe. Get started now by enrolling in Round Up to Save®.

Set up BillPay

Paying bills is one of the many things we can now automate after a few minutes of initial setup. Why risk unnecessary late fees or utility cutoff warnings when BillPay can eliminate those worries?

Most times you have the money to pay the water bill or mortgage, but human forgetfulness combined with busy schedules results in a missed due date.

Even if your utility provider only charges a $12 late fee, those penalties can add up quickly if you make it a habit of paying late. Wouldn’t you rather be saving that money to spend on other bills or extras for your family?
 

Setting up BillPay is easy with SouthState. Stay on top of your expenses and reduce the stress of remembering which bill is due.

Once you have monthly bills taken care of, use calendar reminders or your preferred organization method to avoid late penalties for larger annual bills such as property taxes. Make it a practice to pay your balance immediately upon receiving the bill or set up a payment in BillPay.

$890 property tax with a 10% late fee for paying 60 days late = $980 ($90 in fees)

Find money around your house

Finding coins in the couch cushions isn’t really an option these days, but you can make money from items in your home.

Instead of letting clutter accumulate in closets or the garage, plan a yard sale. Better yet, organize a neighborhood yard sale to attract more potential customers. Spring and fall are popular times, and people are often looking for yard and garage sales to visit.

If you prefer to drop off items, find a local resale or consignment store. There are retailers that specialize in children’s toys and clothes, women’s clothing, furniture and books. Setting aside a Saturday to gather your items and sell at consignment stores could lead to a profitable day, even if it’s only $20-30 per store.

Don’t forget online marketplaces. If you have vintage toys or clothes, you may find an eBay buyer willing to pay top dollar.

You won’t make hundreds of dollars with these methods, but you may turn enough profit to plan a family outing or make an extra car payment. Plus, your unwanted or outgrown possessions are no longer taking up valuable space in your home.

Are you saving toward a specific goal such as a down payment or family trip? Use our savings calculator to help you reach your objective.


¹Important Legal Disclosures and Information
The Round Up to Save service is available for personal accounts only; Health Savings and Money Market accounts are ineligible. Round Up to Save® is a registered trademark of SouthState Bank, N.A.

Does not apply to recurring debit card transactions.

Credited to your savings account annually on the first business day of January. To receive the matching funds, checking and savings accounts must be open, in good standing and enrolled in the Round Up to Save Program at the time the matching funds are credited.