Save with minimal effort

Saving money is hard.

As much as everyone is told to save, sometimes life throws an unexpected obstacle in the way, and the monthly planning is thrown aside. You may find you have many unexpected expenses pop up, or an emergency arises that requires a large financial commitment.

Likewise, you may be wondering where you can find money to even start saving. With living expenses, bills and more, there's no doubt you sometimes feel your paycheck doesn't stretch far enough. Finally, you may not have yet developed a good savings habit and are still finding the best method to do so. No worries, because there are numerous ways you can earn, find and save money from your paycheck and anything extra you accumulate throughout the month.

The first step is to open a savings account. Doing so will let you set aside money and earn interest on what you are saving.

Take the 52 week challenge
The goal here is relatively simple as you will want to save a certain amount every week for one year, according to Forbes [1]. During the first week, you'll save $1. The goal is to add $1 to add every week, so, for example, when it's week 20, you'll save $20.

At the end of the 52 week challenge, you'll have saved $1,378. That's a large sum of money that can be put toward plenty of long-term goals, such as a retirement fund, emergency savings account or a down payment for a house.

Subscribe with care
Subscriptions don't seem harmful at first glance but they do indeed add up. These include magazine, streaming, and online subscriptions that occur monthly. With all of the catered services in the customer-centric world, these add up quick.

Some are more important than others and it's important to ask yourself if you really read the five magazines that come in the mailbox every week. Or in the digital world, if you really need multiple live streaming subscriptions. It might be easier to find those articles or similar stories online for free, but if you must subscribe to a magazine or newspaper, keep the monthly total you spend reasonable.

Online subscriptions might be somewhat more difficult to cut but it's a necessary move. The most popular services include streaming websites and apps, such as Netflix, Hulu and HBO. Throw in a music and online gaming subscriptions, and you can easily spend upwards of $50 per month on subscription services.

To cut down on these costs, take a look at which ones you use most and go from there. There's no need to pay for something you use sporadically.

Utilize cash back
Credit cards are helpful financial tools if used correctly. As long as you pay off your balance in full every month and have a low credit utilization ratio, you can use the card at a store and take advantage of many cash back offers. Use these rewards to either pay off existing balances or put it toward purchases, such as airfares.

When used correctly, cashback rewards effectively function as free money because the companies or banks are paying you to keep using the card.

Employer match
Consider yourself lucky if your employer offers a 401(k) and the opportunity to match. Whether it's 50 percent or 100 percent, take full advantage of this offer because if you don't, you're passing up another opportunity at free money.

Saving for retirement is just as important as being able to afford basic living expenses today. Don't pass up the opportunity to easily save for retirement.

With careful examination, you'll find it may be quite easy to save money.

[1]. 24 Ways To Save, Find And Earn Extra Money With Minimal Effort