Kate Kaden's Easy Ways To Lower Your Costs on One Income
Living on one income can feel challenging, especially as everyday expenses continue to rise.
Keep Shopping: 6 Household Staples You Can Always Save Money On at Walmart
Sit Back: 8 Low-Effort Ways to Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)
Fortunately there are actions you can take to protect your finances. According to frugality Kate Kaden, making spending adjustments and implementing systems that work for you can lower your cost of living and your mental stress.
Check out a few of the tips Kaden recommends.
A Stay-Home Life You Love
Kaden told viewers that she created a cozy stay-at-home lifestyle to spend less money on going out.
According to a 2025 survey by Talker Research (on behalf of Air Wick), out of 2,000 Americans, 53% saved money by staying home with friends rather than going out. Also, 42% said that they had more control over activities, food and beverages when they stayed at home.
You won't feel like you're missing out on a social life if you're deliberately creating an atmosphere that makes you happy.
Learn More: Enter for a Chance To Win $500 in MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See official rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
Keep Your Grocery List Simple and Boring
By keeping her grocery list “simple and boring,” Kaden said she saves money. She also noted that she wasn’t bored with what she ate because, even though she bought the same items, she made different meals.
A great money-saving trick when grocery shopping is to make a list of low-cost ingredients that can be used in many different meals. Potatoes, rice, bread and cheese are some versatile, lower-cost staples that keep you feeling full and satisfied. Flavoring bland dishes with bullion helps liven up the taste. Buying fresh fruits and vegetables in season (when possible) or canned vegetables helps keep grocery costs lower.
Track Every Dollar
Kaden advised tracking every dollar, because even small things make a difference in spending. She warned viewers that if they were not keeping track of expenditures, they might forget how much they spent and “slide into debt.”
The majority of people don’t realize how much of their money they spend. When you watch your spending, you can see where your money actually goes and cut unnecessary costs.
Keep a Buffer Between You and Broke
If your bank account does not have enough money to cover your transactions, it may incur fees, including overdraft fees.
Kaden recommended keeping a “budget buffer” made up of a month’s worth of expenses in your checking account. She mentioned that if something unexpected happened, this buffer would be available to help cover the cost. She also suggested that if viewers needed to keep more than a month's expenses, they should put their money in a high-yield savings account, where unused money can earn until it's needed.
A high-yield savings account often pays 10 to 20 times more interest than the national average. Citibank recommends keeping an amount that can cover a month of expenses, plus a buffer of $100 to $500 for payments that might be declined or overdraft fees.
Summer spending adds up fast. Enter MoneyLion's Summer Break Giveaway for a chance to win $500 — and give your budget a break. (No pur. nec. Ends 7/4/26. See official rules at mlion.info/summerbreakofficialrules)
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: