In addition, you can supercharge your savings by not only cutting back in some areas, but actually generating more income in others.

Here are 6 unique ways to save money for a house.

Rate Search: Check Today’s Mortgage Rates

1. Use cash

Studies have shown there is literally a psychological disconnect that happens when we swipe a card versus using cash. When you spend cash, you literally get a visual of exactly what you are spending.

When you swipe a card, you are more likely to spend more because the action of swiping a card is completely disconnected from the mental image of spending money.

2. Track your spending

It can be super easy to plunk down $5 a day for a coffee and then not know where all your money goes at the end of the month.

Just the simple act of writing down each purchase can give you a much better picture of where your money is going so you can make better choices about where to make cuts.

You might literally be shocked at how much money you can save just by making your own coffee and taking your lunch to work.

3. Walk to the grocery store

Food is considered a necessity in life – and it is. That doesn’t mean, however, that all of the food you purchase is genuinely necessary. We often purchase food out of habit or because it is on sale. When you walk to the store, you have to carry everything home.

The more often you have to carry your groceries home, the more likely you will be to only buy what is literally necessary.

When saving up to get a mortgage loan you’re goi9ng to have to make some sacrifices. Cooking for yourself and cutting back on eating out is a great way to fatten your savings account to put you in a better position to become a homeowner.

4. Look for (or create) free entertainment

From “Netflix and chilling” to cable TV to movies and video games, concerts, sporting events and festivals, Americans spend a massive amount of money on entertainment.

Instead of spending money to go out, invite some friends over for a game night, go out and lay on a blanket and look at the stars or create a scavenger hunt for your friends and family.

Not only will you save some money, but you just might find your relationships improving as well.

5. Pick up a side gig

Most of us have a passion or hobby of some kind. These days, there are a million ways to turn your passion or hobby into a paying gig.

From dog walking to tutoring to designing logos, to driving people around sightseeing, the internet abounds with ways to pick up some spare cash doing something that interests you.

Unlike getting a part time job which might obligate you to spend an additional 20 hours or more per week working, side gigs can generally be done at a time that is convenient for you and for however many or few hours per week you wish to spend doing them.

6. Make small deposits with debit cards

Most banks these days offer a plan where you can have debit card purchases rounded up to the next whole dollar and have the remainder placed into a savings account.

Not only does this help you save money a little at a time in a way you most likely won’t even notice, but it can make it easier to track your spending as well.

Just be sure and check for any fees, because you don’t want to end up paying more in fees than you are actually saving.

The Bottom Line…

Buying a house is expensive. You will need to have money saved up for things like the down payment and closing costs.

Cutting back on unnecessary expenses like eating out, cable TV, going to the movies or sports games are easy ways to save money.

Remember you will need at least 10% of the purchase price of a home in savings to be able to get a mortgage loan.

Have other ideas on how to save up money to buy a house?

Let us know..