Saving for a mortgage down payment on your first home may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. There are lots of little (and big) actions you can take to put money aside throughout the months you’re saving. As you go along, beaming in pride at your increasing bank account, don’t forget to save a little extra for closing costs.

Here are a few ideas that could save you or make you money for your down payment.

• Do you really need a car? If you currently live in an area with a great transit network or amenities close to home, consider ditching your wheels. Think of all the insurance and lease payments, not to mention gas, you could put into a down payment instead.
• Is it time for a raise or a review on your bonus agreement at work? If so, allocate that extra money to a savings account. Don’t blow it on a vacation – we know you want to.
• On that note, forget a big vacation overseas and look at spots closer to home where you can unwind.
• Cut down on dinners and drinks out with friends. Host them at your place instead, and ask each guest to bring a dish. Don’t forget, it’s BYOB.
• Shop consignment. You can find some great pieces that look new for a lower price tag. Or peer into your closet and re-discover wardrobe items you may have forgotten about.
• Borrow books from the library, rather than click Purchase on Indigo online.
• Phone your cable or mobile providers to see if you’re really getting the lowest rate. Review your package and decide whether you really need 200 television channels. You may find items you’re paying for and not even using.
• Always build your grocery list around a meal plan so you’re not wasting food by buying things that’ll go bad before you eat. Speaking of groceries, choose items on sale. Add lunch items to that grocery list – it’s cheaper than buying a sandwich every day.
• Start a side hustle. If you’re crafty, get to work making things to sell at local markets or on Etsy. Take on freelance work in your spare time. Consign clothes you never wear. Figure out what you’re good at and how you can turn that into extra income.

During your saving spree, prioritize what’s important. Do you have to ski every weekend throughout the winter or can you settle with just a few times? Is that café latte necessary every day of the week or will French press coffee at home do the job for five of those days? When you think about whether a quick burst of satisfaction is more important than a home you own, you’ll soon discover where you’d rather spend your money. Once you’ve made that home purchase, resume those fancy lattes.

What are your money-saving tips?