The Best Ways to Save Money in Toronto This September

Maybe it’s all of the back-to-school ads or the weather cooling down, but there’s just something about September that makes us want to get our act together.
The Best Ways to Save Money in Toronto This September

Maybe it’s all of the back-to-school ads or the weather cooling down, but there’s just something about September that makes us want to get our act together.

This is especially true when it comes to saving money. After a summer filled with vacays and patio days, now is the time when a lot of us start looking for ways to tighten those purse strings and pad that savings account.

If this sounds like you, then keep reading for tips on how you can save some green this month.

Play Tourist In Your Own City

While this summer hasn’t felt like the longest, we still have a few more weeks before we have to start breaking out the heavy coats and scarves. For cute date activities (or just something to do with your friends), consider one of these free events this September.

Another option, with the Tour Guys, you can explore the downtown core, Old Town, St. Lawrence Market and more. They even offer a Ghost Tour! Even if you’ve lived in Toronto for ages, you might be surprised how much there is to learn about your own city. Their tours run until the end of September, and it’s recommended that you book in advance to reserve your spot.

Download a Couponing App

How many times do you find yourself at the grocery store without any kind of plan to speak of? Don’t worry, you are definitely not alone, but there are many benefits to being more prepared before you shop. For example, writing a list in advance will help you keep those impulse buys to a minimum and reduce food waste.

If you’ve taken the TTC, chances are you’ve seen ads for Flipp, the Toronto-based shopping app. With Flipp, you can make shopping lists and clip coupons all in the same app. RedFlagDeals is another Canadian app that helps you stay on top of the latest deals and discounts.

Indulge Your Inner Art Critic

All you fine art lovers out there with thrift store budgets will be happy to know that many great shows and exhibitions in Toronto are totally free to attend. For example, Harbourfront Centre’s summer visual arts exhibition runs until September 16.

Additionally, the Art Gallery of Ontario is always free on Wednesday evenings, as well as the Aga Khan Museum. If you’re not much of a museum or gallery person, Toronto’s Street Art Gallery map shows you where you can find the city’s best outdoor murals and graffiti art.

Start Shopping Strategically

Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean you have to put a moratorium on all spending. Thanks to all the end-of-summer sales, back-to-school discounts, and warehouse sales, September is a great time of year to save big bucks on important purchases.

Obviously, summer clothing and other hot weather apparel like swimsuits and sandals will be deeply discounted, but this is also a good time to purchase airfare deals, bikes, and televisions. Plus, if you download those couponing apps, you could get double the savings.

Take a Free Online Class

Even if you’ve been out of school for a while, September might have you itching to get back on that academic grind and learn something new. Unfortunately, if money is tight, taking a continuing education course or a workshop might be financially out of reach.

However, if you have a valid Toronto library card, you can access Lynda.com courses for free. The website offers over 3,500 video tutorial courses on topics like web design, software development, video editing and more. All you have to do is register for an account and sign in with your library card number and you can access their content library from anywhere.

Featured Image: Instagram/@randrllp

Did we miss any of the best ways to save money this September? Share them in the comment section.