If the balance of your bank account was the only thing leaving you weak at the knees this ‘love-filled’ month, then girlfriend, it’s time to break up with those needy spending habits. Get your groove back next month and save money with these ten easy tips:
1. Say goodbye to fees and penalties!
If you are routinely forgetting to make your monthly payments, you could be incurring a large amount of late fees. While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, missing a payment and incurring a penalty fee is entirely preventable. First, get organized by creating a list of all of your monthly bills and the date they are due. Then, set reminders in your phone, on your calendar, or via post-it notes all over the house to help make sure you never miss a payment. Another option? Set up automatic payments to ensure your bills are always on time. One other pesky penalty fee you can avoid? ATM fees. By taking a few extra minutes to visit your bank’s ATM, you can avoid the likely $3-4 usage fee. While it may not feel like much, those fees can add up quickly.
2. Bring your coffee from home.
According to a report by Acorns, the average American spends about $1,100 on coffee. That’s $92 a month! This month, avoid the long lines at Starbucks or Dunkin’ and brew your own cup at home. Purchase your own coffee thermos because #sustainability, and watch as the savings pile up. Concerned you’ll experience withdrawal from your favorite Starbucks concoction? Try making one of these copy-cat recipes in your own kitchen!
3. Mind your Electric bill.
How often do you leave the lights on long after you’ve left a room? Maybe you’re great about turning lights off, but what about unplugging electrical cords after you’re done using your appliances. Sure, these actions may amount to saving just pennies, but then again, it’s better than nothing! If you really want to pare down that electric bill, commit to hang-drying your clothes a few times a week and give that regular dryer some much needed “R & R”.
4. Plan your meals in advance.
Make it a point to dissect your local grocery store’s coupon book or weekly ad each week. Plan your meals around what’s on sale and stock up on any freezer-friendly ingredients. If ground beef is on sale, consider whipping up tacos, hamburgers, or spaghetti and meatballs the following week. Still struggling to come up with affordable recipe ideas? Check out our favorite site for inspiration and budget friendly recipes: Budget Bytes. Bon Appetit!
5. Carpool or use Public Transportation.
If you currently commute solo to work every day, consider saving some gas money by carpooling with a neighbor or friend who works with you or someplace near your office. Sure, you may no longer be able to belt out Ariana Grande in the car without an audience, but hey, saving money is the name of the game here, and every little bit counts.
If you live in a city that provides bike rentals, a punctual bus system, or fully operational train/subway system, consider purchasing a monthly or weekly pass to avoid paying the more costly daily rate.
6. Carry a water bottle.
You know that Snickers commercial: “You’re not you when you’re hungry”?The same can be said about being thirsty. If you’ve ever been so incredibly thirsty on a hot, sunny day, you know it can be tempting to pick up a Kombucha from the local coffee shop or indulge in a high-price fruit juice from your favorite juice spot. After all, you’re getting nutrients, right? Sure, those drinks may be nutritious, healthy, #goals, and the like, but they’re expensive and altogether not necessary if you’ve got your trusty reusable water bottle nearby. How else are you supposed to get your recommended 8 glasses of water a day?
7. Use Coupons
Why spend more money than you need? Coupon companies like Ibotta and Ebates make it incredibly easy for you to do your online shopping AND receive rewards or potentially cash back for your purchases. If you get a rush simply by redeeming your physical coupons in the actual store, by all means feel free to continue doing so, as well! Wondering where to find these elusive coupons? Money Pantry has you covered!
8. Make your own cleaning products
This sounds crazy, but it’s not. You’d be amazed to find how easy it is to create your own little concoction out of ingredients from your own pantry (we’re looking at you baking soda and vinegar!) that you can use to keep your place looking spotless. This amazing article from the geniuses at Good Housekeeping have taken all of the guesswork out of how to make these simple swaps. Happy cleaning, and happy saving!
9. Get reacquainted with your local Library
Libraries aren’t just for story time with your kiddos! In fact, the Library can be an unbelievable resource when it comes to finding useful articles, books, or newsletters. The next time you’re tempted to splurge on Amazon or purchase the latest cookbook from Barnes and Noble, do yourself (and your bank account) a favor by searching your Library first. You will be surprised what incredible (and FREE) finds may be waiting for you!
10. Revisit your Subscriptions
Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, StitchFix, Rent the Runway …are any of these monthly subscription services eating into your expenses? While we’re all for streaming services and the efficiency that Amazon Prime provides, try reducing one or more of these subscriptions for a few months. Subscriptions have a sneaky way of adding up fast – take a hard look at yours and see if you can’t try a few months without the one you use the least.
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