If it feels like no matter how much you budget, you always seem to be short on money you should have, it may be time to examine your spending habits. Here are some things that you should be looking for to ensure that you are not wasting your hard earned money.
MONTHLY PAYMENTS
Maybe you’re paying for a service you no longer use or forgot about. Take a look at your debit and credit card statements to see if there are any charges you may be able to eliminate. Be realistic when cutting these services. If you haven’t been to the gym at which you’ve been a member for 5 years, are you really ever going to go?
DUPLICATE ACCOUNTS
Are you paying for multiple services that accomplish the same task? For example, music streaming services. While they all have their individuals pros and cons, there’s no reason you should be paying for both Pandora AND Spotify. Select the product you use more often and cancel the other.
EXPIRED FOOD
Every time you have to throw away food, you might as well be throwing away your money. The more organized your kitchen and shopping lists are, the less likely you are to be wasting food. When you go shopping, only buy what’s on your list. This will prevent duplicates from sitting in your home and going to waste.
NOT COMPARING PRICES
Before going shopping, do a little comparison shopping. Sometimes you can save a ton of money just by going to a different store. Remember to also take advantage of the weekly grocery mailers that are sent to your home. Use these to plan your weekly meals to maximize on the savings. While couponing can be great, don’t use them as a reason to purchase something that you don’t really need.
