I quit my job last March due to mental health reasons. I’m not gonna lie, it was one of those impulse decisions that we often make – since I literally did not think it through. I had zero savings, no backup plan but still, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.
I’ve felt A LOT better. No more panic attacks and everything felt lighter.
But the downside of doing that though is we went from living with two salaries to living with one (Yikes!) and since I was the one earning more, we really had to make drastic changes if we want to make the ends meet.
So, in the hopes of making it work and of course give our budget a little wiggle room, I decided to sit down and really look – I mean REALLY look at where and what we are spending our money on.
Doing that was a life changer. I’ve realized that we’ve spent so much money on things that we “want” or we “think” we need instead of spending it on the things that really mattered.
That’s why today, I have decided to gather 9 things that most people waste money on – things that can easily be avoided for you to start saving more money.
So, whether you want to pay off a debt or save up for a family trip, cutting off these things can help you achieve that. Check them out!
Stop being brand specific
I am seriously guilty of this! I’m not going to lie, I’m still brand specific when it comes to a few products that I really need (items that are really working for me) but for other things, like things that we use frequently, I opt for store brands or basically anything that is on sale or if I have a coupon for it.
I was so surprised by the amount of money that we are saving on our groceries every month by doing this.
Stay on top of your finances and track your spending effectively with the help of this Ultimate Finance PrintablePlanner
Cleaning supplies
I was never your do-it-yourself kind of gal. But then I’ve realized that we spend hundreds of dollars each year just for cleaning supplies alone when in fact we can just easily whack one at home.
Trust me, vinegar and baking soda can work like magic. Now, I create my own counter cleaner, toilet cleaner, and even my own home air fresheners. They’re super easy to create, cheap and chemical free! That’s definitely a win-win for me.
I’m planning to write a roundup of DIY home cleaners, you can pin this article, so you can come back to get the ingredients or you can simply sign up for the newsletter, I’ll keep you posted!
Cable
I mean what I say — choosing to cut our cable subscription has helped me save hundreds of dollars. We can still watch TV, we just chose to find a cheaper alternative — like Netflix or Hulu.
Doing this may seem hard for some people but once you try it, it is really not that bad. It’s still entertaining and we don’t have to pay 100$ a month for it.
Stop buying items in small portions
You may think that you’re saving money by buying those small items but in the long run, you’re really spending more than you’re saving. I used to think that buying that small bag of pretzels, or buying that small bottle of shampoo would save me money but it ended up costing me more.
So, now I’ve decided to buy products in bulks – especially for those items that we frequently use. Like, shampoo & conditioner and we just refill our current containers – this definitely saved us money!
You can do this with food too — stop buying food portions and start buying in bulk – especially if they are on sale. Then you can plan your weekly meals around them.
Stay on top of your finances and track your spending effectively with the help of this Ultimate Finance PrintablePlanner
Stop eating out
I admit, eating out or getting takeout can seem very appealing especially after a long stressful day, when you just don’t have the time and energy to prepare a meal but doing this with your family constantly can also become very expensive.
So, this is where we started to learn weekly meal planning and we even cook in bulk too. It saves us money, time and it reduces our cravings for getting takeout – since we can just easily get something out of the freezer and pop them in the microwave.
Stop buying your coffee to go
In our family, coffee is a necessity. We just love our morning cup of joe – it gives us the energy that we need to push through the day. We would be lost without it (that may sound dramatic but it’s true) so giving up coffee is certainly impossible.
We may not be able to stop drinking coffee but we can stop ordering our coffee’s to go. We invested in a good coffee maker —helped us save a couple dollars every day!
Stop buying to impress
No matter how many times we deny it to ourselves, oftentimes, the reason why we end up buying something expensive is to impress people.
Yes, it makes us feel good – no doubt in that. But if you want to save money, you have to make smart choices. That means buying the things that you really need and stop buying the things that you think you want.
Stop looking for confirmation and acceptance in the society. Remember, that you are enough.
You don’t have to impress people with material things. Live a life that you want, don’t base it on the things that other people want.
Shaving gel
This one is definitely not a necessity — we have so many different alternatives. Why not use your conditioner instead? I mean you already have it, right? It seriously works and it will save you money.
Stop over & impulse buying
Always, always shop with intention. This is where the list and weekly meal plan comes in. I’ve realized that going grocery shopping without really knowing what we’ll be cooking for the rest of the week, just leads to me over buying.
We pretty much always end up wasting food, which means, we’re wasting money.
Now, before we go grocery shopping, we always make sure to create a weekly meal plan, make a list of what we need and always stick to it. That’s the most important part – sticking with the list!
If you want to start cutting your spending and save more money, you always have to look at what you’re buying. Be aware of where your money is going and make smart choices.
Saving money and living with one income is not easy but it’s also not impossible. I’ve learned that with just a few tweaks and changes in our spending habit, we can even end up saving more money than we anticipated.
Your Turn…
What about you? Did you stop buying something in an effort to start saving money? Let me know in the comment section below or send me an email, I would love to hear from you!
