The First 10 Things to Cut from your Budget (2024)

By Liv

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If you’re looking for ways to save on your monthly expenses, check out this list of the first ten things you should cut from your budget!

The First 10 Things to Cut from your Budget (1)

Have you been overspending? Are you trying to save for a big purchase, or trying to pay down those debts quicker? Here is a list of the first ten things I think you should cut from your budget to reduce your monthly expenses.

1. Restaurants

Okay, we’re going to start with the obvious. Don’t go out to eat anymore. I’ts expensive. You don’t need to pay $17.99 for a meal, another $12 for drinks, and a 20% tip. You can save tons by cooking at home. And actually, there are some other benefits to cooking at home – you feel healthier, you feel like you are saving money, it can become a fun hobby.

2. Cleaning products

I use to have a budget line item for cleaning products – you know, Mr. Clean erasers (those things are magical!), all the Lysol wipes you can imagine,swiffer stuff, the huge tub of Formula 409. Honestly, that stuff is expensive and adds up. You don’t need to buy it anymore. First of all, you probably have enough cleaning stuff to last you 1-2 years. Also, you can make cleaning products SO. CHEAP. with some $0.99 vinegar, tap water, and maybe a drop or two of Dawn. Eliminate this from your budget (and don’t try to sneak it into your grocery budget either).

3. Cable

Another obvious one. Just do it. Don’t think about it. It’ll save you so much money. Where I live, it’s not uncommon to pay $130/month for cable. That’s over $1500/year! You can watch the main shows online for free (albeit 1 week after they air), but who cares. And if you are a big sports fan, find a friend with a TV.

4. Car washes

This is a strange one, but near me, people get car washes all the time. They’ll even buy a $60 pass each month that gives them unlimited car washes. Totally unnecessary. You can do it yourself with some water and soap.

5. Hair and nail care

Sorry ladies (and maybe some men…). This stuff is expensive!! No more $60 hair cuts (go to Supercuts for your $12.99 one), no more $100 hair colorings, and say goodbye to pampering yourself with a mani/pedi.

6. New clothes

Let’s be honest. You have a ton of clothing. And you don’t wear 80% of it. Clean out your closet. Pick out some outfits that you love and wear them. Don’t buy anything new. The clothes in your closet should last you a few years.

7. Paper towels (and other paper products)

This won’t save you a ton of money, but hey, every penny counts. There is no need to buy those huge packs of paper towels each month. You have tons of dish towels, rags, fiber clothes that will do the same exact thing.

8. 20% of your grocery bill

Calculate the average amount you’ve spend on groceries for the last few months. Reduce that by 20% (so, if you average per month is $500, your new grocery bill goal is $500*0.8=$400). This will really force you to meal plan, try store brand ingredients, and get you proactive about saving money. This was the first change I made in my budget, and while it was a small change, it made me feel like I was in control of my finances and spending – that was very important.

Related content that will help you save money on food:

  • How to Save Money on Groceries: 50 Budget-Friendly Tips
  • A Beginner’s Guide to Meal Planning on a Budget (+ Free Printables)
  • The 5 Best Budget-Friendly Food Blogs

9. Cancel subscriptions

Whether it’s to a magazine, newspaper, subscription box, it’s not a necessity. Getting rid of the subscription will also get rid of some clutter in your house – so it’s a win-win right?

10. Reduce or eliminate gifts

I don’t want to sound like the Grinch, but cutting the amount you spend on gifts is an easy way to save money each month (and doesn’t it seem like each month you have to buy a gift?). Thoughtful gifts are usually the ones most adored and least expensive.

Revamp your budget today!

If you are ready to revamp your budget and start saving money, download our Monthly Budget template below! You’ll actually get 3 worksheets over the next 3 days (the first day is the Monthly Budget template).

What was the first thing that you cut from your budget? What do you refuse to cut?

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The First 10 Things to Cut from your Budget (2024)

FAQs

What is the 10 rule budget? ›

When using the 60/30/10, you'll allocate 60% of your monthly income towards essential expenses, such as gas, utilities, groceries and rent. You'll designate 30% of your income for discretionary spending, such as shopping or dining out, and the final 10% is either put in savings or used to pay off high-interest debt.

What is the 60 10 10 10 10 rule? ›

60% Solution

In the 60% solution method, you cover all your wants and needs with 60% of your budget. The other 40% is for saving. Then, that 40% gets divided up into three savings categories (10% for retirement, 10% for long-term savings, 10% for short-term savings) with 10% left for “fun.”

What is the 70 10 10 10 budget rule? ›

This principle consists of allocating 10% of your monthly income to each of the following categories: emergency fund, long-term savings, and giving. The remaining 70% is for your living expenses. 10% – Long Term Savings – Saving for big expenses such as university, new home, retirement, etc.

Is saving $500 a month good? ›

The short answer to what happens if you invest $500 a month is that you'll almost certainly build wealth over time. In fact, if you keep investing that $500 every month for 40 years, you could become a millionaire. More than a millionaire, in fact.

Is saving $100 a month good? ›

Your Retirement Savings If You Save $100 a Month in a 401(k)

If you're age 25 and have 40 years to save until retirement, depositing $100 a month into a savings account earning the current average U.S. interest rate of 0.42% APY would get you to just $52,367 in retirement savings — not great.

What are the 3 R's of a good budget? ›

Refuse, Reduce and Reuse.

How should a beginner budget? ›

Try the 50/30/20 rule as a simple budgeting framework. Allow up to 50% of your income for needs, including debt minimums. Leave 30% of your income for wants. Commit 20% of your income to savings and debt repayment beyond minimums.

What is the 50-30-20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What are unnecessary expenses called? ›

A discretionary expense is a non-essential expense. Discretionary expenses are costs without which businesses or households can survive. As such, they are defined as being wants rather than expenses that are needed.

What is the no spend challenge? ›

A no-spend challenge is when you challenge yourself to avoid spending money on non-essentials for a specific amount of time. You'll still pay for things like rent or a mortgage, bills, groceries, medicine and other essentials.

How does the 10 rule work? ›

On average only 10 percent of energy available at one trophic level is passed on to the next. This is known as the 10 percent rule, and it limits the number of trophic levels an ecosystem can support.

What is the 70/20/10 rule money? ›

The 70-20-10 budget formula divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 70% for living expenses, 20% for savings and debt, and 10% for additional savings and donations. By allocating your available income into these three distinct categories, you can better manage your money on a daily basis.

What is the 10 10 10 70 strategy? ›

This principle says for each dollar you earn or are given, you should save 10%, share 10%, invest 10% and spend 70%. A key part of this formula is “paying yourself first” which means the first 30% of your earnings are paid to you, for your benefit … for your retirement, for emergencies, and for sharing with others.

What is the 10 payment rule? ›

More often than not, an installment loan (i.e. car loan or student loan) can be excluded during the approval process so long as you only have 10 payment or less to make. While some lenders have their own restrictions, most conventional and unconventional mortgage products allow you to exclude this debt.

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