7 Things You Should Cut Out Of Your Budget
Let's face it, you could probably be a little tighter with your finances. With tax season coming up, and the holiday season just wrapped up, maybe it's time you took a second look at your spending.
Here are seven things you should cut out of your monthly spending budget for the next few months (or at least until tax season).
7. Get Rid of Cable
With Netflix, Hulu and things like Google and Apple TV you really can avoid paying for cable. And let's not even talk about your land line. With the increased cell phone use and availability of streaming options, a simple internet package should suffice.
6. ATM Fees
These days there is no excuse to pay ATM fees, I'll admit that this past week I've been caught off guard when a merchant didn't accept credit cards. You should always have cash with you just in case, and if you don't make sure to know where the ATMs are in the area. Soon, there may be an option to avoid paying the fee at your non-bank ATM.
5. Coffee
Coffee is a necessity for me — yes, I'm one of those people, but I try to keep my coffee purchases to once a week. If you get a coffee a day you can be spending anywhere from $900 to $1,000 a year.
4. Grocery Bill
I'm not telling you to develop an eating disorder, just to be smarter about your shopping. How many times have you tossed out spoiled foods? Grocery shopping takes planning and focus, figure out what you will need for the week and go when you aren't hungry. You'll be surprised how much you save with just a little planning.
3. Phone Bill
When people sign up for a phone plan they often sign up for a package without monitoring their phone usage habits. You should monitor your phone calls, see if you can save them for night time and weekends and lower your plan. You can end up saving $20-$30 a month.
2. Household Goods
Everyone likes a clean house, even if they don't like cleaning. Instead of investing in expensive, name brand cleaning supplies you should look into using good old soda and vinegar. These two alternatives are not only cheap but they are natural ways to keep your place looking spotless.
1. Mistakes
Okay hear me out, how many times do you double check your bills? This includes your bank statements, medical bills, and credit card bills. You would be surprised to learn that many people will experience a wrong bill at least once in their lives, it's important to track your accounts and check for any mistakes.
