Finding the balance between spending and saving is a challenge. I know I’m guilty of going on a spending spree or rationalizing a bunch of small purchases with the notion that it won’t really make a dent in my finances. But what happens when all of these little purchases start adding up? It could lead to credit card debt issues later on. Here are 10 simple things to stop wasting money on, and as a nonprofit credit counseling agency, we have some recommendations on what to do instead. Wasting money on unnecessary purchases could lead to credit card debt problems later on.
Wasting money on unnecessary purchases could lead to credit card debt problems later on.
Stop Wasting Money On These 10 Things
- Coffee. Yes, I know. You probably see this tip everywhere! But truly, if you make coffee at home most days, you will save hundreds of dollars each year, and you can still get a to-go coffee here and there. It’s all about balance!
- Bottled water. I’ve made an effort to use reusable water bottles for a few reasons. First, it’s so much less expensive than buying a $3 bottle of water everywhere I go. Second, the environment. Just keep a reusable bottle in your bag or car and voila!
- ATM fees. ATM fees add up. Try to plan your withdrawals for when you can use an ATM in your bank’s network to avoid that extra charge on your account.
- Lottery tickets. Most of us are guilty of buying lottery tickets, especially when the payout is really high. But, if you’ve noticed a habit of buying a lot of lottery tickets and banking on that to solve your financial troubles, that’s a sign you may need help, like ACCC’s debt management program.
- Delivery. If you’ve decided to order food, that’s okay. Rather than splurging on delivery, consider picking up your food to save from delivery and tipping costs. It’s a good compromise!
- Interest. Credit card debt is a nuisance as it is. Avoid paying upwards of 17% in interest on your purchases by making every effort to pay your balance in full.
- Buying lunch at work. It’s convenient to buy lunch every day at work, but it’s not the most cost-effective. Bring lunch from home or cut down to buying lunch once a week, like on Friday’s.
- Forgotten subscriptions. If you have a lot of subscription services that you rarely use, get rid of them! $10/month for years adds up! This includes that gym membership you swear you’ll start using!
- Groceries. Americans waste a lot of money on food that ends up going to waste. Make a list beforehand to help you stretch your dollar at the grocery store and avoid waste.
- Cable. If you make full use of your cable subscription, that’s great. But, if you’re like me and mostly use streaming services, it won’t hurt to stop wasting money on a cable bill that you rarely use!
Spending money is a fact of life. Of course, spending money on little things every once in a while is fine. Everyone deserves a little ‘pick-me-up’ or special treat here and there. But, a lot of times, we pay for the cost of convenience. Try to avoid wasting money on random expenses to make what you do choose to spend money on more worth it.
If you’re struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Schedule a free credit counseling session with us today.
