We’re always looking for ways to save money and increase our wealth, but did you know there are several things you probably do daily or weekly that can save you the most? The smallest things like smoking or eating poorly can wind up costing you the most, and in the case of these two examples, can cost even more when they start to affect your personal health.
These ten things can be removed from your life entirely to provide you with more financial stability. If you cut all ten of these from your life, or alter them as we’ve suggested, you’ll find that your wallet is much fuller and you’re worrying less. But enough about that, let’s get to the ten things to cut from your daily routine!
1. Smoking
Did you know that smoking is deadly? Of course, you did. Everyone knows that. What everyone doesn’t seem to think about, however, is just how much a smoking habit can cost. It’s pretty much the most destructive habit you can adopt; jeopardizing your finances, personal health, your personal possessions, your home, and even your vehicle and the health of those around you. Yikes!
Luckily for you, there are plenty of tobacco alternatives available today to help you ditch the habit once and for all.
2. Alcohol
If drinking alcohol is a daily habit for you, there might be a bigger problem at hand other than the cost. However, it’s still important to be aware of what you’re spending on the habit. Estimates for life-long costs associated with drinking vary between sources, but the general consensus is that alcohol is one of the most expensive habits you can adopt.
And that’s assuming you never get into a drunk-driving accident or develop liver damage or some other health complication. Drinking is very akin to smoking, and the two usually go hand-in-hand. They’re destructive, costly, and can have a serious impact on your personal relationships.
3. Credit Card Spending
You’ve probably got your Amazon Cart open in the next tab, don’t you? It’s ok, I do, too. Impulse spending, especially with credit cards, is one of the more dangerous financial habits you can get sucked into. Why? Interest.
Every purchase comes with an interest cost. People often forget that buying with a credit card is buying with borrowed money, meaning the lender needs to make a profit off of the loan. Hence the incredibly high interest rates you’ll find on credit cards; some as high as 30-40%!
4. Poor Eating Habits
Ditch the excessive sugar, carbs, and empty calories; it’s time to take back control of your diet. Not only is eating fast-food and restaurant meals several times per week expensive, but it’s also going to end up negatively affecting your health, and therefore, your wallet.
Poor eating habits can be linked to all manner of diseases and dysfunction within the body itself, and fast food isn’t as cheap as it is fast. The average fast-food meal for a single person can cost anywhere from about $9-$15, depending on the restaurant and your food choices. However, you can create a healthy, stable meal in your home for half that amount.
5. Driving
You probably haven’t been driving nearly as much during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the advantage of your personal finances. Gas prices fluctuate often, and gas can be an expensive item if you’re constantly commuting. Ditching your daily driving and replacing it with walking when possible, cycling, or even using public transportation can save you the cost of gas and car maintenance.
6. Streaming Services
Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify; the list goes on. Whether you’re streaming movies, TV, music, or all of the above, you’re tacking on costs to your monthly bills with streaming services. Prices only seem to increase over time, as well, making it a costly endeavor that could be taking away from your financial goals.
Look at the services you use the most. Keep those ones, and get rid of the ones you have for just one show or album. Do you really need an entire streaming service just to watch Friends a few times per week?
7. Your Gym Membership
Don’t take this as “you shouldn’t be working out”. You should absolutely be keeping your body moving, especially when we’re all confined to our homes, but you don’t have to keep your costly gym membership to do it. You can get plenty of exercise in your home with no equipment.
Let’s be honest; you don’t exactly appreciate the atmosphere of the gym, anyway. Sweaty people all pretending not to notice each other isn’t your cup of tea.
8. Coffee
We’re talking specifically about coffee you buy on the way to work from a chain shop. Anytime you buy from Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts, you’re spending twice what it would take to make the same drink at home. Yes, it’s going to take you a few extra minutes to make it yourself, but you’ll be saving hundreds every month!
9. Replacing Broken Items
We tend to toss items in the garbage once they break or malfunction, but in reality, this is incredibly wasteful and not very cost-effective. If you have to replace something every time it breaks, you’re spending two to three times as much on the same item over the course of a few months.
One solution to this problem is to attempt a repair before just tossing it out. YouTube is home to billions of hours of content, and there’s a good chance you’ll find a repair tutorial there or somewhere online. If you can fix something for a fraction of the cost, why not?
10. Buying Poor Quality Items
Unfortunately, the quality of items purchased in general retail and department stores isn’t always the best. You have to remember that most things are mass-produced in factories, instead of being handmade with care and precision. The solution? Stop buying mass-produced items. Try buying local instead.
