Sometimes we as humans just love to go with the flow. Days turn into months and months turn into years and before we know it, we’re still in the same boat we were five years ago. My wife and I have gotten into a habit of making sure we talk about our spending habits monthly just so we can reevaluate and make a blueprint on how we can improve it.
Without taking a monthly snapshot of our expenses we would have never been able to trim the fat and improve our spending habits. Here are a few of my tips on how to save a few bucks on some expenses you may be overlooking.
Monthly Snapshot: At the end of the month, take a look at all of your expenses and lay it out on the table. Are you going out to eat too much? Spending too much money on shoes? Maybe you went a little too crazy with buying Pokémon apps? Find the culprit and make improvements for the next month.
- Negotiate: Some expenses can be negotiated especially when the contract of that product is about to expire. Cable, internet, car insurance, and cell phone service can be negotiated to a lower price. I sweet app I’ve heard about is called: negotiate it. The app basically gives you a script on what to say to the sales representative to lower the price of service. If for some reason the company won’t budge, walk away and find another company that fits your needs.
- Eliminate: Do you have cable TV? A way to still have some channels and some cash would be to get an HD antenna. A one time fee compared to a monthly fee. Do you have Hulu, Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Amazon Prime Movies? Cut some off and just keep Amazon Prime or Netflix to save. Sometimes less is more.
- Google it: When you buy a product online, type the company name plus the word coupon code. There maybe a special promo for the item you’re buying. A few seconds of research may just save you 20% off.
That’s it! A few tips to get you going. Don’t believe that you have to pay the asking price. Take a monthly snapshot of your spending. Eliminate expenses that’s not necessary and remember Google items for hidden promo codes.
And when you planning a trip to the grocery store, meal plan. Only put items on your list that are needed for your meals throughout the week or # of weeks you are shopping for. This eliminates buying extra junk your body doesn’t need and your wallet doesn’t need. Once you have a list made, then look for coupons based on your list. You can find a lot of grocery coupons online also. 🙂