We have two choices in life. We can be prisoners of our past or explorers of future possibilities.
Last week I wrote a post about how to reach financial freedom that seemed to resonate with many people, and some even asked me about things they can cut out right now to save money. You know, to try to make a difference before the end of the year! What are you waiting for if you don’t follow me on my social media so we can chat?
It is not a secret, at this point, that inflation is on the rise and the cost of living is getting worser (hihi). I constantly feel the pressure of uncertainty, and I can’t be the only one! We live in a materialistic world; we don’t even know what to cut out. I’m here to share with you a few things I feel are a complete waste of money and would be easy to live without. There are many things I no longer purchase that you should also consider abandoning, but here are a few more ideas!
Fast-Food and deliveries
I’m starting with a strong one and the biggest money downfall for myself. I have absolutely no control over how much I spend on fast food. Without even exaggerating, I once spent more than 300$ in one month on fast food, whereas I could’ve made my groceries for 100$, eaten quite well, and saved money! So the first step would be to delete all the apps on your phone, whether a food chain app or a delivery app and say good riddance.
And let’s be honest, it’s not just good for your wallet, it’s also good for your health, which at the end of the day, should be your priority!
Streaming services
How many streaming services do you have? Netflix, Crave, Apple TV, Prime, Disney plus, Hulu… And the question is: do you use them all? Some crazy stats have been provided to see how much the average American pays for these streaming services… Almost half of the population pays more than 50$ a month for these. Not only that, but they also are using more than 3 streaming services this year compared to the last one. I would say it’s time to delete them all and leave the one you get the most use out of. Don’t be so lazy that you keep a subscription for no reason!
Multiple subscriptions
The streaming services were a big one, but what about other types of subscriptions? Magazines you don’t read anymore, the gym that you seem to never find the time to go to, meal prep boxes that supposedly save you a lot of time… Make a list of every subscription you have, and check if you actually need it and if you’re using it! I had to cancel a few things recently, and even if it’s just 20$, it’s already 20$ extra for you!
Bottled water
And sparkeling water. I always forget to bring water with me, so I always end up buying it during the day, which is horrible not just for my wallet but also for the environment! And sparkling water always makes me feel good, so I always have that on hand! I suggest getting yourself a Brita filter and a cute reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water. As for the sparkling water, it’s time to invest in a Soda Stream to make it yourself! These are the kind of purchases you can make once and then save in the long run! And but the holidays coming, I’m sure you can find all these at a discounted price.
Discounted products
Ironic, is it not? I try to avoid these sections at the store because I might have gone without a plan to purchase anything, but I will leave with one or two items I didn’t need. We can all be influenced to get something, but we have to stay strong and only purchase things that will be useful. As a rule, whenever I want to buy something, I tell myself I will come back for it in 2-3 days if I realize I really need it. A friend told me to only get the item if I have double that amount in my account. You can decide to only shop with a list and never stray away from it. Different technics to try out!
Getting your nails done
I understand it can be time-consuming, but we are in the mindset to save money right now, not saving time. There are many videos on TikTok and Youtube teaching you how to do your nails, the different technics, the products you will need, and how to remove them… Like you really have no excuse not to do it yourself! If you can save 50$ a month or more, why not?
Phones
Do you know that itch you get when you want to buy something? Well, I have it with phones and phone accessories. I know that with the holidays coming up, phone companies will try to sell you their latest phones, and you don’t need that! If you’re phone works, keep it. And if you decide to change, don’t get the latest version. It sounds crazy, but you can easily save 200$ to 300$ just by getting an older version.
Branded items
In this day and age, you really don’t need anything branded, whether it’s clothes or food. Off-brand items can cost up to 50% off the branded items, so why not take advantage of that to save money during inflation?
Morning Coffee
You won’t get rich by cutting off coffee. But you can save up by doing it yourself in the morning. If you drink a 3$ coffee every working day, it’s already more than 500$ at the end of the year that goes back into your pocket.
These are obviously just a few little cuts to save money, ideally, you should also focus on making more money. At the end of the day, the goal of these is to live a bit under your means, but they will not make you rich either.
Let me know in the comments below what other products we could add to the list or if these items are worth cutting out!
Until next time,
Sofyah,
Takeaways are my downfall! I do love a coffee from Starbucks too, which I could probably do with cutting down on as well.