Every day we inevitably spend money, and that will likely not change. The problem lies in how we spend money. If you were to go through a typical day in your life, and be REALLY honest, you would no doubt notice frivolous spending. It may not be every day, but it happens. To all of us. In this short post I thought I would list a few of the most common areas in which we waste money on a regular basis.
Eating out is a treat, but we all arguably do it way too often..so much so that it sometimes loses it’s appeal. It’s no secret that cooking at home can be a much better way to stretch your money than a diet based on countless different menus. Go out to eat a little less often and watch the magic feeling come back again.
For some of us, our electricity bill can be one of our top monthly expenditures, behind a mortgage or car payment. Much of this is just waste. If you can’t be trusted to turn the lights off when you leave the room, install automation for this. Otherwise, it’s just silly. In fact, read number 3 on this list.
The same goes for water. While it isn’t as big of a hit as electricity, we all waste it. And wasted money is wasted money, no matter how small. Here is a test for you: do you leave the water running while brushing your teeth? Umm Hmm….
Have you ever revisited your commutes to the places you frequent? Are you driving further than you have to? Are there quicker ways to go to these places? C’mon, don’t we ever give into curiosity and GPS what we already think we know, just for fun at least? Gas is certainly not getting cheaper any time soon.
And take the time to consider time. It can be said that time is money, and wasted time is wasted money. Of course, we all need to relax and just do nothing occasionally, but try to minimize the time needed for this. Time is the ultimate non-renewable resource.
You know those items near the cash register in almost every retail store? Those aren’t called impulse buys for no reason. We did not go into the store for those, and we didn’t even know we needed them or wanted them until we are ready to leave. Trust me, you don’t. Almost always wasted money.
Finally, there is negligence. Not paying attention to what we are paying is waste of epidemic proportions. Check the receipts, audit your monthly statements, and try to justify the things you spend every penny on.
Obviously, a little indulgence here and there is no crime, and we will not call you out on that. It’s when daily waste become a habit and a lifestyle that it adds up, and being mindful of your routine can help you stretch your money just a little bit further.
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