1. Eat out less
Many people do not realize just how much they spend eating out each month. If you eat out for lunch every single day, you are probably spending upwards of $150 to $200 on lunch. That is the price of a decent car payment! If you choose instead to bring a lunch from home and save that money, the options are endless. You could get an upgrade on a car, create an emergency fund, save for retirement, or save up for a big summer vacation.
2. Food savers
Food savers are one of the fastest growing trends in the last few years. The idea is that if you can make many meals at once, and then freeze them, you can save money and time, while still enjoying delicious meals. Many people will make up to 30 days worth of meals, put them in the freezer, and then spend an entire month without cooking. Most of the meals can be warmed up in a crockpot, essentially requiring 5 minutes of time to have a healthy, delicious dinner. This will only save you money if you don’t overspend on a food saver. Try to get one that will last, but not cost more than it is worth. You can find some good medium-range food savers and reviews here.
3. Carpool
If you have not budgeted then you likely do not even realize how much money you are spending on gas each month. The truth is, the average person spends almost $250 on gas every month. A majority of that is likely driving to work. Doing something as simple as finding a friend or co-worker that goes in the same direction can save another $100 a month. Carpooling is also great for the environment and a great way to meet new people. With all of the benefits, why not give it a shot? If it doesn’t work then it is easy to go back to driving yourself.
4. Pay of debt
The average American has a significant amount of debt on their credit cards. This may not seem like a big deal, but most credit cards have extremely high interest rates. This means that the average American also spends upwards of $100 a month just paying off interest. This is not paying off actual debt, this is just paying off interest. This is essentially money that is just getting thrown away. Pay off your debt and then focus on not getting back into debt and a significant amount of money can be saved each month.
5. Check insurance
Many people have had the same insurance company for years. A lot of things change in years and while that company may have been the best deal a few years ago, you could be drastically overpaying now. If you have the time, try shopping around with a few different insurance companies to see if rates have changed. You may be surprised. All of these have the potential to save hundreds of dollars a month. That money can be used for dozens of better things if it is saved and utilized. All of that on top of the increased satisfaction that budgeting brings makes it a no brainer!
