Many people dream of making more money but cutting expenses can be just as profitable! Take some time to identify unnecessary expenses with these money-saving tips:
- Eliminate late fees. Most late fees are the result of being too busy, traveling or simply forgetting. Fortunately, late fees are almost entirely avoidable if you have a plan. A lot of people only think of credit card late fees, but they can also show up in many places including utility bills, subscriptions and registration fees. Take a look at your bills and identify the kinds of charges you’re getting. Scheduling automatic payments is the easiest way to avoid late fees. And if you get one, call and try to get it canceled. It just might work!
- Cancel unnecessary subscriptions. Subscriptions are popping up everywhere. They include everything from weekly shaving products to streaming services. With so many options, it’s easy to double up on services, or forget to cancel one that you were planning to use for just a short time. Regularly review all your monthly subscriptions and cancel the ones that are no longer providing value.
- Minimize interest expense. Paying for day-to-day expenses with a credit card to rack up points to use for airfare or other perks is a great cash management tool, but the interest that builds up if you don’t pay it off every month negates the perks. If you find yourself in a situation with multiple credit card balances, consider a consolidation loan with a lower interest rate.
- Be selective with protection plans. With virtually every purchase, companies offer to sell you insurance in the form of a protection plan. And for good reason — they’re profitable to them and not you! Insurance should be reserved for things you can’t live without, like your health and your home. Pass on the protection plan for your toaster.
- Review your deductibles. A deductible is a set amount you pay before your insurance kicks in to cover the cost of a claim. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly premium. If you have enough in savings to cover a higher deductible when disaster strikes, raising the deductible may save you some cash on a month-to-month basis.
- Try a little DIY. If you own a house, you know it’s just a matter of time before something breaks or stops working. When this happens, challenge yourself to not instantly reach for the phone to call a repairman. Repair videos are in endless supply online and some things turn out to be much easier than expected. Simple fixes can lead to big savings, especially since repair services charge minimums and fuel surcharges.
While some ideas take a little more analysis to understand the true benefits, others are the result of paying attention. Taking a proactive approach to saving can provide a big boost to your budget.