Here's the deal. We all spend money on items that we don't really need – items that are complete money wasters. It might be a cable or satellite package or an expensive cup of coffee. We all have different things we waste money on. However, the following are some of the top money wasters.
Cable and Satellite TV
Many of us love to watch TV, but you don't have to spend over a hundred dollars each month. There are so many different ways you can watch your favorite TV shows without spending a lot of money. There are so many companies that offer access to your favorite channels for less than $60 per month. Some companies even charge less than $30 per month. That's a HUGE savings.
New Books
Okay, there are times when you want to buy a book from your favorite author and that's fine. However, if you're just picking up books to read that look good, stop buying new. You can find books in thrift stores for as little as $0.10 each. You can also subscribe to Kindle Unlimited for only $10 per month and get unlimited access to thousands of books. You can even find free books on Amazon. You don't need a Kindle to enjoy these books. You can read them on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Tossed Leftovers
Americans throw out literally tons of food each year. Even if your family doesn't care for leftovers, find ways to transform last night's dinner into something new. For example, if you make a beef roast with carrots and potatoes one night, make barbecue beef sandwiches the next. This will save you so much money off your grocery bill.
You can also try an Eat from the Pantry Challenge to make sure that you use all the food you have stocked up before it expires. The bonus - it will save you money on groceries too!
Bank Fees and Credit Card Interest
Bank fees are such a mindless waste of money. When you use an ATM that isn't in your bank's network or utilize bank overages, you're wasting money. You're literally throwing money away. The same goes for credit card interest. Credit card interest can quickly result in thousands and thousands of dollars of wasted money. Be smart about how your spend money.
Bottled Water
We all know that it's healthier to drink water. However, buying bottled water is such a huge waste of money. If you don't like your tap water, invest in a good quality filter. You may have to pay a large amount upfront, but the filtration system will quickly pay for itself. You can also purchase reusable water bottles that are much better for the environment.
Not Saving Enough for Retirement
If your employer offers to match a certain percentage of the money you invest in your 401(k), you need to at least save what your company will match. For example, if your company will match your contribution up to 5-percent, you want to make sure to invest at least that much money.
Expensive Coffee
Last, but not least, if you love to grab coffee each morning, you could wasting a lot of money. It may not seem like a big deal to buy a $5 cup of coffee each morning, but it will cost you. At $35 per week, that's $1,820 a year. That's a vacation! Stop wasting money on fancy coffee and start making it at home.
Here's the deal. We all waste money on something. However, becoming aware of where your money is going each month will greatly reduce how much money you waste in the future.
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