5 ways to shrink a budget

Are you always wondering where the money went? Money can seem to disappear with thoughtless spending. An honest spending evaluation can help you determine where you can cut spending. Here are five areas where you can trim your budget without too much effort.


Memberships & subscriptions

When’s the last time you went to the gym where you have that fancy membership? Haven’t been in over a month? That’s where you can trim some of the financial fat. Subscription services like Ipsy or StichFix that send you a box of goods monthly charge you for the service and sometimes the products used. Not remembering to return things at a timely fashion can create a lot of fees. Same with magazine and other media subscriptions. If you’re not using it, end your subscription. Granted, if you uses that gym membership or enjoy reading the magazine regularly, than cutting here might not be the best option.

Alcohol

Socially drinking can add up a pretty high tab really quickly. If you go out to cocktails pre-dinner and get dinner you can be looking at any where from $15-$25 without a tip. If you add another drink or two with dinner that can quickly add up to $50 on drinks alone for one night. If it’s a once in awhile thing, it is not that big of a deal. But if that’s a weekly habit or your doing that multiple times a week, your drinking your hard earn money away. If you want to still do the drinks pre-dinner, have cocktails at home before you go out. Fifty buck can buy a decent bottle of liquor and mixers. Occasionally, skip that glass of wine. Your pocketbook will thank you.

Quit eating out (or eat out less)

How often do you meals out? Honestly, how many times a week do you need to brunch? Ten dollar lunches and $15 dinners multiple times a week are the equivalent of one week’s groceries. Burgers, salads, burritos, smoothies and other normal grab and go options can easily be replicated at home. Plus, if cooking at home saves calories and know exactly what’s in the food. That includes morning Starbucks’ runs. If you want your morning coffee, make it at home and use flavored sweeteners. Daily $4 lattes adds up over time. Rather than going cold turkey, start by taking lunch two times a week and cooking dinner Monday-Thursday. From, there slowly build up.

Where you shop

It’s better to invest in durable clothing than purchasing cheaply made clothes frequently. If purchasing good quality clothes at a higher price tags seems impossible for your budget, try thrift stores and discount stores that carry quality clothes a lower prices. Also, quit buying clothes. Buy only clothing items you genuinely love. That will prevent unnecessary spending and a cluttered closet. Think about the products you use and see where you can forgo or willingly purchase lower end items.

Cut the cord

Most people have begun to cut landlines and cable services. Have you? Streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime and etc. offer plenty of shows and movies at significant reduced price compared to cable channels. Most major sporting events are streamed online, so you’re not missing the big games.

string(3201) "
Are you always wondering where the money went? Money can seem to disappear with thoughtless spending. An honest spending evaluation can help you determine where you can cut spending. Here are five areas where you can trim your budget without too much effort.

Memberships & subscriptions

When's the last time you went to the gym where you have that fancy membership? Haven't been in over a month? That's where you can trim some of the financial fat. Subscription services like Ipsy or StichFix that send you a box of goods monthly charge you for the service and sometimes the products used. Not remembering to return things at a timely fashion can create a lot of fees. Same with magazine and other media subscriptions. If you're not using it, end your subscription. Granted, if you uses that gym membership or enjoy reading the magazine regularly, than cutting here might not be the best option.

Alcohol

Socially drinking can add up a pretty high tab really quickly. If you go out to cocktails pre-dinner and get dinner you can be looking at any where from $15-$25 without a tip. If you add another drink or two with dinner that can quickly add up to $50 on drinks alone for one night. If it's a once in awhile thing, it is not that big of a deal. But if that's a weekly habit or your doing that multiple times a week, your drinking your hard earn money away. If you want to still do the drinks pre-dinner, have cocktails at home before you go out. Fifty buck can buy a decent bottle of liquor and mixers. Occasionally, skip that glass of wine. Your pocketbook will thank you.

Quit eating out (or eat out less)

How often do you meals out? Honestly, how many times a week do you need to brunch? Ten dollar lunches and $15 dinners multiple times a week are the equivalent of one week's groceries. Burgers, salads, burritos, smoothies and other normal grab and go options can easily be replicated at home. Plus, if cooking at home saves calories and know exactly what's in the food. That includes morning Starbucks' runs. If you want your morning coffee, make it at home and use flavored sweeteners. Daily $4 lattes adds up over time. Rather than going cold turkey, start by taking lunch two times a week and cooking dinner Monday-Thursday. From, there slowly build up.

Where you shop

It's better to invest in durable clothing than purchasing cheaply made clothes frequently. If purchasing good quality clothes at a higher price tags seems impossible for your budget, try thrift stores and discount stores that carry quality clothes a lower prices. Also, quit buying clothes. Buy only clothing items you genuinely love. That will prevent unnecessary spending and a cluttered closet. Think about the products you use and see where you can forgo or willingly purchase lower end items.

Cut the cord

Most people have begun to cut landlines and cable services. Have you? Streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime and etc. offer plenty of shows and movies at significant reduced price compared to cable channels. Most major sporting events are streamed online, so you're not missing the big games.

"

Living la Vida Frugal – Spend Less With Frugal Living

Tiny Home Image by Clay Banks_Unsplash

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

The Motherhood Penalty

Photo by Sai De Silva (Unsplash)

You Lose $20K Each Year Just For Being a Mom You may not know this, but there was a time when smoking was considered “liberated” behavior for women. There was a cigarette company Virginia Slims that was created specifically to attract female smokers during the bad old 1970s. The slogan was “You’ve come a long

What Is Kris Jenner’s Net Worth? 

Kris Jenner

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

What Is Kylie Jenner’s Net Worth? 

Kylie Jenner

The Kar-Jenner family is loaded thanks to their business prowess (and fierce momager, Kris Jenner.) Kim Kardashian said it best when she lamented that it “seems like nobody wants to work these days,” but these sisters never have a day off. And that’s why the topic of Kylie Jenner’s net worth is so intriguing.  But

What Is Taylor Swift’s Net Worth? 

Taylor Swift for "The Tortured Poet's Department"

Taylor Swift is a megastar singer-songwriter known for her narrative songwriting, catchy pop tunes, and versatility across genres like country, pop, and indie folk. She breaks every music record with ease, partially thanks to her die-hard Swiftie fans who follow her with vigor and buy out every single show. And with Taylor Swift’s net worth