You spend $30 on Chinese takeout for just yourself on Monday. On Tuesday you bought a $5 latte. You finally purchased all the items in your shopping cart and spent $102 on Wednesday. Silver lining, you got free shipping. Thursday you went to the new craft cocktail bar. You bought yourself a drink and then a round for your friends and then another drink. You don’t even remember the final tab because you hadn’t eaten and tend to tip a little more when you are slightly buzzed.

What was Friday? You went grocery shopping and bought some green smoothies to make up for Chinese food you have been eating all week. That organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free smoothies cost an arm and a leg at $6.99 a bottle for 5 bottles. Didn’t spend any money Saturday but Sunday was brunch day. Mimosas or bust.

Have you ever thought about how much money you’re just spending? Or where your paycheck is going? Random Amazon orders, takeout, eating out, drinks, and etc. add up rather quickly. Diets are no fun when it comes to food, but when it comes to spending, a diet can help you control how much money leaves your wallet.

1. Assess your cash flow.

How much money is spent on necessary bills and expenses? Spotify, subscription boxes, and the gym membership that you don’t use do not count. Rent, insurance, transportation, phone, internet, food, and other services you rely on a daily services Including what you aside for savings, calculate exactly how much is needed each month. Write a list of all of the services and places you habitually spend money on but aren’t necessary. If you don’t know, go through your bank and credit card statements. Calculate the total amount of your spending. Once you get over the sticker shock, it’s time to come up with a plan.

2. Cut out the unnecessary for 30 days or more.

Now that you are conscious of how you’ve been using money, it’s time to trim the fat. That list of places, events and activities you unnecessarily spend just became the things you are cutting out of your life for at least 30 days. Try not to spend money on anything but bills, transportation and groceries. Start with 30 days but try to stretch it to 90 days to develop a pattern on conscious spending.

This is a great time to think about your financial goals. Since you’re not eating at the neighborhood hotspot you need a grocery list for each week. If you’re used to a fast-paced lifestyle, look for free things to do. Or better yet, work on your to-do list that seems to never get done. Clean out your closet, read books or be a tourist in your own city.

3. Selectively add what you genuinely miss spending money on.

Once you get past tour allotted time you might notice you don’t really miss the things you thought you needed. The things you really missed, like your Spotify subscription, can be added back into your expenses. Even if you’re eating out or shopping again, be more thoughtful of your purchases and consumption. Less is really more.

string(3052) "
You spend $30 on Chinese takeout for just yourself on Monday. On Tuesday you bought a $5 latte. You finally purchased all the items in your shopping cart and spent $102 on Wednesday. Silver lining, you got free shipping. Thursday you went to the new craft cocktail bar. You bought yourself a drink and then a round for your friends and then another drink. You don't even remember the final tab because you hadn't eaten and tend to tip a little more when you are slightly buzzed. 
What was Friday? You went grocery shopping and bought some green smoothies to make up for Chinese food you have been eating all week. That organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free smoothies cost an arm and a leg at $6.99 a bottle for 5 bottles. Didn't spend any money Saturday but Sunday was brunch day. Mimosas or bust.
Have you ever thought about how much money you're just spending? Or where your paycheck is going? Random Amazon orders, takeout, eating out, drinks, and etc. add up rather quickly. Diets are no fun when it comes to food, but when it comes to spending, a diet can help you control how much money leaves your wallet.
1. Assess your cash flow.
How much money is spent on necessary bills and expenses? Spotify, subscription boxes, and the gym membership that you don't use do not count. Rent, insurance, transportation, phone, internet, food, and other services you rely on a daily services Including what you aside for savings, calculate exactly how much is needed each month. Write a list of all of the services and places you habitually spend money on but aren't necessary. If you don't know, go through your bank and credit card statements. Calculate the total amount of your spending. Once you get over the sticker shock, it's time to come up with a plan. 
2. Cut out the unnecessary for 30 days or more.
Now that you are conscious of how you've been using money, it's time to trim the fat. That list of places, events and activities you unnecessarily spend just became the things you are cutting out of your life for at least 30 days. Try not to spend money on anything but bills, transportation and groceries. Start with 30 days but try to stretch it to 90 days to develop a pattern on conscious spending. 
This is a great time to think about your financial goals. Since you're not eating at the neighborhood hotspot you need a grocery list for each week. If you're used to a fast-paced lifestyle, look for free things to do. Or better yet, work on your to-do list that seems to never get done. Clean out your closet, read books or be a tourist in your own city. 
3. Selectively add what you genuinely miss spending money on. 
Once you get past tour allotted time you might notice you don't really miss the things you thought you needed. The things you really missed, like your Spotify subscription, can be added back into your expenses. Even if you're eating out or shopping again, be more thoughtful of your purchases and consumption. Less is really more.
"

Tax season can absolutely wreck your life for a few weeks, especially if the very thought of anything math-related makes you break out in a rash. (No? Just me?) But regardless of how overwhelming organizing all your receipts and deductions may seem, the process can be made a million times easier with the help of

There was a time when rolling into the office—even a few minutes late—could earn you a disapproving glare from your boss or colleagues.  But in today’s flexible hybrid world, where work happens everywhere from coffee shops to living room couches, being “on time” has lost its grip as the gold standard of professionalism. According to

By Massimo Tornambe Scott Disick, aka “Lord Disick” has gained fame and a devoted following since his appearances on the reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Disick is renowned for his expensive taste in clothes, cars, and women. The question that millions of fans are asking is: where did his fortune come from? Scott

This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. Ever cringe at your annual spending habits, realizing you’re coughing out hundreds on streaming services that you never use? If so, you’re absolutely not alone. Just last month, I gasped when I saw how

​​The ugliest thing about credit card debt is that it’s plaguing millions of Americans all across the country. Hang-on, hang-on before you despair — it’s possible to pay off credit card debt by simply avoiding certain purchases that you’d normally give in to without a thought.  The latest social media trend that encourages people to

This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. What are your financial goals for the New Year? Personally, I’m working to pay off my debt. From my student loans to creeping credit card debt, it’s tough to wrap my head around how

If you were to ask someone who they think the biggest superstar in the world is, there’s a good chance they’ll answer without a moment’s hesitation, “Beyoncé.” The Queen Bee has been effortlessly dropping record-breaking albums and chart-topping radio singles since her Destiny’s Child days, and she is not slowing down anytime soon.  Considering her

I’m embarrassed by the sheer amount of frivolous spending I did in 2024. It’s wild to me how, at one point, I thought it was perfectly acceptable to cough up over $200 on a Margarita mixer that I’ve used maybe twice. (What was I thinking? I don’t even like Margaritas!)   Every day, all these wholly

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their