4 Common Expenses That Waste Your Money

There are many ideas for saving money. Clipping coupons, shopping for sales, and just plain old common sense are ways in which consumers can stick to a budget and free up more cash to eliminate debts. But there are many comfort zones in which we can be trapped without even realizing it. If you are not tracking your daily spending down to the penny, you may not realize the amount of money being wasted when there are alternatives that make sense.

Here are 4 common items we buy into that can blow our budgets (read how to create a budget first if you don’t already have one):

Credit Card Fees

The rules for credit cards are ever-changing and credit is also getting more expensive as the mean old credit card companies try and recoup their lost profits (don’t take it lying down, fight back!). There are many fees associated with credit card usage that can be avoided completely if you pay attention. Paying your bill on time every month and ensuring you never make purchases that put you over your credit limit are just two items that can be controlled directly by you. Other fees may not be as unavoidable but if you are aware of the credit card terms and policies you should be able to avoid fees for membership and balance transfers before even signing up for the card.

ATM Fees

ATM fees generally occur when you use your card at another bank’s machine. Planning ahead can help save you up to $5 in fees at a time if you can ensure you only take money from your own bank’s ATM location. You can also cut costs by planning how much cash you need on hand for the week or month to cut down your visits to the automated teller.

Pre-Packaged Groceries

This is one instance where convenience will cost you. When you make a trip to the grocery store, it can be tempting to add the pre-made, pre-cut, pre-package items into the cart instead of making from scratch or preparing them on your own. Consider how much money it would cost to stock you pantry with ingredients to produce many meals rather than buying one frozen entrée for $4.00. You can also save some cash by purchasing fresh vegetables that you clean and cut yourself. Even notice the cost of a tub of fresh cut fruit or a pre-made vegetable tray? They are quite expensive because you are paying for the convenience. If you are looking to save money, do it yourself.

Bottled Water

You may not even realize you have a habit of buying a bottle of water for $2,00 whenever your stop for gas but that daily habit can cost you more than $30 a week. Instead of buying new, opt for a singular purchase of an at-home water filter jug where you can refill one or two bottles from the tap everyday for free. Don’t think it is better or safer to drink only bottled water. With proper filtration, tap water is a perfectly good substitute for expensive fashion water.