As costs continue to rise, you may be looking for ways to save. Here are 10 tips to reduce your expenses. While you may not be able to tackle all of our tips, focusing on those that can have the biggest impact on your budget can help.
1 Look for savings on insurance
Increasing your deductibles on various insurances, such as home and auto, may bring your premiums down. This may mean a lower payment for you. You should also shop around for insurance as the price differences between various providers can be significant.
2 Hit the unsubscribe button
We all get drawn into those marketing emails offering “big deals” and they end up costing us. Don’t feel like you’re missing out on a bargain. If you unsubscribe from these emails, the temptation to buy will be gone along with the unwanted emails.
3 Put a halt to impulse spending
If you are an impulse buyer, impose a 24-hour rule on your “want” purchases. When you want to buy something that is not a necessity, wait 24 hours to buy it. At that point, the impulse to have that item may be gone.
4 Cancel unused subscriptions
We all have them! Unused gym memberships, multiple streaming service subscriptions, or other high-cost subscription services. Because they automatically hit your credit card, you may forget about them. Look through your credit card and financial statements for the past few months. If you see a subscription you don’t really need or are not using, then cancel it ASAP.
5 Save on food
If you dine out frequently, cutting back can reward you with big savings. Start cooking at home more often. When you do your grocery shopping, be sure to compare prices to find the best deals. Generic and store brands can provide big savings. Use coupons and take advantage of store sales. Coupons.com and RetailMeNot are great sites for coupons and other deals. Finally, make a grocery list before you shop and stick to it.
6 Tap into the benefits of cash-back apps
In addition to the coupon apps mentioned above, there are so many more ways to save. Apps such as Rakuten and Fetch Rewards will reward you for shopping. Fetch Rewards enables you to earn points for any receipt from any store or restaurant. You can then redeem those points for gift cards and other rewards. It’s a great way to benefit from everyday purchases. Rakuten gives you cash back for shopping through their site or using their app. Earn on everything from clothing to food and electronics. There are many other cashback and coupon apps as well. Download one today to begin saving.
7 Shop thrift shops whenever possible
Thrift and consignment shops can be a gold mine of deals on used furniture, clothing, and also electronics. When thrift store shopping, set a limit and stick to it. Finally, closely inspect every item before you buy it. You want to be sure everything is in good condition.
8 Sell unwanted items to earn some extra bucks
If you’re like me, you’ve got plenty of unused electronics laying around. Did you know that both Amazon and Apple offer trade-in programs for their electronics that can provide you with a gift card for future use? To sell other unwanted items locally, think Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Finally, Poshmark is always a good option when looking to sell used clothing.
9 Switch to a credit union to avoid high banking fees
Are you spending a fortune on banking fees and other banking charges? Switching to a Guthrie Community Credit Union might help you save on high banking fees. After all, when a credit union makes a profit, it benefits the members in the form of lower interest rates and lower fees.
We realize evaluating your budget to determine areas to cut may seem overwhelming. As you experience the savings, it will get easier to prioritize and identify other areas to save. We hope our 9 tips to reduce your expenses are helpful. Worried about inflation? Read our “Financial Moves to Get Ahead of Inflation.”