You don’t have to turn into a penny-pincher or say goodbye to everything you enjoy to save money. Just a handful of small changes can make your money stretch way further. Here are six easy swaps you can start right now to cut down your expenses without completely depriving yourself.
Buying Generic
The chances of you noticing the subtle (and sometimes non-existent) differences between name-brand items and generics are slim. But they’re usually just as good as the fancy brands for a much lower price. In some instances, like generic medications, the active ingredients are identical; there’s no reason to pick the name-brand outside of the fancy packaging!
Cancelling Unused Subscriptions
This is less of a swap and more of an intervention — we know you have subscriptions you don’t use. It’s time to swap them for…more money in your bank. Go through your bank or credit card statement and highlight stuff you barely use, like old streaming services, magazines, apps, or gym memberships.
If you’re not using it, cancel it. If you only use it sometimes, see if there’s a cheaper plan or be realistic about whether you can go without.
Switching to LED Lightbulbs
Here’s a bright idea — switch to LED lightbulbs. They last for years, use a fraction of the energy that older bulbs do, and aren’t nearly as expensive as you think. Not only that, but they make up for the fact that they cost more initially; they practically pay for themselves throughout their lifespan in lower electrical bills.
If you aren’t convinced, try installing a few in rooms you use most often and see if the swap is worth it.
Using Public Transit or Walking
Instead of driving to your destination, ask yourself if there’s a better (and cheaper) alternative. If so, make the swap. We’re quick to drive five minutes when walking would take us eight to ten. And even worse, we can get stuck in traffic, making public transit or other means of transportation just as fast or even faster.
If public transit is great where you live, then you should absolutely be finding ways to leverage it all the time.
Making Coffee at Home
Coffee shops: the bane of budgets everywhere. Truthfully, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a specialty coffee beverage now and then. It’s only a money sink when you’re going every single day.
Invest in a way to home brew, be it a programmable coffee maker so you can enjoy five cups for mere cents or a French press to sip something special while you start your day. Both are cheaper, customizable, and could even be a creative thing in the same way cooking or making cocktails is!
Cook at Home
Yes, the rumors are true. It’s expensive to dine out all the time, and cheaper to eat at home. But we aren’t suggesting never going out to eat again; just make sensible swaps when you can. Instead of ordering in after a long day, pre-plan your meals so you don’t fall into the trap of having nothing to eat when you get home.
Even if you aren’t a “good” cook, you’ll get so much more confidence by trying, and it gets easier the more you do it!
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