Modern culture relies heavily on convenience. It’s inarguably a ticket to the good life, but at what cost? It’s often much more than we bargained for, and some modern-day conveniences are simply not worth it. Here are four ways you can save money, even if it means cutting back or cutting out a few ingrained habits.
Re-Evaluate How You Get Around
Whether it’s driving your own car or costly rideshare apps, transportation eats away a significant portion of your monthly budget. Exploring alternative transportation methods can save you money while also being better for the environment. Plus, when you combine costs like insurance, gas, and car maintenance, the benefit and convenience of always driving everywhere is much less appealing.
Public transportation is the obvious and simple answer to this. But even if you don’t live in an area with good public transit, try setting up carpool plans with friends and coworkers, biking around, or even walking to your destinations.
Stop the Daily Coffee Runs
There’s no expensive habit more insidious than the daily coffee run. After all, it’s only four dollars. It can’t matter that much, right? And it’s on your way to work, so it’s way more convenient than making your own coffee at home.
That might all be true. But there’s a good chance it’s also five to ten times more expensive to buy that daily coffee than it is to make it yourself. It’s a small luxury that many people don’t want to give up — until they realize that it could be costing them literally thousands of dollars a year. Either cut back on the daily runs to just once or twice a week or invest in a nice coffee maker and limit trips to the coffee shop for meeting up with friends or special occasions.
Wait Before Buying the Latest Tech
Whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or smart home device, it’s easy to be enticed by the latest and greatest gadgets. Yet many of these are minimal upgrades to a perfectly good device you already own. The status symbol you get from upgrading before everyone else is an expensive one, and it’s not doing your financial health any favors.
Before you buy a new device, ask yourself if it will really improve your life. Get specific as to how. If you decide to purchase it still, look into refurbished or used options to save yourself a bit of cash. But the best way to combat this is with a set technology budget; don’t go over this and you’ll give yourself license to spend only exactly how much you can afford.
Dine In Instead of Dining Out
The final major costly convenience is also the most common: ordering takeout or eating out too often. It’s hard to argue that having a hot meal at your door after a long day at work isn’t worth it. But there are ways to give yourself this luxury without the insane price.
The best way is to spend a few hours each week preparing meals in advance. This not only saves money but also keeps you from reaching for expensive convenience foods. Having meals you can quickly throw together or microwave when you get home still gets you into your pajamas and in front of the TV just as fast as carry out or deliver would.
