When Ryan and I first got married, we were finishing up college.  Translation: we were BROKE. However, my husband had a great background of how to budget and the importance of spending a little, when you have little (or no) income.  He also learned the importance of responsible credit (keyword: responsible).  I wasn’t a crazy spender, but I knew how to spend enough to get into trouble.  I always tell people that he is the reason we have money in the bank.  Sure, it may have been because he started out making sure I was the one spending the $2.76 at Subway, not someone who took my card.  Needless to say, he kept me accountable.  But it was the years of that accountability that has brought us to where we are today.  I can honestly say that finances were a small worry when we decided to cut our income in half so I could stay at home.  Why?  First, because we have always been of the mindset that God is in control and he will provide for all of our NEEDS.  Another reason we didn’t worry as much was because we have been living financially responsibly for quite some time now.  Maybe you have decided to minimize your spending, or maybe you have just had job loss or a made the decision to cut an income in your household like us, and you need to find a way to adjust spending.  Below I have compiled a list of items that can easily be cut from a budget, that can add up to a lot of savings!

1. Unused Gym Memberships

First of all, if you have a gym membership and you use it, KUDOS!!  I know there are a lot of gym-goers that use their membership for what it’s worth.  However, there are MANY that don’t.  I just declined spending $10/mo plus start up fees at a fancy gym simply because I didn’t think the $165 was worth it.  How do I exercise?  When my first born was about 3 months old, I bought a used treadmill off Craigslist.  It wasn’t perfect, but it did what I wanted it to do–help me get back to pre-baby shape and more.  6 years later, I am STILL using that same treadmill.  OK so I can’t tell how fast I’m running or how far I’ve gone because the screen doesn’t work anymore, BUT I have saved over $500 in gym fees since then!

Yearly savings: at least $165 (but probably WAY more than that!)

2. Coffee

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I LOVE COFFEE, so I am not saying to NOT buy it at all.  That’s ludicrous!  However, because I love coffee so much, I have had to find ways to cut back so I can still enjoy it.  There are many ways to do this.  I have mentioned my Keurig machine right? Well, those pods are NOT cheap!  So I bought a little basket that allows you to put grinds from a bag in yourself.  You simply wash it out after you use it, and it rinses easily so the clean up is simple.  Another way you can spend less on coffee is to be more careful about how often you buy it from a coffee shop.  What?!?  I understand.  That’s difficult.  My husband has frequent meetings at coffee shops, but he would spend $100 a month just on coffee if he bought one every time.  Did you know you can go to a coffee shop and work without spending any money?  It’s crazy, I know.  But it is possible.  Try saving those coffee splurges for a specific day of the week.  Friday bonus for getting through the week?  Sure!  Monday splurge just to get your week started right?  Sounds great!  Just be careful you don’t count every day a holiday and make sure a coffee runs is just that–a treat.

 Yearly savings: $30-$500 (depending on how much coffee you purchase to begin with!)

3. Up-charging Fast Food Meals

How easy is it to say “yes” to the up-charge request at your local fast food restaurant.  SO easy!  It doesn’t seem like a lot, but if you say “yes” two times a week for a year, you’re spending an extra $83 a year!  Guess what?  Once I knew that, it was MUCH easier to say NO and know I was saving myself money AND calories.

Yearly savings: $83 (and a ton of calories!)

4. Paying for Individual Visits

I know, I know.  I just told you NOT to spend money on a gym membership, but memberships can be really valuable if you are going to use them anyway.  For example, one trip to the zoo for a family of 4 is over $60 with parking.  If I thought we would go twice, I would save money buying a family pass that is around $100, plus you get freebies for even more savings.  Buy a membership that your family is sure to use, and you will see the savings!

Yearly savings: at least $25 (for every visit after the first visit.)

5. Not taking Advantage of Free Activities

I grew up in the area where I live now, but it wasn’t until I had kids that I really knew what was here at our disposal…for free! This summer we made a “passport” of some things to do that mostly included free parks and activities.  We had so much fun going to these places and coming home to check off our “passport”.  Get to know your local library.  Check out the local parks.  In the summer, splash parks are GREAT and they are everywhere!  For older kids, check out the museums and art exhibits in the area.  Usually they have a day of the week or month where kids (or everyone) get in free.  If you haven’t tried Geocaching, it’s a lot of fun!  Time consuming, but fun! It’s a great activity for older kids.

Yearly savings: Priceless

6. Paying Full Price for Clothes

This is a big one for me, and I feel like I could write an entire post on this alone (maybe I will!).  Especially with kids.  I went from buying clothes for me to buying clothes for two little ones.  Either way, I had the potential to spend A LOT.  I have recently taken a liking to the whole idea of capsule wardrobes, where most things are interchangeable and compatible.  I just started this process with my daughter’s back to school wardrobe.  See that post here.  For boys, it’s a little easier.  You buy some plain tops (Old Navy has great ones and if you sign up for email alerts, you can get great deals with free shipping!), and enough shorts to last them a week, and you’re set!  For me, it has been a little more difficult, but since I have made the decision to stay at home, some (OK, a lot) of my wardrobe isn’t needed.  That’s where online shopping and Poshmark has come in.  What is Poshmark you say?  Poshmark is an online independent consignment shop where you can buy or sell (or both) new and gently used clothes and accessories.  It has changed my clothing purchases almost entirely.  Do I always have the latest designer clothes?  Not necessarily, but how “latest” are black cropped leggings and white t-shirts?   As far as online shopping goes, I have signed up for email alerts for those stores I usually shop at anyway.  When I get an alert for free shipping and percentage off, I pounce.  Not every time, but if I know something is coming up, or my kids are growing out of their (enter item here), I don’t feel as bad paying for it.  Especially if it means I don’t actually have to go to the store to get it!  I think it’s safe to say that I NEVER pay for full price clothing.

Yearly Savings: at least $300

7. One Stop Shopping

When I first started strategically shopping to save money, I automatically started shopping at Walmart.  Hear this: There is NOTHING wrong with Walmart.  I love that I can get plastic sleeve protectors and milk in the same place (at a great price).  However, I have found that I can save MORE money if I find better deals somewhere else.  This is really something that you have to think about for your individual location.  Some of you may have no other options than that ONE grocery store close to you.  I get it.  BUT, if you can plan ahead and go to the few stores that have the best deals, you will save more money.  IF Walmart is the only store that you can get to, you MUST download the Savings Catcher app!  This allows you to scan your receipt after any purchase, and it will search multiple local retailers for a better deal.  If a better deal is found, you get the difference in an e gift card or straight back into your bank.  BOOM.  It really is awesome.  That alone saves me about $100 a year.  Otherwise, shop around and see if you can get a better deal on certain items at one or two other stores.  Any more than that and you’re just wasting time and energy (in my opinion).  I always shop for everything I can at Aldi, and then get everything else at Walmart.  Sometimes, I have to go to Kroger for other things, but it’s rare.  I save at least $50 a month just by shopping around.

Yearly savings: $100-$700

8. Buying Soft Drinks (or anything) From the Check-out Lane

I don’t know about you, but shopping takes it out of me!!  By the time I turn the corner to head to the checkout lanes, I am hungry, probably a little frustrated, and just ready to go home.  While I am sitting in line, sometimes there is nothing better than the look, taste, and feel of a cold Coke Zero.  There are times I fight the urge until I am putting my items on the belt to not open that fridge.  Maybe the soda isn’t your thing, but maybe that candy bar is.  Or maybe you can’t resist a new chapstick or pack of gum.  Let me encourage you, or discourage you rather.  STOP!!  PUT IT DOWN!!  I know that a coke from a mini fridge is almost $2!!  That’s vending machine prices and it’s CA-RA-ZY!!  If I were to indulge every time I wanted a coke just from my weekly shopping trips, I would spend an extra $93 a year!!  Not to mention I can buy the same soda (unchilled) for half that price in a pack.  People-it just doesn’t. make. cents. (see what I did there?)

Yearly Savings $93

9. Monthly Mani/Pedi

I am not a girly girl, but I am a girl who LOVES to get my nails done.  I have a girlfriend that gets her nails done with me for our birthdays every year.  That is a special occasion for me.  I also get my nails done in the winter right before the opening of the show I help direct.  Another special occasion.  I may get my nails done one or two other times (Mother’s Day, Day out with my little gal), but that is really all.  I know A LOT of people who routinely get their nails done as often or more often than their hair.  IF you can afford it, then GO FOR IT!!  However, I had to really think about the things that were routine for me that didn’t have to be.  One of those things was my nails.  This didn’t mean not having freshly painted nails, it just meant I had to find a more economical way to do that.  One way is to go to a cosmetology school.  Those gals (and guys) in training are awesome and hard workers and they charge half the cost of a regular nail salon. If you are confident in your nail painting abilities, you could save money by doing it yourself (duh, Jenny).  I have been doing my own nails in between salon visits using Sally Hansen’s Gel nail polish.  It dries quickly, leaves a hard finish, and lasts almost 2 weeks when done right.  Not an exceptional nail artist?  Watch your technician the next time you get your nails done.  Look at the tools, notice the process (and it is a process!), and see if it’s something you can do on your own.  You could save A TON!

Yearly Savings $160 to reduce a monthly mani to a quarterly mani

10. Accepting Your Cable Bill

My husband is typically in charge of paying bills in our household, so it’s not often that I see our cable bill roll in, but when I do: OUCH! Seriously?  We are paying for about 200 channels, when we typically watch 4, two of which are network channels that we can get for FREE.  The other two are ESPN and NICKELODEON.  Ok, so this may be an easier task for me than my husband and kids, but did you know that with a digital television and a $20 antenna, you can get all network channels and then some?   Also, some of those cable networks show episodes on apps that are free to download.  However, if you need something to Binge watch, you could always get Netflix and/or Hulu, which run less than $15 a month each.  Let’s say you get the $20 antenna and subscribe to Netflix AND Hulu, you would still save.

Yearly Savings $760

For a Grand Total of $1,716-$2,811 in yearly savings 

CHA-CHING!!

There you have it!  Since having kids I have had to readjust my outlook on spending, but I am always looking for ways to better use the resources God has blessed us with.  I know sometimes it means I have to spend the time looking for deals, but for someone who just gained a little time, it’s totally worth it!

 

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19

What are some simple ways you spend less?

I am not getting paid to promote any offers or products found on this page.  These are my opinions, and my opinions only!