So, you think there is no way you can save money to be able to take great trips. That’s not true. Take a piece of paper and write down everything you spend money on. Not just your bills. Everything. Did you grab a pack of gum while you were at the store getting gas. Write it down. Did you need to grab a drink? Write it down.
Now, here are simple ways to save money that people don’t even realize they are spending money on.
Quit the Coffee: Ok before there is a riot, I mean those expensive coffees. Some of those coffees can cost $5 or more. If you are buying on a day that adds up to $150 a month. Make coffee at home. If you really love those special flavors buy some special creamer, or better yet, make your own. You can even buy the specialty syrups and never feel like you are missing a thing.
Don’t Eat Out: Learn how to cook. It is much cheaper to cook food at home than always eating out. If you have leftovers, use it for lunch the next day. Try to cook as often as possible because every time you cook, you save more money that can be used towards a travel fund.
Get rid of cable: Cable is expensive. When I didn’t cable, it was paying almost $250 a month for cable and internet. We had 100 channels and watched 3 of them. We got Netflix and dropped our bill down to about $15 a month, which allows us to view it on 4 screens and it is in HD.
Landline: Do you still have a landline at your house. This is a useless expense for most people. Unless you can not get cell service where you live, you do not need a lane line. Ditch the extra cost.
Buy Second Hand: I try to never buy anything new. If I can, I always buy things second hand. I believe it helps the environment but it also helps my budget. I shop at my local thrift store but I also use Facebook groups that offer for free or yard sales. I also use an app called Letgo to find and sell things.
Don’t go to the movies: I know that sometimes you HAVE to see that movie coming out and you have to see it in the theaters. The problem is, that one movie ticket costs about $15. You can rent movies from Redbox for $1.50 or from online stores for less than $5 a movie. That is a huge savings. Add in the popcorn and snacks and movies for 2 can come in around $50.
Quit those bad habits: Smoking and alcohol are seriously expensive. Quit them and that is a large chunk that is going back into your budget. Even if you only cut back. Think what means more to you. That cigarette or drink or being able to go to Hawaii.
Get a reusable water bottle: If you buy water every day while you are out, you are paying at least a $1 a bottle. That adds up to $365 dollars in a year. A reusable water bottle can be bought for less that $5. If you like filtered water, get a reusable water bottle that has a built in filter.
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