As promised, today’s the second part of our Cut Spending Meaningfully “New Year, New You” 30-Day Challenge.
Last time, I shared ways to cut your shopping, food, and holiday budgets with you. Today, we’re trimming the excess from your entertainment and basic necessity budgets. Read on for more!
Bulk up. This might seem counterintuitive, but consider spending more upfront for those household items that you use all the time. I’m talking about things like toilet paper, shampoo, laundry detergent, dish soap, and bar soap!
You know you’ve gotta have ’em, and they don’t go bad – so take advantage of buying large quantities at Sam’s Club or Costco.
Pro tip: purchase a membership for a year. Right before your membership expires, load up on a year’s worth of non-perishables, and ride out the next year without a membership. Then, just renew once you’ve depleted your cache.
Tap into Wifi. With many folks now working from home, there’s no need for large data plans on your phone bill! Combine that with more Wifi hotspots popping up at stores and restaurants, and there could be a wealth of savings to tap into.
Today’s challenge is to spend some time looking into your current cell phone plan – is there a chance you could save money by dropping down a tier?
Pro tip: Read the fine print. Some plans offer a measly 1GB, but offer unlimited data at a throttled speed. (It might be enough to load Google Maps or receive your Facebook messages, which is all you might need if you’re just out running errands.)
Consider hand-me-downs. Are you in need of something but don’t want to bust out your wallet? Ask around!
Whether it’s a record player for your teen’s new interest in vinyl records or a space heater for your drafty basement, odds are someone you know has it just laying around and collecting dust.
Pro tip: Use the ‘Zuck for good by putting a call out to your friends on Facebook and asking for what you need – and even offering up old items of your own.
Cut the cord! Consider getting rid of cable if you haven’t already. Antennas still exist and go beyond archaic bunny ears or antenna masts.
A good antenna can cost anywhere from $100-$300, but you’d easily spend that much in 6 months of cable service. After 6 months, the antenna is paid for, and you’ll be enjoying free over-the-air signals from FOX, NBC, ABC, PBS, CBS, and the rest of the alphabet!
By now, you’ve found a few ways to trim your spending in a meaningful way in this “New Year, New You” 30-Day Challenge.
If you’re looking for other ways to budget effectively, I am here to help.
Reach out to me today online or by calling 513-563-PLAN (7526). In only 15 minutes, I can review your financial goals and set you on the path to a stress-free financial future!
