Do you struggle to save money? The first step in looking at where you can save money is evaluating your expenses and see where you are spending it! You may not think it but spending £2 here and there adds up without you even noticing. Trying to cut out some of the daily habits below might make your savings pot look a little healthier.
What Daily Habits Are Costing You Money?
Expensive takeaway coffees
With the average coffee in Northern Ireland costing £2.70, five of these a week can result in spending a massive £688 a year! As much as a barista style coffee beats an instant one, you might want to make the sacrifice if saving money is your priority. Invest in a good instant or ground coffee that you can make in the office or at home. This can be a hard habit to break but the savings are definitely worth it!
Mindless shop purchases
It’s easy for our minds to get side-tracked whilst popping to the shop for something as simple as milk. We arrive at the till to find our total sitting at £10 and we’re left asking ourselves ‘What did I actually buy?’ Resist the temptation by writing a shopping list of everything you need and only bringing an amount of money that will cover those essential items. This will help stop you picking up costly irrelevant items. If you can’t resist while you’re in the shop then doing an online shop is another great way to keep track of your spending while adding items to your basket.
Going out for lunch
Although some restaurants have an appealing lunch time special at a discounted price, these lunch outings will begin to add up and affect your bank balance without you even realising. Try to keep lunch dates as a Friday treat and do a grocery shop at the start of the week which means you can prep your lunches for the week ahead, possibly saving up to £6 a day. This is also a healthy alternative if you want to change your lifestyle as well as your bank balance.
Skipping the gym
Have you bought a monthly gym membership at the start of the year but haven’t got around to using it yet? Sitting at home and avoiding the gym is surprisingly costing you money as your gym membership is going to waste. Most subscriptions have a 3 or 6 month contract and may require a cancellation fee, therefore, make the most of your membership while you’re still paying and if you’re not then cancel before you have to begin a new contract.
Evaluate who you follow on social media
Social media is a great source of inspiration for everything from home décor tips to cleaning hacks but it can make us feel like products are necessities instead of luxuries. Unfollow any accounts that make you feel like you need to purchase new items - without the temptation there you won’t know what you’re missing!
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