The Kitchen Table

If you are having trouble paying for necessities with your take home check, it may be time to give your wallet a break, and evaluate your expenses and spending. Here are three things you can do to cut your spending and budget your expenses.

1.Bundle

Bundling insurance policies, cable, cell service and internet are easy ways to cut cost. Most companies that sell insurance, cable and internet give you a discount when you buy more than one of their services. Most major cell phone providers also offer “family plans” that allow you to bundle services saving you hundreds of dollars. It also pays to shop around. Don’t get complacent, we have a competitive market, keep an eye out for a better deal and trade up your services if a better opportunity comes your way.

2.Little Things That Add Up

Always look for ways to save, even if you think your budget can’t get any tighter, you would be surprised at the amount of excess spending you might be doing. Usually our excess spending is a result of impulse buying, and with easy access to online shopping it’s easy to spend because you are bored. Try shopping at thrift stores, at least some of the time, it’s a much cheaper alternative. You can also save at the grocery store by shopping the weekly ads and by buying the unbranded or supermarket brand of products you use. Shop around for the best gas prices too, with apps like “gas buddy”, you can see at a glance, who has the best price. These are just a few of the ways you can make practical spending adjustments and save, because a dollar here and a dollar there can really add up. Cutting your spending by $13 dollars a day adds up to almost $400 a month!

3.Go Green to Save Some Green

Start using a drying rack or clothesline, and you’ll save about 6% on your monthly electric bill according to the Department of Energy. If your monthly electric bill is $200, hanging your clothes to dry will save you about $12 a month. Like to drive fast?? You might want to consider changing that habit too. Driving 65 miles per hour vs 55 miles per hour uses 15% more gas. That’s like paying an extra $0.30 per gallon!

Budgeting doesn’t have to be hard, it’s about making smart choices and little changes really add up. Take some of my advice this Spring and see the savings for yourself!

*Employees of LPI Loans and our affiliates are not attorneys and LPI Loans DOES NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own attorney for legal advice.