Cutting Expenses

I heard a radio host say something today about choosing your priorities. If you live pay check to pay check or if you’re trying to save money, cutting expenses is pretty much the only way to make ends meet.

It’s not always easy to do and there is no right or wrong way to do it, but it can be done and you’ll see the benefits of it in a short amount of time.

While that radio guy was talking about the possible tax hike on cigarettes here in our state, and whether or not you thought it was worth it to keep smoking, for some people the addiction probably means they’ll cut out other expenses in their life.

There are quite a few areas you can cut expenses and while some areas may work for you, you may also find areas that won’t work for you. Here are several options for you to consider when you want to cut expenses.

1. Eating Out

Eating out is expense when you compare it to buying items at the store and making them yourself. Whether you’re planning for a special occasion or planning a regular meal, you can cut expenses by purchasing food at the grocery store and making your meals at home. You could save hundreds of dollars a month using this method.

2. Going to the Movies

Going to the movies is enjoyable and fun, but it’s really expensive as well. You have the cost of the movie, popcorn, sodas, and snacks which all adds up very quickly. Before you know it you may have spent over $30 just for a couple of hours of entertainment. The solution to this problem is to rent DVD’s, rent movies from your cable or satellite provider, or use free programs like Hulu.

3. Internet and Phone Lines

We do a lot online these days and we talk a lot on the phone. If you’re paying for internet service, landline phone service, and cell phone service, you need to consider bundling things and eliminating what isn’t needed. For example, if you use your cell phone more than a land line phone, consider getting rid of your land line phone and solely using your cell phone. Depending on the type of cell phone plan you have, you should check into using the internet provided by them and eliminating your internet.

4. Television

There are several options to choose from when it comes to what you watch on your television. You can pay for cable or satellite TV, you can use a program like Netflix, you can use an antenna attached to the outside of your home or you can watch movies on DVD.

We plan on dropping cable, but keeping internet and then using Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime to watch TV shows and movies.

5. Vehicle

Showing off your vehicle and making others drool over it maybe a thrill, but it’s not about that when it comes to cutting expenses. You need to find a vehicle that’ll save you money on gas and won’t break down. It’s important to find a vehicle that will give you good gas mileage and more times than not that won’t be a sports car or SUV.

Cutting expenses is not easy to do, but if you find you must do it, these tips and others you may come up with will help you to save what you need to save. It’s hard to give up certain things and you may find at times you feel like you just can’t get it done, but if you push through you’ll find cutting expenses will be second nature to you and you’ll have the money you need when you need it.

Have I helped you see How To Cut Expenses at Home This Year?