![\"woman](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/woman-looking-at-grocery-shelf.jpg\")
Stop paying a premium for brand names when the generic version is just as good and, in some cases, even better. There are regulations in place regarding medication and food. That name-brand sugar was made the same way as the store-brand sugar. It might even have come from the exact same manufacturer. Medication is the same. My pharmacist often swaps out our medication for the generic version if that\u2019s what our insurance company will cover or is the more affordable option for anything out-of-pocket.<\/p>\n
2. Books<\/h2>\n![\"mother](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\")
Image Credit: SimpleFoto via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI was running errands last weekend and impulsively stopped at Barnes & Noble. As I was wandering around somewhat aimlessly, I realized I was there trying to find something to buy, just for the sake of buying something. My bookcase already had several books I picked up \u201cjust because\u201d and haven\u2019t read. Plus, I have a library card and my kids love reading, too. So I left the store empty-handed and took the whole family to the library the next day. The added bonus of seeing my kids sitting with a book instead of an iPad was the perfect finishing touch.<\/p>\n
3. Movies<\/h2>\nImage Credit: evgenyataman via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe days when people had shelves full of DVDs in their living rooms are long gone. Streaming services have made buying movies obsolete. We pay $8\/month for Disney+ and have Prime Video included with our Amazon Prime account. These two platforms have more than enough movies and TV shows to keep us all entertained \u2013 but there are dozens of free places to watch movies<\/a> online these days. My TV even comes with dozens of free channels now!<\/p>\n4. Cleaning Supplies<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Tsyhund via Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNo, my house isn\u2019t always dirty! We save money<\/a> by making our own cleaners, refilling our hand soaps, and buying products that last a long time. A 4L jug of vinegar is under $5, lasts for months, and cleans a lot better than a lot of those commercial products. I\u2019m also not worried about using it around my son or our dogs, who always have to watch what I\u2019m doing around the house.<\/p>\n5. Body Wash<\/h2>\nImage Credit: NewAfrica via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe don\u2019t buy body wash for several reasons. My daughter and I have sensitive skin, and the packaging is made of plastic, which we are trying to avoid. Instead, we buy soap made locally in our area once a year that has better ingredients, lasts a lot longer, has less waste, and costs $2 instead of $10 or more.<\/p>\n
6. Kitchen Gadgets<\/h2>\nImage Credit: VitalikRadko via Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMy countertops and cabinets are cluttered with kitchen gadgets that we\u2019ve used only a handful of times, like the toaster oven I bought and regretted almost right away. We already have a toaster, a microwave, an air fryer, and a full oven\u2014what could this toaster oven do that wasn\u2019t already covered by one of these other appliances? It\u2019s now become an expensive $115 bread box\/dust collector.<\/p>\n
7. Separate Meals<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Syda_Productions via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMy husband and I don\u2019t order delivery or takeout very often. When we do, though, we usually order two meals and split it up between us and our two young kids. \u00a0Depending on the restaurant, portions can be way too big. Nobody has to eat all of that food at once. So we spend less money and eat less.<\/p>\n
8. Fancy Drinks<\/h2>\nImage Credit: monkeybusiness and Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI really enjoy a fancy cup of coffee. But do I like how much it costs? NOPE! Making coffee at home is literally mentioned anytime the topic of saving money comes up. But several other drinks also aren\u2019t worth the price. A nice, cold, bubbly soda sounds good almost everywhere we go, but why spend $3 for one serving when I can buy 2L for $2? And why are you paying for bottled water? Or $15 for a smoothie? Yes, these are all delicious treats \u2013 so make them at home.<\/p>\n
9. Convenience Foods<\/h2>\nImage Credit: konradbak via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs a mom, I\u2019ve learned not to leave the house without food. Being \u201changry\u201d runs in the family! It just costs too much to buy snacks all the time. Instead, when we are going somewhere, I pack snacks and peanut butter sandwiches. The amount of stress it saves is more beneficial than the money \u2013 trust me.<\/p>\n
10. Bank Fees<\/h2>\nImage Credit: fotoevent.stock via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBank fees really bother me. When I was struggling financially, getting hit with $25 in bank fees for overdrawing my account was gut-wrenching and frustrating. I didn\u2019t have money, so you\u2019re charging me more money? How does that make sense?<\/p>\n
My finances are much better now, but those fees still irritate me. When I was first dating my now-husband and found out he was paying $19\/month just for having a checking account<\/a> with his bank, I immediately made him switch to one with no fees. That\u2019s $228 he didn\u2019t have to spend. And neither do you.<\/p>\n11. Too Much Insurance<\/h2>\nImage Credit: AllaSerebrina via Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen my second child was born, I was very fortunate to be able to work from home part-time rather than returning to the office. This reduced our childcare bill substantially, but it also reduced my car insurance, as I was no longer commuting for an hour every day. My rate went down by just over $30\/month or $360\/year. When my sister\u2019s job turned remote, her car insurance went down by $48\/month, saving her $576 each year.<\/p>\n
I know that insurance paperwork is dull and sometimes confusing, but spending a few hours reviewing things could save you hundreds.<\/p>\n
12. Extra Cell Phone Data<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Sepy via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOn that same note, what does your data plan look like compared to what you use? If you work from home, you\u2019re almost always connected to Wi-Fi, so do you really need ten gigs of data? I was barely using one gig, so I changed my plan and now only pay for what I use.<\/p>\n
13. Brand-New Clothes<\/h2>\nImage Credit: OKrasyuk via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nKids don\u2019t need brand-new clothes, and I\u2019ve learned that neither do I. I\u2019m not a trendsetter and have no desire to be one. By not following trends, we save money.<\/p>\n
When you buy used things, you save money and help the environment. Consignment sales and Facebook Marketplace have no doubt saved me thousands, and no one but me knows that our clothes didn\u2019t come from a store. But don\u2019t be like me and overdo it just because it\u2019s cheap. My two have more clothes than they need to get through elementary school.<\/p>\n
14. Brand-New Toys<\/h2>\nImage Credit: KuzinaNatali and Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWith birthdays and Christmas, we don\u2019t need to buy our kids toys. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have that area more than covered already. Our library also lends out toys and board games<\/a>, which I admittendlty forgot about. Borrowing toys and games means we can change them up every few weeks, which keeps my kids from getting bored of them.<\/p>\n15. Baby Gear<\/h2>\nImage Credit: t.tomsickova via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNow that our baby is a toddler, we don\u2019t need as much \u201cgear\u201d as we used to. And because he is our second, we already had a lot of baby clothes, accessories, and supplies that we used with his sister, so we didn\u2019t have to buy anything new. As he outgrows things, we are passing along these things to our friend\u2019s children, who can still get a lot of use out of them.<\/p>\n
16. Cheap Makeup<\/h2>\nImage Credit: veronicagomezpola via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCheap makeup is usually cheap for a reason. Because you have to use more of it to get the full effect, you use up the whole thing faster than you would with a better product. And the chemicals used can be really bad for you, too. That said, you don\u2019t need high-end expensive makeup, either. Store brands are the happy medium here. Or, if you don\u2019t wear a lot of make-up like me, I\u2019ll spend a little on my favorite mascara but buy everything else from Target.<\/p>\n
17. Jewelry<\/h2>\nImage Credit: EdZbarzhyvetsky and Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nUnless you frequent galas and formal events, you don\u2019t really need a lot of jewelry.\u00a0I\u2019d rather have a few pieces of high-quality jewelry that I actually wear than dozens of pieces that sit in a box on my dresser.<\/p>\n
18. Lottery Tickets<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Andrew282 via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDo you know anyone who\u2019s actually won the lottery? I don\u2019t mean winning a free ticket or $50, either. I\u2019m talking about life-changing amounts. My parent\u2019s next-door neighbor won $25,000 a few years ago, and they are the only lottery winners I know. Admittedly, I will turn to scratch tickets when I\u2019m looking for a quick gift idea for a coworker, but according to Jonathan Cohen<\/a>, author of For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America<\/em>, 1 in 8 Americans buys lottery tickets every week. Most of whom are lower-income. If you spend $10 a week playing the lottery, that\u2019s $520 you could have used for something else.<\/p>\n19. Home Decor<\/h2>\nImage Credit: jittawit.21 via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSpending money on home decor doesn\u2019t make much sense when you have kids or pets. So I\u2019ve stopped buying new home decor to save money. I instead use what I already have to decorate, which includes all my kid\u2019s arts and crafts projects.<\/p>\n
But even if you don\u2019t have kids who destroy your home, you don\u2019t need to spend a lot on home decor. Thrift stores are your best friend for knickknacks (especially if you give them a fresh coat of paint). Better yet, use nature to decorate with things like fresh flowers, pinecones, and seashells.<\/p>\n
20. Lightbulbs<\/h2>\nImage Credit: NewAfrica via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen we moved into our new house, we slowly switched to LED bulbs. There was the initial cost to buy the LED bulbs, but we have saved money by using them. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs and use less energy.<\/p>\n
21. Cheap Toilet Paper or Paper Towel<\/h2>\nImage Credit: sonerbakir via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOnce, I made the mistake of buying cheap toilet paper. We went through that 12-pack so fast because the sheets were too thin, and the rolls didn\u2019t have much on them to start. So I sat down one day and did the \u201ctoilet paper math<\/a>\u201d to figure out once and for all which was the best way to go. Then I did the same for paper towels. I no longer stand in the aisle for far too long trying to divide X amount of sheets by X amount of rolls. I know what the best deal is and stock up even more when it\u2019s on sale.<\/p>\n22. Candles and Air Fresheners<\/h2>\nImage Credit: serezniy via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen you burn candles and spray air fresheners, chemicals enter the air, which you breathe in. Clearly, that\u2019s not good for your lungs, so we stopped buying them. It\u2019s also a fire hazard I\u2019d rather avoid. I use baking soda or vinegar to absorb bad smells, open my windows as much as I can, and simmer cinnamon sticks or rosemary instead. It smells so good!<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Throw Your Money Away<\/h2>\nImage Credit: AntonMatyukha via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOnce you cut these 22 items out of your budget, you won\u2019t miss them. Instead, you\u2019ll have more money to spend on your needs and whatever is important to you, and less clutter around the house, too. So what have you cut out of the budget that has saved you money?<\/p>\n
Save More at Walmart<\/h2>\nImage Credit: nd3000 via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
![\"mother](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mother-and-son-looking-at-books-in-library.jpg\")
I was running errands last weekend and impulsively stopped at Barnes & Noble. As I was wandering around somewhat aimlessly, I realized I was there trying to find something to buy, just for the sake of buying something. My bookcase already had several books I picked up \u201cjust because\u201d and haven\u2019t read. Plus, I have a library card and my kids love reading, too. So I left the store empty-handed and took the whole family to the library the next day. The added bonus of seeing my kids sitting with a book instead of an iPad was the perfect finishing touch.<\/p>\n
3. Movies<\/h2>\nImage Credit: evgenyataman via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe days when people had shelves full of DVDs in their living rooms are long gone. Streaming services have made buying movies obsolete. We pay $8\/month for Disney+ and have Prime Video included with our Amazon Prime account. These two platforms have more than enough movies and TV shows to keep us all entertained \u2013 but there are dozens of free places to watch movies<\/a> online these days. My TV even comes with dozens of free channels now!<\/p>\n4. Cleaning Supplies<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Tsyhund via Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNo, my house isn\u2019t always dirty! We save money<\/a> by making our own cleaners, refilling our hand soaps, and buying products that last a long time. A 4L jug of vinegar is under $5, lasts for months, and cleans a lot better than a lot of those commercial products. I\u2019m also not worried about using it around my son or our dogs, who always have to watch what I\u2019m doing around the house.<\/p>\n5. Body Wash<\/h2>\nImage Credit: NewAfrica via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe don\u2019t buy body wash for several reasons. My daughter and I have sensitive skin, and the packaging is made of plastic, which we are trying to avoid. Instead, we buy soap made locally in our area once a year that has better ingredients, lasts a lot longer, has less waste, and costs $2 instead of $10 or more.<\/p>\n
6. Kitchen Gadgets<\/h2>\nImage Credit: VitalikRadko via Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMy countertops and cabinets are cluttered with kitchen gadgets that we\u2019ve used only a handful of times, like the toaster oven I bought and regretted almost right away. We already have a toaster, a microwave, an air fryer, and a full oven\u2014what could this toaster oven do that wasn\u2019t already covered by one of these other appliances? It\u2019s now become an expensive $115 bread box\/dust collector.<\/p>\n
7. Separate Meals<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Syda_Productions via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMy husband and I don\u2019t order delivery or takeout very often. When we do, though, we usually order two meals and split it up between us and our two young kids. \u00a0Depending on the restaurant, portions can be way too big. Nobody has to eat all of that food at once. So we spend less money and eat less.<\/p>\n
8. Fancy Drinks<\/h2>\nImage Credit: monkeybusiness and Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI really enjoy a fancy cup of coffee. But do I like how much it costs? NOPE! Making coffee at home is literally mentioned anytime the topic of saving money comes up. But several other drinks also aren\u2019t worth the price. A nice, cold, bubbly soda sounds good almost everywhere we go, but why spend $3 for one serving when I can buy 2L for $2? And why are you paying for bottled water? Or $15 for a smoothie? Yes, these are all delicious treats \u2013 so make them at home.<\/p>\n
9. Convenience Foods<\/h2>\nImage Credit: konradbak via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs a mom, I\u2019ve learned not to leave the house without food. Being \u201changry\u201d runs in the family! It just costs too much to buy snacks all the time. Instead, when we are going somewhere, I pack snacks and peanut butter sandwiches. The amount of stress it saves is more beneficial than the money \u2013 trust me.<\/p>\n
10. Bank Fees<\/h2>\nImage Credit: fotoevent.stock via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBank fees really bother me. When I was struggling financially, getting hit with $25 in bank fees for overdrawing my account was gut-wrenching and frustrating. I didn\u2019t have money, so you\u2019re charging me more money? How does that make sense?<\/p>\n
My finances are much better now, but those fees still irritate me. When I was first dating my now-husband and found out he was paying $19\/month just for having a checking account<\/a> with his bank, I immediately made him switch to one with no fees. That\u2019s $228 he didn\u2019t have to spend. And neither do you.<\/p>\n11. Too Much Insurance<\/h2>\nImage Credit: AllaSerebrina via Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen my second child was born, I was very fortunate to be able to work from home part-time rather than returning to the office. This reduced our childcare bill substantially, but it also reduced my car insurance, as I was no longer commuting for an hour every day. My rate went down by just over $30\/month or $360\/year. When my sister\u2019s job turned remote, her car insurance went down by $48\/month, saving her $576 each year.<\/p>\n
I know that insurance paperwork is dull and sometimes confusing, but spending a few hours reviewing things could save you hundreds.<\/p>\n
12. Extra Cell Phone Data<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Sepy via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOn that same note, what does your data plan look like compared to what you use? If you work from home, you\u2019re almost always connected to Wi-Fi, so do you really need ten gigs of data? I was barely using one gig, so I changed my plan and now only pay for what I use.<\/p>\n
13. Brand-New Clothes<\/h2>\nImage Credit: OKrasyuk via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nKids don\u2019t need brand-new clothes, and I\u2019ve learned that neither do I. I\u2019m not a trendsetter and have no desire to be one. By not following trends, we save money.<\/p>\n
When you buy used things, you save money and help the environment. Consignment sales and Facebook Marketplace have no doubt saved me thousands, and no one but me knows that our clothes didn\u2019t come from a store. But don\u2019t be like me and overdo it just because it\u2019s cheap. My two have more clothes than they need to get through elementary school.<\/p>\n
14. Brand-New Toys<\/h2>\nImage Credit: KuzinaNatali and Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWith birthdays and Christmas, we don\u2019t need to buy our kids toys. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have that area more than covered already. Our library also lends out toys and board games<\/a>, which I admittendlty forgot about. Borrowing toys and games means we can change them up every few weeks, which keeps my kids from getting bored of them.<\/p>\n15. Baby Gear<\/h2>\nImage Credit: t.tomsickova via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNow that our baby is a toddler, we don\u2019t need as much \u201cgear\u201d as we used to. And because he is our second, we already had a lot of baby clothes, accessories, and supplies that we used with his sister, so we didn\u2019t have to buy anything new. As he outgrows things, we are passing along these things to our friend\u2019s children, who can still get a lot of use out of them.<\/p>\n
16. Cheap Makeup<\/h2>\nImage Credit: veronicagomezpola via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCheap makeup is usually cheap for a reason. Because you have to use more of it to get the full effect, you use up the whole thing faster than you would with a better product. And the chemicals used can be really bad for you, too. That said, you don\u2019t need high-end expensive makeup, either. Store brands are the happy medium here. Or, if you don\u2019t wear a lot of make-up like me, I\u2019ll spend a little on my favorite mascara but buy everything else from Target.<\/p>\n
17. Jewelry<\/h2>\nImage Credit: EdZbarzhyvetsky and Depositphotos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nUnless you frequent galas and formal events, you don\u2019t really need a lot of jewelry.\u00a0I\u2019d rather have a few pieces of high-quality jewelry that I actually wear than dozens of pieces that sit in a box on my dresser.<\/p>\n
18. Lottery Tickets<\/h2>\nImage Credit: Andrew282 via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDo you know anyone who\u2019s actually won the lottery? I don\u2019t mean winning a free ticket or $50, either. I\u2019m talking about life-changing amounts. My parent\u2019s next-door neighbor won $25,000 a few years ago, and they are the only lottery winners I know. Admittedly, I will turn to scratch tickets when I\u2019m looking for a quick gift idea for a coworker, but according to Jonathan Cohen<\/a>, author of For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America<\/em>, 1 in 8 Americans buys lottery tickets every week. Most of whom are lower-income. If you spend $10 a week playing the lottery, that\u2019s $520 you could have used for something else.<\/p>\n19. Home Decor<\/h2>\nImage Credit: jittawit.21 via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSpending money on home decor doesn\u2019t make much sense when you have kids or pets. So I\u2019ve stopped buying new home decor to save money. I instead use what I already have to decorate, which includes all my kid\u2019s arts and crafts projects.<\/p>\n
But even if you don\u2019t have kids who destroy your home, you don\u2019t need to spend a lot on home decor. Thrift stores are your best friend for knickknacks (especially if you give them a fresh coat of paint). Better yet, use nature to decorate with things like fresh flowers, pinecones, and seashells.<\/p>\n
20. Lightbulbs<\/h2>\nImage Credit: NewAfrica via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen we moved into our new house, we slowly switched to LED bulbs. There was the initial cost to buy the LED bulbs, but we have saved money by using them. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs and use less energy.<\/p>\n
21. Cheap Toilet Paper or Paper Towel<\/h2>\nImage Credit: sonerbakir via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOnce, I made the mistake of buying cheap toilet paper. We went through that 12-pack so fast because the sheets were too thin, and the rolls didn\u2019t have much on them to start. So I sat down one day and did the \u201ctoilet paper math<\/a>\u201d to figure out once and for all which was the best way to go. Then I did the same for paper towels. I no longer stand in the aisle for far too long trying to divide X amount of sheets by X amount of rolls. I know what the best deal is and stock up even more when it\u2019s on sale.<\/p>\n22. Candles and Air Fresheners<\/h2>\nImage Credit: serezniy via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhen you burn candles and spray air fresheners, chemicals enter the air, which you breathe in. Clearly, that\u2019s not good for your lungs, so we stopped buying them. It\u2019s also a fire hazard I\u2019d rather avoid. I use baking soda or vinegar to absorb bad smells, open my windows as much as I can, and simmer cinnamon sticks or rosemary instead. It smells so good!<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t Throw Your Money Away<\/h2>\nImage Credit: AntonMatyukha via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOnce you cut these 22 items out of your budget, you won\u2019t miss them. Instead, you\u2019ll have more money to spend on your needs and whatever is important to you, and less clutter around the house, too. So what have you cut out of the budget that has saved you money?<\/p>\n
Save More at Walmart<\/h2>\nImage Credit: nd3000 via Depositphotos.com.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
![\"laughing](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/laughing-family-watching-movie.jpg\")
The days when people had shelves full of DVDs in their living rooms are long gone. Streaming services have made buying movies obsolete. We pay $8\/month for Disney+ and have Prime Video included with our Amazon Prime account. These two platforms have more than enough movies and TV shows to keep us all entertained \u2013 but there are dozens of free places to watch movies<\/a> online these days. My TV even comes with dozens of free channels now!<\/p>\n No, my house isn\u2019t always dirty! We save money<\/a> by making our own cleaners, refilling our hand soaps, and buying products that last a long time. A 4L jug of vinegar is under $5, lasts for months, and cleans a lot better than a lot of those commercial products. I\u2019m also not worried about using it around my son or our dogs, who always have to watch what I\u2019m doing around the house.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t buy body wash for several reasons. My daughter and I have sensitive skin, and the packaging is made of plastic, which we are trying to avoid. Instead, we buy soap made locally in our area once a year that has better ingredients, lasts a lot longer, has less waste, and costs $2 instead of $10 or more.<\/p>\n My countertops and cabinets are cluttered with kitchen gadgets that we\u2019ve used only a handful of times, like the toaster oven I bought and regretted almost right away. We already have a toaster, a microwave, an air fryer, and a full oven\u2014what could this toaster oven do that wasn\u2019t already covered by one of these other appliances? It\u2019s now become an expensive $115 bread box\/dust collector.<\/p>\n My husband and I don\u2019t order delivery or takeout very often. When we do, though, we usually order two meals and split it up between us and our two young kids. \u00a0Depending on the restaurant, portions can be way too big. Nobody has to eat all of that food at once. So we spend less money and eat less.<\/p>\n I really enjoy a fancy cup of coffee. But do I like how much it costs? NOPE! Making coffee at home is literally mentioned anytime the topic of saving money comes up. But several other drinks also aren\u2019t worth the price. A nice, cold, bubbly soda sounds good almost everywhere we go, but why spend $3 for one serving when I can buy 2L for $2? And why are you paying for bottled water? Or $15 for a smoothie? Yes, these are all delicious treats \u2013 so make them at home.<\/p>\n As a mom, I\u2019ve learned not to leave the house without food. Being \u201changry\u201d runs in the family! It just costs too much to buy snacks all the time. Instead, when we are going somewhere, I pack snacks and peanut butter sandwiches. The amount of stress it saves is more beneficial than the money \u2013 trust me.<\/p>\n Bank fees really bother me. When I was struggling financially, getting hit with $25 in bank fees for overdrawing my account was gut-wrenching and frustrating. I didn\u2019t have money, so you\u2019re charging me more money? How does that make sense?<\/p>\n My finances are much better now, but those fees still irritate me. When I was first dating my now-husband and found out he was paying $19\/month just for having a checking account<\/a> with his bank, I immediately made him switch to one with no fees. That\u2019s $228 he didn\u2019t have to spend. And neither do you.<\/p>\n When my second child was born, I was very fortunate to be able to work from home part-time rather than returning to the office. This reduced our childcare bill substantially, but it also reduced my car insurance, as I was no longer commuting for an hour every day. My rate went down by just over $30\/month or $360\/year. When my sister\u2019s job turned remote, her car insurance went down by $48\/month, saving her $576 each year.<\/p>\n I know that insurance paperwork is dull and sometimes confusing, but spending a few hours reviewing things could save you hundreds.<\/p>\n On that same note, what does your data plan look like compared to what you use? If you work from home, you\u2019re almost always connected to Wi-Fi, so do you really need ten gigs of data? I was barely using one gig, so I changed my plan and now only pay for what I use.<\/p>\n Kids don\u2019t need brand-new clothes, and I\u2019ve learned that neither do I. I\u2019m not a trendsetter and have no desire to be one. By not following trends, we save money.<\/p>\n When you buy used things, you save money and help the environment. Consignment sales and Facebook Marketplace have no doubt saved me thousands, and no one but me knows that our clothes didn\u2019t come from a store. But don\u2019t be like me and overdo it just because it\u2019s cheap. My two have more clothes than they need to get through elementary school.<\/p>\n With birthdays and Christmas, we don\u2019t need to buy our kids toys. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have that area more than covered already. Our library also lends out toys and board games<\/a>, which I admittendlty forgot about. Borrowing toys and games means we can change them up every few weeks, which keeps my kids from getting bored of them.<\/p>\n Now that our baby is a toddler, we don\u2019t need as much \u201cgear\u201d as we used to. And because he is our second, we already had a lot of baby clothes, accessories, and supplies that we used with his sister, so we didn\u2019t have to buy anything new. As he outgrows things, we are passing along these things to our friend\u2019s children, who can still get a lot of use out of them.<\/p>\n Cheap makeup is usually cheap for a reason. Because you have to use more of it to get the full effect, you use up the whole thing faster than you would with a better product. And the chemicals used can be really bad for you, too. That said, you don\u2019t need high-end expensive makeup, either. Store brands are the happy medium here. Or, if you don\u2019t wear a lot of make-up like me, I\u2019ll spend a little on my favorite mascara but buy everything else from Target.<\/p>\n Unless you frequent galas and formal events, you don\u2019t really need a lot of jewelry.\u00a0I\u2019d rather have a few pieces of high-quality jewelry that I actually wear than dozens of pieces that sit in a box on my dresser.<\/p>\n Do you know anyone who\u2019s actually won the lottery? I don\u2019t mean winning a free ticket or $50, either. I\u2019m talking about life-changing amounts. My parent\u2019s next-door neighbor won $25,000 a few years ago, and they are the only lottery winners I know. Admittedly, I will turn to scratch tickets when I\u2019m looking for a quick gift idea for a coworker, but according to Jonathan Cohen<\/a>, author of For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America<\/em>, 1 in 8 Americans buys lottery tickets every week. Most of whom are lower-income. If you spend $10 a week playing the lottery, that\u2019s $520 you could have used for something else.<\/p>\n Spending money on home decor doesn\u2019t make much sense when you have kids or pets. So I\u2019ve stopped buying new home decor to save money. I instead use what I already have to decorate, which includes all my kid\u2019s arts and crafts projects.<\/p>\n But even if you don\u2019t have kids who destroy your home, you don\u2019t need to spend a lot on home decor. Thrift stores are your best friend for knickknacks (especially if you give them a fresh coat of paint). Better yet, use nature to decorate with things like fresh flowers, pinecones, and seashells.<\/p>\n When we moved into our new house, we slowly switched to LED bulbs. There was the initial cost to buy the LED bulbs, but we have saved money by using them. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs and use less energy.<\/p>\n Once, I made the mistake of buying cheap toilet paper. We went through that 12-pack so fast because the sheets were too thin, and the rolls didn\u2019t have much on them to start. So I sat down one day and did the \u201ctoilet paper math<\/a>\u201d to figure out once and for all which was the best way to go. Then I did the same for paper towels. I no longer stand in the aisle for far too long trying to divide X amount of sheets by X amount of rolls. I know what the best deal is and stock up even more when it\u2019s on sale.<\/p>\n When you burn candles and spray air fresheners, chemicals enter the air, which you breathe in. Clearly, that\u2019s not good for your lungs, so we stopped buying them. It\u2019s also a fire hazard I\u2019d rather avoid. I use baking soda or vinegar to absorb bad smells, open my windows as much as I can, and simmer cinnamon sticks or rosemary instead. It smells so good!<\/p>\n Once you cut these 22 items out of your budget, you won\u2019t miss them. Instead, you\u2019ll have more money to spend on your needs and whatever is important to you, and less clutter around the house, too. So what have you cut out of the budget that has saved you money?<\/p>\n4. Cleaning Supplies<\/h2>\n
![\"Young](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Young-happy-couple-is-having-fun-while-doing-cleaning-at-home.jpg\")
5. Body Wash<\/h2>\n
![\"teen](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/teen-girl-washing-her-face-in-the-sink.jpg\")
6. Kitchen Gadgets<\/h2>\n
![\"father](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/father-and-son-cooking-eggs-for-breakfast.jpg\")
7. Separate Meals<\/h2>\n
![\"couple](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/couple-eating-take-out-food-at-home.jpg\")
8. Fancy Drinks<\/h2>\n
![\"couple](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/couple-eating-baking-with-coffee.jpg\")
9. Convenience Foods<\/h2>\n
![\"friends](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/friends-at-mall-food-court.jpg\")
10. Bank Fees<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/woman-at-ATM-with-bank-card.jpg\")
11. Too Much Insurance<\/h2>\n
![\"young](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/young-couple-planning-with-notebook-and-laptop.jpg\")
12. Extra Cell Phone Data<\/h2>\n
![\"happy](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/happy-woman-working-from-home-on-the-phone-Sepy.jpg\")
13. Brand-New Clothes<\/h2>\n
![\"young](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/young-woman-donating-clothes.jpg\")
14. Brand-New Toys<\/h2>\n
![\"little](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/kids-board-game.jpg\")
15. Baby Gear<\/h2>\n
![\"baby](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/baby-boy-playing-with-toys.jpg\")
16. Cheap Makeup<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/woman-putting-on-makeup.jpg\")
17. Jewelry<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/woman-making-jewelry.jpg\")
18. Lottery Tickets<\/h2>\n
![\"tearing](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/tearing-a-losing-lottery-ticket.jpg\")
19. Home Decor<\/h2>\n
![\"family](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/family-playing-together-in-living-room.jpg\")
20. Lightbulbs<\/h2>\n
![\"man](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-changing-light-bulb.jpg\")
21. Cheap Toilet Paper or Paper Towel<\/h2>\n
![\"man](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/man-grocery-shopping.jpg\")
22. Candles and Air Fresheners<\/h2>\n
![\"home](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/home-decor-candles.jpg\")
Don\u2019t Throw Your Money Away<\/h2>\n
![\"taking](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/taking-money-out-of-a-wallet.jpg\")
Save More at Walmart<\/h2>\n
![\"woman](\"http:\/\/sittingapps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/woman-shopping-in-supermarket-with-list-nd3000-.jpg\")