Many of us spend more than we need to because we have become trapped in routines that cost s money. Simple actions such as buying your lunch at a fast food restaurant instead of packing one or using an out of network ATM have the ability to cost you hundreds of dollars in additional costs each year. By simply changing the routines that are costing you the most, you will have more of your income available to pay bills and to use for other needs. Here are some costly habits that are fairly easy to change in a short amount of time.
Buy All Of Your Food At The Grocery Store
Grocery stores and stores that sell grocery items in bulk are often the best deal available on food. The prices that you pay for items per unit at the grocery store is lower than at any other type of food retailer, including fast food restaurants, vending machines, and convenience stores. Many grocery stores sell items that can be purchased hot or that can be cooked in a matter of minutes, so time is no longer an excuse for picking up takeout on the way home. Eat breakfast in the morning before you leave, take a lunch with you, store portable snacks in your bag or desk, and make dinner when you get home. Buying all of your food at the grocery store could cut many people’s food expenses by 50%. To cut down on the amount of time that you spend cooking, make double when you do cook and freeze the rest for another meal in the future.
Read A Book Before Bed
As the day is winding down, many of us want to relax and we often turn to energy consuming devices, like televisions, computers, and gaming systems, to help us accomplish this. To reduce the amount of energy you are using each month, turn off all of the lights and electronics in the house a couple of hours before bedtime except the one that you need to read a book in a comfortable chair or in bed. You will save energy, stimulate your mind by reading something in print, and relax yourself so that you will have a good night’s sleep.
Open Your Windows When Home
Another habit that you should get into is opening the windows of your house when you are home, especially during mild months of the year. Turning off the indoor climate control system and refreshing the air in your home with air from outside has many physical and financial benefits, including saving money on energy costs and reducing the amount of pollutants inside your home. The only time that you should be using your home’s climate control is during the evenings and night in the wintertime and during the hottest days in the summer.