It is absolutely amazing how much money people are willing to waste on a regular basis paying for others to do things that they can do themselves. Convenience and service are very expensive, adding to the cost of everything that you have someone do for you. The better the service, the more expensive it will be. If you want to keep more of your cash in your pocket, follow these common sense tips and begin doing more things yourself.
Do Your Own Laundry
One of the most expensive expenses that many people have is their laundry expenses, generally due to the amount of laundry they deposit at the local dry cleaners/laundry service. These businesses will wash, dry, and fold or hang any clothing item that is brought to them, regardless of whether the item needs special care or not. It is less expensive to invest in a washer and dryer for your home and do your own laundry on a regular basis. When shopping for new clothes, check the label for washing instructions before buying the item and if the label says ‘Dry Clean Only,’ seriously consider putting the item back on the rack.
Make Your Own Coffee
Another expensive habit that many people have is the purchasing of coffee shop coffee creations. These lattes and espressos are very tasty, but they are very expensive as well. The cost of purchasing one of these coffee creations can be as much as 10 times the cost of brewing yourself the same size cup of coffee at home. Grocery stores now carry a wide range of different flavored coffees and creamers so that you can create the coffee shop tastes that you love in the comfort of your own home. For a few more dollars, you can invest in a reusable travel mug to take your coffee on the go.
Cook Your Own Meals
Eating out raises the cost of a meal to triple or quadruple what you would have paid to buy the ingredients and cook the same meal at home. For example, a good steak dinner with a large baked potato and some steamed vegetables can cost $25 or more at a decent restaurant, but purchasing the same items at the grocery store may cost you less than $10. An added benefit of cooking your own meals is being able to make your food taste however you like, seasoning things to suit your taste. Purchase a couple of pans and a few cookbooks to get started and begin to explore your culinary desires.