Somehow we have gotten it into our heads that because we work hard, or maybe we have a lousy job, we "deserve" to eat lunch out, drink fancy coffee, or buy whatever whim catches our eye. Unfortunately, that's just not the case. The fact is, a barrista-whipped cup of latte costs about 100 times (yup, that's o-n-e h-u-n-d-r-e-d) more to buy than if you make your java at home. For most of us, at least, our incomes just can't handle that cost.
There are other things that people often believe they must have, cannot do without, or somehow deserve that are just as costly. But if you cut back on buying them, or give them up altogether, you can add a lot of coin to your pocket book pretty quickly. Here are a few of them-can you live without them?
Bottled water. It's like liquid gold. More expensive than gasoline, and costing up to $4 per gallon, people guzzle it like it's the cost of Kool-aid. Bottled water costs up to 1900 times more than the tap water you get at home, and uses 2000 times more energy to produce and distribute. So, do your pocket book-and the environment-a favor, and drink your water from the tap at home.
Remember the tune, "57 Channels [and nothin' is on]"? Cut back on the cable tv and you could save yourself hundreds (maybe thousands) every year. Cut out tv altogether (unh!) and you could bank about $600 every year-not including the cost of the television, the electricity to feed that baby, or the mounting bracket (that start at a cool $100). Can't stand it? Try doing without for just the summer-then reconnect in time for football season in the fall-you'll really appreciate the entertainment.
Are you a one-person-one-car family? Drop the second car and you could save up to $1000 every month. People used to car pool, and it's a great way to save big bucks. And an added bonus is that you can't run off to the mall or corner store to spend even more cash whenever you get the urge. Get really energetic, and start walking or cycling whenever you can. You'll get into great shape, and you might be surprised who else you meet walking or cycling around town.
Does your 12-year old have a cell phone? Now really. Okay, the ads say if your child doesn't have a cell phone, life as they know it may come to an end. But cells can cost $50 per month or more. The flip side is that a landline might not be the right choice, either. Sometimes, cell phones are a good choice-just not 5 of them-learn to share the cell phone with whoever needs it, call sparingly, and consider prepaids that are often much cheaper than monthly plans.
Entitlement thinking can cost a lot more than we have to spend. And sometimes, just going home, pulling out a homebrew, and sitting on the back deck doing nothing can be just as rewarding as a night out.
There are other things that people often believe they must have, cannot do without, or somehow deserve that are just as costly. But if you cut back on buying them, or give them up altogether, you can add a lot of coin to your pocket book pretty quickly. Here are a few of them-can you live without them?
Bottled water. It's like liquid gold. More expensive than gasoline, and costing up to $4 per gallon, people guzzle it like it's the cost of Kool-aid. Bottled water costs up to 1900 times more than the tap water you get at home, and uses 2000 times more energy to produce and distribute. So, do your pocket book-and the environment-a favor, and drink your water from the tap at home.
Remember the tune, "57 Channels [and nothin' is on]"? Cut back on the cable tv and you could save yourself hundreds (maybe thousands) every year. Cut out tv altogether (unh!) and you could bank about $600 every year-not including the cost of the television, the electricity to feed that baby, or the mounting bracket (that start at a cool $100). Can't stand it? Try doing without for just the summer-then reconnect in time for football season in the fall-you'll really appreciate the entertainment.
Are you a one-person-one-car family? Drop the second car and you could save up to $1000 every month. People used to car pool, and it's a great way to save big bucks. And an added bonus is that you can't run off to the mall or corner store to spend even more cash whenever you get the urge. Get really energetic, and start walking or cycling whenever you can. You'll get into great shape, and you might be surprised who else you meet walking or cycling around town.
Does your 12-year old have a cell phone? Now really. Okay, the ads say if your child doesn't have a cell phone, life as they know it may come to an end. But cells can cost $50 per month or more. The flip side is that a landline might not be the right choice, either. Sometimes, cell phones are a good choice-just not 5 of them-learn to share the cell phone with whoever needs it, call sparingly, and consider prepaids that are often much cheaper than monthly plans.
Entitlement thinking can cost a lot more than we have to spend. And sometimes, just going home, pulling out a homebrew, and sitting on the back deck doing nothing can be just as rewarding as a night out.