5 Things You Can Learn to Live Without to Save Money
Saving money is about much more than identifying ways to get discounts or to spend less on an item or service. To truly create a frugal lifestyle, you have to find ways to reduce your consumption overall. The best way to do this is to identify the items and the services that you spend money on but that you can afford to live without.
Paring down your lifestyle will help you to save money and to focus on what’s important in your life, helping you to feel happier and healthier. There are many possible things for you to cut, but here are the 5 most common things that you can learn to live without in order to save money:
Cable
Sure it’s nice to mindlessly flip through 150 channels at the end of the day so you can tune in and drop out. However, you’re likely to spend more than $100 a month on that privilege –something you can easily live without. You can tune into all your favorite shows and movies by getting a subscription to Netflix or Hulu, and it will cost you far less than a monthly cable subscription.
Expensive Phone Plans
Do you really need that iPhone? Do you really need to be able to check your e-mail 24 hours a day, no matter where you are? Instead of spending more than $100 a month on an expensive phone plan with data and other features, you can buy a simple flip phone (remember those?) with a basic phone plan that costs $30 a month. You can save even more by purchasing a pay-as-you-go phone and limiting your mindless chatter.
Subscriptions
Maybe you felt bad when that door-to-door salesman came a’ knockin’ and gave you his tale of woe. Or maybe you just got carried away when you made your New Year’s resolutions and signed up for a bunch of new cooking and fitness magazines. Whatever the reason, you probably don’t need all the magazine subscriptions you have. You can get most of the information on the magazine’s website directly or through other free blogs and websites. That’s an instant savings!
Lawn Care
Mowing the lawn might be tiring and sweaty work, but doing it yourself can save you a lot of money. Hiring someone else to come by is a luxury that will cost you at least $50 a month, if not more with edging, weeding and other services. If you don’t want to mow your yard yourself — or you can’t — get your children to it, or hire one of the neighborhood kids for $10.
Manicures and Pedicures
Getting a manicure or pedicure is a nice way to relax and to tend to your personal hygiene. However, it’s an unnecessary expense and one that you can cut by simply doing them yourself. If you want to recreate the spa-like environment at home, as your husband to help you out, or invite over a friend and do each other’s nails.
There are many, many other ways you can save money by cutting out the services and the purchases that you may enjoy but don’t really need. You don’t have to feel deprived of pleasure, however. You can simply find alternatives that are not as expensive, such as an online service for movies and magazines, a lower phone bill, or doing it yourself.
What other things have you found you are able to live without in order to save money? Share your tips in the comments!
About the Author:
Alexis Bonari writes for one of the largest open databases of college funding opportunities. Specific topics like grants for student nurses are described in detail to provide multiple resources for students.
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Category: Saving Money
