Deepstash

Common Money Wasters

Single-Cup Brewing
It is more efficient to brew one cup at a time and you can choose from a great variety. However, it can be very costly. The excess packaging also causes environmental problems. Using regular ground coffee with a reusable filter in your single-cup brewer may be a little more work, but will save you money.
Top 5 Things That Are the Biggest Waste of Money
Microwave Popcorn
Popcorn is a great, healthy snack. Instead of buying popcorn in microwave bags, one can also pop corn at home for much less than the bagged kind.
Top 5 Things That Are the Biggest Waste of Money
Bottled Water
Bottled water drinkers give 3 main reasons for their choice: Taste: Many claim their tap water tastes bad, but a simple pitcher filter can probably fix it. Safety: Bottled water is not necessarily safer than public water sources. A high-end filter can remove impurities from tap water. Convenience . A decent filter and a reusable bottle or stainless-steel flask can replace bottled water.
Top 5 Things That Are the Biggest Waste of Money
Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets are not that expensive but can cause other problems and health risks. Some of the chemicals used to produce a fresh scent are toxic, while others are known allergens. Dryer sheets can also damage certain types of clothes. Reusable or DIY Dryer Balls can be used as an alternative.
Top 5 Things That Are the Biggest Waste of Money
Cable or Satellite TV
You don’t really need a cable or satellite connection to watch your favorite TV shows. Cheaper alternatives include streaming, downloads, library discs or network TV.
Top 5 Things That Are the Biggest Waste of Money
Other money-wasters
Consider other money-wasters, for instance, in-app purchases in games, bank and credit card fees, or a lottery ticket. Take a good look at every single expense in your budget and ask yourself if it is a good use of your money.
Top 5 Things That Are the Biggest Waste of Money
Measure your expenses
Take a hard look at how much you are spending day to day. Every time you spend money, write it down as it happens in a little notebook or log it into an app. Alternatively, use the envelope method. Make an envelope for each of your non-fixed expenses, like groceries, clothes, entertainment and budget a certain amount of money for each envelope. When an envelope is empty, you have no more money to spend until the following month.
It's About Time You Stop Wasting Money
Aiming to save pounds, not pennies
Get a cheaper living situation: Live in a smaller house that needs less stuff to fill it or get a roommate. The personal finance rule of thumb is to spend no more than one-third of your income on rent.
It's About Time You Stop Wasting Money
You Can Cook
If you can read, you can cook. If you can read and cook, you can use meal planning and prep to save time, money, and improve your health. Base your menu for the week on two things: what you already have in the house and what is on sale at your supermarket.
It's About Time You Stop Wasting Money
Buy quality
Poor people buy cheap clothes that have to be replaced much more often than the more expensive clothes rich people buy. In the end, poor people spend more money. Buy quality. Spend the most on the things you will wear the most. Take proper care of your things too, so they last longer.
It's About Time You Stop Wasting Money
Spending on things you don't use
Spending subconsciously through auto-charge can be a waste of money. For instance, a gym membership. Other things could be hot products you've heard rave reviews about or items you pick up on an impulse. Ask yourself exactly how you will use the item before you purchase it.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Invest in high-quality items
Buying low-cost, poor quality items might save you money short term, but you end up spending more if you have to keep replacing them. Do your research before purchasing an item of value.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Pressure purchase
Many people are motivated by guilt and peer pressure to spend their cash when they don't really want to. Save money by paying it forward instead of paying for something because you feel pressured to.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Spontaneous purchases
When you don't plan ahead, you end up having to buy out of convenience. For example, buying a more expensive lunch on the go. Keep some items you buy often on hand to avoid last-minute shopping trips.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Sale items
When you buy sale items without intention, you end up spending money you may not have spent at all. Consider whether or not you'd still buy the item if it were full price. Keep a wishlist so you can shop for the things you actually want once they're on sale.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Buying things you already have
Being disorganized can cause you to waste money on things you already own. Take an inventory of what you have — and keep a list of what you need.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Extra fees and penalties
Late payments that incur fees and penalties can be costly. Deal promptly with the payments you owe.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Interest
Incurring interest on loans can become an expense that costs you daily. Make paying off your debts a priority.
10 surprising ways you're wasting money every day
Convenience Stores
Convenience stores add a huge markup because they don't purchase food in large quantities. They make you pay more for the convenience they provide. Unless it's an emergency situation, avoid shopping at convenience stores.
Top 6 Mindless Money Wasters
Cell Phone Plans
Using a cell phone plan that does not suit your needs, or paying for extra services that you do not use can be costing you money each month. Compare and determine which plan provides the most value based on your needs. Get rid of the extra features like text messaging and mobile internet if you are not using them.
Top 6 Mindless Money Wasters
Soft Drinks at Restaurants
Soft drinks have one of the highest markups of any restaurant item and thus provide lower value for your money. Dine out, but consider to rather opt for water.
Top 6 Mindless Money Wasters
Unnecessary Bank Fees
If you don't know what fees your accounts are subject to, spend a few minutes finding out. Examine the rules governing your checking and savings accounts. Consider consolidating bank accounts to avoid unnecessary fees.
Top 6 Mindless Money Wasters
Magazines
If you like to pick up your favorite magazine from the local store, consider getting an annual subscription. The cost of a couple of issues at the newsstand is enough to cover the entire annual subscription.
Top 6 Mindless Money Wasters
Annual Credit Card Fees
Most people should not be paying annual credit card fees. A host of Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards have no annual fee, yet many people pay $100 or more a year for the privilege of holding a premium credit card.
Top 6 Mindless Money Wasters
Brand name products
You don’t have to spend money on the big brand names. Your local grocery or drug store might have a store brand or sell a generic version. In most cases, the ingredients are pretty much identical.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Basic car maintenance
You do not need a professional mechanic to sort out many of the simpler car problems. There are all sorts of easy and helpful instruction videos available to repair or maintain your car for cheap.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Shopping when you’re hungry
We are more susceptible to buying stuff we don’t need when we are hungry. The same goes for a leisurely grocery trip. Make your shopping trip when you have other errands to do and a limited time to do them. You will be less likely to spend time exploring and picking up items that you did not originally plan to purchase.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Buying a snack at the gas station
We don’t keep track of all the little snack purchases made on the go. Get in the habit of bringing plenty of liquids and a snack or two with you whenever you go do errands.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Expiration dates
An expiration date on a food item does not mean it can no longer be consumed. Dried goods, such as cereal, uncooked pasta and dried beans fall into this category. Raw meat or bread can be stored in the freezer for some time. You can also use online databases to look up the actual shelf-life of certain foods and compare them to what the label says.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Paying for cable
Most streaming services are cheaper than paying for cable or satellite TV and you don’t get stuck with all the extra channels you never watch yet still have to pay for.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Credit/debit cards
Credit or debit cards are convenient, but you don't see your shrinking bank balance with every purchase. If you use mobile banking or money management apps while using your card, and it’s working, keep doing your thing. Otherwise, you might want to consider withdrawing a fixed amount of cash for your spending.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
A drafty living space
If you pay heating and cooling bills, you might be paying more than you need to due to inadequate insulation. Effective insulation can be achieved.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Coupons
Don’t use coupons as an excuse to buy things you normally wouldn’t, even if they only involve small amounts of money. Stick to coupons for the things you already buy or that are absolutely necessary.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Clothing
Rather buy better quality clothes that have been gently used instead of cheap new clothing. Cheap clothes break and tear, and then you have to buy more. If you insist on buying clothing or shoes brand new, find the items you really want and keep an eye open for when they will be on sale.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Health and hygiene habits
Not washing your hands, alcohol and junk food habits, and just not taking proper care of yourself in general, will all come back to bite you. Weigh the potential medical bills against the temporary inconvenience of adjusting to new habits.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Energy drinks
If you have an energy drink habit due to poor sleep, think of the money your sleep habits are costing you as an extra motivator to change them. There are a number of health issues that could be causing you to feel drained. Visit your doctor to find out how to fix it.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Grocery trips
Make yourself stick to a grocery budget. Do not allow little trips to the store throughout the week because you ran out of one or two items. A routine of more than one grocery store trip per week indicates you’re not properly tracking your grocery consumption.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Buying different cleaning products
You generally don’t need to buy a specific and often pricey product for every different surface in your home. There are recipes for DIY all-purpose cleaners on the cheap side as well as homemade cleaning products for specific surfaces.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Pre-cut or individually-packed
Individually packaged food, in general, is more expensive than making something similar yourself. Buy foods whole and cut them yourself.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About
Disorganization
It can cost a lot of money to replace lost chargers and cables, expensive jewelry or losing keys and having to pay a locksmith to get into your house or car. Find motivation to declutter and get organized to prevent future incidents.
25 Unnecessary Wastes of Money You Don't Think About