It’s easy for little costs to add up. Whether it’s your overpriced phone bill or one too many bank fees, small monthly expenses can drain your bank account the most over time.
Luckily, there are ways to keep these costs from stealing your wealth. Here's how to sniff out sneaky expenses, regain control of your finances, and stop wasting money each month.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.
Paying too much for phone or internet
Cell phone and internet bills are a part of life, but you don’t need to overpay for those services.
Take a few minutes to find the internet and cell phone providers that offer the best deals. Once you find a better offer, call your current providers to see if they can match it.
Other money-saving moves include settling for lower-speed internet, bundling your phone and internet services, and reducing your usage.
Keeping subscriptions you don't use
If you’ve ever taken advantage of promotional offers for subscription services and then forgotten to cancel, you’re not alone. Companies often make promotional offers hoping you'll forget to cancel once the promotional period expires.
Now is the time to look over your monthly subscriptions and cancel the ones you don’t use. Even a saving of just $5 or $10 per month can add up over the course of a year.
Paying for phantom electricity charges
“Phantom electricity” sounds like something that belongs in a horror movie, and it’s definitely scary for your bank account.
This term describes the power consumed by electronic devices that aren't in use. Many appliances still use electricity while they’re plugged in.
In order to reduce your bill, create a routine by unplugging appliances and electronics until you need them.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Paying monthly bank fees
Few things sting more than fees from your bank. In fact, monthly fees might indicate it’s time to switch banks. Look for a bank or credit union that offers competitive interest rates, no ATM fees, and convenient locations.
If overdraft fees are draining your bank account, consider setting up text alerts that let you know when your account drops below a certain amount.
Once you get the alert, you’ll know it’s time to stop spending so that you can keep more money in your bank account.
Not maximizing your employer 401(k) match
A 401(k) employer match occurs when your company matches a percentage of your retirement contributions. But in order to earn the match, you have to contribute to the plan.
Details about how a match works vary from employer to employer, but it’s always some type of free money from your employer.
Because of that, it’s worth contributing the percentage your employer will match to maximize your savings and to get the added benefit of free money every month.
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Paying out-of-network ATM fees
Cash may have been king a few decades ago, but some places won’t even accept it these days. Because of that, it’s easy to carry very little cash in your wallet — and to find yourself in a pinch when you actually do need it.
In those situations, you might just use the closest ATM available. But if it is an ATM outside your bank’s network, you might owe a fee. And those costs add up.
To avoid paying fees, try to carry a small amount of cash so you have it on hand as needed. If that doesn’t work, switch to a bank that reimburses the fees you incur when you make withdrawals from ATMs out of their network.
Paying the minimum on your credit card
It’s tempting to pay the minimum on your credit card each month. However, credit cards usually have high interest rates, so paying down your balance quickly to crush your debts is in your best interest.
Even if you can’t pay your balance in full, try to pay more than the minimum each month. Every extra dollar helps.
Paying too much for gas
Planning ahead can help you save the next time you fill your car’s gas tank. Apps like as GasBuddy help you shop around for the best price before you hit the road.
You can also consider getting a membership to a warehouse club such as Sam’s Club or Costco. These retailers often sell fuel for less than what you'd pay at many local stations.
Sticking with cable TV
It might be fun to flip through channels, but the price tag for cable television definitely isn’t a source of joy.
Traditional cable television is expensive. Your cable package probably includes many channels you don’t watch, which makes the cost even worse.
Instead, consider whether a streaming service could replace your cable package. Make a list of the channels you actually watch and then find streaming packages that offer them.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Buying convenience foods
Life is hectic, and it’s often tempting to opt for convenience food at the grocery store.
If you find yourself regularly choosing pre-cut vegetables, prepared sandwiches, frozen meals, and other “grab-and-go” items, you might be falling into the trap of convenience food.
Always go to the store with a plan, compare prices, and consider whether or not prepared items are worth the extra cost.
Bottom line
It can take some extra work to get control of bad spending habits, but the little expenses really do add up. Consider how you’re spending money each month and make changes as needed.
The good news is that most of these fixes are one-time changes. Once you reform a bad spending habit, you'll be able to boost your bank account for months and years to come.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
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Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
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Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
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