I’m trying really hard to figure out how to lower my expenses. As I’ve explained before when sharing my budget with you, I typically tend to look at how to reduce my big expenses. For example, I spend a fortune on food, which I have been cutting back on. However, there are smaller treats that I could cut back to save here and there.
5 Treats I Should Cut Back On To Save Money
If I truly want to live a frugal lifestyle, then there are some regular treats that I could cut back on. These would allow me to save small but significant bits of money:
1. Wine and Cocktails
I’ve actually been cutting back on drinking since the start of the year. It had become such a habit to always have a drink or a cocktail with dinner. I’m lucky not to have a medical problem with alcohol consumption. However, I do feel better when I drink less. And it’s definitely WAY better for my budget. I’ve still purchased some, though, so I could certainly cut back further here.
2. Streaming Television Services
I did cut back on this to a certain degree. I had quite a few streaming services in the past. In recent months I’ve canceled several of those. However, I re-purchased one of the more expensive ones (Philo). Whenever I struggle in life, I tune out to TV. It was an impulse purchase. So, canceling that again, along with my other streaming services, would be a great way to save steadily over time.
3. Craft Supplies
Art and crafts are a part of how I earn my living. Therefore it’s really easy to justify continued purchases in this category. However, I have plenty of all of the supplies that I need for the time being. I can easily continue to make the work that I want to make without buying more supplies for at least a few months. Therefore, I should pause this area. Then I should re-assess more realistic spending when it’s time to begin buying supplies again.
4. Gifts for Others
Buying gifts for others is a treat for me. I love getting something to surprise someone at a random time. Most recently, I bought a flower wreath to send to my sister after we both went through a hard time. While that’s certainly not something that I regret, it’s an area that I can cut back on if I want to save some money. After all, I can handmade gifts for significantly cheaper and they are just as special if not more so.
5. Travel Costs
I have several trips coming up. They were not cheap. And I have to be honest, I’m probably not going to cut back in this area at this immediate time. However, I have to put those trips on credit cards. Therefore, if I’m serious about living a frugal life, or at least living within my means, I need to look carefully at this decision.
Where could you cut back to live more frugally?
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Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.