{"id":29955,"date":"2022-05-26T11:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-05-26T15:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.eztaxreturn.com\/?p=29091"},"modified":"2023-05-23T20:28:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T01:28:39","slug":"5-ways-youre-wasting-money-and-how-to-stop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.eztaxreturn.com\/blog\/5-ways-youre-wasting-money-and-how-to-stop\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways You\u2019re Wasting Money and How to Stop"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

No one has flawless spending<\/a> habits.  As much as we\u2019d like to think we have our finances<\/a> under control, even the most budget<\/a>-conscious person overspends sometimes. Here are some ways you may be wasting money and how to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forgetting to cancel a free trial<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Free trials are a great way to try out a product or service before actually paying for it.  The problem is most people forget to cancel before the trial period ends and wind up getting charged.  Anytime you sign up for a free trial, set a reminder in your phone to cancel your subscription a few days before the deadline<\/a>.  If you\u2019re currently paying for any subscriptions or services you don\u2019t use, cancel them immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paying for convenience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Being able to order whatever you want, and have it delivered to your door makes life so much easier.\u00a0 But convenience comes at a cost.\u00a0 When you order food through your favorite delivery app<\/a>, the prices are usually higher than in-store.\u00a0 Plus, you\u2019ll need to pay a service fee, driver fee, small order fee if you don\u2019t meet the minimum requirement, taxes and don\u2019t forget the tip.\u00a0 Before you know it, you\u2019re paying a whole lot more than you anticipated.\u00a0 An easy way to stop wasting money is to order directly from the restaurant and pick up the order yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choosing brand name over generic products<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some people are loyal to certain brands<\/a> because it\u2019s what they grew up using.  Switching to generic<\/a> versions of certain products can get you the same quality at a cheaper price.  The key is knowing what\u2019s worth buying and what to skip.  Save money by purchasing generic cleaning products, medicine, baking supplies, seasonings, cereal, milk, trash bags and paper products.  Skip food items like peanut butter, coffee, ice cream and cheese because they tend to either have more additives or don\u2019t taste as good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying sale items you don\u2019t need<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just because your favorite store is advertising a BOGO<\/a> sale doesn\u2019t mean you have to buy anything.\u00a0 A sale is only a good deal if it\u2019s an item you actually need and plan to use.\u00a0 Otherwise, you\u2019re wasting money.\u00a0 The next time you get the urge to splurge, go to your closet and take inventory of what you own.\u00a0 You may be surprised by the amount of stuff you have and don\u2019t wear.\u00a0 If that\u2019s the case, declutter what you don\u2019t need.\u00a0 Then go to your email and unsubscribe from all the stores that tempt you to spend your hard earned cash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letting good food go to waste<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the USDA<\/a>, the average family of four wastes $1,500 a year by throwing out food.  Reducing food waste can save you money and help the environment.  Here are some ways to do your part:<\/p>\n\n\n\n