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Here Are Some Ways You May Be Wasting Your Money

Posted: Mar 2, 2011 7:52 PM
Updated: Mar 3, 2011 11:51 PM

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An article on Kiplinger.com points out 25 Ways To Waste Your Money. We all can probably find a few things on this list to save us a little money. Here are a few of the suggestions they give.

  • Carrying a balance on credit cards. Interest adds up!
  • Keeping unhealthy habits. Smoking costs a lot more than just what you pay for a pack of cigarettes. There is now a 10% tax on indoor tanning services. As with cigarettes, the true cost of tanning -- which the World Health Organization lists among the worst-known carcinogens -- is higher than just the price you pay each time you go to the salon.
  • Using a cell phone with all the bells and whistles. Do you really NEED the internet on your phone?
  • Buying brand-name instead of generic. This is especially true for moms, especially when it comes to diapers, wipes and baby food.
  • Buying beverages one at a time. If you tend to buy bottled water everyday, buy in bulk and keep extras in the car. Skip the morning Starbuck's run and brew it yourself at home.
  • Paying late fees and missing deadlines. Return those library books and movie rentals on time.
  • Paying ATM fees. Consider switching to a bank, such as Ally Bank, that doesn't charge ATM fees and reimburses you for fees other banks charge. Another way to avoid fees if there's not an ATM in your bank's network nearby is to get cash back when you make a purchase at the grocery store or drugstore.
  • Shopping at the grocery store without a calculator. Check how much an item costs per ounce, pound or other unit of measurement. When you comparison-shop by unit price, you save. For example, if a pack of 40 diapers costs $13, that's 33 cents per diaper. But if you buy a box of 144 diapers for $35, that's 24 cents per diaper. You save 27%! (Of course, buying more of something only saves money if you use it all. If you end up throwing much out, you wasted money.)
  • Paying for things you don't use. Do you watch all those cable channels? Do you need those extra features on your phone? Are you getting your money's worth out of your gym membership? Are you taking full advantage of your Netflix, TiVo and magazine subscriptions? Take a look at what your family actually uses, then trim accordingly.
  • Impulse buying. When you buy before you think, you don't give yourself time to shop around for the best price. Take the time to compare prices online, read product reviews and look for coupons when appropriate.
  • Do you eat out a lot? Try watching how much you spend on restaurants, ordering out or fast food. You'll probably see that you are spending too much, when you could just cook at home and save money.
Follow this link for the complete list.
What are ways you've saved money?

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