No matter how tightly you try to control your spending or how strictly you follow your spending plan, at some point you are likely to wonder how you can cut costs. In order to find out how to cut costs, you first need to find out where and when your spending occurs. Then you can decide whether you need to make major changes or if minor adjustments will do the trick.
Understand Your Spending Habits Better
Spending is a behavior, and, just like any other behavioral change, it requires monitoring while you are trying to change it. If you feel that you are spending too much, you’ll want to determine when you do your spending and what items you spend the most money on. One way to get started is to track your spending for a period of time and try to determine if you have a spending pattern. You may find that you are spending more on payday or when you are feeling frustrated or stressed. By identifying spending patterns, you can use extra caution when you find yourself in those situations. Next, you’ll want to identify the items which you spend the most money on. For many of us, buying clothing may involve shopping around to find the right price, but looking for a sale for groceries may not even occur to us. There are certain categories in which overspending is more likely to occur. Identify those categories and try to find out how you can reduce your spending on them.
Make Major Long-Term Spending Changes
If you feel that you want to curtail your costs on a larger scale and make major long-term changes, consider the following suggestions:
- Before taking out a loan or using a credit card, shop around for the lowest interest rates
- Consider refinancing existing loans
- Look into loan consolidation
- Determine whether it makes sense to downsize into a smaller home
- Make sure that you are not overinsured (e.g., having collision and comprehensive auto insurance coverage on an older car)
- Buy a pre-owned vehicle rather than a brand new one/consider eliminating a second vehicle
Minor Changes Can Also Make a Big Difference
Many times, minor changes can make a big difference. You may be surprised how small changes in spending can add up. The following are just some of the little things you can do to cut expenses:
- Brown bag your family lunches
- Limit dining out to special occasions only
- Try to cut down on utlitliy costs my making small energy-saving improvement to your home (e.g., shut off electroncs when not in use)
- Be a smart shopper by taking advantage of available sales and discounts
If you have questions, contact the experts at Henssler Financial:
- Experts Request Form
- Email: experts@henssler.com
- Phone: 770-429-9166
Disclosures: The following information is reprinted with permission from Forefield, a division of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. This article is meant to provide valuable background information on particular investments, NOT a recommendation to buy. The investments referenced within this article may currently be traded by Henssler Financial. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable and current, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The contents are intended for general information purposes only. Information provided should not be the sole basis in making any decisions and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified professional, such as a tax consultant, insurance adviser or attorney. Although this material is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with respect to the subject matter, it may not apply in all situations. Readers are urged to consult with their adviser concerning specific situations and questions. This is not to be construed as an offer to buy or sell any financial instruments. It is not our intention to state, indicate or imply in any manner that current or past results are indicative of future profitability or expectations. As with all investments, there are associated inherent risks. Please obtain and review all financial material carefully before investing. Henssler is not licensed to offer or sell insurance products, and this overview is not to be construed as an offer to purchase any insurance products.
