Unconventional Savings: 3 Things You Are Wasting Money On

Every time we turn around, we hear a new idea on how to save money. Clever ideas, most of them, but not necessary. The majority of the population in the United States has grown quite accustomed to being spoiled.

Even the poorest among us have it tens times better than most third world countries. Be that as it may, this is not a lecture on finishing everything on your plate, because children in Africa are hungry.

However, there are few comforts that we have grown so comfortable having that we can feel entitled to them. There are three of them below and we could save a bundle of money with just a few tweaks to our list of “needs.”

Bottled Water

Bottled water made a huge splash in the 1970’s selling over 350 million gallons. That’s a little over a gallon and a half person. There are some reasons that bottled water is necessary. When there are natural disasters that wipe out a town’s clean water resource, it can be the only source of clean drinking and cooking water.

On the battlefield, it’s needed to clean wounds on the go and many doomsday preppers store several gallons of it in the case of government collapse and Armageddon. With that said, the average person simply has no need to spend the up to $2.00 a bottle it can cost. In 2012, it was estimated that the wonderful constituents of America spent a whopping $11.8 billion on bottled water.

Understandably, bottled water has its attractiveness. Advertisers boast a cleaner spring water or water infused with electrolytes. There’s water that even serves as an energy drink. If you are the like the millions trying to save money, stop buying bottled water. Most civilized cities and towns treat all the water that comes into your home. Try filling up a reusable water bottle with tap water. In most cases, it holds health benefits that store-bought water doesn’t offer anyway.  

Eating Out

This one may not be news to you, but the average family spends about $232 a month on meals outside the home. Eating out has been a source of fellowship, a convenience for single parents everywhere, and known to serve as a chemical high, as well. Be that as it may, it is a proven fact that making fast food at home is almost always more healthy and less expensive.

Take for example the McMuffin at McDonald’s. Making this at home will not only lengthen your life healthwise but save you over half the price of buying it at the popular food chain. Do you really want to save some money? Throw another $232 in your bank account and dine in more often. Your wallet and your waistline will thank you.

New Clothes

If you have children or are on the fashion savvy side of things, you know that there is nothing more pleasing sometimes than to sport the newest fashion. High school students everywhere attach popularity, or cool factor, to the name brand you happen to be wearing.

Matter-of-fact, it can occasionally be the catalyst for a bullying situation. While we all know that who you are cannot be broadcast through what brand you wear, owning the latest trend in jeans, shirts, or jackets can just feel good. Be that as it may, here’s a little secret. You don’t have to go to American Eagle or Aeropostale to buy those kinds of clothes.

Check out your local thrift stores. There are tons of people who donate name brand clothing to places like the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Sometimes, the new tags are still on them. This way, you get the benefit of the brand name without paying out of the nose for it.

Sure, you can save money by turning the lights off when you leave a room and living a greener life, but cutting out some of the more needless comforts of life might just save you even more money. It may lengthen your life while you’re at it.