At the end of last year, I started taking stock of the amount of money I was spending at several retailers such as Amazon, Starbucks and Spotify. The money I spent took me by surprise and right away I decided I needed to get a handle on things because it was that out of control.
Amazon Prime
This past year I became an Amazon Prime member. The prior year I wasn’t and I only spent $30. This past year though, I added all my orders and it came out to around $650! I think being a Prime member is great and all, but I’m sure being a member is what encouraged me to spend way too much than I ever have before. So I made the decision to limit myself to one order a month. So far it is almost the end of January and I have only placed one order. So I’m doing good there.
Spotify
At first I had it linked to my Sprint bill so I would pay them together. Then I decided to switch to individual bills and pay them separately. I haven’t added all the bills, but somehow I just feel like I don’t need it that much. My commute to work is short (only 10 minutes), I come home and usually read a book or watch tv so music is not that serious. Or if anything I can always listen on Pandora. After adding it all up, I’m sure I’m saving at least $120 a year.
Starbucks
I am an avid coffee drinker and Starbucks is my jam. But after looking at all my gift card reloads for all of 2018, I spent $450!! on coffee!! Jesus. Not okay. I’m limiting to once a month reload and that’s it so that should only be around $120 for the year and even that seems excessive. Maybe every other month, so $60 a year. That’s better.
Starz
Did you know you can subscribe to Starz through Amazon for only $8.99? Winning! I switched to this plan right away and cancelled my $15 a month subscription with my cable provider. I have to keep it because I’m watching Outlander and I can’t get enough of it. But at least I’m saving.
Beauty Maintenance
A few months ago I found out I was spending almost $20 on my fake lashes at Sally Beauty when Ulta sells it for only $12! What in the world was I thinking? Now not only am I saving, I’m accruing points every time I shop. I’ve been thinking about trying the Rodan Fields lash boost. It’s $135, but that will last for at least 3 months. Decisions, decisions.
Nails are my thing too. I mentioned this in my resolutions post that I will get them done once a month. I used to get them refilled every two weeks, but that adds up. So now I’m stretching it out to 3 weeks, which averages to once a month instead of twice a month. All in all, instead of $70 a month, it will be around $35. Big time savings there!
Total Savings For The Year: $975
I tallied up all the savings and that’s cutting it by more than half. I’m only spending $400 a year instead of almost $1,375! My brain just exploded. Who would have thought that a little indulgence here and there can really add up? Wow, just wow.
So that’s how I’m cutting down on my spending and saving a lot of money every month. This is so exciting for me because I used to never really pay attention where my money was going and now it’s time that I do. It’s such a good feeling and I’m sure I’ll stick to these new ways going forward.
What about y’all? How are you saving money every month?
