In today’s fast-paced world, many people cope by opting for convenience over quality. Instead of sitting down to a home-cooked meal, many would rather grab a quick bite from the convenience store. However, just like this example, most time-saving habits can do a number on your budget.
Here are the time-saving habits that are destroying your budget.
Buying bottled water
A 20-ounce bottle at the convenience store can cost about $1.50. Consider bringing your own water in a reusable water bottle to the office or to the gym, and keep a few bottles of water in a cooler if you’re traveling.
Buying sliced fruits and vegetables
You might save a lot of time on prepping vegetables and fruits for your next meal, but sliced produce actually cost more. If you can’t deal with all the slicing and dicing, you could opt to buy frozen or canned veggies and fruits.
Not taking the time to inflate your tires properly
Underinflated tires can result in poor car performance and it can also cause your car to use up gas much faster. Check your tires every morning and make sure that they’re all properly inflated, including your spare tire.
Going to the grocery store without a list
Not taking the time to plan your menu and grocery list can certainly kill your budget. When you don’t have a list to stick to, you end up getting all sorts of items from the store, and there’s a chance that you won’t get to eat some of these things. You might as well just throw money into the bin.
Going to the coffee house for your daily morning brew
This is one of the biggest time-saving habits that can absolutely ruin your budget. A cup of coffee from the corner coffee house can cost up to $3.50 a day. That’s $1,260 a year.
To save money, get a coffee maker and brew your own coffee. You’ll save money, and you also end up healthier as you get to control the amount of sugar and cream in your homemade brew.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on the things that you shouldn’t tell your kids about your finances.
