Slash These Useless Expenses From Your Budget Today
Coming up with ways to save some extra money each month can seem impossible — but you might be surprised by just how many unnecessary items are hiding out in your everyday expenses.
From subscriptions you may have forgotten you’re paying for or hardly use to pricey services you can downgrade, here are 20 expenses you can slash from your budget today for quick savings.
1. Banking Fees
If your checking account charges a fee and you can’t get out of it, it’s time to look elsewhere. As little as $15 a month can add up over the course of a year. There are free options available, so why pay fees when you don’t have to?
Be Smart: 11 Splurges Now That Will Actually Save You Money in the Long Run
Read Next: This One Low-Effort Money Move Could Change Your Finances in 2026
2. Full-Price Items
Buying things at full price may be a habit, but there are always discounts, sales and coupons to look for. Comparison shop for the things you want — see if it might be on sale somewhere else. Clip coupons and download coupon apps, such as Ibotta, Rakuten and Honey.
3. High-Interest Credit Card Debt
High-interest credit card debt can be a killer on the budget. To avoid paying only interest, be sure to make your minimum payments and more if you can. You’ll also want to consider how you can lower your credit card interest rate. If you have a good amount of credit card debt with a high interest rate, consider doing a balance transfer to a credit card that offers a 0% intro annual percentage rate.
4. Dining Out
It’s just common sense that if you stop eating out at restaurants and start eating in at home, you’re going to save money. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average family spends $3,600 a year on dining out. And how you shop for food can save you even more money: Be choosy and look for sales, deals and bulk items.
5. Coffee Run
Your favorite coffee drink at a coffee shop can quickly add up — not to mention causing waste. With coffee drinks easily running more than $4 per cup if it’s fancier than a straight cup of joe, try going back to basics with a French press or a Mr. Coffee at home.
6. Cable TV
The world lives in a digital age where thousands of shows are available at your fingertips, depending on how you wish to view them. Cable TV is slowly becoming a thing of the past now that Netflix, Hulu, Prime and several other services allow for individual subscriptions. Consider abandoning the high cost of cable, which can run from around $50 to $120 per month.
7. Expensive Gym Memberships
Everyone intends to use the gym, but not all do. Gitnux finds that 67% of people with gym memberships never use them, and Glofox reports that 50% of gym members quit after six months. You might be wasting money on a gym membership you rarely use. Even if you do take advantage of the gym, there are tons of free internet exercise videos — and don’t forget the great outdoors for your exercise needs.
8. New Clothes
When it’s time to buy new duds, remember that brand new doesn’t always mean best. You can save money shopping second hand, find a wider variety of clothes than those currently in stores and contribute to a more sustainable world in the process.
9. Alcohol
When you’re looking for quick ways to cut costs, look no further than your liquor cabinet. Americans spend anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars a year on alcoholic beverages, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Save money, and possibly improve your health, too, by banning the booze.
10. Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning may be convenient, but depending on how many items you’re having cleaned, it can also become quite pricey. Invest in a good iron and ironing board if you don’t already have one, and start doing your own laundry. Or switch out your clothes to washer-friendly ones, instead.
11. Incandescent Light Bulbs
Older incandescent light bulbs are no longer an efficient way to light your house. Just switching your old light bulbs to newer LED bulbs can save you $225 in energy costs each year, according to the Department of Energy.
12. House Cleaner
To cut out the costs of a house cleaner, consider putting in your own elbow grease to keep your house tidy while saving money. Good Housekeeping reminds you that you don’t need expensive supplies either; baking soda and vinegar can do a lot of tough jobs. The key with all housecleaning is just to stay on top of it a little bit at a time during the week, rather than waiting until you’re knee-deep in dust and grime.
13. Apps
That app to help you get organized, lose weight or sleep better might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but it’s time to get real. How many of them do you really use? Do they cost you money on a monthly or yearly basis? Consider getting rid of them.
14. Going to the Movies
The cost of a movie ticket on average in the U.S. is around $12. Add in snacks and a drink, and a night out for two can run you close to $40. Instead, save money by renting a DVD from most local libraries or stream a movie from a service, such as Netflix for as low as $7.99 per month or Hulu, starting at $11.99 per month.
15. Expensive Haircuts
While you may not be able to cut your own hair, consider how much you’re spending at a salon on a cut and color. Switching from the luxury salon to a basic barber style shop might save you several hundred dollars per year.
16. Personal Grooming
Facials and waxing services may feel good, but when money is tight, stop paying salon prices and consider using over-the-counter products to perform these same services at home. Worst case scenario, go without or cut down on the number of times you go per year.
17. New Books
While it’s important to keep up your literacy year-round, buying a new book can easily run over $15 a pop. Utilize the library, borrow books from friends or buy older paperbacks only to reduce your costs but keep yourself entertained and educated.
18. Animal Grooming
A dirty dog or matted kitty coat can be a hassle, but with the price of professional grooming, which can run between $30 and $90 per session, it’s worth learning the fine art of shampooing and trimming your fur baby’s coat and nails yourself.
19. Artisanal Foods
That pricey jar of olives and fancy cheese from France may be delicious going down, but they also stretch your wallet unnecessarily. Affordable alternatives can be just as tasty to the palate, especially when you see your cost savings. Try out less expensive options to be pleasantly surprised.
20. Paper Towels and Napkins
Save money and make your life a little more sustainable by purchasing or making cloth napkins and towels. Though it may take a few months to see cost savings, when you’re reusing instead of repurchasing, you’ll start to see you’ve got money to spend on other necessary expenses, instead.
Cindy Lamothe contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion:
