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Money Saving Articles

10 Common Money Mistakes to Avoid in 2020

In keeping with the self-improvement trend for January, here at BillCutterz we put our heads together and came up with a short list of common money mistakes you might not even realize you are making. They’re easy to fix and will save you money!

 

  • Giving in to the temptation to shop online. I realized a few years ago that my spending habits were often inspired by emails from retailers. My solution was to unsubscribe to their emails because for me, out of sight equals out of mind. If unsubscribing sounds like a pain, there are several options explained here to do it for you.
  • Forgetting to return things you don’t need. Almost all retailers have a deadline for returns, and not meeting those deadlines will cost you money. Some places won’t accept late returns at all, and others will only give reduced values. The solution is to return things as soon as possible, and make sure you have your receipt to ensure you get your full refund.
  • Ignoring your thermostat. Even a few degrees can make a huge difference in your energy use; here is an explanation from the Department of Energy. To make it simple and more efficient, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. For about $50 you can get a basic one. Installing a thermostat is simple and will saving you big money.
  • Not shopping around for energy rates. In many states, you can choose your own electric provider. If you aren’t sure exactly how you are being charged or think you are being overcharged, this website can help you figure it out. Once you know that, it’s easier to compare plans and rate structures.
  • Not meal planning. I admit that some days even with a meal plan I want to eat out or order delivery. However, when I have a plan those nights are far less frequent. Even having a few basic meals always “on deck” will help you such as frozen pizza, leftovers you have frozen, or “dump meals” for your crockpot or pressure cooker.
  • Not using a grocery list. Of course, this relates to meal planning. Without knowing what you need, it’s hard to make a list. My favorite method is a magnetic chalkboard sheet on my fridge where I make a note of things as I use them up. I also have a rough meal plan on the board. When I am ready to shop for groceries, I already have my list mostly done.
  • Not canceling free subscriptions or automatic orders. Have you ever signed up for a trial service and forgotten to cancel it in time? Or have a recurring order that you didn’t need? I sure have! The easiest solution is not to sign up for free/trial subscriptions that will cost you money if you forget to cancel them, but that isn’t always realistic. I have a friend who uses a sticky note on his computer to remind him to cancel, and I set calendar reminders.
  • Not negotiating rates on monthly bills. I know this one takes a lot of your precious time, so setting up an account at BillCutterz will save you time and money. We take the time to call providers and negotiate lower rates for you, and if we don’t save you anything, it doesn’t cost you anything while putting money right back in your pocket!
  • Stop buying retail coffee out. Even a plain cup of coffee every day adds up quickly if you buy it at retail shops like Starbucks or even your convenience store! Just a few weeks’ worth of coffee from a shop can pay for a coffeemaker, even high-end coffee beans are cheaper in the long run than your daily indulgence. Plus, making it at home saves you time. Your coffee can be brewing while you get ready for your day.
  • Not performing maintenance on your car. Regular maintenance is far cheaper than expensive repairs. Here is a detailed post from our blog that will help you figure out what to do.

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