Discover Debt Freedom!

There are many little daily expenses that can add up quite quickly and destroy a person’s attempt to save money.  These daily expenses are generally unnecessary and are merely a convenience for the person that is spending money on them.  If you would like to cut your daily costs and save a great deal of money over the course of a year, then eliminating these items from your daily routine can help you meet your savings goals.

1.  Workday Lunches
The average workday lunch eaten at a restaurant or taken back to the office will cost you nearly $8 per day, for a cost of $40 per week or $2000 each year.  Taking your lunch instead saves these costs and allows you to spend that money on other things.

2. Items From Vending Machines
The average item from a vending machine costs twice as much as the item would cost if purchased from a grocery store.  If you like to have a snack in the afternoon, bring one from home in your purse or briefcase and pocket the difference.

3.  Alcohol Purchases
The average price of a drink from a restaurant or bar is close to 300% more than the actual value of the alcoholic drink if it was mixed yourself in your home.  This is how the restaurant industry makes money on their alcohol sales, and avoiding alcoholic drinks at a dinner for two can save $28 or more off of the final bill.

4.  Cigarette Purchases
It has been reported that the average price of a pack of cigarettes in the United States is more than $4.50 per pack, with the price ranging as high as $7 in some areas, such as New York City.  If you are a casual smoker who only buys one pack a week, you are spending between $234 and $364 for cigarettes.  For individuals that smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, quitting smoking will save between $1638 and $2548 per year.

5.  Specialty Coffee
The average price of a daily specialty coffee on the way to work is around $2.50, costing $12.50 per week and $650 over the course of the year.  Consider brewing a cup of coffee at home and drinking it from a travel mug during your daily commute or once you arrive at work.

By eliminating these trivial items from your daily routine, you can save enough money to pay off a debt, take a vacation, or save up for a wanted item.  The money will begin to add up quickly and, in no time, you will not even miss the items that were given up.