Do You Waste Money? 112 Things to Give Up NOW

Do you waste money?

I’ve put together a list of 112 things to help you identify where you may waste money everyday. Whether it’s those daily coffee trips, eating out too often, unused subscriptions, or impulse purchases, there are plenty of areas where you can cut back on spending and start saving some serious cash.

I became a big saver years ago and it was definitely hard to get used to, but in the end it paid off. And honestly, there’s nothing more frustrating than watching your hard earned money slip away.

When I bought my first house years ago by myself I was incredibly disappointed with my money situation. 

At the end of every month I was able to save about $1,000 after expenses. 

That means at the end of the year I would have $12,000 saved. I mean, even if I did save it all and didn’t enjoy life for 10 years, that would still only be $120,000.

That was my reality check…

How was I going to pay off my house quicker? Could I afford to have a family and retire? What if I needed a new car? And what about travelling?

Everything was adding up quickly.

If you’re interested in trying to pay off your mortgage too, check out my post How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster: 6 Proven Strategies for Financial Freedom

So… I thought to myself. How can I save money?

And the only way I knew how… I completely stopped wasting money and started working more.

I did the ‘no-spend challenge‘ for years and years. I was extremely dedicated, just like the Type A person that I am.

I lived on ONLY MY NEEDS and NO WANTS

• $10/month phone plan

• car insurance (I had an old beat up car that I paid cash, so I didn’t have a loan to worry about. I walked to work for the first few months as well until I landed more jobs).

• rent 

• food

NO make up, no manicures, no fancy clothes, purses, tv… literally nothing. I passed time by learning how to run, working more and coffee with friends. 

You don’t have to get rid of everything in your life like I did. I definitely went overboard at the time, but I knew the kind of lifestyle I wanted, and I was ok with sacrificing for my future. I also didn’t know any other way to create a better lifestyle at the time.

It’s completely up to you to decide what you want to give up in your life. Sometimes, all we need is a little motivation to get started.

Either way this post was written to help you identify and eliminate the various ways you unknowingly waste money. 

We often believe we need so much in life, but when we strip it back to the basics, life becomes much simpler and more relaxing.

Don’t miss out on the chance to gain control over your finances and reduce some unnecessary expenses. You never know when that extra cash will come in handy!

What does it mean to waste money?

When you waste money, it means you’re spending on things that don’t really add any lasting value or enjoyment to your life. This could include buying things you don’t really need, splurging on luxury items, or making impulse purchases.

For example, you might waste money on things that end up being quickly thrown away or forgotten about. Or you might invest in something without doing proper research or thinking about the potential returns.

When you waste money it can lead to financial instability and missed opportunities to save or invest in things that really matter. So, it’s important to think carefully about how you’re spending your money and make sure it’s going towards things that will truly benefit you in the long run.

Will my lifestyle drastically change if I don’t waste money?

Cutting out unnecessary expenses can really impact your lifestyle, depending on how much you’re currently spending and which expenses you decide to cut out.

If you are someone who spends a lot on luxury items, dining out frequently, or has expensive hobbies, cutting back on these expenses could lead to a more frugal lifestyle. You might have to change up where you dine, how you spend your free time, and how you prioritize your spending.

However, if you are able to identify and cut out truly unnecessary expenses, such as unused subscriptions, impulse purchases, or excessive spending on convenience items, you may not feel a major impact on your lifestyle. In fact, you may feel a sense of relief and freedom from financial stress.

Ultimately, the key is to prioritize your spending and focus on what truly brings you joy and fulfillment. By being mindful of your expenses and making intentional choices about where your money goes, you can create a lifestyle that is aligned with your values and priorities.

Ok, let’s get started!

Do You Waste Money? 112 Things to Give Up NOW

1. Unused gym memberships 

2. Fast fashion clothing 

3. Impulse buys 

4. Eating out too often 

5. Expensive coffee drinks 

6. Lottery tickets 

7. Overpriced brand name products 

8. Cable TV 

9. ATM fees 

10. Late fees 

11. Expensive shipping charges

12. Unused subscription services 

13. Excessive data plans 

14. Daily convenience store purchases 

15. Expensive car leases 

16. Unused gift cards 

17. Overpriced cocktails at bars 

18. Expensive phone plans 

19. Brand new textbooks 

20. Overdraft fees 

21. Bank account fees

22. Extended warranties 

23. Designer handbags 

24. Expensive beauty products

25. Unnecessary cosmetic surgeries 

26. Unnecessary cosmetic treatments

27. Unused and unnecessary kitchen gadgets 

28. Bottled fruit juice 

29. Lavish vacations 

30. Expensive pet accessories 

31. Unnecessary car accessories 

32. Expensive pet grooming 

33. Professional lawn care services 

34. Expensive haircuts 

35. Fancy bottled sauces and condiments 

36. Premium gasoline 

37. Gambling 

38. Costly magazine subscriptions 

39. Expensive car washes 

40. Brand name medication 

41. Expensive cocktail dresses 

42. Professional car detailing 

43. Branded bottled water 

44. High-end smartphone cases 

45. High-interest payday loans and credit cards

46. Expensive baby clothes 

47. Costly event parking 

48. Designer sunglasses 

49. Overpriced movie theatre snacks 

50. Continuous manicures and pedicures 

51. Unused health club services 

52. Overpriced theme park souvenirs 

53. Expensive video games and accessories 

54. Expensive boutique candles 

55. Costly home decor 

56. Expensive impulse purchases 

57. The newest electronics

58. Brand name groceries 

59. Letting food in your pantry and freezer go bad

60. Throwing away leftovers

61. Excessive overeating

62. Unused country club memberships 

63. Expensive car accessories 

64. Unnecessary event tickets 

65. Not looking for deals

66. Costly weight loss programs 

67. Expensive frozen dinners 

68. Overpriced bottled smoothies 

69. Monthly subscription boxes 

70. Unnecessary home security systems 

71. Expensive baby gear 

72. Premium vehicle rental insurance 

73. Overpriced cocktails 

74. Exclusive club memberships 

75. Expensive online courses 

76. Brand name cleaning products 

77. Costly sports equipment 

78. Designer workout clothes 

79. Gourmet pet food 

80. Expensive brand name shoes 

81. Expensive bottled teas 

82. Expensive cute reusable water bottles  and coffee mugs 

83. Brand name jewelry, like watches

84. Too much expensive jewelry 

85. High-end furniture 

86. Overpriced decor for the house

87. Costly headphones 

88. Expensive alcohol 

89. Unnecessary computer software 

90. Overpriced branded sports merchandise 

91. Expensive event souvenirs 

92. Expensive sports tickets 

93. Overpriced sporting event parking 

94. Costly bottled sports drinks 

95. Expensive cute water bottles

96. Brand name hair products 

97. High-end olive oil 

98. Expensive dietary supplements 

99. Designer luggage 

100. Expensive pet toys 

101. Unnecessary high-end appliances 

102. Overpriced brand name tires 

103. Costly bottled energy drinks 

104. Overpriced bottled water filters 

105. Premium event seating 

106. Expensive bottled cocktails 

107. Exclusive travel club memberships 

108. High-end gym equipment 

109. High priced gym supplements

110. Too many clothes

111. Expensive vehicles

112. Anything too convenient

Thank You Credits: Cover photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.