When you have wealth, it's easy to overlook small expenses, but even minor spending habits can add up over time.
Instead of making big financial changes, consider refining your everyday spending to better align with your goals. Prepare yourself financially by cutting out unnecessary expenses to keep your wealth growing and free up money for things that truly matter to you, like new investments, meaningful experiences, or philanthropy.
Here are a few spending habits to consider dropping. You won't miss them, and you'll keep more for what counts.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $15 the first year with auto-renewal.
Banking fees
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Does your bank charge you a monthly fee to keep your account open? Does it automatically charge you overdraft fees, even if you pay back the overdraft amount within a day or two? Are you penalized for withdrawing too much or failing to maintain a high minimum balance?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's potentially time to find a new bank.
Plenty of modern banking options let you open an account for free. Others eliminate overdraft fees and offer reimbursements for out-of-network ATM withdrawals.
Delivery fees
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It's hard to turn down the sheer convenience of having food delivered straight to your door, but you might be paying more for that convenience than you realize.
Depending on which service you use, you could be charged a service fee, delivery fee, and even a small-order fee when you order a meal.
You should check the final amount before clicking "order." You may find it's more worth it to pick up the food yourself.
Streaming services
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If you've signed up for every streaming service out there, you could be paying over $100 monthly for unlimited entertainment.
But if you aren't actually watching any of the shows you're paying for, you're throwing cash down the drain.
Since you can always pause a subscription and pick it back up again when the next season of your favorite show airs, there's no reason to continue paying for more than you need.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1 <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>
How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Junk food
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If your grocery budget is the biggest drain on your wallet, you might want to take a good hard look at what you spend the most money on.
Junk food, while tasty, is expensive without adding any value to your diet. Its empty calories don't last long, leaving you hungry and jittery.
You can save money on groceries by sticking with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that cost less and keep you full for longer.
Shipping and return fees
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Before you order something online, make sure you check the store's return policy. Some stores require you to send items back via FedEx or UPS on your own dime.
Others, including Amazon and its sellers, can charge a restocking fee that keeps you from getting a full refund.
If you find out an online store doesn't accept returns, it's a good rule of thumb to skip shopping there. The risk to your wallet isn't worth it.
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Name-brand items
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Speaking generally, the only difference between name-brand products and their generic copies is price, not quality.
Name brands can get away with charging you more than generics because you recognize the name, and that might be the only reason for the higher price.
If you're committed to buying a name-brand product, do what you can to find great sales prices on last season's items.
Prescriptions
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Unfortunately, even with insurance, it's often up to you to figure out where your prescription will cost the least. For instance, Walgreens, CVS, and Costco might all charge different amounts for the same generic medication.
To make sure you're getting the best deal on crucial medications, check out programs like GoodRx, a free app that compares medication costs and finds coupons to save you money.
And, if possible, opt for the generic version of medication over the name brand. Doing so could get you the same basic medication for as much as 70% less.
Late fees for bill payments
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If you haven't set up autopay for most of your bills, you run the risk of forgetting to pay in time and racking up late fees.
You can avoid the problem altogether by simply setting up a recurring payment, either through the service you're paying for or through your bank.
Credit card fees
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Credit cards can get you into a tough spot if you're making charges you can't pay off each month.
With an outstanding balance, you're locked into paying a certain amount of interest on top of the cost of the original purchase.
The longer you go without paying your card off, the more interest you accrue, and the faster your credit card debt balloons. Do what you can to prioritize paying off your credit card balance each month.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2 <p>See website for details.</p>
With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!
This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Gym membership fees
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Gyms are expensive to join and can be difficult to leave. Some gyms charge an activation fee on top of your regular monthly fee when you join, then an annual fee or locker-rental fee on top of that.
Others lock you into a contract, and many charge you a termination fee when you leave the gym, even if you weren't there on a contractual basis.
If you're committed to finding a gym, choose one that comes without contracts. You can also look into cheaper options, like your local YMCA or city rec center.
Bottom line
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Eliminating useless expenses means you can finally save up for big purchases you actually want to make, like a dream travel destination or a new car or home.
Either way, you're making a solid investment in your future as soon as you put these 10 tips into practice. You can start to break the vicious cycle and actually get ahead financially.
Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Current Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Benefits
- Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash
Drawbacks
- Foreign transaction fee of 3%
- No bonus categories
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
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