8 Ways to Save Money on Monthly Expenses

Monthly bills add up to be a significant expense. From groceries and power bills to cell phone bills and house mortgages, your bills can leave you living paycheck to paycheck.

At times, saving money can seem impossible, but there are a few things you can do to cut down on your expenses.

Here are 8 simple strategies you can incorporate into your dailydi life to cut down on the cost of your monthly bills.

How to Save Money on Monthly Expenses

1. Change Cable Providers

Most people who have cable use it as a form of entertainment but it can take a large chunk of your budget each month if you are not careful.

You don’t have to eliminate this expense entirely to save money. One way you can save money is by bundling this service with your internet and phone services.

Many cable providers give you the option to bundle these services together, decreasing the cost of paying for each service separately. Over the course of a year, this can result in significant savings.

Another way you can save on your cable bill is by shopping around for cheaper options. Many providers offer special deals for new customers.

2. Take Care of Your Credit Score

First and foremost, you must know and understand your credit score and what it involves in order to increase it.

Your credit history is kept on file and is available to lenders. So, if you’re attempting to open a credit account with a retailer like Littlewoods and you’ve been known to be unreliable with payments in the past, your application is likely to be denied. The same might be said for those who haven’t made a financial footprint.

Lenders want to know that you’re trustworthy, so if you haven’t made any purchases or opened any credit accounts, your application is likely to be denied. Those who have had poor financial habits in the past but have demonstrated that they have changed will see their credit score rise as long as they continue to do so, so don’t despair if your credit record isn’t perfect.

3. Pay Down Credit Card Debt

If you have a lot of debt, chances are you spend a large portion of your monthly budget on credit card bills.

Paying down your debt will obviously result in decreased monthly expenses, but this can seem like a daunting challenge.

However, if you focus on paying as much as you can afford each month, it is possible to eliminate debt. Focus on paying off a single account first.

Even if you can only afford to pay a few dollars more than the minimum monthly payment, doing so will add up over the course of the year and allow you to pay off the account faster.

4. Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

Nearly everyone has a cell phone. With technology expanding rapidly, your monthly bill could be astronomical because your phone is essentially a miniature computer.

Not only are you paying for your actual phone, but you also have to pay for the data you use each month. You can reduce this expense by opting to use older phone models that are still current.

You can also downgrade to a limited data plan if you do not use it often. This will save you money on operating costs.

5. Sleep on Large Purchases

Impulse purchases are one of the most common ways to get into debt. Sure, that fridge-freezer is half-price, but do you really need a new one?

Allowing yourself time to consider a purchase and sleeping on a major decision like this can frequently result in you not overspending. You should also see if there are any credit options because:

You aren’t going to be out of pocket right now.
You can continue to improve your credit score with a credit account (provided you make on-time payments)
Signing up for a credit account could allow you to save more money.

You may be able to apply for revolving credit.

6. Shop Around for Insurance

Your home and auto insurance is probably also a major household expense.

Bundling both types of insurance together is one way to save money, but you may be able to save even more if you shop around.

Most insurance companies offer free quotes, so you can call and get an estimate with no hassle. You can compare quotes after talking to multiple companies and see if you can save by switching insurance companies.

7. Use Less Power

The more power you use each month, the higher your power bill will be.

While turning your lights off when you leave the room and running the HVAC unit less frequently, you can cut down on energy costs. However, you can further decrease costs by making your home more energy efficient with high-quality windows and dense insulation.

Installing a programmable thermostat is also a great way to cut down on the amount of energy you use.

8. Make Your Payments on Time

Finally, missing or making late payments is one of the most prevalent things that might harm your credit score.

Utility bills, phone bills, and even other credit accounts fall under this category. Every late or missed payment will be recorded, and your credit score will suffer as a result. Making timely (or even early) payments will reduce your financial footprint.

If you have trouble remembering when your payments are due, go over your bills and set reminders in your phone or notebook so that it doesn’t happen again. Set up a direct debit instead, and all you’ll have to worry about is making sure the money arrives in your account.

Saving money can be difficult, but if you make a few simple changes to your daily routine, you can eliminate a significant portion of your monthly expenses.

This adds up throughout the year and could give you the boost you need to start a savings account.