Here are 3 ways that our family has discovered hidden savings in our budget. I admit that we’ve failed at each of these in the past. Now that we’ve learned to save in these areas, we’re using the money to pay off our mortgage.

Have you fallen for any of these?

#1. Eating a standard american diet.

Yep, hopping on the soapbox for a minute. Eating poorly results in higher medical costs.Why do you think Mrs. O is on a mission to make Americans eat better? ‘Cause she cares about you? Nope, unhealthy folks cost the government more in medical bills. So eat well (lots of veggies and fruits) and savor the benefits of a lower healthcare bill.

#2. Subscribing to enormous TV packages.

Do you really watch all of those 900 channels? Do you? Enjoying entertainment isn’t terrible, but wasting money on cable TV and satellite is crazy when you can pick up so many channels over the air (check out this guide at Money Crashers for choosing an antenna) .

Services like Amazon Prime and Netflix inexpensively offer many videos. Plus, if you decrease the TV time you just might feel like you’ve regained your sanity.

#3. Not shopping around for land line, cell phone, and internet providers.

Competition is rampant amongst these companies. A quick google search (and perhaps a phone call) will yield the prices of these services amongst providers in your area.

List out the services you want and their price from each competitor (many will offer a package price). Make sure to include fees in your calculations.

**Psssst! On Thursday I’ll be giving out a copy of a sheet that I’ve created to track these expenses. Swing back by and snag one for yourself.

If you find a cheaper price, switch to that company or call your own provider and tell them about the great deal that you’ve found. They may agree to match that price or offer an incentive to stay. This has happened to us! 

None of us wants to miss out on easily saving money. Follow these 3 tips to find your own hidden savings. You just might discover a few extra dollars that can go toward paying off debt and making your financial goals a reality.

Have an idea of your own for battling wasted savings? Please share below! 

 

Shared at Raising Homemakers, Thrifty Thursday, Frugal Friday, and these sites.