Are these expenses busting your bank account?
What's your budget buster? We all have them. We all have that vice that we have trouble saying no to. We don't really think about them, because the cost is minimal. However, those costs add up and can spell disaster for your bank account. Below are just some of the biggest ones.
- Coffee. According to an Acorns Money Matters report, the average American spends $1,100 on coffee a year.
- Eating out. You may want to sit down for this one, if you're not already. From 2015 to 2016, Americans spent $54.857 billion at bars and restaurants. The average American family spends about $3,000 a year on prepared food.
- Gym memberships. Americans spend more than $800 on this says a Time Money poll. And we all know that after a few months, those gym trips become more and more infrequent...
- Cable. And I don't mean premium cable. Cable in general. The costs just keep going up. The average monthly bill is $103.
- Cigarettes. They're bad for your health and your wallet. According to the national average, smoking a pack of cigarettes a day will cost you $2,142 a year.
Imagine what you could do with all the money you saved by cutting back on these things. Without a budget in place, your smaller expenses go unnoticed. A budget helps you see the bigger picture, so you can see where you can cut back.
So next time you're wanting to go to the Starbucks drive-thru or pick up a cigarette, think about what it will truly cost you in the long run.
