5 Things You Can Stop Buying

Do you ever feel like you’re overspending on everyday items? While you might not be able to avoid some purchases, others might be causing you to waste money without even realizing it. If you’re hoping to trim down your expenses and start saving a little more cash, here are five things you can stop buying right now. 

1. Impulse Purchases in the Checkout Line 

One of the most common culprits of excess spending at the grocery store is the checkout line. If you know you have a habit of making impulse purchases at the last minute near the checkout, try setting a rule that you won’t add anything more to your cart once you head to the register. Some seemingly cheap checkout items that may be tempting but can quickly add up include: 

• Magazines 

• Gum 

• Candy and chocolates 

• Seasonal items 

2. Unnecessary Online Shopping Add-Ons 

While excess online shopping in general can be a money pit, online add-ons may cause you to overspend without intending to. Add-ons are items that websites suggest you add to your cart at checkout time. Eliminate unnecessary add-ons, and you can slowly start to save that cash! 

3. Pre-Packaged or Name-Brand Foods at the Grocery Store 

One easy way to start saving money at the grocery store is to give up on full-price, name-brand items. Rather than spending more money on pre-packaged, name-brand items with high price tags, consider filling up your grocery cart with: 

• Generic food options 

• Unpackaged food from the bulk bins 

• Name-brand products when they go on sale 

4. Non-Eco-Friendly Products 

Although you might think you’re saving money by purchasing products that are not environmentally friendly, this isn’t always the case. In some cases, stores may place eco-friendly products on sale as an incentive to get them sold! Additionally, non-eco-friendly products can be harmful to the environment and are best dropped in favor of alternatives. Some products you might want to consider giving up or replacing include: 

• Straws 

• Non-biodegradable wipes and personal products 

• Any product that cannot be recycled 

5. Excessively Expensive Car Insurance 

Lastly, go back through your insurance bills and double-check the pricing. If it helps, you may want to get other quotes and second opinions as a comparison point. While some insurance is important and necessary, you don’t want to overpay, especially for everyday insurance types such as car insurance. If you realize your car insurance is too expensive, consider switching providers! 

Even for items that seem like necessities, you don’t want to end up spending more than you have to! If you want to start saving a little extra cash every time you go out shopping, simply stop buying these five things.