🔎 Disclosure: Heads up, babe: some links here are affiliate links, which means you might throw a tiny commission my way if you buy (zero extra cost to you). Only things you’d actually use and love get shared on this site.
1. Takeout Meals and Food Delivery
You know those “I deserve it” nights when you order takeout instead of cooking? Yeah… they add up fast.
What starts as a $15 meal ends up being $60 by the time you add delivery fees and tips.
Here’s how to skip the temptation:
Plan quick meals. Keep easy pasta or frozen dinners for tired nights.
Meal prep on Sundays. You’ll thank yourself when dinner’s already waiting.
Limit delivery apps. Delete them for a while. out of sight, out of wallet.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one delivery-free week and challenge yourself to eat only what’s already at home.
Make It Easy: Consider a weekly meal planner board to map out dinners and keep your kitchen organized.
2. Fast Fashion and Cheap Clothes
You buy them because they’re cute and “only $10,” but they fall apart faster than your laundry pile grows.
Fast fashion is sneaky. It drains your money while cluttering your closet with stuff you don’t even like in a month.
Here’s how to break that cycle:
Buy fewer, better pieces. One good pair of jeans beats five bad ones.
Shop secondhand. Thrift stores and resale apps have amazing finds.
Stick to neutrals. They mix and match easily, so you need fewer clothes.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Declutter your closet this weekend and donate what you never wear. Then promise yourself not to refill it.
Make It Easy: Consider a closet organizer rack to see what you already own before buying more.
3. Streaming Services You Rarely Use
Let’s be honest. How many streaming platforms can one person actually watch?
If you’re paying for more than two, you’re basically funding the entire entertainment industry solo.
Here’s how to fix that:
Rotate subscriptions. Keep one or two active at a time.
Use free trials smartly. Sign up, binge, cancel. repeat guilt-free.
Share accounts. Family and friends can split the cost.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check your bank statement for streaming charges and cancel the ones you forgot existed.
Make It Easy: Use Rocket Money to cancel unused streaming subscriptions automatically and save in seconds.
4. Fancy Gym Memberships You Don’t Need
That $60-a-month gym sounds great. until you realize you’ve gone once since spring.
Fitness doesn’t have to cost more than your electricity bill to be effective.
Here’s how to stay fit without draining your wallet:
Work out at home. YouTube has endless free classes.
Go outside. Walking or jogging costs $0 and feels good.
Buy basic gear. A mat and resistance bands go a long way.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Cancel the gym you’re not using and create a 20-minute home workout routine you’ll actually stick to.
Make It Easy: Consider a set of resistance bands to start your at-home workout habit.
5. Daily Coffee Shop Runs
Sure, that latte feels like self-care. But when it’s daily, it’s just expensive caffeine.
Making coffee at home can save you hundreds every month (and still taste amazing).
Try these little swaps:
Brew your own. Invest in good beans. You’ll actually prefer it.
Make it fun. Try homemade lattes or flavored syrups.
Track your savings. Seeing that total grow feels better than foam art.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Skip your coffee run three days this week and stash that money in a “debt freedom” jar.
Make It Easy: Consider a stainless steel travel mug to bring your own brew anywhere.
6. Upgraded Smartphones Every Year
You don’t need the newest phone just because the commercial said it’s “life-changing.”
Most of the time, it’s the same phone with a slightly better camera. and a much bigger bill.
Here’s what to do instead:
Keep your phone longer. Two or three years is perfectly fine.
Buy refurbished. You’ll save hundreds, and it works just as well.
Skip the fancy cases. The $60 one won’t protect it better than a $10 one.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Wait until your phone truly stops working before upgrading. It’s the easiest “save $800” move you’ll ever make.
Make It Easy: Consider a durable shockproof phone case so your current phone lasts way longer.
7. Extended Warranties on Electronics
Stores love selling these because they know most people never use them.
You’re basically paying extra for a “just in case” that rarely happens.
Here’s how to protect your stuff without wasting cash:
Use the manufacturer’s warranty. It usually covers the first year already.
Check your credit card perks. Many include free purchase protection.
Handle with care. A little mindfulness beats an expensive warranty any day.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Say “no thanks” to the warranty upsell and save that cash for your emergency fund instead.
Make It Easy: Consider a small electronic organizer case to store cords and protect gadgets while traveling.
8. Bottled Water and Energy Drinks
Buying bottled drinks daily is like setting money on fire. one sip at a time.
You can get the same hydration (and energy) from a $20 reusable bottle and a good night’s sleep.
Try these small swaps that make a big difference:
Use refillable bottles. Fill it at home or anywhere with a fountain.
Flavor it yourself. Add lemon or fruit for a better taste.
Ditch energy drinks. Most are sugar traps disguised as motivation.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Fill a large reusable bottle each morning and keep it by your side all day. You’ll drink more and spend less.
Make It Easy: Consider a stainless steel insulated water bottle to keep drinks cold all day.
9. New Cars Instead of Used Ones
The second a new car leaves the lot, it loses value faster than ice cream in July.
A reliable used car can look just as good. and keep your wallet much happier.
Here’s how to think smarter when buying:
Buy certified pre-owned. You’ll still get warranty protection.
Skip luxury features. Heated steering wheels aren’t a need.
Focus on reliability. Lower maintenance costs = fewer financial headaches.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Search for used cars that are 2–3 years old. They’ve already taken the big depreciation hit.
Make It Easy: Consider a portable car vacuum cleaner to keep your ride looking and feeling brand new.
10. Designer Handbags and Shoes
Sure, they look amazing. But your debt payoff will look even better.
Trendy pieces lose value fast, and honestly, you’ll forget about them once the credit card bill arrives.
Here’s what to try instead:
Buy quality, not labels. Great materials last longer than logos.
Shop consignment. You can still get a designer. just for way less.
Stick to classics. Simple styles go with everything year-round.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set a “fashion pause” rule. No luxury buys until one debt is fully paid off.
Make It Easy: Consider a handbag storage organizer to appreciate what you already own (you’ll buy less when you see it all).
11. Impulse Buys at Target or Amazon
You go in for toothpaste and somehow leave $120 poorer. Target magic, right?
Those little “treat yourself” moments are sneaky debt magnets in disguise.
Here’s how to stop the scroll-shopping cycle:
Make a list. Stick to it as your budget depends on it (because it does).
Use the 24-hour rule. Wait a day before clicking “Buy Now.”
Remove saved cards. Make checkout slightly harder to rethink your purchase.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Every time you add something to your cart, step away for 24 hours. Half the time, you’ll forget it even existed.
Make It Easy: Use Rocket Money to flag and analyze where your impulse buys are eating your budget.
12. Lottery Tickets and Gambling Apps
If you’re buying scratch-offs “just in case,” spoiler alert. It’ss not an investment strategy.
You have better odds of finding cash in your couch cushions than winning the jackpot.
Here’s what to do instead:
Redirect that money. Put it toward debt or savings each week.
Uninstall gambling apps. Out of sight = out of temptation.
Track wins and losses. Seeing the numbers makes quitting easier.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Take the $10 you’d spend on lottery tickets this week and throw it at your smallest debt instead. You’ll actually win something.
Make It Easy: Consider a coin savings jar where you drop your “lottery money” each week and watch it grow.
13. High-Priced Beauty and Skincare Products
The $90 face cream promising to “erase wrinkles overnight” is lying to you, friend.
You can look amazing without draining your wallet or your bathroom counter.
Here’s how to glow without going broke:
Simplify your routine. Cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen. done.
Buy drugstore dupes. Many have the same ingredients as luxury brands.
Skip overhyped trends. New doesn’t always mean better.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use up what’s already in your drawer before buying more. You’ll be surprised how long it lasts.
Make It Easy: Consider a clear rotating vanity organizer to see every product and avoid doubles.
14. Subscription Boxes and “Surprise” Deliveries
They’re fun for a while… until you realize you’re paying for stuff you don’t even use.
Subscription boxes are the grown-up version of kids’ mystery toys. exciting but rarely worth it.
Here’s how to cut them without missing out:
Cancel most, keep one. Choose only the one that truly adds value.
Replace with DIY fun. Make your own “self-care” nights for free.
Track renewals. These companies count on you forgetting.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one subscription to cancel today. You’ll instantly free up money for something that matters.
Make It Easy: Use Rocket Money to find and cancel unused subscriptions automatically in minutes.
15. Overpriced Cleaning Supplies
You don’t need ten different sprays when vinegar, baking soda, and soap do the same job.
Marketers love to make you think every surface needs a special cleaner. Your bank account disagrees.
Here’s how to save while still keeping your home spotless:
DIY your cleaners. Mix vinegar and water for glass and counters.
Buy concentrated formulas. They last longer and cost less over time.
Reuse bottles. It’s cheaper and better for the planet.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use up what you already have, then replace it with one multi-surface cleaner that actually works for everything.
Make It Easy: Consider a refillable glass spray bottle set for homemade or concentrated cleaners.
Hey, I'm Lily! I'm a mom who's really good at two things: stretching a dollar and talking about stretching a dollar. I created Money Vice after one too many grocery trips where I watched my total climb and thought, "There's gotta be a better way." Spoiler: there is. Think of me as your money-savvy friend who's always got a tip (and coffee in hand).
