How flexibility can lower your monthly costs
Now this may come across a bit as #brokebehaviour but it’s really just about understanding your financial limits and operating as best you can within them. If you’ve got it, flaunt it, but if not, making the hard but also right decision now could help you live your best life just that little bit quicker.
This isn't about cutting down on how much you spend on coffee or any other daily expenditures that help you be the best you, these are easy fixes for monthly expenses that add up in the long run.
Customize your finances
The more you marry your services to one company, the harder it becomes to leave. That “bundle” discount does way more for those who offer it than it does for you. Having a cell phone plan, cable, and internet plan all at one place leaves you with less chips to bargain with because, let’s face it, you know and they know convenience is king and having to find a new deal for all of it and make the needed changes can be difficult.
If one spot’s got the best internet deal, take it. Another company has the best cell phone deal? Take that. Knowing that you can skip to another company without having to sacrifice anything else will consistently give you the best bang for your buck.
Streaming costs can add up
How many monthly digital memberships do you pay for? Depending on your interests there’s Netflix ($9.99 - $18.99), Spotify ($9.99 - $15.99), Crave ($9.99 - $25.97), Disney Plus ($8.99), Amazon Prime ($7.99), DAZN ($20/month or $150 annual) and several others.
Paying the annual cost can go one of two ways. Take DAZN for example, pay the monthly fee because you don’t want to cough up $150 right away and you could end up paying $240 for the year. If you keep that monthly fee rolling for more than seven months, you haven’t got your money’s worth.
Now, having said that, with platforms like Netflix, Crave and Disney Plus, there isn’t a huge savings to be had paying annually but having all of them simultaneously can also lead to you wasting your money. Are you really going to watch everything all three platforms have to offer regularly? No. Take the time to create a list of movies and shows you want to watch on each platform and subscribe to each one at a time and cancel as you get through them. You could save up to $50/month. Bonus: You'll also stop wasting those 45 minutes just trying to figure out what to watch, too.
Max out your DIY card
Debit cards, credit cards, gift cards, we don’t spend enough time talking about the one card we all have if we put our mind to it: the Do It Yourself card. It’s a message that’s probably hit home more than ever during the past year, but whether it’s cooking more meals yourself or refreshing the furniture with a paint job rather than splurging on new stuff, there are plenty of simple ways you can lower costs while still having fun and keeping things interesting.
