Have you ever looked at your bank statement and wondered, Where did all my money go? I’ve been there—more than once. And even as a financial expert, I’m not immune to money leaks. In fact, staying on top of my spending takes serious intentionality, especially as a mom, a business owner, and a woman wearing many hats.
So recently, I sat down to do a deep dive into my finances, and what I found surprised me: I was wasting way more money than I realized. Those small, seemingly harmless expenses? They were quietly draining my bank account.
In this article, I’m sharing the real-life spending habits that were costing me hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars a year, and more importantly, how I stopped the money leaks. If you’re trying to figure out how to stop wasting money, let these tips inspire your own financial audit.
1. Subscriptions: I had them all
Let’s start with my biggest wake-up call: streaming services. I had every platform imaginable: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Paramount+, Peacock. And to top it off, we were also paying for cable (because my husband can’t miss live sports).
Even worse? I was double paying for some subscriptions. I had Disney+ signed up twice under different emails and was paying for Peacock through both cable and streaming.
My rules for streaming smarter
- I listed all my subscriptions and totaled the monthly cost. The number shocked me.
- I canceled the ones we rarely used and started rotating streaming services instead of keeping them all year-round.
- I also negotiated our cable bill for a better deal.
- For any subscription that offers a free trial, especially with apps, I put an alert in my calendar to revisit the subscription before the trial ends.
Total savings: Over $800 per year—just from streaming!
2. Business expenses I didn’t need
As a business owner, it’s easy to justify every tool and subscription as “essential.” But when I finally reviewed my business expenses, I realized I was paying for multiple social media schedulers, stock photo memberships, and video editing tools—many of which had overlapping features.
Streamlining my tools
- I canceled the subscriptions I barely used.
- I consolidated tools, choosing only the ones that offered the most value.
- I set a quarterly reminder to audit my business expenses.
The result? Hundreds of dollars saved each month and no drop in productivity.
3. Fast food spending on the go
If you’re a parent, you know the chaos of running kids from one activity to the next. I was grabbing fast food more often than I realized $10 here, $15 there. It seemed harmless until I added it up.
Shifting to budget-friendly meal planning
- I started packing snacks and easy meals before we left the house.
- I kept water bottles, juice boxes, and snack bars in the car.
- I gave myself a realistic fast food budget, so when we do eat out, it’s intentional.
Bonus: It’s healthier and way more affordable.
My grocery bill was a sneaky budget killer for me. Every time I walked into the store hungry, I came out with snacks and extras I never planned to buy. And if I was out and hungry? I’d splurge on an overpriced meal without thinking.
Outsmarting my snack-driven spending
- I eat before grocery shopping and always have a grocery list (or shop online to avoid impulse buys).
- Keeping snacks in my purse helps to avoid grabbing expensive meals on the go.
- I pay attention to the prices of food and look for generic brands that might offer a lower price.
- I’ve also learned to get creative with my meal planning and I try to use the same ingredients for different recipes.
This small change made a huge difference in curbing unplanned spending.
5. Paying more in delivery fees
Ordering online is a big convenience, but sometimes it comes at a cost. I’ve been guilty of adding unnecessary things to my cart to qualify for free shipping. I’ve also paid some outrageous shipping costs to get products delivered to my door.
- No more filling up my cart. If I don’t meet the minimum requirement for shipping, then I wait until I need something else or I shop elsewhere.
- I look to see if the company offers the option to deliver my product to a pick-up location. This service often costs less than having something delivered to my door.
6. Not returning items I didn’t need
This one hurt. I used to be the queen of buying something, realizing it wasn’t quite right, and then letting the return window pass. $20 here, $50 there. It added up fast.
My new rule: Use it or return it ASAP
- I created a habit of returning items within a week.
- I kept return items in my car so I wouldn’t forget.
- For higher-priced items, I set phone reminders.
- I also avoid stores that charge return fees. Why pay to get your money back?
- I focused on having a capsule wardrobe to reduce my overall spending.
Now, I only keep what I use, and I get my money back for everything else.
Expert tip: Set a recurring calendar reminder every quarter
Set a recurring calendar reminder every quarter to audit your personal and business subscriptions. This simple habit helps you catch unnecessary expenses before they pile up and ensures you’re only paying for what you actually use. It’s one of the easiest ways to stop wasting money without drastically changing your lifestyle.
How to stop wasting Money: My challenge to you
After making these changes, I was amazed at how much I was saving. Cutting just a few unnecessary expenses freed up hundreds of dollars every month and gave me more room in my budget for the things that truly matter.
Ready to take control of your spending?
Here’s my simple challenge:
Start small. Every little change counts and they add up faster than you think.
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Final thoughts: You can stop wasting money too!
Wasting money doesn’t always look like big, obvious purchases. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, recurring expenses or unintentional habits that cost us the most. But the good news? You can take back control, and it doesn’t have to be complicated.
I’m proof that making intentional changes, even just one or two at a time, can completely transform your budget.
So, what’s your biggest money leak right now? Share in the comments and let’s help each other out!
