I’ve made a lot of impulse decisions in my life but one of the most impacting and life-changing impulse decision I’ve made was quitting my job. 

You see, for years, I struggled with my mental health from working in a very toxic and stressful environment and eventually, my depression just made it too impossible for me to continue working, so without thinking rationally, I decided to quit.

I left my job with no savings, zero emergency fund and absolutely no back-up plan (bad decision, right?)

Don’t get me wrong, though it was one of those impulse decisions — decisions that I definitely didn’t think through, it felt right and it made me feel a lot better. 

But unfortunately, the downside in making that decision is having to live off one income. 

And since I was the one earning more, we definitely have to make some big and drastic changes if we want to make the ends meet every month. 

I knew that the first step that I needed to take was to get my hands dirty, sit down and look closely at how we were spending our money. 

Because quite frankly, even though I was earning good money when I was working that 8-5 job, I was still living paycheck to paycheck. 

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And after taking a hard look at all our expenses, I was so surprised to see how much money we were actually wasting just by constantly choosing convenience and by never taking the time to consider the alternatives. 

I mean, we were just so used into paying and buying all these things on autopilot without even really thinking twice if we even need these things in the first place. 

Often, these things are just small, the upfront charges are usually low so they easily go unnoticed but what we don’t realize is these small charges can easily pile up and cost us even more than what we expected. 

That’s why I decided to share with you the things that most people easily waste money on — money that you could have already saved if you just paid more attention. 

Here are 5 things I stopped buying to stop wasting money and start saving…

I stopped buying things just because they are on sale… 

We all want to save money and get good deals. I mean, who doesn’t want that right? 

There’s nothing wrong with buying items that are on sale but if you are only buying them for that sole reason and you really have no intention of using it or you’re not even sure if you need it in the first place then that is when the problem begins. 

I was so guilty of this habit.

I used to buy all these items(groceries included) because they are on sale but guess what, all those items just go unused and as embarrassing as it is to admit, some of it even gets thrown out. 

So, instead of saving money, I just end up wasting it. 

It’s best to always ask yourself first, is this really something that you need? Would you still think of buying this even if it’s not on sale? 

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

I stopped choosing convenience

I know a lot of people who are guilty of this and I was one of them. 

Without any second thoughts or hesitations, I would always go for convenience over savings. 

Whether it’s taking an Uber ride, constantly eating out, ordering takeout and even having my groceries delivered, I would always just choose the most convenient and easiest way. 

But after having to quit my job and paying close attention to every expense, I realized just how much this habit was really costing me. 

I know it’s always so easy to ignore these types of charges, especially since the upfront charges are low and of course, it’s convenient but what we don’t realize is how fast those small charges can add up. 

Don’t get me wrong, choosing convenience from time to time is definitely not bad but if money is tight and your goal is to save then it’s definitely time to stop this behavior. 

Related: 5 Habits that are Keeping you Poor without even Realizing It

I stopped being brand specific…

For years, I was so caught up in buying certain brands for household and everyday items that I never even stopped to consider other cheaper alternatives. 

I was just so used into buying them that I failed to notice why I was even buying these brands in the first place. 

I mean, there was never really anything special about them.

I just continued to purchase it because I didn’t want to bother looking for a much cheaper alternative(silly, right?)

In this case, it always pays to stop and think why you’re constantly buying this brand in the first place. 

If you want to cut your spending and save money, switching from brand-specific products to generic ones can definitely make a difference in your savings! 

Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash

I stopped buying in bulk…

We already know that buying in bulk is a great way to save money. 

And that’s definitely true, as long as you eat or use them before they go bad. 

Otherwise, instead of saving money, you’ll just end up wasting it. 

I was obsessed with buying items in bulk — thinking that I was saving money by doing it. 

But the problem was, we never really get around into eating or using them before they go bad that we just end up throwing them away. 

I still buy things in bulk but the difference now is, I make smarter choices. 

I only go for the things that we frequently use or eat. 

Also, I find that keeping a list of everything that we have along with the date it goes bad is the best way to avoid food being thrown out. 

Related: 5 Things to do if You’re Tired of Being Broke

I stopped forgetting free trials… 

I have plenty of these. 

I don’t know why but I just get so easily wooed into trying subscription-based services. 

Now, there is nothing wrong in subscribing to free trials but my problem was, I would always forget to cancel them. 

Free trials often automatically charge your card after a certain date and if you are someone who rarely spends time checking every item that is charged on your card then those free trials are really going to cost you for months.

I find that it’s best to keep a list of all the free trials that you are a part of and set a reminder on your phone a day before the trial ends for each of them, that way you’ll be sure to never miss it. 


Awareness plays a big role in improving your finances. Whether you want to cut your spending to save money or pay off a debt, being aware of what and where you are spending your money on is essential.

So start by paying close attention to your spending habits and make smart choices.

Remember, that making a few tweaks in your lifestyle can have a huge impact on your savings! 


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