8 Ways to Stop Wasting Money

Small things have a way of piling up until your money is leaving faster than you can make it.

Many items we purchase never get used. omeqs/Shutterstock

Your paycheck doesn’t exactly walk out the front door; it seeps away. Little dribbles here and there: a forgotten return, a subscription you never use, that “risk-free” gadget from a TV ad. On paper, these are small things. But small things have a way of piling up until your money is leaving faster than you can make it.

Want to keep more of what you earn? Stop wasting money on things you don’t actually care about. Here’s how:

Stop Buying From TV Ads

Infomercials make everything look incredible—the blender that can crush an entire coconut, the mop that can clean your floor and your windows, the miracle cream that will take 10 years off your face before dinner. In real life, most of these products are overpriced and underwhelming.

And those “risk-free” trial periods? That usually means you'll pay return shipping and a restocking fee. If you even remember to return it.

Instead: The next time you’re tempted, hit pause (literally) and check eBay. Odds are you'll find dozens of the exact same item—many still in the box—for a fraction of the price. Ask yourself why so many people are unloading it. By the time you have your answer, the infomercial will be over and your wallet will still be intact.

Stop Impulsive Crafting

Crafting is wonderful—unless your “wonderful” now lives in dusty plastic bins in the garage. Remember the beading kit you bought on a whim? Or the scrapbooking haul from that home party that’s still in the original bag?

Instead: Test-drive new hobbies before committing. Sign up for a low-cost class at the community center or borrow supplies from a crafty friend. A few hours of hands-on experience will tell you if it’s a lifelong passion or just a fleeting fancy.

Bonus: You won’t end up with 42 skeins of yarn for the blanket you'll never finish.

Stop Failing to Return

It doesn’t fit right. The color is all wrong. The tag is still hanging there, silently judging you. But who has time to go back to the store? You do.

Failing to return purchases is one of the fastest ways to waste money. Those unworn clothes could have been cash—or at least store credit—if you'd acted quickly.

Instead: Try on everything the day you buy it. If it’s not perfect, re-bag it immediately with the receipt and keep it by the door. Many stores even offer free mail-back returns now, which means you can make that refund happen in your pajamas.

Stop Paying for Storage

Paying monthly to store what you don’t use is like paying rent for your clutter.

Instead: Go on a decluttering spree. Sell what you can on Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. Donate the rest to charities such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Your budget will thank you, and so will your stress levels.

Stop Ignoring Subscriptions

It’s the $7.99s and $14.99s that get you. Streaming services, specialty apps, premium memberships—they add up quietly until you’re paying more than you ever did for cable.

Instead: Audit your subscriptions every few months. Use your bank statement or a budgeting app to spot repeat charges. Cancel anything you haven’t used in 30 days. If you miss it later, you can always resubscribe.

Stop Grocery Shopping Without a Plan

Walking into a grocery store without a list is like going to a buffet after fasting all day—everything looks good, and suddenly you “need” a 5-pound tub of cheese puffs.

Instead: Make a meal plan, shop your pantry first, and write a list. And for the love of your budget, don’t shop hungry.

Stop Losing Gift Cards

An unused gift card is money—your money—rotting away in a kitchen drawer. Retailers count on a big percentage of cards never being redeemed.

Instead: Keep all gift cards in one place (a pouch in your purse or wallet). Set a reminder on your phone to use them within 30 days. Treat them like cash—because they are.

Stop Ignoring the Small Leaks

Sometimes the real budget-busters aren’t the big-ticket splurges but the little things: that daily coffee you could make at home, the ATM fee you pay because the machine is “right there,” the shipping charge you could have avoided with a little planning.

Instead: Do a “leak check” every month. Look at your bank statement and circle every unnecessary fee or impulse buy. Then make a plan to plug those leaks—permanently.

Want the full list (and a few you’ve probably never thought of)? You can find that (and me!) at EverydayCheapskate.com/wastingmoney.

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