What’s one monthly expense you managed to cut without really missing it?

Technology
1

I’ve been looking at some of my regular monthly expenses lately and realized that a few things I pay for have just become automatic.

It got me wondering what other people have been able to cut without feeling like they were giving up something important.

For me, the hardest part is figuring out which expenses are actually worth keeping and which ones I’m only paying for out of habit.

Has anyone here recently canceled or reduced a monthly expense and ended up being surprised by how little they missed it?

I’d be interested in hearing what you cut and whether you would recommend doing the same.

1 Like
2

For me, it was a couple of streaming subscriptions that I barely used. I originally signed up because I thought I’d watch them regularly, but after a while they were just another automatic charge on my card. I canceled them and honestly didn’t miss them much at all.

It made me realize how easy it is to keep paying for things simply because the payment is automatic. Now I try to review my recurring expenses every few months and ask myself whether I’ve actually used each service recently. Sometimes the small monthly charges are the easiest savings because you don’t really feel like you’re giving anything up.

3

This is such an individualized response, but for me it was choosing to cook more and dine out less. It’s a healthier option, but I had to learn to cook well.

Good luck with your budgeting.

4

Almost 15 years ago I became a “cordcutter”. I now just have Internet and stream free TV. Roku, Firestick, YouTube. I also have a TV antenna, although at 65 miles from the broadcast towers I don’t consistently pull in good signals. And no, I don’t have any subscriptions to tv. All free. I know there are people that just HAVE to have their ESPN and such. Not me.

5

TV, purchased an OTA antenna and a Tablo. I can record live TV. I have an Amazon Firestick and tons of free apps, Youtube, Roku, Tubi, Pluto, Hoopla, Kanopy and others. I have all the content I want.

I cut my huge mobile bill and pay $15 a month for Mint Mobile. Quit Spectrum and moved to Tmobile home internet for $50 a month. Cut out takeout and fast food and cook at home.

6

That Tablo looks cool! I’d like to know what other devices similar would be out there. I watch a lot of YouTube videos and would love to DVR them so I can zap those annoying ads.

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Tablo records OTA antenna content. Not streaming services.

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I went to the Tablo website and I could swear they mentioned streaming services.

9

Can you post that information you found? It is not possible to record YouTube. You may be referring to the Tablo “Fast Channels” which are ad-supported streaming TV that the Tablo device picks up. But those are not separate streaming channels.

https://support.tablotv.com/hc/en-us/articles/21999956472340-4th-Generation-Tablo-Free-Ad-Supported-Streaming-TV-Channels-FAST-List

10

When I finally listed every autopay coming out of my account, I found two I had honestly forgotten. One was a streaming add-on I had not opened in months, the other was a game subscription from a free trial that quietly started charging me. Canceling both freed up about 28 dollars a month, which is not life changing, but I now send that same amount to savings on payday before I can spend it. I do not miss either one at all.

11

Not really missing it, but here goes.

I had a streaming account and then they had a Black Friday deal at a big discount. Since I have multiple domains I own, I have an unlimited number of emails.

I signed up for the new account with a new email and used a different credit card number. I waited two months before cancelling the old account.

Yes, it is cheating in a way, but lately I have not been watching much on that service, so I figure it is better to be paying them less than just cancelling the account completely.

Then I converted all my landlines to Internet VOIP services at tremendous savings.

When shopping for food, I will buy at Costco often, even if some of the food goes to waste as it is styill cheaper for me than the supermarket. A local Safeway has $5 Fridays with some items like a $5 foot long sub or (at the time, $5 a pound Top sirloin steak). I would get two subs and eat them over the first few meals of the week. The steaks would be cut up, one put in the fridge and the other one frozen for future. (Hint: pan fry them in butter rather than the cost of over broiling).

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I cut cable over a decade ago and I haven’t missed it. I refuse to purchase a streaming subscription to watch one show, so I guess I missed out on some streaming shows,…but since I never saw them I don’t miss them.