Americans are willing to pay for convenience. We think our time is so valuable that we don’t need to clean our own homes, cars, yards or clothes. Businesses are popping up that offer the service of convenience, and these new companies are becoming very successful.
All good business meet a need and these new companies are no different. The difference is
that this need of service isn’t really a need, it’s a want, and American’s want convenience. It’s easy to get wrapped up in it, I do myself. But we have to break this bad habit if we want to save more money and reach financial freedom.
Home Cleaning
What does a person spend to have their house cleaned by a cleaning service? Most cleaning services come on a bi-weekly schedule and charge around $150+ each time they come out. The amount they charge depends on the size of your home and the area you live in. As you can imagine, the cost of having your house cleaned really adds up.
Cleaning your house may seem like something you don’t have time for but is it really an expense you can afford? What could you be doing with that extra $300 a month? Before you say you don’t have time consider putting your kids to work or making a standard cleaning day. Giving the kids chores around the house is a great way to teach them responsibility and cleanliness.
Car Wash
Every once in a while I like to get the car washed at my local car wash spot. The more I think about it, the less likely I am to visit my car was spot this spring. While I am all for using the car wash during the winter I’m going to be taking responsibility for washing my own car when it’s warm out.
Everyone likes to have a clean car and it’s easy to find yourself at the car was as often as once a week for a $12 cleaning. I’ve known people who are willing to sit in line for up to 30 minutes waiting go through the car wash. What a waste of time! You can wash your car for free at home in 10 minutes. Besides saving money you will be active, outside and you can have your family help out.
Dry Cleaning
Many clothing items require dry cleaning because they will not last if you run them through the washing machine. I’ve got a few of those types of clothing items and when they need to be cleaned I take them to the dry cleaner. Dry Cleaning services fits into the clean it for me culture and we are likely to over use the service in the way of convenience.
Many people take their clothes to the dry cleaner because they don’t want to iron. Ironing takes time but it saves you money. I went to private school while growing up and we had a strict business casual dress code. My mom made me iron all my own clothes and we never took any of my shirts to the dry cleaner. That’s one good habit that has stuck with me into adulthood.
Everyone likes to have fun and go out. These economic times have forced many of us to cut back on our spending. One of the first things to cut back on is going out to eat. Use these seven tips to help you spend less when you eat out.
1. Go early – happy hour
Almost every restaurant has a happy hour. Happy hour means lower prices. One of my favorite things to do is to go to a restaurant with my wife before 6:00pm and sit at the bar. I know this doesn’t work when you have the kids with you, but if you go alone it’s a great way to save money. We like sitting at the bar because it’s easier to talk and we have more fun that way.
Everything is cheaper during happy hour. The drinks and the appetizers are usually 50% off. We like to get a drink and a few good appetizers as our meal. This doesn’t work at every restaurant. You have to pick and choose the ones with good sized appetizers.
2. Use Groupon
Have you joined Groupon yet? Groupon is free and they have daily deals and discounts for your area. They work with local restaurants and business in each city to put together group discounts. You only buy into the deal if you are interested. They usually do things like $50 worth of fare for $20 at xyz restaurant. It’s a great way to save money and try a place you’ve never been to.
3. Gift card bonus offers
I’ve seen this offered everywhere from sub shops to fine dining dinner spots. Restaurants will offer you a $20 gift card for free when you buy a $100 gift card. If it’s a place you go often and you know you will spend $120 there in the next year anyway, buying the gift card for yourself is a no-brainer.
4. Drink more water
One of the biggest expenses in your dinner bill is usually drinks. Wine, beer, and mixed drinks can really add up. Try drinking more water and less alcohol to save money when you go out to eat.
5. Skip appetizers or desert
Dinner by itself is usually enough to fill up. Avoid either the appetizer or desert.
6. Don’t let the waiter upsell you
If you haven’t noticed this before you will next time you go out to eat. The waiters are trained to upsell you at every chance they get. “Would you like an extra side, a bigger drink, a second appetizer?” Get what you want and avoid the extras the waiter suggests.
7. Set an eating out budget
You should have a line in your budget for restaurants. When you have a budget for eating out you are much more conscious of the money you spend. It will be easier to reduce your spending when you have prepared with a budgeted plan ahead of time.