Holding cup of coffee to go

6 Habits that Cost You $50 a Month or More

Arizona Federal Staff
Mar 11, 2021

Take a look at how some habits can put a serious strain on your budget. Here are some average expenses of habits that may be impacting your finances.

  1. Smoking
    If you smoke, averaging $5 a day, that’ll run $35 a week and more than $1,820 a year.

    Average Monthly Cost: $140

    Quick fix: Give it up and do your lungs (and budget) a favor! If you can’t, try to cut back.
  2. Paying credit card bills late
    This habit won’t only cost you a pretty penny; it’ll really hurt your credit score. It could also increase your rate (which will increase your interest charges).

    Average Monthly Cost: $70

    Quick fix: Take a few minutes now to set up automatic payment on your bills so you’ll never be late.
  3. Buying lunch
    If you work outside the home and can’t bring yourself to brown-bag it at work, you probably spend upward of $7 every work day. That’s a lot of money you can use for something more important – or even put into savings.

    Average Monthly Cost: $147

    Quick fix: Try to brown-bag it every Tuesday. When you’ve got that down, do it every Tuesday and Thursday. Work your way through the week until you’re only buying lunch once a week – or just once a month!
  4. Online shopping
    It’s way too easy to overspend when it’s just a click here and a click there before you’re looking at a full cart – and an empty checking account.

    Average Monthly Cost: $65

    Quick fix: Don’t save your credit card info on your computer or phone in any online shopping sites you visit. If you can’t stop surfing the stores, keep your credit card out of reach while you browse.
  5. Buying coffee
    Americans spend more on coffee than auto insurance — about $1,100 a year. The average 25- to 34-year-old spends $2,008 per year at coffee shops according to a survey by the money app Acorns.

    Average Monthly Cost: $91

    Quick fix: Make your morning coffee at home or order a drip coffee and add pumps of vanilla or caramel for flavor!
  6. Only paying the minimum
    Carrying a balance on your credit cards can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in interest alone.

    Average Monthly Cost: $60

    Quick fix: Get into the habit of paying more than the minimum so you make real headway on paying off debt.

 

Your turn: Tell us about a habit that’s costing you money – leave a comment below.