By now it's no secret that Americans are cutting back to save money - with most of us struggling to manage our mortgage payments, credit card bills and other debts, it's not like we have a choice.
But while we've cut out obvious costs like gym memberships, cable and land lines, many of us are missing smaller, less visible opportunities to save. But sometimes those little things add up enough to put us back in the black, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Take the following examples.
With the hot weather upon us, it seems like a no brainer to drink more water. But when most of us automatically reach for plastic bottles, we're dehydrating our wallets. If an average flat of water bottles costs 5 bucks at the store, a family could burn through $20 in water a month. It might not seem like much, but think about it: you're paying for something that comes free out of your sink or fridge. Prefer the portability of bottles? Consider buying a nice reusable one.
If you've got bills to pay, chances are you're making a lot of trips to the post office - and some of those trips involve buying stamps. By switching all of your bills to online payments, you'll save on stamps, gas money and the time it takes to wait in line at the postal counter - let's call that another $20 a month in the piggy bank.
Everyone needs a little entertainment in their lives - especially now. But we shouldn't have to pay for it. Most of us are accustomed to purchasing DVDs at Target or renting them with Netflix, buying books on Amazon or paying to have magazines sent to our mailbox. But we can have all of those things for absolutely free - all we have to do is take a little trip to our local library.
By just making three little changes, you could easily save $700 or more annually. And I'll bet once you start looking, you could find a few more subtle ways to save money - for instance, brewing coffee at home instead of buying it out, washing your car at home instead of at the gas station, or trimming your own bangs or doing your own nails. Of course, if you ever find that you can't cut another cent - but you're still having trouble finding enough to pay the bills - bankruptcy might be your best solution. The right bankruptcy plan help you start lowering debt - and, in turn, your monthly bills. Want to know more? It's as simple as trying a free personal debt analysis with an Atlanta bankruptcy attorney.
