Across the western world there are hundreds of thousands of people who are trying to tighten their belts and give themselves a lifestyle which is far more comfortable. Very often we think that the answer to our financial woes is to earn more money and whilst this is technically true, it is not the only answer. One of the best ways in fact, to put yourself on a more solid financial footing, is to stop spending so much money on things which you don’t need. In light of this, let’s take a look at the top 5 things that us westerners waste our cash on.

Brand Names

There are so many products throughout a supermarket which you can find that are identical to those with a famous brand name, but cost a great deal less. A perfect example of this is paracetamol, you can find a brand name paracetamol for almost $3 more than a grocery store’s own brand, when the product is absolutely identical.

Shopping When Hungry

If you go to the grocery store when you are hungry, you are guaranteed to waste your money buying foods which you don’t want or need. It is always good practice to have a meal before you go to the grocery store, so that you are not tempted by things which appear nice, but aren’t necessary.

Car Tires

A really simple way in which may of us waste money, that can be easily rectified, is not having enough air in your tires. When your tires lack air, you will be using much more gas  than normal as well as contributing to the damage that your car parts could suffer such as brakes. Don’t waste money on something so simple, make sure that you regularly check the air pressure in your tires so that your car can be as economical as possible.

Forgotten Subscriptions

How many times have you signed up for a free trial and not cancelled it in time before it starts charging you? This is something that many people do and then it is only after a year of their monthly subscription leaving their account, that they realize they should cancel it. Make sure that you have a check each month of the direct debits coming out of your bank account, so that you can stop them when needed.

Early Bird Alcohol

If you like to party then heading out early is only going to cost you more money and the best way to save money on this, is to do like the millennial do. Supermarket alcohol is significantly cheaper than if you are buying it in a bar and so stocking up and staying in makes for a great idea. If you plan on going to a club, why not stay in for pre-drinks until 11 or 12 and then head to the club, doing things this way will save you a great amount of cash.

Who do you waste money? We all have our ways, let us know in the comments section below.