Simple Ways to Spend Less and Save More

We all know the dangers of smoking cigarettes, yet many people just can't kick the habit. Maybe this will help.

In New York City, cigarette packs average at around $10.00 a pack. Assuming you smoke a pack a day, that adds up to $70.00 a week. If you are a heavy smoker, someone who smokes about two packs a week, that cost doubles to $140.00.

A pack a day smoker in New York City could save $3,715 annually if they kicked their habit. For those heavy smokers, savings could reach as high as $7,000. That is in just one year!

Imagine the money you could save if you stopped smoking, and started putting that money into a savings account?

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) puts out reports annually regarding the costs of driving and the potential savings that public transit offers to millions of residents all over the United States.

Their most recent report showed that the "average person" in 16 out of the 20 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S could save well over $10,000 in one year by switching from driving to public transit.

The four cities that didn't save well over $10,000 averaged at $10,181, darn. Reseidents of New York City were one of the highest on the list of potential savers, averaging at over $15,000 in just one year.

Across all 20, the average was $10,181. In New York City, the average savings based on APTA's assumptions come to $15,041.

Further research studying expenditures for drivers tracked an adult commuter who drove 2 hours to and from work each day in rural North Carolina. In a place where gas is relatively cheap compared to many other locations in the U.S., this study participant spent $45,000 annually just taking their work commute into account.

This figure represented the money spent on gas alone. It did not factor in oil changes, repairs and maintenance, insurance, lease costs, as well as time.

We all love dining out once in a while, but do you realize how much money you may be wasting on a meal you could have easily prepared at home?

Taking a family of four that eats out once or twice a week, with an average expenditure of $75 per week on dining out, wastes just under $7,000 each year on food.

For families that are larger, about six to seven people, eating out gets quite expensive once it becomes a habit. Families of this size can expect to spend just under $100 every time they go out to eat. Assuming they go out one to two times per week, this size family ends up spending just under $8,000 a year on restaurant food.

Don't find yourself in the dark when it comes to finances! There are plenty of online tools available to help you track your spending, plan your expenses, and calculate how much money you could save by making minor changes to your daily life.

Bills.com provides a calculator that will show you how much you could save by making changes to your daily expenses.

Your savings can be huge and seeing the number in can be just the motivation you need to make a few small changes in your habits. Take the first step and start saving a few dollars daily today.

Are you one of the many people who runs out the door first thing in the morning, then grabs a cup of coffee on your way to work? If so, you could be wasting thousands of dollars a year!

In a study that calculated the savings for an individual who bought coffee six out of seven days of the week, spending an average of $2.50 a cup (which is a bargain if you happen to be hooked on Starbucks!) researchers calculated how much money this person would save over ten years if they stopped buying their morning cup of joe.

The results of the study showed that if the person stopped buying coffee each morning, in ten years they would save $9,250. That's close to a grand a year! Not to mention the fact that $2.50 is a bargain these days for a good cup of coffee.

Do yourself a favor and fix a pot before you go to bed so it's ready and waiting for you. Your wallet will thank you!

Are you one of the many people who loves to play the lottery? If so, these numbers may make you think twice before you purchase your next ticket.

A person who spends just $20 per week playing the lottery could save $5,752 after five years if they stopped their habit.

A person who spends $50 a week on lottery tickets could save over $14,000 after five years by not buying any tickets!

Here are some more eye opening numbers and statistics for you...

You have better chances of getting into a car accident, plane accident, or struck my lightning, than to win the lottery.

In a lottery with six numbers ranging from 1 to 70, the odds of you hitting the jackpot is one in 131,115,985.

In a lottery with five numbers ranging from 1 to 60, the odds of you hitting the jackpot is 2 in 5,461,512.

Convenience and saving money don't typically go hand in hand. This definitely applies to vending machines, which happen to be a daily habit for many of us.

Vending machines may be quick and convenient, but they are unhealthy and they are definitely not cheap. I remember the last vending machine that I passed was charging $1.00 for a pack of mints!

To put things in perspective lets break down the numbers. If you spend $25.00 each week on snacks (outside of your weekly grocery trip) and decide to stop cold turkey, after 10 years, you would wind up saving just over $15,000!

Are you a person that loves a night out on the town every week? If so, you may be flushing thousands of dollars right down the toilet.

The average female between the ages of 25 and 35 spends an estimated $75.00 in one night when she goes out to a club or bar (this includes cover charges, snacks and coat check). Men in this age range average around $100.

By eliminating this expense completely, females who spend $75 a week on bars and nightclubs could save just over $21,000 in only five years! Men, you would save just under $30,000 in the same amount of time.

Now that is a lot of cash.