Plugging The Money Drain, Part Iv – Incidentals

This article is the fourth and last one in the series of plugging the money drain article series. There were three articles before this article. You should also read the first three parts of this article series for learning more.

It is quite amazing how quickly the little things add up! Even a very modest $5 work lunch turns into $1,250 a year on lunches! Buying one small bottle of water or vending machine soda a day will cost at least $250 a year, and coffees typically $750. Are you sure you dont want to pack your lunch and bring drinks from home or make them at the office? Perhaps bringing from home looks more attractive now that you realize giving them up for a year just might allow you to buy a hot tub or take a nice vacation!

The problem is, when we make these little purchases we rarely collect a receipt and review how much we are spending on them every month. Its like having a fast leak in a faucet, only in this case you dont hear it dripping. It is a good thing to know how you are spending every cent so you can make better decisions about money according to your personal wishes. If you like, start keeping a record of every purchase, large or tiny. But if...