Through everyday habits and convenience, people often lose a lot of money without realizing it. An expert explains in an interview how to do better and how to save up more for the next round of Azurslot.

Whether during daily shopping, energy consumption, or small everyday habits, households often lose amounts of money that could be easily saved with a bit of attention. Annette Heuser reveals where most money disappears unnoticed and which simple adjustments can help relieve one’s wallet. The vice president of the German Household Council offers practical tips in the conversation on how households can reduce costs without sacrificing quality of life.

Which three habits cost me the most money without me noticing?

A crucial point is shopping without a plan. This often leads us to buy things we don’t actually need, but which catch our eye on the shelf. For instance, when food goes bad, we throw real money in the trash. 

A common practice nowadays is leaving the house in the morning and buying a coffee to go first. However, that can be incredibly expensive. Instead, while I’m in the shower, I could easily brew a coffee, saving costs while also being kinder to the environment.

Energy is another issue: simply switching all light bulbs in the home to LED can make a big difference. Additionally, one should avoid using standby functions and set motion detectors—like in entryways or hallways—so that the lights only remain on as long as needed.

Then there are various subscriptions—such as for streaming services. These are often just small amounts, but they can quickly add up.

How can I identify such unnecessary expenses without becoming pedantic?

By keeping a household budget. Nowadays, there are apps that allow you to accurately record and categorize income and expenses. This helps. Alternatively, one can also use an Excel spreadsheet or go the classic route with a physical notebook. 

It’s essential to think about which categories you actually spend money in before using it for the first time. A single-person household may have different categories than one with two children. Subsequently, budgets should be assigned to these categories, depending on what the household can afford. 

For at least two months, all expenses should be listed and checked to see where the established budgets have been exceeded. This quickly and easily reveals where adjustments are needed.

And how do I ultimately ensure that money doesn’t slip through my fingers in the mentioned areas?

For example, you can go shopping with a list to avoid buying unnecessary items. Stick to it and don’t be swayed by deals. However, for the products on your list, check which are on sale. Stay flexible—does the vegetable casserole really need to be made with the expensive squash, or can a cheaper zucchini work just as well? 

Food and dishes that haven’t been consumed should be placed in the refrigerator and can be used in the following days. If that’s not possible, it’s better to freeze the products so they don’t spoil. To avoid this problem, pay attention to the right quantities when shopping. If packaged food is oversized, prefer to buy fruits and vegetables individually.

The same goes for cleaning supplies: buy only what you genuinely need. There’s a huge selection available, but do you really need all of them? And stick to the dosage instructions. Just because more is used does not mean it works better.

For subscriptions and insurance, it helps to have your bank statements handy and check which ones are actually necessary. Cancel any contracts you don’t need, and review annually or semi-annually whether there are cheaper options for insurance and energy contracts with other providers. A switch is often worthwhile. 

Not just saving money, but also (sustainably) investing

Annette Heuser’s tips help avoid unnecessary consumer spending and have more money left at the end of the month. However, when possible, especially with food, one should not only focus on the lowest price but also consider sustainable production. A significant amount of money can also be saved by leaving the car parked more often or even giving it up.

Important: The money saved this way should not just be left sitting in a checking account, where it doesn’t earn any interest and is gradually eroded by inflation.