Discover how to stop wasting money on these 7 everyday habits and save thousands without sacrificing your lifestyle. Smart changes, big results
Have you ever reached the end of the month wondering where your salary vanished? You didn’t make any big purchases, no vacations, no new gadgets—and yet, your wallet feels empty. You have in fact drained your money unknowingly. I have attempted to bring through this article, how we can stop wasting money on these 7 everyday habits.
Here’s the truth: Most of us are bleeding money daily without even realizing it. And it’s not the one-time expenses that are the real culprits—it’s the small, recurring habits that quietly drain your bank account.
In this post, we’ll uncover how to stop wasting money on these 7 everyday habits that appear harmless but are financially dangerous. You’ll also find practical, real-life ways to break these habits—without giving up your comfort.
Let’s dive in and reclaim control of your money!
Daily Coffee or Tea Runs
That ₹100 coffee on your way to work may seem like a minor indulgence. But do the math:
₹100 x 22 working days = ₹2,200/month, or over ₹26,000 per year!
☕ Why It’s a Problem:
You’re not just paying for coffee. You’re paying for packaging, branding, and convenience.
💡 Stop Wasting Money Tip:
- Make coffee or tea at home using a flask.
- Invest in a ₹1,500 coffee press or machine—you’ll recover the cost in a month.
- Carry your drink to work and save money and time.
Food Delivery & Takeaways
Online food orders are now a habit for millions of Indians. But frequent ordering adds not just cost, but also poor health over time.
🍕 Monthly Reality Check:
Average household spends ₹3,500–₹5,000/month on food delivery (source). Multiply that by 12, and you’re easily spending ₹60,000/year—for convenience!
💡 How to Stop Wasting Money on This Habit:
- Cook in batches twice a week.
- Keep healthy frozen items for emergencies.
- Reserve food delivery only for weekends or special occasions.
🔁 My Experience:
I cut my weekly Swiggy orders from 4 to 1 and saved over ₹3,000/month. Bonus: I lost 2 kg just by eating home food!
Impulse Online Shopping
“Only ₹299!” “Flash Sale Ends Soon!” Sound familiar?
These are psychological traps designed to trigger impulse buying. While a ₹500 item doesn’t feel heavy, ten such purchases a month add up to ₹5,000.
📦 Common Triggers:
- One-click checkout
- Push notifications
- Instagram ads
- Boredom or stress
💡 Stop Wasting Money Strategy:
- Use the 24-hour rule: Wait a day before buying anything non-essential.
- Remove saved card info from shopping apps.
- Track purchases weekly using a spending journal or budgeting app.
👀 Quick Fix:
Unsubscribe from marketing emails. They tempt you when you least need them!
Unused Subscriptions
Are you subscribed to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Spotify, a fitness app, and a digital newspaper—but actively using only two?
📉 Subscription Trap:
Most users forget to cancel subscriptions they no longer use. These silent debits go unnoticed for months.
💡 How to Stop Wasting Money on Subscriptions:
- Review all active subscriptions every 3 months.
- Switch to shared or family plans where possible.
- Cancel anything you haven’t used in the last 30 days.
📊 Commonly Wasted Subscriptions:
| Service | Monthly Cost | Worth It? |
| Netflix | ₹649 | Yes |
| Spotify Premium | ₹119 | No |
| Fitness App | ₹299 | Rarely |
| Blinkit Premium | ₹99 | Sometimes |
| TOI E-paper | ₹199 | No |
Total saved? Easily ₹1,000–₹1,500 per month!
Leaving Appliances & Chargers Plugged In
Do you leave your TV on standby, chargers plugged in, or the geyser running longer than needed?
⚡ Hidden Cost:
Devices on standby mode can consume up to 10% of your electricity bill (source).
💡 Stop Wasting Money at Home:
- Use smart plugs with timers.
- Turn off lights/fans when not in use.
- Set your A/C to 25°C—each degree saves up to 6% energy.
💰 My Result:
I reduced my monthly bill by ₹800 just by switching to LED bulbs and managing usage more mindfully.
ATM Withdrawals from Other Banks
Sounds minor, right? But many people withdraw money multiple times from non-home bank ATMs, paying ₹20–₹25 each time.
💸 Small Charges Add Up:
3 transactions a month = ₹75
12 months = ₹900 lost in avoidable charges.
💡 Simple Fix:
- Withdraw once or twice in larger amounts.
- Use your bank’s ATM to avoid extra fees.
- Shift more transactions to UPI or card.
Not Tracking Daily Expenses
Not knowing where your money is going is the root cause of overspending. This is perhaps the most dangerous habit of all.
📉 According to MoneyControl, Indian households underestimate their monthly spending by 20–30%—especially on food, transport, and small items.
💡 How to Stop Wasting Money by Tracking:
- Use apps like Walnut, GoodBudget, or Money Manager.
- Or keep a small diary if you prefer pen and paper.
- Review your spending weekly.
🧠 Pro Tip:
Assign a ‘spend review day’ every Sunday. It keeps you financially grounded and mindful.
Summary Table: Monthly Cost of the 7 Habits
| Habit | Avg Monthly Cost | Fix to Save Money |
| Daily Coffee | ₹2,200 | Brew at home |
| Food Delivery | ₹4,000–₹5,000 | Cook twice a week |
| Online Impulse Shopping | ₹3,000–₹5,000 | Wait 24 hours, unsubscribe emails |
| Subscription Overload | ₹1,200 | Audit and cancel unused ones |
| Energy Wastage | ₹500–₹800 | Smart plugs, LED bulbs |
| ATM Charges | ₹75–₹100 | Use home bank ATM |
| Not Tracking Expenses | ₹3,000–₹5,000 | Use apps or journals |
Potential Monthly Savings: ₹15,000+
Potential Yearly Savings: ₹1.8 lakhs+
Final Thoughts: One Change at a Time
If you feel overwhelmed, don’t try to fix all 7 habits in one week. Choose just one or two, and commit to tracking or tweaking them.
When you learn to stop wasting money on these 7 everyday habits, you’ll discover more breathing space in your budget—without compromising your lifestyle.
These aren’t extreme frugal hacks. They are realistic, proven, and powerful.
And they can put thousands back in your pocket, month after month. I am sure you will be able to stop wasting money on these 7 habits.
✅ Your Next Step
- 💬 Which of these 7 habits do you struggle with the most?
- 📩 Subscribe to our newsletter for more practical money-saving insights.
- 🔗 Read next: How I Started Saving Rs 5000 Every Month Without Cutting My Lifestyle