Tips to reduce small expenses or ant expenses

Perhaps it has happened to you that without realizing it, money slips through your fingers like water. And you don't know what time you went from financial comfort to forced austerity. It is probably because of the small expenses , called ant expenses . It's about the money you spend on low-cost things and services with high frequency and without much notice . If you are not aware or prepared for them, they end up leaving you without funds for the most important things. Here are practical tips to keep ant expenses under control .

identify them

The starting point is that you can recognize what your ant expenses are. It requires an exercise of memory and the ability to determine the approximate periodicity with which they occur. The most common examples are usually coffees, phone recharges, snacks, attention to visitors, buying lunches, money for the children to go out and meals with close friends or co-workers.

calculate them

In the next step you must define the amounts of money that you usually spend on it. It is important that you know not only the value of the units to be registered, but also the frequency and quantity that you usually acquire. This will be a bit difficult if you have paid little attention to the matter; however, you can start posting at any time.

budget them

Knowing the reality of your ant expenses and the other aspects to consider in your personal and family finances (learn more here ), you will be in a position to assign a ceiling and some appropriate distribution (preferably weekly) for this type of expenses, because it is true that you will hardly be able to override them (and that's not the idea either!). Our suggestion is that they do not exceed 10% of your income .

Modify

Because it is not just about assigning a budget , but, above all, you must guarantee that the sum of your ant expenses does not get out of your hands or convenience. To do this you must change habits , prevent spending situations and train yourself to maintain the balance between flexibility and determination .

Some useful modifications that you can introduce are:

• Bring your water/snack/food/coffee to work.

• Stipulate one (maximum two) days a week for social plans.

• Use alternative means of transportation.

• Remove subscriptions you don't use or need.

• Buy cheap and healthy snacks to replace cravings.

• Reduce leisure time.

• Negotiate limits with the people who depend financially on you.

• Study cheaper alternatives for the services that represent necessary ant expenses.

• Share less time with people who do not regulate their ant expenses.

Planning your finances only brings benefits to your domestic economy , giving you peace of mind, freedom and well -being. Although we are not used to budgeting expenses and refraining from small pleasures , it is positive to introduce changes in a favorable direction until we find our personal balance .

Do not see it as a sacrifice, synonymous with displeasure and discomfort; gradually try to interpret it as discipline and optimization . Replaces instead of simply removing . You yourself will notice the benefits of preventing financial difficulties and moving towards a less consumerist lifestyle .