The holidays will be here before you know it, and if inflation is squeezing your budget, you may be short on cash. Fortunately, there are relatively painless ways to cut costs. “Families and individuals get used to assuming certain conveniences in their life, which have a way of adding up fast,” says Kortney Ziegler, founder and CEO of WellMoney, an online money sharing community. “Rethinking assumptions about transportation, how and where you shop and household habits can quickly add up to $500 in savings.” Here are some of the expenses that can be cut in the next 30 days to save $500 before the holidays. Cost savings will vary by family, and some households may find that making these adjustments will net them significantly more money in the bank. Skip Takeout Once a Week – $40 Savings The morning latte is the low-hanging fruit whenever someone is trying to save money. “Trim your Starbucks habit,” says Joe Buhrmann, senior financial planning consultant at wealth management platform eMoney. And if you already make your coffee at home, consider packing your lunch or skipping the drive thru once a week. An individual could save $10 per week this way, for $40 savings per month
