Life’s Little Conveniences That Might Break Your Budget

My dad flat refused to allow me to take my driving test when I turned 16. It wasn’t because he didn’t consider me a good driver or a responsible teen; I was both to the extreme. He would not allow me to take the test because I refused to allow him to teach me how to change my own tire and check my own oil. I thought he was kidding when he said I had to know these things prior to obtaining my license; he was not joking. I had to wait a solid three weeks to get my license because he wanted to teach me and needed the time (I think he had ample time and enjoyed seeing my tortured soul being punished for procrastinating). He and my mother both said that no driver should ever be without these basic skills.

I learned. I can change a tire and I can check my oil. Have I ever actually used either skill? No; because that was almost 17 years ago and I haven’t had a car in my life since becoming an adult that doesn’t tell me my oil level or my tire pressure – and I’ve had run flats for as long as I can remember. When something happens to me in my life – a flat tire, a plumbing issue, a broken whatever – I call for professional help. In my opinion, people have these jobs for a reason and I cannot be bothered with them. My husband and I are not handy people. We pay for these services. However, it’s a waste of money.

When it comes to personal finance, one of the biggest wastes of money in our lives are the personal conveniences we pay so much for; someone else to change our tire, someone else to come into our home to unclog a drain. Should we do that? I think that it’s a personal question and answer, but for some it might be the best way to save money and create a much more manageable budget.

• Yard work
• Lawn service
• Housekeeping
• Laundry
• Car maintenance
• Plumbing maintenance

There are many more, but it appears that when we spend money on little conveniences, it adds up quickly. If you need a quick fix for the budget, go ahead and see if you can eliminated one or more of them and safe those funds instead.

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