There are dozens of ways you can easily stop wasting money on discretionary expenses. But what about those monthly bills that consume the bulk of your budget? Here are five steps to cutting hundreds of dollars off your monthly expenses:
Save big on groceries
A family of four spends up to $1,284 a month on food at home, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to stock up on on-sale items that are nonperishable or can be frozen. Once you have a stockpile, you can plan weekly meals around what you have and perishable items that are on sale at the supermarket.
Lower credit card payments with a balance transfer
If you carry a balance on a credit card with a high interest rate, you could slash the amount you pay each month by taking advantage of a 0 percent balance transfer offer. Depending on your current balance and interest rate, you could easily save more than $500. But when you compare balance transfer credit card offers, pay close attention to balance transfer fees that might eliminate some of the savings.
Cut the cost of wireless service
If you are not locked into a contract with a wireless service provider, you might be able to lower your monthly bill by switching to a smaller carrier that offers more competitive pricing than major carriers. But if you don't want to switch to a smaller carrier that might have a limited coverage area, you still might be able to lower your monthly bill with a major carrier by exploring plans with lower data allotments.
Eliminate your landline
