Bad habits are more than just a drain on your health and time – they can also put a serious strain on your budget. Here are five bad habits that might be costing you money, with quick fixes to help you get on the right track.

1: Smoking

If you smoke, averaging $5 a day, that will run $35 a week and more than $1,820 a year.

Average Monthly Cost: $140

Quick fix: Give it up and do your lungs (and budget) a favor! If you can’t, at least try to cut back.

 

2: Buying lunch

If you can’t bring yourself to brown-bag it at work, you probably spend upward of $7 every work day. That’s a lot of money you could be using for something more important, or investing in your SeaComm savings account.

Average Monthly Cost: $147

Quick fix: Try to brown-bag it every Tuesday. After a while, slowly increase the number of days in a week that you are bringing your lunch. Work your way through the week until you are only buying lunch once a week – or just once a month!

3: Online shopping

It’s way too easy to overspend when it’s just a click here and a click there before you’re looking at a full cart – and an empty checking account.

Average Monthly Cost: $65

Quick fix: Don’t agree to have your computer or phone “remember” your credit cards in any online shopping sites you visit. If you can’t stop surfing the stores, keep your credit card out of reach while you browse. Before you make an online purchase, take advantage of your Benefits Plus^® checking account with SeaComm – which provides you with a variety of exclusive savings, including discounted eGift cards! Click here to learn more, or stop by your nearest SeaComm branch location to enroll.

For complete information, terms, conditions and exclusions please visit www.benefits-plus.org or call 866-329-7587.

 

4: Collecting clutter

Clutter costs you more than just time – it can also increase your spending. When you don’t know what’s in your pantry or closet, you’ll overspend on things you don’t need.

Average Monthly Cost: $50

Quick fix: Spend your next Saturday clearing out your closet and pantry. It might take a few hours, but afterward, you will only need to spend a few minutes a week keeping it in order.

5: Only paying the minimum

Carrying a balance on your credit cards can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in interest alone.

Average Monthly Cost: $60

Quick fix: Get into the habit of paying more than the minimum so you make real headway on paying off debt!