Some of this is due to higher prices and us needing to be made aware of our purchases (my bad<\/em>).<\/p>\n But most of it is purely on us and just not realizing how much of our $$ was going to stuff.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n So, in true Brooks Conkle fashion, I broke out the 80\/20<\/a> and wanted to see what we could quickly make wins on.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I’m not a ‘couponer,’ and I don’t think it’s efficient.<\/p>\n If you are forced to spend time on coupons, I think a better focus is building income streams, but I’ll save that for another day.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n What I chose to do was look at what few items I could adjust but have a large impact (the 80\/20).<\/p>\n So here’s the list I came up with and what we’ve done about them.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ok, so we’re not hitting up the coffee shop daily, but we were still going through a few jugs per week.<\/p>\n $6 each – not the end of the world.<\/p>\n But that’s $600+ per year!<\/em><\/p>\n (personal finance hack — annualize everything<\/a> — it gives you a solid picture on if you want an item or not).<\/p>\n So we bought this thing.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n You simply add whatever coffee you want in the strainer + water + 48 hours in the fridge.<\/p>\n Bam – coffee.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n We pour it into a jug for use and then start a new batch.<\/p>\n Should save $400-500 this year.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Or, as my wife likes to say, La Croix for Joy.<\/p>\n We figured she was drinking 2-3 per day.<\/p>\n About $400\/yr.<\/p>\n Snagged a soda stream kit.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The break-even for us should be in about 6 months.<\/p>\n $200+ annual savings<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n We enjoy wine in the evenings.<\/p>\n But…<\/p>\n We’re attempting to limit it to weekend evenings only.<\/p>\n (ok, and Thursdays!<\/em>)<\/p>\n Easy $1,000\/yr. savings<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n There’s not much science behind it, but my wife Mandee is pretty sure it’s cured her heartburn (she was able to stop meds that cost hundreds per month).<\/p>\n Well, we’re now exploring making our own alkaline water.<\/p>\n We won’t change our home plumbing system, but we are testing alkaline drops.<\/a><\/p>\n I also just purchased this kit<\/a> that will test the pH of water.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Hoping for another $500ish saving per year here.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n On a small shopping trip, pricing seems relative.<\/p>\n A few dollars here and there.<\/p>\n We pay for Walmart delivery<\/a> and love it.<\/em><\/p>\n We started a few years ago and was life-changing (I’m for real).<\/p>\n We just assumed <\/em>this was the best pricing.<\/p>\n Recently, we’ve been shopping at an Aldi<\/a> that is close to our home (it’s become a date night).<\/p>\n On a recent test on some items, there was a 30% difference!<\/p>\n So for a fun date night, we should save $2-3k this year alone!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Dog food was another simple 80\/20 item.<\/p>\n I found out we were buying this same bag of dog food<\/a> consistently every 4 weeks.<\/p>\n So if I could find a better price, the savings would compound over the year.<\/p>\n I did even better.<\/p>\n Found better price on Amazon and saved and additional 5% for setting up on “auto-ship.”subscribe and save.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n So, not only do I no longer need to think about it, I can also save 5%.<\/p>\n This is THE SAME as putting your cash into an online savings account (we like Wealthfront<\/a>) and MAKING 5%<\/p>\n This is huge!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Mint Mobile.<\/a><\/p>\n I’ve had it for years.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Finally got my family on board.<\/p>\n I pay 12 months in advance for about $180 with taxes.<\/p>\n So $15\/mo.<\/a><\/p>\n Plus, Ryan Reynolds seems like a cool dude.<\/p>\n Easy $1,000+ savings per year.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ok, so all in all, it might be more like $3-5k in savings in a year.<\/p>\n That’s nuts!<\/p>\n Either way good luck to you — see you out there!<\/p>\n The post I’m About To Save You $3,000<\/a> appeared first on BrooksConkle.com<\/a>.<\/p>\nCold Starbucks Coffee<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"ALDI\"](\"https:\/\/www.brooksconkle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1024x484.jpg\" "\\"ALDI\\"")
<\/figure>\n![\"Brooks](\"https:\/\/www.brooksconkle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/cold-brew-coffee-mug.jpg\" "\\"Brooks")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/p>\nLa Croix<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"dog](\"https:\/\/www.brooksconkle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1.jpg\" "\\"dog")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\nWine<\/h2>\n
Alkaline Water<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"food\"](\"https:\/\/www.brooksconkle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1-1.jpg\" "\\"food\\"")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/p>\nWe’re Testing A New Grocery Store<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Dog Food – Subscribe and Save<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"La](\"https:\/\/www.brooksconkle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1-2.jpg\" "\\"La")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/p>\nOk, a Bonus One<\/h2>\n
![\"Mandee\"](\"https:\/\/www.brooksconkle.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-1024x526.png\" "\\"Mandee\\"")
<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n