Consumers Get 20 Money-Saving Tips as Costs Outpace Wages
Updated
Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Sep 6
Consumers Get 20 Money-Saving Tips as Costs Outpace Wages
3 articles · Updated · The Philadelphia Inquirer · Sep 6
Summary
20 practical steps aim to help U.S. households cut spending without feeling deprived, from delaying purchases and buying used to auditing subscriptions and avoiding scams.
More than $50,000 for a new car, 25% to 30% credit-card APRs and over $1,000 a year in subscriptions show how routine expenses can quietly drain budgets.
Shopping around is a recurring theme: Consumers’ Checkbook says many policyholders can save $500 a year on insurance, while a 15% cheaper grocery store can save a $300-a-week family $2,340 annually.
Other high-impact moves include keeping cars and phones longer, cooking more instead of using delivery apps, comparing prescription prices and getting three to five fixed-price bids for home repairs.
The advice comes as housing, rent, groceries, insurance, utilities and childcare have risen faster than wages for several years, squeezing household finances across the U.S.