Don't Overspend: Seven Unexpected Things Americans Spend Too Much Money On In Retirement

One of the best ways to save money is to cut down on unnecessary expenditures. Instead of removing significant items from your family budget, simply cut down on spending in several areas to achieve the same result. Here are seven unexpected things that Americans spend too much money on.

Home Appliances

People have a habit of buying the most expensive thing they see at the store, or the newest model. This often means that they pay over the odds, when a significantly less expensive version of the product would perform the same function. Toasters, fridges, blenders, food processors, juicers and grills are examples of such items.

Clothes

While it can be tempting to buy clothes that have just come out at the best stores, they will cost a fortune. It is better to wait until items are on sale, buy everything you need, and repeat the process six months later. This will allow you to buy great clothes for yourself and your family at a fraction of their original price. You can also consider shopping at outlets for discounted prices on quality clothing that won't wear as as quickly.

Food Outside of the Home

Americans spend a great deal of money on food away from home on a yearly basis. It was estimated that the average household spent $2,500 a year on food outside of the house in 2009. While there is nothing wrong with eating out, proper food budgeting can save a lot of money. Families should decide how many times they will go out to eat each month and stick to that number. Eating out at work on the weekends can quickly add up. 

DIY Car Repairs

Being handy is usually a matter of pride for most people. However, patchy repairs and incomplete DIY car jobs often cost more money than hiring a professional. Replacing or fixing a transmission, for example, should be left to the experts, say the professionals at Minit-Tune International Corp. It's important to know what you can handle yourself, and when to take it to a mechanic to save on extra parts on repairs.

Credit Card Interest

A recent study showed that an American household owes $15,000 in credit card debt on average. This means that most Americans are paying huge amounts to credit card companies in monthly interest. To avoid this expenditure, it is best to pay off each credit card transaction within 30 days. Don't overspend and make payments on time to avoid extra fees. 

Expedited Shipping

A surge of online retailers, such as Amazon, means that many Americans buy their supplies through the internet. Buying online can often lead to savings on most items, but it also results in unnecessary spending on expedited shipping. There is nothing wrong with ordering one or two day shipping if you need an item urgently, but most people only do it so that they do not have to wait an extra few days. People surprisingly waste a lot of money with this type of shipping, especially around the holidays and birthdays. 

Gift Cards

Remarkably, it is reported that around $40 billion in gift cards was unspent from 2005 to 2012. With Americans spending a lot of money on electronics, home appliances, clothes and gifts, it is staggering to think that so many potential savings are being thrown away.

If you analyze your family's yearly budget, you will probably find that you are overspending on a few of these categories. By making incremental cuts to spending, you can lower your spending and still enjoy a similar standard of living.

The Best and Worst Strategies for Gift Shopping on a Budget

Gift Card (Photo credit: 401(K) 2013)

Shopping on a budget can be a pain in the butt. However, if you are smart about your shopping strategy, you can get amazing gifts for very little money. Be careful out there; the world of shopping can lead to pitfalls.

Don’t – Open Lines of Credit 

When you are shopping on a budget it can be tempting to open a line of credit. However, this is a bad idea for your long-term finances. Opening a line of credit can help in the short-term, but it can lead to an over-extended budget and if you have a tendency to over-shop this is never a good idea. 

Do – Go Online For Great Deals

Online cheap shopping is the way to go when you have to stick to a budget. Checking out sales and discounts online is a great way to save money. Did you know you can get coupons online? Some of these can be printed to take to the store, while others are coupon codes that can be used on websites. 

Don’t – Overspend Because You Want to Impress

Have you ever had to buy a present for someone who just seems to have everything? Are you trying to make a good impression on your in-laws? No matter the reason, many people have the tendency to try to impress others with gifts. If you are on a tight budget, this is not a good idea. If you have many people to shop for, buying extravagant presents can lead to disaster. 

Don’t – Overestimate Your Creativity and Drive

If you pick up pieces to make a gift, make sure that it is something that you are capable and willing to make. Otherwise, the money you put into it is gone with nothing to show. This is a trap many fall into. Even if you have the ability to create the perfect present, make sure you have the time and are willing to invest that time and energy. 

Do – Make a List Before You Start Shopping

If it is a big holiday, such as Christmas, it is a good idea to make a list of everyone you have to buy for. On top of that, think ahead and jot down some ideas of what you might like to get each person. This will keep you focused, which will also help you save money. The more focused the list, the more likely you are to stick to it.

 

Don’t – Disregard Gift Cards

Sometimes it is really difficult to find the perfect gift. In these cases, a gift card may end up being exactly what you need.

Making a budget and sticking to it is difficult when shopping for gifts. Get great gifts and keep your budget happy, and you’ll have the best present of all.

Are Gift Cards Good For Consumers?

Gift Card (Photo credit: 401K)

In a National Retail Federation survey, about 80 percent of shoppers expected to buy gift cards, while 58 percent of shoppers said their most requested present would be a gift card. The gift card has been the most popular choice for five straight years now.

The gift that has increased in popularity over the years is being forgotten more often as well. NPR reports that analyst Brian Riley of the Tower Group has estimated about $41 billion in money spent on gift cards has not been claimed since 2005. USA Today reported that accounting rules say gift card sales don’t count as income for stores until they are actually redeemed.

It helps to choose the right card for your gift recipient. But GiftCardRescue.com sells gift cards people don’t want and allows them to buy others at discounted rates. A company spokesman felt that consumers weren’t redeeming their cards right away due to the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009. According to USA Today, rules now say that expiration dates are limited to five years after purchase, and fees for non-use are prohibited until after the first year.

Even More places to get rid of that unwanted gift card.

• ABC Gift Cards allows users to buy, sell, or trade gift cards. They claim to be the largest secondary market for gift cards.
• Card Avenue has a very extensive inventory of cards for sale. Navigating the site is easy. If you want to trade a card, create a “wish list” of gift cards you would consider in exchange for your gift card. For example, if you have a $50 Pottery Barn card, but you would much rather have a $50 Victoria’s Secret or Macy’s card, then include those cards in your wish list. Other traders will browse the site, and if they have a Macy’s or Victoria’s Secret card and want your Pottery Barn gift card, you might be able to make the trade. The site receives a commission from the traders.
• Cardnap allows users to buy and sell a variety of popular gift cards.
• Cardpool features free shipping, and a 100-day guarantee, to ensure the gift cards are legitimate.
• CardsUWant is an auction site that lets sellers buy, sell, and trade gift cards. They collect a 5% fee, which is less than eBay.
• CardWoo is another service that buys and sells gift cards. They pay all shipping costs, but require that gift cards have a minimum $20 value.
• Cash4GiftCards.com buys gift cards for 75% of their value. They sometimes buy expired cards, for 25% of their pre-expiration value. GiftCardBin provides an initial offer on sellers’ gift cards, based on the retailer, value, and expiration date. If you don’t like their offer, you can make a counter offer.
• GiftCardGranny is another gift card buying and selling site. The site allows users to sign up for alerts and receive notification when cards from their favorite stores have been listed for sale.
• GiftCardRescue allows users to buy, sell, and exchange gift cards. This website offers an additional 5% over the redemption value if the card is exchanged for an Amazon gift card instead of cash. They also offer bankruptcy protection in the event that the retailer no longer accepts the gift cards.
• Plastic Jungle buys unwanted gift cards and will pay up to 92% of the face value of the card. Users have to enter gift card information on the site, and then Plastic Jungle makes an offer for the card. Sellers receive pre-paid shipping labels to mail gift cards to the website. Once the balance of the gift card is verified, the website pays for the gift card with a check or PayPal.

Obtain quotes from each of the websites to determine which site offers the best deal for the gift cards you want to sell or exchange. Make sure to read the websites’ terms and conditions, and learn more about their guarantees, transaction fees, and shipping policies. Gift card exchange websites are an excellent way to sell or trade gift cards from major retailers. If the gift card is for a small, local business, try selling or trading the gift card on Craigslist or eBay Classifieds instead.

Don’t let your unwanted gift cards sit around collecting dust. Make them work for you instead. If your Great Aunt Sue gave you a $100 Starbucks gift card and you don’t drink coffee, trade the card for a shop you do visit, or trade the card for cash. If you use Plastic Jungle to sell your $100 Starbucks gift card, they may pay you up to $92.00 for the card.