How you can become a lot richer by saving on these little things

Shit. It's that time. I need to go on a budget. I dove into the depths of my online banking this week and thought: eh, look, what's going wrong here? Did you really spend 48 euros on raspberries this month? Do you also think you're doing great, curd head? I'm living too foolishly. Yes, let's just call a spade a spade. I am the Queen of Unnecessary Expenses and that needs to stop, because this way we'll never get rich.

For everyone who isn't going to sleep with a doozie and wakes up with a ton: this is how you can easily save at the end of the month, without feeling like a stingy Gerda.

Cancel subscriptions you don't need

Recurring costs are the enemy if you want to save money, remember that. Take a critical look at what you really want. Start with your charities. Then move on to your magazines. Then to the paid apps on your phone. Subscription to the lottery? The chance that you'll get richer from it is minimal. The chance that you'll get poorer is almost 100 percent. Oh yes. And umm... For example, I have two Swap bikes (one in Utrecht and one in Amsterdam) that I hardly use. That saves me 30 euros a month if I cancel them. That's 360 euros a year...

Switch to a cheaper energy supplier

Yeah, I get that it's something you really don't want to do, but it's done online in no time and it saves you money immediately. It's generally recommended to switch every year if you want to snag a nice gift (think an iPad, vacuum cleaner, or hundreds of euros in discounts).

Think two seconds longer in the supermarket

Buying pre-sliced onions and mushrooms, why? Always just grabbing A-brands? That's fine, but is that tomato paste at eye level really better or do you not taste a damn difference? Bend down once for store-brand products and you'll see that sometimes you're half as cheap. Also: get your vegetables and fruits at the market. The prices at the market are much lower than the prices in the supermarket.

Then my personal love/hate: Uber

There have been months when I -

and from this point, I dare not write further - spent around 250 euros on taxi costs. Nice and comfortable (especially when it rains) but completely foolish of course if you start making it almost a daily habit... So I make a deal with myself: at most once a week and only if it's really raining or if it saves me a lot of time.

Thuisbezorgd/ Uber Eats/ Deliveroo

The same goes for this: being lazy is expensive, especially when it comes to your finances. By being a little less lazy, you can save a lot of money. Also think about lunching out and dining out. Just do some grocery shopping.

Oh, and then a little about clothing...

You don't always have to buy something new for every ‘thing’. Take a look in the closet of that good friend for that wedding, take your shoes to the cobbler for a brand new feel, and thoroughly clean out your closet. You have so, so, so much more than you think. Bet you'll come across some old gems?

Anyway, on to that ton. Lil’ Kleine, we're coming, buddy, joeeeee!

P.S.: Oh, and by the way: these are the 11 things you should NEVER skimp on.