She Strengthens

Rebooting Your Finances: Cutting Expenses in February

As we dive into the second month of the year, many of us are taking a hard look at our progress toward our New Year’s resolutions. After recovering from holiday expenses, February is an excellent time to refocus on saving goals. One crucial step in achieving these goals is examining last month’s spending and identifying areas for improvement.

Cutting Unnecessary Expenses

I asked 13 women in their 20s to share the expenses they’re working to eliminate from their lives. Here’s where I’m starting: I’m saying goodbye to my storage unit, which has become a costly burden. After moving to a more affordable apartment, I rented a storage unit to house my excess furniture. However, the price has continued to rise, and I’ve decided it’s time to take action. This weekend, I’ll be renting a U-Haul and relocating my belongings to more affordable accommodations.

Lessons from Others

Here are the expenses 13 other women are cutting back on:

Food for Thought

Michelle, 25, is cutting back on food expenses by limiting her dining out to weekends only. By allowing herself a break on weekends, she hopes to stay motivated throughout the week.

A Healthier Alternative

Caroline, 23, has switched to using a diva cup, which will save her at least $15 on feminine expenses this month.

Pampering on a Budget

Sarah, 24, is canceling her regular manicure and pedicure appointments to save money after an expensive January.

Renting Out for Profit

Alexandra, 29, is renting out her apartment on Airbnb while she’s away on vacation, effectively earning back $350 in rent for the week.

Makeup Makeover

Isabel, 25, is reducing her makeup usage to cut down on beauty product expenses. By only using eye makeup, she won’t need to restock her supply, saving her around $75.

Insurance Overhaul

Emily, 26, negotiated with her insurance company to lower her rate by $25 per month without sacrificing coverage.

Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Natalia, 27, is cooking a romantic dinner at home with her boyfriend instead of going out, saving around $90.

Cutting Back on Socializing

Kylie, 23, is reducing her social outings to improve her productivity and save money. She realizes that frequent drinking is affecting her mood and wallet.

Skiing on a Budget

Tia, 28, is limiting her skiing trips to save on gas, lift tickets, and meals out, potentially saving a few hundred dollars.

Yoga on the Cheap

Liz, 24, replaced her yoga membership with outdoor running, saving $120 per month.

Transportation Tweaks

Laura, 26, is ditching her unlimited subway pass and buying rides as needed, aiming to cut her travel expenses by 25%.

Streamlining Subscriptions

Jackie, 25, is consolidating her subscriptions with her partner, eliminating redundant accounts and saving money.

Data Detox

Rae, 26, is cutting back on her phone’s data plan, relying on wifi at home, on the subway, and at work to reduce her cell phone bill.