[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-youve-already-spent\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-youve-already-spent\/","headline":"8 Ways to Make the Most of Money You’ve Already Spent","name":"8 Ways to Make the Most of Money You’ve Already Spent","description":"Normally, personal finance experts \u2014 including me \u2014 talk about saving money in the...","datePublished":"2021-12-24","dateModified":"2023-03-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/#Person","name":"Logan Allec, CPA","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Money Done Right","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","width":488,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-to-save-money-youve-already-spent.jpg","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-to-save-money-youve-already-spent.jpg","height":460,"width":1900},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-youve-already-spent\/","about":["Saving Money"],"wordCount":1294,"keywords":["schema"],"articleBody":"Normally, personal finance experts \u2014 including me \u2014 talk about saving money in the context of either buying or spending less.But there\u2019s another way to save money.Here are eight ways to maximize the value of what you already have \u2014 in effect, saving money you\u2019ve already spent.Way #1: Don\u2019t Let Your Groceries ExpireBuying more groceries is one of the best things you can do for your budget \u2014 it\u2019s usually much cheaper than eating out or getting food delivered.However, this also depends on how efficient you are with your grocery budget.It\u2019s not going to matter that food is 30% cheaper from the grocery store if you waste 30% of the food you buy.Some people avoid wasting food by meal planning, forming an idea of what they want to make each day and then setting it up so that ingredients can be reused and don\u2019t go bad.Like with everything else, you have to find a strategy that works well for you, but you can generally make your budget go further by throwing away fewer groceries.You can also save money on groceries by using cash-back apps like Ibotta and Shopkick, both of which I use to save money on my own grocery purchases.Way #2: Reuse or Repurpose Your StuffYou can also save money you\u2019ve already spent by reusing or repurposing your stuff.Obviously, it\u2019s impossible to stop throwing things away entirely, but we often tend to lose sight of all the use we can get out of something.This can involve getting a little creative, but you can also take a few simple steps:Wash out and reuse containersStore grocery bags in toilet paper rollsGive outgrown kids\u2019 clothes to friends or family membersOverall, look for ways to make the most out of what you already have.Every time you\u2019re about to get rid of something, you should take a minute to consider whether there\u2019s anything else you can get out of it.And if you really don\u2019t need it, you might be able to sell or give it away via platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.Way #3: Claim Your Airline MilesMany people don\u2019t sign up for airline mileage programs because they think the process is too complicated, especially if they may never fly with the same airline again.In my opinion, though, you should make a point of signing up for mileage programs whenever you fly with a new airline \u2014 you never know when you\u2019ll fly with them again, and you wouldn\u2019t want to miss an opportunity to earn some rewards.In fact, many airlines allow you to earn miles retroactively, so if you\u2019ve flown recently, you may want to take a few minutes to look into the airline policy and see if you can get miles for flights you\u2019ve already taken.Even if you\u2019re not a frequent flyer, you should be able to generate enough miles over time for a free upgrade or even a free ticket.Way #4: Use Your Credit Card BenefitsMost credit cards provide benefits that go well beyond the points, miles, and cash-back.Such benefits can include:Purchase protectionCar rental insuranceDiscounts at select retailersRoadside assistanceInstead of simply viewing your credit card as a cash-back or rewards factory, be sure to take advantage of these benefits, especially if you\u2019re paying an annual fee for them.Way #5: Keep Your Things Clean and in Good ConditionWhether it\u2019s your car, refrigerator, or water heater, it\u2019s easy to put off routine cleaning and maintenance to make time for more enjoyable activities.And by the time you get around to actually doing what needs to be done, you may be dealing with much bigger (and very expensive) problems.Consider what happens if your refrigerator or freezer fails. Until you\u2019re able to get it fixed, you have to:Throw out food you\u2019ve already boughtEat out or get take out for every mealBuy expensive single servings of staples like milk or coffeeIncluding the repair bill, your wonky fridge could cost you hundreds of dollars.I have a tendency to forget about routine maintenance, so whenever I buy something new that I want to keep in good condition, I take a few minutes to look at the manufacturer\u2019s instructions.Then I put a reminder on my calendar to do maintenance or cleaning at the recommended interval.Even though it can be a hassle to take a more proactive approach, it ultimately saves a lot of time and money to keep your things working properly and get them fixed before they need major repairs.Way #6: Take Advantage of Return\/Exchange PoliciesIf you\u2019re like me, you\u2019ve probably made the mistake of buying something, planning to return it, and then leaving it in the trunk of your car for three months.Most of us do this at one point or another, but ultimately, it just ends up wasting money.Again, the best way to avoid this is by being proactive.Whenever I buy something, for example, I take a quick look at the return policy and write down the last day that I\u2019ll be able to do a return or exchange.In fact, it\u2019s probably a good idea to look at the return policy even before making a purchase, as you might otherwise end up stuck with something you don\u2019t want.Today, the return process is easier than ever before, with some companies even paying for return shipping and packing, meaning there\u2019s no excuse for failing to return or exchange something you won\u2019t use.Way #7: Learn How to Fix ThingsNo one can fix everything by themselves; if you\u2019re not a licensed electrician, for example, you probably shouldn\u2019t be repairing your electrical panel.In some cases, though, you may be able to save some money by learning how to repair an item yourself.If you have a leaky faucet, for example, you could call a plumber and end up paying hundreds of dollars, or you could fix it yourself using some basic tools and a faucet repair kit.Again, there will be situations where you need a professional, but in general, fixing things yourself can save money and help you make things last longer.That being said, you should also take into account the value of your time compared to the tax-affected cost of fixing the issue.For example, while I generally fix things around my home, I usually choose not to personally fix things at my rental units, as I\u2019d have to spend an hour of my time driving to get there, and I\u2019m better off just paying a contractor and getting a tax deduction.Way #8: Use Your Subscriptions Until They\u2019re GoneMany people believe their subscriptions end as soon as they\u2019ve been canceled.Actually, most canceled subscriptions remain active until the renewal period.For example, if you normally pay your bill on the 15th, but cancel your subscription on the 25th, you can usually continue to use your subscription until the 15th.This applies to both in-person subscriptions like gym memberships and digital subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify.In general, the best way to get your money\u2019s worth is by using your subscriptions for as long as possible.Plan Ahead, Save More, and Worry LessAs I look back at these recommendations, the common thread is that a little bit of extra thought can save you both money and anxiety.When you schedule things like meals, maintenance, and shopping trips, you\u2019ll have fewer of those wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night moments.And your wallet will be a little fuller, too."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Personal Finance","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Saving And Budgeting","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/\/saving-and-budgeting\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"8 Ways to Make the Most of Money You’ve Already Spent","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/how-to-save-money-youve-already-spent\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]