| Cut Bad Habits To Cut Debt |
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| Written by Fred Cash |
| Saturday, 12 September 2009 20:35 |
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Shocking Fact: The average full-time worker puts in approximately 225 days a year. The same average full-time worker who buys a cup of Joe every morning will pay more than $300 a year on their caffeine fix when all is said and done (and that's not counting the $3.00 cake or muffin that often accompanies the morning drive.)
Shocking Fact: The average full-time worker puts in approximately 225 days a year. The same average full-time worker who buys a cup of Joe every morning will pay more than $300 a year on their caffeine fix when all is said and done (and that's not counting the $3.00 cake or muffin that often accompanies the morning drive.) Anyone who's tried saving money knows its not an easy task. Anyone who's tried to give up a bad habit experiences the same. However, cutting bad habits may not only improve ones well-being " it can improve cash flow as well. The costs of bad habits have been revealed. Super-sizing your food (and your waistline) can downsize income. Is is Convenient? Yes. Is it Affordable? Yes. Is it generally not so great nutritionally? Yes! And is fast food more costly than brown bagging a few days a week or cooking a dinner at home? Double yes! Those value meals at iconic fast food joints may seem like a good bargain, yet in reality they're not good for your bod or your bank account. For example, spending only $3.50 for a meal once a week adds up to $14 a month, arriving at a year-end cost of $168 at year-end. $168 could buy 50 loaves of bread and 10 jars of peanut butter " enough for more than four hundred sandwiches! A Savings of Smoke and Mirrors Smoking cigarettes isn't just a health hazard " its a financial risk as well. Everyday smokers can spend more than one grand on tobacco and related products each year. The average cigarette pack runs $4.70 and takes an even greater toll on a persons health. That Jolt of Coffee can Jinx that Savings Account Its coffee " not the fresh start to a new day " that often gets us up in the morning. Getting the coffee going at home has become somewhat of an afterthought in many homes today as coffee stores can be found on almost any where " and many come with a drive-through! While its always nice to start the day with a jolt of Joe " as stated in the beginning of this article " its also a jolt to the wallet. For those who prefer a specialty drink - that $4 latte or tea, five times a week, turns into a frothy $20 by the end of the week. These daily habits can turn a total cost of nearly $1,000 a year! The Sum Total While the costs associated with bad habits are clear and accountable, the toll these vices can take on ones health and well-being could raise the stakes even more. Excessive stops to fast food joints and habitual smoking correlate directly with steeper health costs that can linger long-term. Health insurance companies take ones health habits into account and charge a higher premium to those whose vices are detrimental. The pack a day smoker who downs a cup of specialty coffee each morning and makes a drive through run twice a week is looking at charges upwards of $3500 spent on supporting his or her vices. What might happen should Mr. or Ms. Vice use that same amount and place it in a CD account earning a 5% annually? 12 months later Mr. or Ms. Vice would have an extra $140 - and on the intangible side of things a healthier life both physically and financially. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. For help with debt settlement, debt relief, and other personal finance matters, go to Debt Options. Debt1options has debt settlement options that are honest, effective, and reliable. |