Do you struggle to save money? It can be difficult and horses are far from a cheap hobby. This is my first compilation of things I stopped buying to save money. At least a few of these should be doable for you too! Saving a couple hundred dollars a month can add up really quickly to big savings in your pocket.
1. Subscription Boxes
Some subscription boxes are fun, but a lot of them are an unnecessary monthly expense. You often won’t even notice you’re not getting these boxes each month. And are all the items in the box things you actually need? Probably not.
If you can’t give up subscription boxes completely, at least try to decrease the number that you receive!
2. Unnecessary Supplements
Some supplements are useful and contribute to our horse’s health, however a lot of them are just good at marketing and we’re feeding excessive amounts of nutrients our horses don’t even need.
One great example of this situation is that one of my horses had loose stools almost all the time. We tried Sand Clear, multiple probiotics, GutX, ulcer treatment and multiple other supplements I found online with people claiming it was the best thing they’d ever fed their horse. None of them changed anything for this guy. I decided to try a completely different type of hay (I’d always fed timothy since it is readily available here). We bought orchard grass hay, and his poop completely firmed up and looks like it should.
I wasted so much money on supplements that were just trying to put a band aid on the gut problem, and it never solved his problems. Try to work with your vet or a nutritionist to find the root cause of the problem, you’ll save a ton of money not buying supplements you don’t need!
3. Meals at Restaurants
Eating out can get really expensive. Especially if you’re getting drinks, or going out multiple days a week. I have cut out eating out down to 2-3 times a month and it has saved me so much money.
Getting meals at a restaurant is always going to be a lot more expensive than working at home. Swapping out home cooked meals for restaurant meals can save you hundreds of dollars a month.
4. Getting hay delivered
The last time I had hay delivered, it was an extra $2.25 per bale for delivery and stacking. It does cost you time and labor to go get it yourself but on the amount of hay I typically buy, not having it delivered saves me about $850. The cost to deliver and stack may vary widely around the country, I just know that was the last amount I paid for it.
Consider picking up your own hay or even getting it out of the field to save yourself a good chunk of money. It is also understandable if you don’t have the physical means to move hay or the time that this fee may be worth it for you, but definitely an expense worth examining.
5. New Tack and New Clothes
When I need new tack, I always try to find what I need used. This can reduce the cost by 10-50% in many cases. A lot of people will sell new or almost new tack that they ended up not needing. I have never purchased a new saddle, but I have had to purchase used saddles to get a better fit for my horse. But I like using an independent saddle fitter who isn’t tied to one brand so I can try a variety of saddles.
Along the same line, always look for used show clothes before buying new. There are tons of used show clothes out there and a lot are new or almost new that someone else didn’t like or didn’t fit into.
When purchasing non horse clothes I always try to find a deal and buy a product that will last. As I’ve gotten older I realized that I appreciate well made clothing that lasts a long time so you aren’t replacing it constantly. Many high end brands (I’m talking well made clothing, not luxury brands because that isn’t my thing) will offer a warranty on their clothes. When in doubt, ask! This will save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime.
6. Bottled water and horse show food
In every day life, I do not buy bottled water as it is very expensive. It is free to get water from the tap, and you are also saving plastic from entering the landfills.
When going to a horse show, pack up your reusable water bottles, if you put them in an ice chest they’ll be cold all day and you won’t be paying for something that is free when you bring it from home.
I also do not buy food from the horse show grounds. If you pack your lunch and snacks at home, they will cost you a fraction of what it costs at the horse show. Check out my list of the best horse show snacks by clicking here. You can bring the snacks you love and save money at the same time.
7. Gym Membership
First, I don’t understand how you aren’t getting enough exercise with taking care of your horse(s). Just kidding! Getting in cardio or a weight lifting workout is still important for your health and strength.
I ditched the gym membership and now use Beachbody on demand or free workouts on YouTube. Depending on the cost of a gym membership, this will save you $20-200 a month. You could also shop for a cheaper gym membership, especially if you don’t need all the pricey perks that end up costing you so much each month. I also try to make it a priority to hit at least 10,000 steps a day. I utilize my apple watch to keep track of exercise each day.
8. Cable TV or Excess TV Subscriptions
Cable TV can cost hundreds of dollars a month, which is a large expense for a non necessary service. Streaming has become a lot more common with many networks offering a streaming service. Most people can piece together subscriptions that get you more access to shows and movies that you actually want to watch as opposed to a cable subscription with many channels you don’t care about.
Be careful not to have so many subscriptions that you are spending more than you were on cable!
9. Dryer Sheets
I myself have never bought dryer sheets but my husband used them before we were married and neither of us use them now. I cannot stand the smell of most of them, and they are not good for your health or the environment. Instead, get a set of wool dryer balls – they reduce static, shorten drying time and help soften clothes in the dryer.
10. Electricity I don’t need
You’ve probably heard that it’s important to turn off or unplug electronic devices when they aren’t being used. Additionally, a lot of electricity providers will have a certain time of the day where a surcharge is in place. Make sure you know when this is for your electric provider. I never run the washer, dryer, dishwasher or heaters during the hours that our electricity costs more money.
When we built our barn, I wanted a way to turn the tank heaters on and off easily from a central location. We ended up installing breakers for each outlet that were wired separately so we can turn the heaters on and off as needed at the breaker box. When it is below zero, I do leave the heaters on all day, but when it is just cold at night, I can turn the heaters on for a few hours (in the morning when the electricity is cheaper) and it will stay thawed. This saves AT LEAST $50 a month in the winter.
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