Author Topic: Found an extra $599/month  (Read 3211 times)

tryathlete2011

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Found an extra $599/month
« on: March 16, 2016, 03:37:10 PM »
I found the MMM community about a year ago and did some immediate belt tightening, started budgeting food for the first time ever and got to a pretty good place. This year I have been fine tuning things here and there and to my surprise was able to squeeze nearly $600 more per month in cash savings and improved efficiencies without any real lifestyle changes... woot.

Here are the areas I squeezed:

Home Refinance to lower rate, shorten term and get rid of PMI, result:
Mortage payment $72 lower   
With shortened term and no PMI, $184 more toward premium each month

Switched health insurance to HSA, contributing only $100
With switch to cheaper HSA plan, $58 more in take home/month

Signed up for internet reimbursement program at work $20

Signed up for mobile reimbursement program at work $100

Switched family from Verizon wireless to Project fi, saving ~$65/month
« Last Edit: March 16, 2016, 03:39:56 PM by tryathlete2011 »

HPstache

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Re: Found an extra $599/month
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2016, 04:40:54 PM »
Nice work!  I revisited quite a few categories this year too.  I love the HSA option that I switched to... I saved about the same, but am putting the majority of those "savings" into the HSA account so it was about a wash.  Have you checked into your car insurance?  I found $40 a month there by switching to esurance.

Uturn

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Re: Found an extra $599/month
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2016, 07:41:39 PM »
I just refi'ed last week and it will knock $450 off my mortgage.  I also changed auto insurance companies.  I don't want to say how much that is going to save me because if I put that number out in public, people will just assume I'm a moron. 

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!