3 Ways You Can Make Your Kid Rich

Budgeters Anon Top 10

1. Switching from Spotify to Pandora - I’ve realized I’m just using the radio stations on Spotify anyway. And I can use free apps for the podcasts that I listen to, like YouTube. Not worth the $12.

2. Auto-Paying Bills - Companies will pay you (usually like $5/mo) to go paperless or to automate your payments with them. It’s convenient for you too, paying 8 different bills every month could waste an hour of your time. Assuming you do 5, that’s $25.

3. Using Free Streaming Apps - You don’t need Netlfix or Comcast, or HBO or Hulu or Peacock or Paramount or ……. If you have Roku or something similar on your tv you already have access to local channels and you can use free streaming services like Tubi, Pluto TV, Roku, Plex. That could easily save the average family $30/mo.

4. Cooking with more beans - Beans?? Yes, Beans! They’re a magical fruit, not just because the more you eat the more you toot, but because they’re wayyy cheaper than meat. You’ll still get your protein, very filling and making the swap for a few meals every week could save you $45/mo.

5. Keeping snacks in your car - I don’t know about you, but I make bad decisions when I’m hungry. Like stopping for P. Terry’s cheeseburgers. Which means if I keep beef jerky, or protein bars in my car, I’m able to keep myself from eating out as much. If that can save me from a $12 meal every week, that’s $48/mo.

6. Shopping at Goodwill instead of online - Now I’m not telling you to buy stuff that you don’t need. But on average people spend $120 just on clothes every month. And people spend about $100 on Amazon every month. You can get kitchenware, clothing, and probably a lot more than you’d think second-hand. And if you committed to not spending online and shopping in person, you’d slow down your spending as well. I’d bet most people would save at least $50/mo.

7. Making coffee at home - This one is the most commonly talked about savings tip for a reason. If you’re getting 3 coffees per week, you’re spending $15 nowadays. It’s insane how pricey coffee has gotten. That’s $60/mo.

8. Shopping Insurance - I talk about this a lot, but you should be doing an annual negotiation with your insurance provider. Last year I saved over $714 on my insurance, and that’s over the course of 6 months. I didn’t change my coverage and saved $119/mo.

9. Cancelling Your Gym Membership - So I built my own home gym, which you could do, but it would take some time to see the return. My home gym is nice because of the sauna, ice bath and lack of commute, but tbh, you would get a wayyyy better workout going to Planet Fitness which charges $12/mo. I know there are a lot of you reading this, spending $150 or more per month. That would save $138/mo.

10. One No Spend Weekend - I think these no spend weekends are a great way to reset your spending habits. It’s a chance to check in and say, “Where do I get my purpose from?” Money, or the life I’m creating? On average someone would save $150/mo.

What can $677/mo do?

Well the 2026 max IRA contribution is $7,500.

$625/mo.

Meaning doing all of this could result in you finally maxing out your Roth IRA.

And if the only investing you did was maxing your Roth IRA after 30 years you’d have $762k (adjusted for inflation).

Open up the Roth IRA.

Set up automatic contributions.

Stop wasting money (we all do it).

Push that money into S&P 500 index funds.

And take a breather.

One step at a time, take your 2026 step, maxing out your Roth IRA.

That’s it for this week.

As always, if you need anything, just let me know. I’m happy to help.

Best,

Dan