Everyday life is becoming an expensive affair for millions of people. FOCUS Online names cost traps in everyday life and says how you can save money every month without really having to do without things.

A coffee on the go, lunch in the canteen or an unused gym contract are often associated with small amounts. In truth, however, consumers can save a thick bundle of gel if they do without it and switch to cheaper alternatives.

Depending on the location, the coffee-to-go costs between two and five euros. If you treat yourself to a coffee three times a week on the way to work, you pay between 40 and 75 euros per month. In one year, coffee on the go costs between 312 euros and 780 euros.

Calculated over five years, the additional expenditure for the coffee-to-go is 3,600 euros. If you had invested the monthly 60 euros for the coffee-to-go in a financial investment, you would have saved a proud 3,884 euros within five years with a return of three percent.

If you treat yourself to a sandwich from the bakery every day in addition to your coffee, you pay around three euros a day. With a five-day week, that’s 60 euros a month. Calculated over the year, the additional costs amount to 720 euros.

A sandwich from home will cost you significantly less. On average 40 cents a day. The saving is therefore 52 euros per month or 624 euros per year!

If employees go to the canteen for lunch every day, they have to reckon with expenses of up to five euros per day. Calculated per month, this causes expenses of 100 euros. In one year, the additional expenses are 1,200 euros and after five years 6,000 euros.

If you had invested the 100 euros a month in an investment with a four percent return, you would have a credit balance of 11,297 euros after eight years.

If you only make it to the gym twice a month, you should think twice about whether a membership is worth it at all. With a monthly studio fee of 35 euros, you have paid 420 euros after one year.

If you now invest 35 euros a month in a financial investment, you will have saved around 885 euros after two years and a return of five percent.

Consumers should check existing memberships and subscriptions, prioritize them and note the notice periods. This helps to cancel unnecessary subscription contracts in good time.

Such subscriptions for magazines, streaming services, language courses or apps are often particularly cheap or even free in the first few months, but over time multiple subscriptions or memberships can result in high costs.

If you have three subscriptions, each costing you 17 euros per month, you will pay over 3,000 euros in five years!

Mobile phone tariffs have become cheaper compared to the previous year. This is the result of an evaluation by the Federal Statistical Office.

Consumers should therefore always look for a cheaper tariff every year. Alternatively, you can also terminate the old contract in good time before the end of the contract period. As a rule, the provider will then come to you with a cheaper offer.

With a change of provider and a tariff that is 15 euros cheaper, the annual saving is 180 euros.

A couple can save twice as much!

The couple pays for an all-net flat rate (Internet with ten gigabytes, telephone flat rate to all networks and SMS flat rate) in a 12-month contract

Monthly savings for the couple are 24.60 euros. Calculated over the entire year, that is 295.20 euros less.

Policies that only cover minor damage are often superfluous. Mobile phone, glasses or luggage insurance are superfluous money guzzlers.

With annual insurance costs of 200 euros, you have thrown 1,000 euros out of the window in five years. If you invest 85 euros a month, you could save almost 5,650 euros in the same time with a return of four percent.

Supermarket prices are skyrocketing, but we consumers also have to dig deeper into our pockets for electricity, petrol, furniture and clothing. What did you observe? What do you do to save money each month for yourself and your family? Send an e-mail to Konstantinos.mitsis@burda-forward.de with your name and telephone number

The original of this article “Cost traps in everyday life – for these habits you pay almost 800 euros per year” comes from chip.de.