💸 Ever feel like your money disappears the second it hits your account? Like, you blink, and poof—it’s gone? You’re not alone. When I was in my early 40s, I thought I had a pretty good handle on my finances. I wasn’t living lavishly, yet somehow, I was always wondering: Where did my money go? That was my wake-up call—it was time to figure out how to stop wasting money and start getting clear on where it was actually going.
Then, I did something that changed everything. I tracked every single dollar I spent for a week. And let me tell you—what I found was shocking.
👉 I was leaking money in ways I hadn’t even realized!
✅ $27/month for an old subscription I forgot to cancel.
✅ $8 a week in gas station snacks (because I always needed “just one more” Diet Pepsi).
✅ A random $14 auto-charge for an app I hadn’t used in months.
It wasn’t the big, obvious expenses that were holding me back. It was the little ones that added up fast. And once I spotted them, I took action—cut a few things, tweaked my spending, and boom—I had extra cash in my budget every month.
🧍♀️ Solo Tip: — Even small leaks like daily treats or forgotten subscriptions can quietly sabotage your progress. Awareness is your first tool—judgment isn’t required.
And that’s exactly what I want to help you do today. We’re going to hunt down those sneaky money leaks and plug them for good!
💡 This post is part of the Smart Money Management Series — your step-by-step guide to financial confidence for independent women. Visit the Solo Money Hub » to see all 6 steps and grab your free Starter Kit!
Just a Heads Up! 🌟 This post may contain affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase through one of these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. But don’t worry—I only recommend products and services I personally use, love, or believe can genuinely benefit you. Your support helps keep this blog going—thank you! 💖
What Are Money Leaks?
Money leaks are those tiny, unnoticed expenses that quietly drain your budget without adding much value to your life.
🔹 Unmonitored Subscriptions – Streaming services, software, memberships you don’t use
🔹 Mindless Spending – Coffee runs, takeout, Amazon one-click purchases
🔹 Bank Fees – Overdraft fees, ATM fees, late payments
🔹 Forgotten Auto-Renewals – Apps, cloud storage, annual fees for things you don’t need
🔹 Impulse Buys – The “I deserve this” splurges that don’t really bring lasting joy
The problem? Each one seems small on its own. But when added up, they can cost hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars a year.
Step 1: Track Every Dollar (No Judgment, Just Clarity!)
Before we can fix the problem, we have to see it clearly. That’s why the first step is tracking your spending for one week.
📝 ACTION STEP:
✔ Download my Solo Money Tracker (or use a simple notebook)
✔ Write down every expense for 7 days
✔ Label each purchase: Need, Want, or Future
At the end of the week, take a step back and ask yourself:
📌 What surprised me?
📌 Where do I see patterns?
📌 Did I spend money on things I don’t actually value?
When I did this, I realized I was spending $40+ a month on random drive-thru coffee stops—not even great coffee, just out of habit. That’s almost $500 a year. Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.
🐢 Tilly Tip
Not sure how to identify your money leaks? Let Tilly guide you through the process.
Ask Tilly NowTry asking: “What are common hidden expenses I should look out for?”
Step 2: Cut Unnecessary Expenses (Without Feeling Deprived)
Now that you know where your money is going, let’s cut the fat—but smartly. I’m not about extreme budgeting where you can’t enjoy life. Instead, we focus on cutting what doesn’t serve you so you can spend more on what does.
💡 Quick Fixes to Plug Money Leaks:
✅ Cancel Unused Subscriptions – Use an app like Truebill, or go through your statements manually.
✅ Switch to a Cheaper Plan – Do you really need all those streaming services? Pick one or two.
✅ Set a Weekly Cash Allowance – If small daily purchases add up, withdraw a set amount in cash.
✅ Batch Errands to Save on Gas – One trip a week instead of multiple small ones.
✅ Meal Plan to Avoid Last-Minute Takeout – Just planning ahead can save you hundreds.
📌 PRO TIP: Give yourself a “free spend” budget! Cutting every fun thing out of your budget is unrealistic. Set aside a reasonable amount for guilt-free spending.
💡Fact: A Lending Tree survey finds that 37% of women aren’t able to save money (versus 22% of men), despite them being less likely to splurge, enjoy shopping for themselves or go into debt from nonessential spending.
Step 3: Automate Your Smart Money Moves
Once you free up cash, don’t let it disappear again. Redirect it somewhere useful!
🎯 SMART MONEY MOVES TO MAKE TODAY:
💰 Set up automatic savings – Even $10 a week adds up!
💳 Pay extra on debt – Less interest = more money in your pocket.
🚀 Invest in yourself – A course, a skill, or a financial goal that truly benefits you.
📌 Need a game plan? My Intentional Spending Planner [in the Free Solo Money Starter Kit] helps you create a simple, realistic budget that works for your life.
Solo Money Starter Kit Companion File
the Google Sheet file that expands on the FREE Solo Money Starter Kit pdf
The Biggest Mindset Shift: Progress, Not Perfection
Let’s be real—life happens. Some months, you’ll spend more than planned. Some weeks, you’ll forget to track. That’s okay!
What matters is awareness and progress.
💡 Your Challenge: Take ONE small action this week. Just one.
📌 Track your spending for 7 days
📌 Cancel one unused subscription
📌 Set up one automatic transfer to savings
Small steps today lead to big changes over time. And I promise—once you see the extra cash in your budget, you’ll never want to go back.
👉 Next up in the Smart Money Management Series: Step 3 – Create an Intentional Spending Plan
✅ Take Control of Your Finances Today
📩 Download the Free Solo Money Starter Kit – Your essential guide to identifying and plugging money leaks.
🛍 Check out the other tools – I’ve created a Google Sheets workbook as a compliment to the Solo Money Starter Kit and all the calculations are done for you – in the Solo Money Shop
🔗 Spread the Word: Know someone who could benefit from this guide? Share this post with them!
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PIM Community Question:
Have you discovered any surprising money leaks?
Share your experience with us – comment below and let’s discuss!
