There’s always a few bucks you can skim from something unessential.

Here’s an odd little factoid for you: a good portion of working adults don’t pay especially close attention to their day-to-day expenses. Not that that’s shame-worthy or anything; we’ve all got our lives to live, after all, we can’t be sitting at a desk watching numbers tick down 24/7, plus doing that probably wouldn’t be very good for your mental health. Rather, the reason I bring this up is to encourage you to give your finances a detailed combing every once in a while. If you check on your expenses, you may find that you’ve been funneling money toward something you don’t actually need. Sever the flow, and the cash comes back to you.

Most banks have online platforms you can check to get detailed statements on your checking accounts, savings accounts, and credit cards. Paper statements work too, but the online platforms tend to offer more detailed information, which is useful for keeping track of things. At the end of a month, just check on your checking account; go over it line-by-line and make sure every purchase is something you distinctly recall and need. The large payments like recurring services and insurance deserve especially close attention. If you think you’re paying too much for your health insurance, for instance, give your provider a call and see if they can get you something a little more reasonable.

Subscription services often rely on customers forgetting they’re subscribed in order to keep charging them. If you’re subscribed to anything that you’re not making especially high use of, it might be better to just cut it off and save yourself the extra $20 a month. You should also try to conserve on utilities wherever possible. Unplug electronics you’re not using, don’t turn the AC up too high, and all that jazz.

If you’re the proactive sort, you can sign up for cash back programs with your bank or through various apps. Certain brands and essential products could earn you small cash back deals. These deals aren’t especially huge in a single use, but if you’re buying this stuff frequently, those savings can add up. That’s the name of the game in the end: adding up. Cut out the financial chaff, and make sure you’ve got a roof over your head and food in your belly. Oh, and good internet. Gotta have that.