Top Five Budget Busters

The small expenses that put a dent in your wallet.

Carry Only What You Need - Try not to overstuff your purse or wallet with items that you don’t need with you for that night — you might lose them or, even worse, they might get stolen. Take only the essentials: your cell phone, ID, subway/bus card, one debit/credit card and some cash.  (Photo: KEYSTONE /Landov)

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What You Might Be Doing Wrong - Do you ever feel as if your paycheck gets spent before it even hits your bank account? You may have fallen victim to one of the five common budget busters. Financial expert Deborah Owens breaks down the small expenses that can put a big dent in your budget.  (Photo: KEYSTONE /Landov)

Too Much Car - “Often, when people buy a car, they think about what monthly payment they can afford but don't look at the overall cost. What's really important is how much interest you're going to pay over time,” Owens said. “In addition, sometimes getting a gently used car, a car that may be a year old and maybe only has a few thousand miles on it, is a more affordable option. Doing so can save you a couple of hundred dollars a month over time and that can impact your overall budget.” (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Too Much Car - “Often, when people buy a car, they think about what monthly payment they can afford but don't look at the overall cost. What's really important is how much interest you're going to pay over time,” Owens said. “In addition, sometimes getting a gently used car, a car that may be a year old and maybe only has a few thousand miles on it, is a more affordable option. Doing so can save you a couple of hundred dollars a month over time and that can impact your overall budget.” (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Too Much Grooming - “While grooming is important, over time that $50 a week can really add up. A few changes can make a big difference. Rather than getting your hair and nails done every week, you may want to skip a week and maintain it on your own during the off weeks,” said Owens, author of A Purse of Your Own. “Think about it this way: $50 a month is $600 a year, which, when put in a savings account over five years, can be your down payment on your new home or car.”   (Photo: Commercial Appeal /Landov)

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Too Much Technology - “The cost of your cell phone, cable and data network for your iPad, all of that technology can cause a drain on your wallet. See if there is a way to bundle some of your services for added savings, Owens said. “In addition, you need to negotiate your rate with your provider.  Sometimes they have specials, promotions and teaser rates, but you won't know about them unless you ask.” (Photo: GettyImages)

Obese Teens and Girls More Likely to Read Fast Food Calorie Labels - The good news: When it comes to reading fast food calorie information, girls and obese teens are more likely to pay attention to them. The bad news: Boys and slimmer teens are more likely to ignore them. But, a new CDC report also found that overall teens were 42 percent less likely to pay attention to these labels than adults. (Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

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Too Much Takeout - “Getting takeout for lunch and dinner every day really adds up over time. One of the easiest ways to remedy this problem is to commit to taking your lunch maybe two or three times a week instead of [buying] every day,” Owens said. “It's all about baby steps. All of that savings over a week or month can really make a dent in your debt or you can begin to invest and save for the things that you really desire.” (Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Too Much Shopping Therapy - “When you do it excessively, shopping therapy can do more harm than good. One of the things that you might want to do is rather than going to the mall, let your fingers do the shopping by comparison shopping online,” Owens said. “Some stores offer web-only deals. And if you'd rather make your purchases in person, see which store has the best deal first by checking online. This is a great way to avoid impulse shopping and to become a more conscious spender.”  (Photo: GettyImages)

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Too Much Shopping Therapy - “When you do it excessively, shopping therapy can do more harm than good. One of the things that you might want to do is rather than going to the mall, let your fingers do the shopping by comparison shopping online,” Owens said. “Some stores offer web-only deals. And if you'd rather make your purchases in person, see which store has the best deal first by checking online. This is a great way to avoid impulse shopping and to become a more conscious spender.”  (Photo: GettyImages)