When Ana did the math, she discovered that between cravings and subscriptions, she was spending almost 2,500 pesos a month on things she often didn't even notice, pointed out the Director of Sustainability at Banorte. Actions vs. the 'ant' expenses Muñoz Domínguez indicated that, instead of eliminating all her pleasures—because it's not about suffering—Ana decided to get organized: she canceled a subscription she barely used and limited her daily purchases. He mentioned that the money Ana freed up, she now automatically sends to her 'Savings Program' via Banorte Móvil; and what she has left over each month, she puts into a separate account to reach her goal this year: to go to the beach. 6 tips to fumigate 'ant' expenses To reduce 'ant' expenses, the executive of the Banorte Financial Group recommends: 1. Quick payments that don't hurt... but they do weigh up when you do the math. 'A coffee in the morning, a snack in the afternoon or that streaming platform that costs less than 100 pesos a month. The money doesn't disappear on its own: it goes on small daily expenses that you don't even register: a coffee, a snack or a subscription. They are small, quick, and almost automatic purchases... and precisely for that reason, it's easy to ignore them, noted the Director of Sustainability at Banorte, José Luis Muñoz Domíngez. These daily consumptions are known as 'ant' expenses: small, frequent, and often impulsive payments that, little by little, eat up a significant part of your money. Simply decide how much money per month you want to dedicate to coffees, snacks, or small purchases. 4. They work like ants: little by little, but without stopping. Personal Finance... real-life cases To show the impact on your wallet that 'ant' expenses represent, the specialist presented the real case of Ana, who every day buys: A coffee on the way to work: 45 pesos A snack in the afternoon: 25 pesos Total: 70 pesos daily. To this, you have to add three streaming platforms she barely checks: 129, 149, and 99 pesos a month, respectively. Numbers don't lie. Detect where your money is going For a week, write down absolutely all your expenses, no matter how small. Sometimes it's enough to pay attention to those small expenses that seem insignificant... but together they can make a big difference, concluded the Director of Sustainability at Banorte. Set a budget for your 'little treats' You don't have to eliminate them completely. Improving your personal finances doesn't always require huge changes. Most banking apps offer tools to set aside small amounts, almost without noticing. Learn to decide consciously. Turn the expense into savings A useful strategy is to automatically move that money to a savings goal. Change some habits Small adjustments make a difference: make coffee at home some days, bring a snack or share a streaming account with the family. 5. The name is no coincidence. Ask yourself which ones you really use and which you could pause or cancel. 3. Seeing them in writing helps identify patterns that normally go unnoticed. 2. Review your subscriptions Make a list of your streaming platforms, apps, and digital services.
