Video summary

10 Things I Stopped Buying in 2026 (Saved $1,100/month)

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Key takeaways

Finance

Summary — finance-focused takeaways from “10 Things I Stopped Buying in 2026 (Saved $1,100/month)”

Top-line thesis

  • The presenter (Rashida / “Rashidita”) audited everyday consumer spending and replaced high-cost, low-value choices with cheaper, higher-quality alternatives. The changes collectively saved her more than $1,000/month (title claim) and improved her ability to invest (Roth IRA contributions, better emergency-fund allocation).
  • She includes a clear disclaimer that this is personal experience and research, not professional financial advice.

“I’m not a financial adviser. I’m sharing what worked for me — always do your own homework and consult a professional before making investment decisions.”

Assets, sectors, and instruments mentioned

  • Consumer sectors:
    • Autos (new cars, certified pre‑owned)
    • Restaurants / fast food
    • Cable & streaming
    • Smartphones and consumer electronics
    • Beauty / skincare
    • Insurance (home & auto)
    • Subscriptions / apps
    • Banking (savings accounts)
    • Workplace lunches
  • Financial instruments / accounts:
    • Roth IRA
    • Emergency fund (cash)
    • High‑yield savings accounts (HYS)
    • Money market accounts
    • FDIC‑insured online banks
  • Companies & services referenced:
    • YouTube TV, Hulu, PlayStation View, Apple TV+, Max, Apple Pay, Progressive, State Farm, GEICO
  • Not included:
    • No stock tickers, bonds, crypto, commodities, or specific ETFs were named.

Key numbers, timelines, yields, and metrics

  • Dining / consumer price changes:
    • Example lunch: $35 (2026) vs $15 (2019) for same meal.
    • Fast food price increases (2014–2026): cited as 1–200% for some staples.
    • Typical casual dinner for two: $70–$80 before tip.
  • Auto financing:
    • Average car payment in 2026: > $750/month (vs $550 in 2019) — about a 40% increase.
    • Loan terms now up to 86 months.
    • New-car immediate depreciation: roughly 20–30% right after purchase.
  • Car-buying rules-of-thumb (recommended):
    1. Put at least 20% down.
    2. Finance no more than 4 years.
    3. Keep monthly payment < 8% of gross monthly income.
  • Smartphone upgrade cycle:
    • Keep a phone 4 years instead of upgrading annually → estimated savings ≈ $2,400 per cycle.
    • Suggest redirecting part of those savings to a Roth IRA (example: $1,000).
  • Skincare:
    • Telehealth dermatologist consult: ~$20 copay.
    • Generic tretinoin: ~$20 per tube (vs $100+ retail alternatives).
  • Insurance:
    • Annual price‑match audit takes ≈ 30–60 minutes and can commonly save ≈ $80/month via retention offers or switching.
  • Subscriptions:
    • Average person pays for 3–4 services they haven’t used in the last 90 days.
    • “Cancel-and-on-demand” can save ≈ $60/month.
  • Cash / savings yields (2026 example ranges):
    • Big national banks: as low as 0.01% on checking/savings.
    • High‑yield savings / money market accounts: ~3.0–3.5% (variable).
    • Example: $20,000 emergency fund kept at a low bank rate could lose nearly $1,000/year in forgone interest vs moving to an HYS.
  • Tipping & takeaway behavior:
    • Tablet prompts commonly suggest 18–25%; overall tipping creeping to 15–20% on transactions without table service.
    • Presenter’s tipping policy: max 10% for takeout; 20–25% for full table service. Estimates saving $40–$50/month by avoiding inappropriate tip prompts.
  • Workplace lunch:
    • Daily $15–$20 lunch → up to ≈ $500/month or ≈ $6,000/year. Presenter points out this is near the cost of fully funding a Roth IRA.

Practical methodologies / step‑by‑step frameworks shared

  • Car purchase framework:
    1. Put 20% down.
    2. Limit financing to a maximum 4‑year term.
    3. Ensure the monthly payment is less than 8% of gross monthly income.
  • Insurance price‑match audit (annual):
    • Spend ~30 minutes getting two competitor quotes.
    • Call your current provider, request a match citing competitor quotes.
    • Keep the policy if they match; if not, switch.
  • Subscription management: “cancel-and-on‑demand”
    • Cancel autopay subscriptions.
    • Subscribe only for the month you need (e.g., binge a show), then cancel.
    • Use Apple Pay / iPhone subscription manager to track and cancel easily.
  • Emergency fund optimization:
    • Move emergency cash from legacy low‑yield banks to FDIC‑insured online high‑yield savings or money market accounts to capture prevailing high yield (e.g., 3–3.5% in 2026).
  • Food / dining savings:
    • Cook and meal‑prep in bulk.
    • Take half of a restaurant meal home; pack leftovers for lunch.
    • Limit eating out to special occasions and family outings.
  • Tipping policy:
    • Tip generously for full table service (20–25%).
    • Decline or cap tips for self‑service/counter orders; cap takeout at ~10%.

Explicit recommendations and cautions

  • Reconsider buying brand‑new cars given steep depreciation and longer loan terms; prefer certified pre‑owned when it meets the financing rules above.
  • Stop automatic annual smartphone upgrades — extend useful life to ~4 years and invest the savings.
  • Audit insurance annually — staying loyal often costs more.
  • Move emergency funds into competitive online high‑yield accounts, but remember rates are variable; confirm FDIC insurance and liquidity.
  • Cancel unused subscriptions and adopt an on‑demand approach to streaming and apps.
  • Be intentional about tipping; avoid emotional or tablet-driven tip prompts for counter service.
  • Behavioral advice: review bank statements to find “leaks” and reallocate savings to investments (example: Roth IRA).
  • Practical caution: high‑yield account rates fluctuate — do research and verify terms before moving funds.

Estimated category savings (examples given by presenter)

  • Cooking / meal prep: saves > $300/month.
  • Reducing inappropriate tipping: saves $40–$50/month (≈ $600/year).
  • Cable/streaming switch example: YouTube TV $82/month vs prior ~$140 → saving ≈ $58/month.
  • Insurance negotiation: saves > $80/month.
  • Subscription trimming: saves ≈ $60/month.
  • Emergency fund migration: example shows ≈ $1,000/year left on the table for a $20k fund at a low bank rate.
  • Workplace lunches: up to $500/month or ≈ $6,000/year if buying daily.

Disclosures

  • Presenter’s explicit statement: she is not a financial adviser and recommends doing your own homework and consulting a professional.
  • Notes that rates (e.g., high‑yield savings) are variable and subject to change.

Presenter / source

  • Presenter: Rashida (referred to as “Rashidita” / “Rashida”), host of the YouTube channel Smart Money Moves.

If you want, I can convert these recommendations into a prioritized checklist (quick wins first) or estimate an expected monthly savings projection by category using conservative/median assumptions. Which would help you more?

Original video