Many salaried workers have experienced the problem of not having any savings despite not spending extravagantly or buying expensive items. One of the main reasons may be "small expenses". small expenses —costs of just a few tens to a few hundred baht at a time that many people tend to overlook. When paid repeatedly every day or week, these can add up to several thousand baht per month.
Thairath Online invites you to explore 5 common small expenses close to home along with calculations showing how much money we might be spending on these each month.
Coffee, green tea, Thai tea, or a morning drink before work may be a small pleasure many can't do without. Even though one drink costs only a few tens of baht, buying it nearly every workday can add up to more than expected.
Example calculation
You don't have to stop buying your favorite drinks entirely but could reduce frequency, such as buying only 2–3 times a week or preparing drinks at home some days to save money without sacrificing enjoyment.
Snacks from convenience stores, desserts after meals, or snacks during work are expenses often forgotten because each purchase isn't expensive, but if bought regularly, money quietly disappears from the account.
Example calculation
Before grabbing snacks, ask yourself if you are truly hungry or just buying out of habit. Another way is to prepare fruit or snacks from home, which can reduce both expenses and daily sugar intake.
Services for watching movies, listening to music, reading books, file storage, or other apps often charge automatically, so some continue paying subscriptions even though they rarely or never use them.
Example calculation
Try reviewing your past payments and categorize services into three groups: regularly used, occasionally used, and not used. For services unused for months, canceling or pausing subscriptions can immediately reduce expenses.
Words like “discount,” “free shipping,” or “today only” can trigger buying items not originally planned. Though each item may be inexpensive, ordering multiple times a month can become a large expense.
Example calculation
To reduce impulse buying, add items to your cart and wait at least 24 hours. When you check again, you might realize the item isn't really necessary, and the discount isn't worthwhile if it means spending money on unused products.
Lottery tickets, online lotteries, or gambling activities are expenses many consider small, especially when buying only a few tickets at a time. However, regular purchases each draw can accumulate to a significant amount yearly.
Example calculation
Gambling expenses should be categorized as entertainment costs and not viewed as investments or income sources. If buying, set a budget you can afford without affecting essential expenses, savings, or debt obligations.
When adding up all five expense categories the total is approximately 4,800–9,800 baht per month or 57,600–117,600 baht per year. This amount could instead be used as an emergency fund, travel budget, or savings for future goals.
However, saving money doesn't mean cutting out all pleasures. Simply being aware of where your money is going and choosing to reduce only unnecessary or unused expenses can help you have more money left without making life uncomfortable.