<prompt> Human: Came across this article on Kiplinger listing 30 common places you are possibly over-spending. Pretty common advice overall, but it was good to see it in one place. Good to use as a checklist when auditing your monthly budget.To summarize:1. Buying at the Wrong Times - Items are usually marked down at certain times of the year e.g. clothes at the end of each season.2. Tossing Food Based on the Expiration Date - These dates are at best very rough estimates. Use your best judgement when throwing out food - if it looks and smells fine, it is probably safe to eat.3. Paying Checking Account Fees - Enough bankscredit unions offer free checking.4. Always Opting for the Senior Discount - Senior discounts arent always the best deal. Look at other bundlespromotions first.5. Not Adjusting the Thermostat - You dont need to heat or cool an empty apartment. A programmable thermostat will pay for itself pretty quickly.6. Shopping at the Wrong Store - While it is convenient to buy everything at one store, youll get the best prices for each item at different ones. E.g. cleaning supplies at dollar stores, milk at the supermarket, batteries at CostCo etc.7. Paying Foreign Transaction Fees - Get a credit card with no foreign transaction fee when travelling abroad. Credit cards and ATMs also have better exchange rates than currency exchange bureaus. 8. Carrying a Balance - PAY OFF YOUR CREDIT CARD BALANCE EVERY MONTH!9. Buying Brand-Name Instead of Generic - A lot of times packaging is literally the only difference between two products. 10. Paying Late Fees and Missing Deadlines - Keep track of your bills, and pay on time.11. Buying Insurance You Dont Need - You dont need life insurance if you dont have dependents. You also probably dont need credit-card insurance, rental-car insurance, mortgage life insurance etc.12. Overspending on Gas and Oil - Dont use premium fuel if the auto manufacturer says regular is just fine. Same with flex fuel over regular. Your vehicle doesnt need an oil change every 3000 miles.13. Keeping Unhealthy Habits - Cigarettes!14. Paying Too Much for a Mutual Fund - Go for low-cost index funds or ETFs over actively managed.15. Passing up Tax Breaks - Millions of tax payers overlook deductions they are entitled to. Paying a CPA to file your taxes could be worth it just for this.16. Opting for a Low Insurance Deductible - The lower your deductible, the higher your premiums. Keep your deductible as high as you can afford.17. Leaving Your Money in a Low-Interest Account - Use high yield CDs and money market savings accounts instead.18. Paying ATM Fees - Switch to a bank, such as Ally, that doesnt charge ATM fees and reimburses you for fees other banks charge. Alternatively, get cash back with your grocery store purchases.19. Not Pulling the Plug on Electronics - Your electronics could be using up to 100 worth of electricity a year on standby mode. Pull the plug on devices you dont use frequently. 20. Mismanaging Your FSA - Sign up for a flexible spending account if your workplace offers it. And remember that you lose the money left in the account at the end of the year.21. Paying Full Retail Price - Shop sales when you can, and use sites like RetailMeNot.com for online coupons.22. Sticking With the Same Service Provider - There is absolutely no point in being loyal to a bank, insurance, phone or cable company etc. Shop around for better rates every year, and dont hesitate to switch if your existing provider cant match it. 23. Buying New Instead of Used - Other than some obvious things you should buy new mattresses, linens, safety equipment, you can find great bargains on hardly-used goods, often under manufacturer or retailer warranty.24. Paying Credit Card Annual Fees - Get a rewards card without an annual fee.25. Saying Yes to Rental Car Add-ons - No point in paying 20-30 a day for a collision damage waiver, when your existing insurance or credit card benefits might cover it already. Same with 13 a day GPS or pre-paying for a full tank of gas.26. Paying for Credit-Monitoring Services - Get your credit report from all three bureaus for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com. Stagger your visits to the site to get a report every 4 months. Free sites like Credit Karma or Credit Sesame could be helpful as well.27. Paying for Warranties - Again, your credit card could already be covering extended warranties. 28. Not Planning Weekly Meals - Youll be more likely to spend on junk at the grocery store or eat out, so have a meal plan in mind before you shop.29. Paying Too Much for Shipping - Use promotions or shop to retailers store locations for free. 30. Going Overboard on Parties - Most kids care about playing with their friends, not a thousand dollar party venue or catered meals. And dont plan a 30,000 wedding if it means starting your newlywed life under crushing debt.The article expands upon each of these items, and offers other useful links, so read it if you have time.  <response>: Tossing Food Based on the Expiration Date -- Use your best judgement when throwing out food - if it looks and smells fine, it is probably safe to eat.You need to be a bit careful with this, because theres a distinct difference between best before and use by both are food expiration dates. In short, if something has a use by date, chuck it after that date because its not possible to tell using best judgement if the food is bad to eat. 