9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses

Cindy Lamothe

Sat, Jun 7, 2025, 4:05 PM 5 min read

There’s only so much you can control about your financial situation. You can’t snap your fingers and magically increase your salary. The reality is that if you’re in the middle class, one of the biggest changes you can make is downsizing to save money on monthly expenses.

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But that doesn’t mean you have to give up everything you enjoy in your daily life. There are some pretty common expenses and purchasing habits the middle class can easily cut back on that can seriously improve their finances — especially for people with debt.

One of the easiest areas for middle-class families to save money, according to finance expert, Dennis Shirshikov, is by evaluating and downsizing their subscription services.

“Many households subscribe to multiple streaming services, digital magazines and monthly delivery boxes, often spending more than $100 per month,” he said. “While individually these services seem affordable, collectively they can add up significantly.”

A practical approach he recommended is to review all subscriptions and eliminate those that are rarely used or overlap in content.

“For example, choosing one or two favorite streaming platforms instead of subscribing to five can save around $30 to $50 monthly,” Shirshikov said.

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If you’re in the middle class and carry debt, you know how much of your monthly budget it can eat up. Your balance keeps growing, and you can struggle to even make the minimum payments on top of all your other bills.

With debt settlement, their experts will negotiate directly with your lenders to agree on a reduced balance, meaning you could pay less than what you owe. With debt consolidation, all your debt is combined into one new loan, ideally with a lower interest rate. This helps you pay off your balance faster and saves money on interest payments.

Another significant expense for many middle-class families is dining out and takeout, Shirshikov said.

“While convenient, frequently eating out can quickly become a financial drain,” he said. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average household spends about $3,000 annually on food away from home. Reducing the frequency of dining out by planning meals and cooking at home can result in substantial savings.”