Skip the Uber, Shrink the Mortgage

Swapping or cutting back on a few things might not feel life-changing day to day, but it can make a real difference when you send those savings straight to your mortgage.

We live in a city where a quick errand can cost you big bucks. Then there’s coffee on the way to work. Subscriptions you forgot about. That gym membership you haven’t used since February.

But September’s a good reset. No need for extreme budget overhauls, but a few small swaps can actually help make a dent in your mortgage.

For instance:

$6+ coffees

We love a latte, but five of them a week adds up fast. Make your own and you’re saving $80 a month.

Subscriptions

Netflix, Crave, Disney+, NBA League Pass…your bank statement might look like a media company’s budget, but cancel one or two subscriptions and you’re freeing up $20–$40 a month.

The gym

If your attendance only peaked in February, that monthly charge can go. Toronto’s full of trails and free spots to move without paying for what you’re not using.

Transit

Uber/Lyft start at $15, even for a few blocks. A TTC pass is $156 a month, about the cost of three or four rideshares. Bike, walk, or hop on transit more often and your wallet (and patience) will thank you.

Try a one-month challenge

Make a couple swaps and track what you save:

• Brew coffee at home: ~$80

• Cancel a subscription: ~$15

• Ditch unused gym: ~$60

• Use TTC over Uber a few times: ~$30+

That’s around $185 or so back in your pocket. Not from cutting the things you love, just from letting go of what you don’t use.

Then, log in to your online banking and drop that $185 as a pre-payment on your mortgage. Watch a tiny lifestyle reset start to chip away at something big.

No one’s saying to skip every coffee or cancel every convenience. Just ask yourself: is it worth it? If not, scrap it and put those savings to work.