My wife and I are moving cities and countries every 2 years or so — perks of being ‘digital nomads’ of some sort. So, every time we move we need to rent a new flat (duh!). The search is simple, as we both know what we want, and it doesn’t take long to find a good place to live for a while.

But the last moving was some kind of a revelation: we’ve realised that there’s always a perfect option and a near-perfect one that costs about 20% less. This means, you pay $300 less and have an extra 10 minutes walking or riding a bus because the flat is not in the middle of the city. Or you don’t get a big kitchen and a back porch, but you can order delicious food whenever you want. The trade-offs are endless, but the savings are real!

In our duo, my wife is the savvy one. So, when we debated whether to pick the cheaper or the fancier flat, she simply asked, “Would you like to save $300 every month?” You already know the answer 😃. And what do I miss out on? A newer fridge, a bigger TV, or maybe a larger sofa. Big deal.

Sure, this sounds like the age-old ‘spend less and save more’ mantra. But here’s the kicker: regular payments are the real bitch. You can cut down on dining out if needed, but you can’t just stop paying part of your rent. So, what can you do with the $300 saved on rent each month? Or $3,600 a year? I bet a few ideas just popped into your head.

For us, it goes straight into the investment bucket—part of our retirement fund. After all, who wants to work forever? Not me. So, next time you’re choosing between rental options, think about the long-term benefits of saving a little now. Your future self will thank you.

What would you do with an extra $300 each month? Have you ever chosen a less perfect option to save money? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments!