Bottled Water Is Draining Your Bank Account

If you drink bottled water three times a day and buy it from a vending machine for $1 a bottle, switching to tap water will save you over $1,000 a year. Even if you buy your bottled water in bulk, you will save several hundred dollars a year by switching to tap water.

Even knowing the information about bottled and tap water, many people still won't switch because they feel their tap water has a strange smell or taste. If you have concerns that your tap water may be contaminated in some way, you can find specific information about your water supply at the National Tap Water Quality Database.

A basic water filter also can address smell and taste concerns at a fraction of the cost of bottled water. There is no reason to spend hundreds of dollars on a filter system. A basic Brita water filter should work just fine and costs less than $20.

There is even an inexpensive solution for people who prefer bottled water for its portability -- to drink while backpacking or traveling internationally -- or as a safeguard in case of a disaster or to treat groundwater. At just under $40, the Katadyn Exstream Personal Water Bottle Purifier is a lightweight solution to packing or keeping a lot of bottled water.

If the financial and environmental reasons aren't enough, again -- bottled water doesn't provide better water. Kick this bad habit and enjoy the extra money in your bank account.