Everything seems to be going up in price every month: food, housing, gasoline, entertainment, you name it. So, it makes sense to search for ways to cut costs wherever possible. Making more meals at home and ordering less takeout are two good ways to achieve this. Although some “frugal” practices may seem like a good idea at the time, they won’t always end up saving you money.
Finding a happy medium between the value of your time and your money is an important part of being economical. Certainly, you can spend a considerable amount of time researching prices online or visiting multiple stores to find the best deals, and you could end up saving a couple of dollars when you make your purchase. Instead, you may miss out on money-making opportunities or time with loved ones, which you value.
Take a second look at these six seemingly frugal practices
Buying items only because they are on sale
Buying during deals only because they are sales or trying to cut costs by purchasing more expensive items rarely results in true cost savings. There are a number of promotional strategies employed by retailers to increase sales spending, such as highlighting the limited availability of an item or comparing a reduced price to its original, higher price.
If you weren’t planning to buy something else, buying it only because it’s on sale is a waste of money. Make an effort to be a careful spender who gives careful consideration to their spending habits.
I shop at multiple stores to receive discounts
While it may seem like a beneficial idea at the moment, it might not be worth it after you consider the time and money spent driving all over town compared to the dollars saved. This is especially true if you’re just going to multiple grocery stores in an effort to take advantage of a few small-dollar offers.
Similar considerations may apply to transactions conducted on Facebook Marketplace. Even if you find an item at a steep discount, there are still expenses to consider, such as the time and gasoline needed to pick it up or rent a large enough vehicle to carry it. Other factors to consider include the item’s value and whether you’ll ultimately need to replace it, which we’ll discuss further below.
Taking a detour in search of cheaper gas
Like filling up your gasoline tank, it’s tempting to take a detour if it will save a few cents per gallon. However, this strategy may only make sense if you can combine the detour with a relatively efficient reroute or if you have a list of errands that you need to run anyway.
However, you’ll be wasting time and money if you go across town merely to purchase gasoline at a lower price. To justify the extra effort, particularly if your vehicle has inadequate gas mileage, the price difference per gallon would need to be substantial in comparison to the distance traveled.
Stocking up on all items
It can appear like you’ll save money in the long run if you buy in bulk from stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or even Amazon, since the price per unit is lower.
When you buy things like toilet paper and paper towels in bulk, you can rest assured that you will use them up within a decent amount of time. Everything you need to feed a large family or host a party is considered a staple item.
However, if you don’t have a quick use for a fifty-pound case of potatoes or if you switch brands of toiletries midway through a value pack, you’ll likely end up wasting money. Also, make sure you have enough room to store your bulk purchases.
Spending less
However, you can wind up spending more money in the long run if you try to save money by initially purchasing inexpensive products. You can end up paying more money in the long run if you purchase higher-quality items initially rather than cheaper, lower-quality knockoffs of popular things (such as shoes, clothing, and technology, among many others), since they wear out or break more easily.
Instead, when you shop, think about the value of an item. Consider the cost per wear of an expensive piece of clothing that you’ll have for a long time compared to a cheaper, less durable one that you’ll only use for a few seasons. If you can afford it, you should consider prioritizing value, even if not everyone can.
You can undertake some projects on your own
Evidently, we advise people on how to save money by doing a lot of things on their own. However, if you attempt a DIY job and then have to fix it or use expensive tools, you can end up spending more money than if you had hired a professional.
You should be aware of your limitations when it comes to things like complicated home improvement projects and auto maintenance. Similarly, if saving money is your main objective, you should think about the project’s initial cost and its worth in the long run. If you’re interested in growing your own food and canning it, for instance, you’ll need to put a big dent in your budget for the necessary supplies and wait a while before you see a return on your investment.
