13 Common Frugal Tips That Are Not Worth It

“I deserve this” is a line I often tell myself when I’m about to make an expensive purchase. It’s good to be frugal but not in all areas of life.

Here are some common frugal living tips that are not worth following. 

1. Create Your Own Laundry Detergent

Many DIY projects, from bath bombs to laundry detergent, take too much time. You’ll also need to look for a recipe you’ll love that’s affordable and easy to make. I can tell you from experience that these are hard to find. 

If you’re living alone, making a small portion is just not worth it when you can buy some with only a couple of cents in difference. 

2. Avoid Hobbies

Some hobbies are expensive like wine collecting or flying. Others are actually cheap or even free, like hiking, meditating, and bird watching. 

You don’t have to spend much to get the quality of life you deserve. You just need to choose the right hobby that will catch your interest but won’t empty your wallet.

3. Always Buy in Bulk

While it varies case-by-case, buying in bulk may be a bad idea. If you have a big family, getting everything as big as they come is wonderful. It’s illogical to do so when you live alone and get a 6-pound bulk deal for salmon. 

You can go for non-perishable items like rolls of toilet paper or shampoos in bulk and not buy them for months. These are great purchases, especially when they’re discounted or running a sale. Make sure to avoid items that spoil, like vegetables and meat. 

4. Do Everything Yourself

Do your pipes need fixing? Call a plumber. If you need to install your wall-mounted television, call your local handyman. You don’t need to do everything yourself just to avoid paying people to do them. 

Time is expensive, and if you do tasks, you need to become more familiar with them. You’ll just waste time you could’ve spent on important things. Paying someone for their expertise is almost always worth it. 

5. Choose Off-Brand Products

Some off-brand products work but some are not a good option. Choose the brands if you like them better for certain products, but you don’t rely on brands for every purchase. For most items, off-brand products are just as tasty and much cheaper. 

For example, Trader Joe’s potato chips are crispy and cost less than your classic Lay’s. It’s a matter of preference, so decide on a per-product basis and consider where you would value the extra spending.

6. Squelch Any Available Joy to Save Money

Are you willing to give up the things that give you joy just to save some cash? Some say paying for an experience that won’t last anyway wastes money. In my opinion, if an experience, like going on a trip or going to therapy, can enrich your life, it’s never a waste. 

7. Unplug Appliance When Going Out

The United States Department of Energy claims you can save up to $100 by unplugging your appliances. The danger with this habit is that there’s a chance you will wear out your outlets by repeatedly unplugging everything anytime you go out. Ultimately, you’ll have to replace your outlets, pay for the parts, and even for the installation. Will the $100 in savings be enough to cover that?

8. Go to Grocery Stores Frequently

Some say that grocery shopping frequently can save money since you only buy what you need every time. If you go that often, you’ll waste gas money and time when you can schedule a once-a-week run to the stores.

I don’t know about you, but having to resist all the snacks once a week is hard enough for me.

9. Go into Heavy Couponing

Some people go heavy on couponing, which is using vouchers and deals for purchases. Getting 50% discounts on items and a buy 1 get 1 situation sounds marvelous. 

The truth is that it takes time to scour stores for coupons and line up for deals. Worse, you’re tempted to buy items you don’t need just because you think you can save money from them. Don’t let your coupons decide what to get, and focus on the coupons that give you discounts on items you will buy anyway. 

10. Set Your Thermostat to Low

Thermostats are supposed to keep your home warm and comfortable. Setting them too low can force you to wear multiple sweaters indoors or throw a blanket for extra warmth. This is often impractical and not worth it, in my opinion.

Why get thermostats in the first place if you’ll still feel cold?

11. Do Not Have Pets

Pets cost money, but many fur parents will tell you that all the food and vet bills are worth the joy that their pets bring them.

Don’t close your doors to pets just because they’re expensive. If you’re capable and interested, try it out, but take responsibility for their precious lives.

12. Get Cheap Hair Treatments

Many cases of people getting cheap hair treatments end up in nightmares. From burnt hair to hair falling off, I’ve heard many horror stories about them.

You can definitely get cheap haircuts if they just chop it. Hair treatments, from bleaching to adding hair colors, are more complex and will need the expertise of professionals to do it right. 

13. Hold onto Items for Future Use

Holding onto items for future reuse can get out of hand and result in hoarding for some. 

Decluttering can be challenging, but it’s necessary. If you have items that you haven’t used in a while, consider selling or donating them. Holding onto things you don’t need will only lead to more clutter.

Frugal Vs. Cheap – Where Are You At?

Have you ever wondered what’s the difference between frugal vs. cheap? Aren’t they the same? Although both of them have a similar definition, they are different in many aspects. And this difference can help you with your overall financial plans. 

• Frugal Vs. Cheap – Where Are You At?