30 People Disprove Money-Saving Tips That Simply Aren't Effective
Many people these days are on the hunt for new ways to stretch their dollars further
Someone on Reddit thought they were about to drop a “money-saving” cheat code, and the comments immediately lit it up. The post was basically a list of frugal tips, like clipping grocery coupons, treating Black Friday as a scam-proof trap, grabbing free moving boxes, and “proving” Costco is a ripoff.
But the replies weren’t gentle. People pointed out that coupons often target high-markup, processed brands, so the discounted item can still be the worst deal. Others argued that big sale weekends are only useless if you ignore recent price history. And when it came to moving, one person was tired of watching friends wrestle lumpy random boxes that waste gas, time, and even space.
By the end, it’s not that saving money is fake, it’s that these “tips” fall apart fast when real life and real shopping get involved.
1. Someone asked:
2. Clip grocery store name brand coupons to save money.
Except most of the things that have manufacturer's coupons are high markup processed foods. Often another brand was a better buy than the coupon item. Sometimes a different size of the same product by the same manufacturer that didn't qualify for the discount was a better buy.Buying generic and cooking from scratch are usually cheaper.
doublestitch,Bernard Herman3. So many
1) "Black Friday, Boxing day etc are all scams and spending to money is the frugal option." : There is some truth to this but people miss it entirely. using these kind of sales for big purchases if the price is better or comparable to the recent price history of the item. Last year alone i got a new microwave for %50/$150 off let alone cutting my cellphone and internet bills in half. In the past i got much needed furniture, other appliances and general house hold items i really needed on these sales2) " When moving random boxes are free!" : This is my biggest gripe. I will maintain that buying proper moving boxes saves you money and time in the long run. Firstly Random boxes are difficult to stack and move, since you're now playing tetris with them to make it fit. Driving around trying to find boxes wastes time and money in gas, plus transporting the ever popular alcohol boxes means you are now transporting air since they are glued together. Buying flat moving boxes are fairly cheap and you can pick up a bunch at once and go home with them. Every time I've helped people move, when they used uniform moving boxes everything went so much faster.3) "Costco is a waste of money": Simply put you just don't know how to Costco. People end up buying more then they can consume and throw it out, or they over consume because they buy in bulk. The other problem is people impulse shop. Find what you need and comparison shop, more often then not you'll save a ton of money. Recently I pick up an instant pot for $60 cheaper then anywhere else, that alone is the cost of a membership. In my last trip i picked up printer paper saving about $3-4 over staples, bath soap saving $3-4 over walmart, Shampoo saving $4, mens Deoderant saving about $10, womens deoderant saving $12-15, chicken legs/drumsticks saving about $1 a pound and so forth. Even big purchases like clothes is far better quality then other stores at the same price point.4) "That costs too much that isn't frugal" This is a personal one. Some people think being frugal means being as cheap as possible. Recently I made a post of some containers i used to clean up my pantry, i spent less then $4 per container which is cheaper then any other option out there except re-using crappy plastic ones and a lot of people jumped on me for it. I also see a lot of frugal things people do and it's either a mess, an eyesore, takes way to much time for what you're saving or all 3. Spending a few extra dollars can alleviate these problems. Remember time is money and value your time as well.
Zoso03,Ashkan Forouzan
The article sheds light on the crumbling foundations of traditional money-saving advice, revealing that many of these tips are rooted in outdated assumptions that no longer hold true in today's economic landscape. It highlights how individuals often underestimate the psychological toll of financial stress, which can drive them to make decisions that ultimately undermine their financial goals. For instance, adopting an excessively frugal lifestyle may initially seem prudent, but this approach can foster feelings of deprivation. Such emotional strain can lead to a counterintuitive outcome where individuals, feeling overwhelmed, may resort to impulsive spending as a form of relief. This insight challenges the effectiveness of longstanding frugality tips and prompts a reevaluation of the relationship between mindset and financial behavior.
4. Driving for miles to save 2-5 cents on gas. I still see this done today and I don't think it helps at all. But to each their own.
lumberlady72415,Nguyen Minh
5. I'm in a high cost of living area and the "thrift stores" sell noticably worn t-shirts for $13.99. They haven't been thrifty for more than 8 years in my area.
Electrical-Pie-8192,cottonbro studio
6. Eating out is just as expensive as grocery shopping these days. It varies , but the price per meal of cooking at home is much cheaper
pizzadude32,Ali Inay
The coupon debate gets messy fast when someone explains how the “discount” brand is often the pricier processed option, and the non-coupon size or store brand wins instead.
Behavioral economics shows that our emotional responses to money can significantly influence our financial decision-making.
This psychological bias can hinder effective money management strategies.
7. Thrift stores are cheaper for quality, if you enjoy the search as a hobby.
Black Friday has always been a performative consumption marketing ploy.Wrong frugality is maybe just doing anything that is time consuming and unfulfilling to save a few dollars.EDIT: And I feel like this will answer a bunch of downthread comments, Black Friday is a Q4 retail nonsense holiday that attempts to put books in the black for new year. SKUs are invented for it specifically. It's cool if you, individually, get nice deals for your family, however the entire idea is nonsense.
Zoso03,Ashkan Forouzan
8. Making your own laundry detergent. It's performative frugality and a tremendous waste of time. Powdered detergent is cheap.
CarlJH,RDNE Stock project
9. Latte factor
It's like "okay I need to make my money go further somehow' and people are like "stop buying coffee!" It's like you really think that wasn't the first thing to go? Really? It's like when thin people tell me I could lose so much weight if I stopped drinking soda and are stunned or flat out don't believe me when I say I don't drink soda (and if I do it's usually coke zero which isn't great for you but isn't the calorie bomb they're imagining).
LtCommanderCarter,Nathan Dumlao
Practical Solutions for Effective Budgeting
This involves setting aside a portion of the budget for discretionary spending, allowing individuals to indulge without guilt.
Practicing mindfulness around spending can help individuals become more aware of their financial habits and emotional triggers.
10. People say that a plant based diet is too expensive.
DootinAlong
11. DIY. Not everyone has thousands of dollars worth of equipment around and the skills to build something cheap.
People reusing plastic containers for food. No, that is not designed to be reused for ten years
fischerandchips,Thijs van der Weide
12. It's cheaper to diy/if you want something done right, do it yourself.
Whyam1sti11Here
Then the thread swings to Black Friday and Boxing Day, where one commenter says they scored a microwave for 50% off and used the savings to cut other bills too.
Additionally, using technology to track spending can provide valuable insights into patterns and help individuals make more informed financial decisions.
Research supports the idea that visualizing spending can enhance self-regulation and lead to more intentional financial behaviors.
13. "Tell the dealership you have cash in hand. They'll give you an amazing out-the-door price!"
intrusivebegonia
14. Going cheap on everything.
You are not doing yourselves any favors by buying cheap appliances. Cheap appliances break easy and need to be replaced. When you buy something, make sure it lasts and your not throwing money away to replace it every couple of months.
watermelon-bubblies,Karolina Grabowska
15. Just because it didn't cost money, doesn't mean you saved. Your time is worth money. Professionals have insurance and offer warranties, you don't get those if you do it yourself. It's important to factor those in when you're trying to save
Reassessing Money-Saving Strategies
It's essential to regularly reassess money-saving strategies to ensure they align with current financial goals and emotional well-being.
16. That earning more money means you lose all the gains to taxes. Nope, you always will take home more money if you get a raise.
Where a raise does adversely affect a person is if the extra income tips them out of a government benefit, such as below x income receive this tax credit or that assistance program. But you have to usually be pretty low income to get those anyway.
jorrylee,Giorgio Trovato
17. "it's cheaper to buy in bulk"
then half of the item goes to waste because of spoilage or freshness.
18. Cleaning products. Sometimes baking soda and vinegar doesn’t cut it. Save your body soreness, frustration, and wasted time. Buy yourself some soft scrub!
HelpfulJarOfDirt,HomeSpot HQ
After that, moving day enters the chat, and the uniform-box rant turns into a full-on argument about why random free boxes make everything slower and harder to stack.
Ultimately, creating a balanced approach to money management that considers both financial goals and emotional health can lead to more sustainable outcomes.
By recognizing the psychological factors at play, individuals can develop a healthier relationship with money, reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being.
19. The general idea that you should keep everything for as long as possible and only replace something when it breaks.
For older electric items, especially things like heaters and refrigerators, the energy consumption of an older appliance can be 4-5x higher or more than a new model. Depending on how much your energy costs the cost of that extra energy can be the equivalent of buying a new appliance every few years.Same with cars. With the amount you spend on repairs/maintenance and the general poorer fuel consumption you're often better off financially buying a newer one sooner rather than "driving until the wheels fall off".
20. People still parrot the “buy a cheap laser printer from Brother” talking point like it’s 2005. You don’t need a printer at all, just go to a copy shop and spend the 30 cents the one time in a decade you’ll actually need to print something.
PitbullMandelaEffect,Mahrous Houses
21. Wash your dishes by hand.
Yeah my dishwasher uses less power to heat the water and run a load than the hot water cylinder uses just to heat the water. It uses less water than a sink full and can do more dishes in that amount of water than I can. So saves me money there too as I have to pay for water.Actual handy frugal tip incoming, scrape food off your dishes and then just load into the dishwasher. Do not rinse your dishes. Add dishwasher powder to the prerinse section as well as the normal wash section. Select a cycle with a prerinse start. Dishes come out perfectly clean. Use powder, not tablets. Powder is generally about the same price as tablets but will get you twice the amount of loads.
Caconz,Kampus Production
22. “Don’t use credit cards, use cash for everything.” - easy way to not have a great credit score when you need a loan. Use the cards and pay it off monthly.
katm12981,Karolina Grabowska
23. Higher quality cost more. The cost tells you nothing about the quality, it’s better to look at the materials and how something was made.
Im-a-sim,Claudio Schwarz
24. My pet peeve is "you need to save 3 months of expenses in an emergency fund."
You actually need way more than that. Eight months to a year is recommended to sustain yourself during a recession. And anytime I look for a new job, it takes two months at least before I find something. I wouldn't want to lie awake at night worrying that the last month is going to escape me before my paycheck arrives.
NoAdministration8006,Karolina Grabowska
25. The people who insist credit and debit cards are bad.
RAF_Fortis_one
26. My mother will drive around to 2 or 3 different grocery stores to take advantage of various deals, but I'm certain that the time and gas burnt driving around cancels out any savings on groceries. (This may be less true with grocery prices skyrocketing recently)
Paulrik,Fikri Rasyid
27. People don’t account for quality or time at all.
Yes I can clean my own house, mow my own lawn, fix whatever is broken, but all of that takes time to do it and it won’t be as good as some who does it for a living. You can always make more money so be frugal with time than money.
supercharged0709,Liliana Drew
28. Not all wrong, just work for different people
CivilMaze19
29. Dollar stores. Usually not cheaper *per unit* —they’re just packaged in smaller quantities to price cheaper.
Privatequestions_762,Mike Mozart
30. A lot of people don't save the amounts of money they believe they are saving. Pointing this out to them, even using numbers and math, can even make them angry.
Virtual_Criticism_96,Karolina Grabowska
31. Delivery services.
I do Walmart delivery all the time. I save on impulse purchases, it’s free, and the $10 tip saves me so much time and energy. Plus I can examine the price/weight in more detail.Oh, and my kids can’t beg for stuff or sneak things in the cart.
AdelineVirgina,Tima Miroshnichenko
Finally, Costco gets dragged into it, with people calling out impulse buys and bulk waste, while someone mentions finding an Instant Pot $60 cheaper than anywhere else.</p>
Whether it's debunking an old myth or embracing a modern approach to saving, the real lesson here is to be mindful and intentional with your choices. Money-saving techniques should enhance your life, not become a burden.
Finding the right balance between time, effort, and savings can lead to not just a thicker wallet but a more fulfilling and efficient way to manage your finances.
The article highlights how certain strategies, often viewed as prudent, can actually lead to minimal savings while consuming valuable time and energy. This calls for a deeper understanding of our financial behaviors.
Instead of clinging to outdated methods, individuals should embrace flexible budgeting and regularly reassess their financial goals. This proactive approach not only fosters a more effective money management strategy but also cultivates a healthier relationship with money, ultimately leading to more sustainable financial well-being.
Nobody is saving money on “tips,” they’re saving money on timing, math, and not buying random boxes like it’s a game.
Still arguing over grocery money with roommates, read how one person refused to split lavish purchases.
