Everybody would love to be more frugal, but sometimes it’s easier said than done. In fact, many people express shock whenever their attempts to save money wind up blowing up in their faces. Recently, men and women met in an online discussion to reveal when they realized that saving money was the worst decision they could’ve made.
1. Choosing the Bus Over a Plane
For obvious reasons, countless people still regret traveling via bus instead of airplane. What were these people thinking?
Granted, some are blinded by the significant price difference between the two forms of transportation. However, nearly every traveler can agree: Paying to fly in a plane is infinitely preferable to riding the bus for free.
2. Not Hiring Movers
I get it; hiring movers to help you move out of your current home and into a new home is prohibitively expensive. It makes sense that millions of people choose to forgo this service.
However, the numbers don’t lie: Nearly every person who refused to hire movers regretted their decision almost immediately. Hiring a moving company is so essential that you can’t think of it as an expense: you must think of it as a utility.
3. Buying Cheap Furniture
It makes no sense to skimp on furniture. Investing in high-quality pieces means you’ll have faith that your couch or bed frame can withstand decades of use. “I used to shop at IKEA for my furniture exclusively,” reveals one woman. “Most of it fell apart within a year or two (and in some cases, months). I should have saved my money and invested in some quality furniture that doesn’t fall apart so easily.”
4. Choosing the Commute Over Convenience
When you get a new job that requires you to relocate, you’re faced with a tough decision. Should you choose a more expensive apartment or home that’s close to work, or do you pay less for a place to live that’s a little farther away?
Nearly all people who choose the latter confess it was a terrible mistake; sure, they saved money, but the commute made them miserable!
5. Not Going to the Doctor
Let the mistake of a formerly-dumb teenager serve as a lesson: Go to the doctor when you break a bone! “A couple of years back, I broke my left wrist falling off a skateboard, and I didn’t want to pay the $300 emergency room co-pay to get it looked at,” explains one man. “I still have full range of motion, and it’s not like I’m in constant pain, but every once in a while, it kind of seizes up and hurts for about 20-30 minutes.”
6. Buying Cheap Shoes
Shoes are one of the most important purchases you should never cut corners on. Sure, some shoes and sneakers cost less than $20, but are the savings worth aching feet and uncomfortable footwear?
Some people believe you’re better off being barefoot than wearing cheap shoes.
7. Not Buying Full Automobile Insurance Coverage
Car insurance can be expensive, and one of the easiest things to do is cut down your coverage until you’re only paying for bar-bones insurance. That’s a bad idea. “You don’t want to accidentally crash into a Mercedes-Benz, have it considered your fault, and not be able to cover the expenses with your insurance, especially if someone was injured,” one savvy woman advises.
8. Flying Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines have turned the airline industry on its head with bargain-basement ticket prices. Understandably, many travelers jump at the opportunity, but they’re often faced with sticker shock once they make their purchase. Spirit charges for every amenity an average airline gives for free, from water to your carry-on luggage!
9. Booking a Car Through a Third-Party Website
Even the best of us have decided to search on the internet for a better price, but deceptive pricing runs rampant on certain websites! “I decided at the car rental place that it would be cheaper for me to rent a car using my phone to reserve it through Priceline,” confesses one man. “It turns out they have a billion hidden charges, and it took 15 more minutes and cost more.”
10. Sleeping on a Futon Instead of a Mattress
Sleep is not only essential to living, but it’s also an activity you spend nearly a third of your life doing! With that in mind, why would anyone try to save money by buying a cheap mattress?
Trust me; there is an ocean of difference between a Craigslist mattress find and a pillow-topped little piece of heaven.
11. Skimping on Quality Bras
Countless women admit they have tried to save a few dollars and bought subpar bras. It was always a choice they found they regretted! “I would buy cheap ones, and the wire would poke out and leave marks on my skin,” explains one woman. “This was in college, but that’s not really an excuse. Having a good bra made of good material feels like being on a cloud in comparison.”
12. Buying an Open-Box Appliance
Retailers like Target and Best Buy often offer discounts on previously returned items. On the surface, they always seem like a good deal; who wouldn’t want to save money on an expensive appliance?
However, many people confess to being burned by open-box items. As it turns out, they were returned for a reason.
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