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In the face of 40-year high inflation, you can’t help but watch your wallet get thinner. In fact, more than a third of American adults are tapping into their savings accounts to cover increased living expenses, withdrawing an average of $617 during the first six months of this year. As nearly everyone is feeling the effects of skyrocketing costs of everything from fuel to rent to groceries to entertainment, we could all use some helpful tips and tricks to stretch our dollars.

Being thrifty and finding ways to pay less for everyday goods is generally the way to go. But have you ever heard the saying "I’m not rich enough to buy cheap"? Turns out, some tactics that help reduce spending now can easily cost you more in the long run — whether in time, energy, or money.

So when one user reached out to 'Ask Reddit' inviting people to share "false frugalities" — low-cost things that turned out to be expensive — most people are unaware of, the thread immediately became a hit. We’ve gathered some of the most illuminating responses to share with you, so continue scrolling! Be sure to upvote the ones you agree with and then chime in with your own experiences in the comments.

Psst! After you’re done with this list, check out Bored Panda’s earlier piece with tips on how to live more frugally right here.

#1

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money There was a sub about how to budget food/living expenses. And the ideas that people had were ridiculous and required you to be financially well off enough to facilitate their idea of what saving money is. I don't think I received advice from anyone who knew what it was like to be poor, or actually truly need to responsibly budget their funds.

One guy wanted me to plant a garden to grow some carrots or other veg. I explained that I have a small apartment, and that carrots are a dollar for a big bag. He actually got uppity with me and became a total shithead when I explained that I live in a small apartment in the middle of the biggest city in canada. There is no benefit to turning half my apartment into a garden so I can grow five bucks worth of veggies in a few month's span. I can't just go outside and plant vegetables. It's also cold here 9 months out of the year.

I got berated out of the sub after pointing this kind of s**t out numerous times.

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JayhawkJoey
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spent about $100 once on soil, plants, lumber for a raised bed, etc. to wind up with about $10 worth of a few veges. No green thumb here.

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#2

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Bottled water. It's marketed to appear that it's healthier and cleaner than tap water, plus the plastic bottles are not sustainable. Just buy yourself a thermos or reusable water bottle and stop buying overpriced plastic with over-glorified tap water included.

anon , RODNAE Productions Report

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StrangeOne
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's healthier if you're in a region that has contaminated water, or parasites, like in Mexico, * for example, and other regions in countries around the world that are otherwise developed around the world.

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#3

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Cheap batteries. They don't last, they don't work well, and many of them are duds. When I was in high school, I always, always listened to my discman. One day the batteries died so I walked up to the gas station and chose between the Duracell batteries and the bronze-colored batteries. I bough the cheaper no-names and they died before the day was over. And I had to go through social studies without music.
I learned two things that day; WWI history, and not to buy cheap batteries.

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#4

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money "Rent is throwing money down the drain"

Owning a home is not always smart. It can be, but not always. It's not just the house cost, but costs in taxes, interest, insurance, repairs and maintenance, etc.

Then there's opportunity costs. I know folks who can't move until they sell, and can't take better jobs cuz they can't move. A house can be a big anchor in some contexts.

Illah , Pixabay Report

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Eric G
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I might rent, but I know I'll never have to replace a roof for $20,000 or pay any maintenance. Notwithstanding, investors screwed way too many people out of affording a home. It truly is the American dream now because you have to be dreaming to think you can afford one.

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#5

Cheap, single ply toilet paper. You end up having to use way more just to get the same effect of the good stuff.

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Bobert Robertson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And you generally end up with a middle finger in your bum after it pokes through the cheap paper

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#6

Aggressive lane changing while driving.

All that accellerating to get into the "better" lane just wastes fuel, and you save a negligible amount of time.

There was a small TV documentary here in Australia I remember watching that did tests on it. They sent two drivers across Sydney in rush hour traffic: one who would change lanes only when it was absolutely necessary (obstructions, turnoffs, etc), and one who was super aggressive changing all the time.

The aggressive driver got to the destination 2 minutes earlier, though with *80% more fuel consumption than the other driver*.

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Dietcocoabean
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, I've always wondered about that, but had no way of testing it out!

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#7

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money I once watched a show about extreme penny pinchers. One episode depicted a man who spent about 3 hours a day riding his bicycle or walking around looking for dropped change around pay phones, gum ball dispensers, etc. The whole time I couldn't help but think that even a minimum-wage job would yield him more capital for his time, especially once you factor in bicycle tubes and shoes.

In general, people of this nature fail to realize that the benefits of having money is its positive influence on your quality of life. When your quality of life suffers in order to save money, you've completely reversed your priorities to a mind-boggling level.

black_spring , Oleksandr Pidvalnyi Report

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StrangeOne
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a hobby for some elderly folks. Perhaps reliving an old past time joy of finding coins on the ground. I once found a $20 bill on the sidewalk. I was just walking, going about my day. I wasn't straining to meet quotas and multi-tasking. A minimum wage job, for the amount of work that you end up doing with little downtime, other than your required breaks, does not lead a great quality of life and the pay does not equal the time and efforts. IF I could make the same amount just walking and looking at the ground as I do at my current job I'd choose coin hunting. And the coins aren't taxed.

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#8

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money All construction.............do you want it done cheap? or do you want it done right?

firephoxx , Pixabay Report

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3 Owls In A Coat
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When it’s done right, it’ll usually cost a lot less in the long term than when it’s done cheap.

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#9

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Not going to the doctor/dentist!

Wellness checkups are important. Your prognosis will always be better if something is caught early on.

castrator_gator , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Mrs S
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's really hard to keep up with self-care when you are deeply depressed.

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#10

Surprised I haven't seen this yet; using third party hotel booking sites. The sites guarantee you a room and a price but not the type of room you requested. Calling the hotel directly will not only guarantee the room you want but often they beat the price of the websites. On my last trip a particular site favored by an Enterprise captain quoted $129 a night, when I called the hotel they gave me $79 a night.

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cadena kuhn
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know where ur staying. I work at quality inn and we can't even match those sites nevermind beat them.

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#11

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Doing the dishes by hand vs. using a dishwasher. The dishwasher requires a lot less water, time and energy.

mabimbo , cottonbro Report

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The Other Guest
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or in my case, doing the dishes by hand vs. not doing them at all (no dishwasher, and no space to install one).

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#12

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money When it comes to tools, buy nice or cry twice.

SkinnyMac , Anete Lusina Report

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#13

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money I saw a popular comment here a couple weeks ago talking about reusing those little handwarmer packet things by slicing them open and adding more magnesium flakes obtained by shaving down sparklers.

For f**k's sake, just buy some new handwarmers.

Planet-man , Technology Connections Report

#14

I knew a fellow who owned one of the most expensive houses in town, but was too cheap to run his swimming pool filter except when he was actually swimming. With virtually no filtration, the water would get thick with debris and algae. He would then by stuff to kill the algae, but then he would have water full of dead algae. And the crud would stiff on the pool bottom, making it very hard to clean off. He spent way more on chemicals than he would have spent on electricity. The owner of this cement pond was a retired rocket scientist.

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Gini Sarver
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i have always been told that the smarter a person is, the less common sense… because they’re focused on their whatever

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#15

Cheap condoms

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#16

i went to greggs, a well known bakery in the UK. I bought a sandwhich and a drink. as i went to pay, the guy offered me the meal deal. "a sandwhich a drink and crips (chips) for only £1.99. a sandwhich and a drink was £1.59. the sandwhich was £1 and the drink was 59p. by themselves, crisps (chips) were 20p but as part of the meal deal they were 40p. this means that the SPECIAL MEAL DEAL OFFER was more expensive than buying each item individually. CLEVER F*CK***

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#17

Heating and air-conditioning. Being uncomfortable, irritable, and unproductive isn't worth the few hundred dollars you save by lowering the heat or not turning on the AC.

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StrangeOne
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends. You don't need an industrial central air conditioning system in a tiny bungalow, as my my ex's parents installed. They like to be freezing in the summer. Nor does it have to be sweltering in your home in the winter. And they don't need to be kept on all the time.

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#18

In many cases, buying a name-brand product with a coupon is *still* more expensive than buying the store-brand.

Or, buying something just because it's on sale, but not necessarily because you need it.

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Lauren S
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The trick is to combine coupons with store sales. My husband is amazing at this.

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#19

Mobile phone contracts with a free iPhone etc.

You think you're getting a good deal with a free phone but with 35 pounds a month contact for 2 years, they really screw you.

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#20

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Buying heavily used cars, sometimes. There are exceptions, but all of my friends who religiously buy the cheapest car they can find are always having trouble. Very expensive trouble, that sometimes adds up to close to the cost of a new car, or at least a better maintained used car.

Sqyud , Andrea Piacquadio Report

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Ed Brandon
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Believe it or not, some people would like to buy a new car, but can't afford one. Crazy, I know.

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O-man The Human
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The point isn't about all used cars, it's just about the ones that will cost more in the long run because they need heavy maintenance.

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Michael Vickery
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate seeing people buying used up luxury cars like BMW or Mercedes. There's a reason they depreciate so fast. They're not reliable and the repairs still cost like the car is a hundred grand.

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Alexandra Davis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an ex who insisted he buy crappy old BMW's because they "looked cool" but they cost so much in upkeep because every spare part cost stupid money, even tyres cost a fortune; plus they are fuel like it was going out of fashion! He would easily spend the cost of the car in mechanics bills in a year and yet would refuse to buy a newer, better more reliable car that cost a fraction to fix yet was the same price as the sh*tty BMW because of his delicate manhood. Just one of the many reasons he is an ex! I even pointed out to him if he bought a none bmw more reliable car that would last years as opposed to the year the bmw did, he could save up and buy a newer better quality one that would last even longer, but he either couldn't see the logic or couldn't bare to not have his precious BMW for a small time even if it meant getting a better car.

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Aileen Grist
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father who was a very low mileage driver bought an ex hire car. It had been well maintained but at 6 months old had done 40,000 miles. When he sold it 3 years later it had done 43,000 miles, which was ideal for the age of the car. So he bought it cheap for his mileage and sold it well for good mileage. One to remember if you don't do many miles in a year

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jolie laide
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of times it's the labor that kills you. It's why I miss the cars of olden days. It didn't take many tools, ones you could get from a thrift/charity shop for cheap, to be able to fix your own vehicle if you did some reading/research. Buying the parts yourself wasn't bad, it just took some tools and know-how to get it done. These days, I can't even imagine.

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Chucky Cheezburger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really do hate working on cars, but I really love saving the money by doing repairs myself. Newer cars aren't designed to be easily maintained, even for things that should be easy. When you have to take the bumper and front facia off to change a headlight, I have to side eye the designers.

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Michael Largey
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My wife and I buy our cars used from the major rental companies. The cars are low-mileage (less than 20,000), serviced regularly (and come with the maintenance records to prove it), and involve no haggling or trade-in subterfuges. Might they at some point have been driven by a maniac? Possibly, but only for a day or two and any serious harm would have been noticed and fixed by the rental agency. Our ex-rentals are over ten years old, and they drive like new.

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Tuesday's child
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The funny thing is that very expensive cars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris also break down a lot ( I know from personal experience)

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Thomas Ewing
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought being a mechanic would allow me to keep a pre-owned Rolls-Royce alive forever at low cost. Nope. The cost of the parts equals a decent used any-other-car per year. I learned that truly rich people don't buy flash, they buy dependability: Ford, Honda.

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Thomas Ewing
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being a trained mechanic has saved me thousands of dollars. "This car is only good for parts" may only need a ten-dollar part and be good for another 8,000 miles.

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Nadine Wieben
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like this is more a question of affordability. So many people can't afford anything else than a heavily used car.

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Mimi M
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh - when I was in grad school, my recipe for a car was 'at least 10 years old, no more than 3k and a Honda or Toyota'. Worked fine for me. And I'd expect to put around 1500 a year into it in repairs/maintenance.

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Eliyahu Rooff
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The most effective money-saver is to buy a recent-year used car that's been checked over by a mechanic, take care of it, and drive it until the wheels fall off. If you can afford it, figure what your car payments would be once the car is paid off, save that money, and use it for the next car. I haven't had a car payment in quite a few years, and my Avalon is approaching 250,000 miles.

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Seajay Rily
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the best value on cars is buying off lease. you know they are low mileage and have been dealer maintained for the life of the lease.

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D. Pitbull
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And this is where having a husband who is a car mechanic is very handy... - so if you know what to look for *cough coug - like being a car mechanic - cough cough* it IS possible to buy heavily used...... and make bank later (he once bought this craptastic pos.... drove it for a bit... then sold all the parts for 5 times what he bought the car for)

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v
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If a person is in a position to be able to buy a new car AND they are the type of person who is okay with keeping the car for 5+ years it is can be a better financial decision to buy new than it is to buy used. They always talk about how the person who buys new takes the depreciation hit on the chin. The fact is that this depreciation hit exists on used cars as well it's just that it's not acknowledged so everybody thinks they're getting off without any kind of depreciation hit.

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Thomas Ewing
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every used car I've ever bought (except the Rolls) I was able to sell for what I paid for it. Proper and timely maintenance pays. Never neglect a daily driver--your LIFE depends on it! Don't cut corners on repairs when needed and use good parts. Some steps may seem unnecessary, but a front-end alignment and new ignition wires really help!

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Leo Domitrix
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Given the current price of any car, used or otehrwise, .... who can afford it?

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Santrikea
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buying brand new cars is even dumber. A decently priced, good condition used car is the best option. New cars, in Canada, are around $600/month. Then add on insurance & gas.... such a waste of money!!

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Bent. O. Jensen
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An old saying: The car is so cheap to buy, that you have to be a mechanic to afford it.

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James Heinle
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you buy a $1000 car and you put $2000 into it you'll have a $3000 $1000 car.

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Kofi Leeto
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

sometimes someone only has $2000 , even if they wanted to buy a $10 000 car, they don't have the $10k, so they buy $2000 and then fix it as they go along

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Kevin Humble
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get this. Modern cars are so good now. I generaly buy one with 100K miles on the clock for about £500-£600. They last 4 or 5 years and I get £200 form the scrap man when it dies. I do sod all to it - no oil changes - no servicing etc. I only fix what needs doing to keep it running and safe which is often nothing in a year. I don't get this need to do an oil change every 5000 miles. That's just bull s**t. I had a car did almost 50K on the oil it came with before I traded it in. Interestingly I have never had a car die due to something that a a service would have caught. It generaly seems to be body work giving out- electricals calling it a day etc. Engine is normaly still fine and dandy.

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Karizma Kaliko
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived that. While saving for a new 4runner (they aren't the most cost effective), I drove clunkers. I could have bought a 2nd 4runner with the money I spent on repairs, but I would have had no transportation (I live in the woods, no public transit)

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Margaret Weaver
Community Member
9 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is luxury nonsense, to be honest. By the time you can afford your own private car, money is no longer an object. I realise in murica the city planners effectively force car ownership on residents, but in the civilised world that wouldn't be acceptable.

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Meghan Wood
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought a 10 year old, $600 car off a friend who was moving. The paint was bad & it was dirty inside but it ran fine. We paid to get tires, brakes, and fluids changed. About $1500. Three weeks later, it was parked outside and hit by a drunk driver. The insurance paid us $5,500.

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Mary Peace
Community Member
10 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do they buy it 'religiously'? I guesss you mean they're determined about it, rather than kneeling down to pray in the showroom.

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john Whitehouse
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I buy used and fix things myself. Except the engine swapping. Parts cheaper insurance cheaper(don't need full or gap coverage). Used car cost 1200 water pump 30 , tires 500 ac repair 450 battery 130 we just passed 2000 on this vehicle that I've had for two years. Insurance 23.50 month

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Lori w
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep. Finally got out of this trap when I spent thousands on used car repairs. Would have been cheaper to have a payment per month plus the car actually still has value.

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Jane Hower
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad always bought used cars from Hertz, etc. - they are heavily used BUT have great maintenance, etc. and aren't that old.

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B-b-bird
Community Member
1 year ago

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Karen Bryan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a dear friend who knew nothing about cars beyond putting gas in them. His lifelong practice was to buy a used Beetle, drive it until it died, and then buy another one.

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Karissy Found
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disagree! (35f) I search out and only buy vehicles 1990-2010 maybe 2012, because I can still fix and repair those myself with new parts affordably. I’m scared of newer years because all the computers and electronics plus the price of the parts, the price of specialized service to install, and that they force you to take it in and can’t do it yourself. Now we take this a step further because I’m a farmer and my family is in tractor software testing for new holland, Anyway John Deeres new tractors need software maintenance that your have to pay for every month or you tractor WILL NOT DRIVE! Not just repairs now. Abilility to move because they are so tech and electric dependent now with increased “smart” tech. And in the end the best cars and trucks I know that never die or get old in culture and on the farm are good old girls and they aren’t going anywhere. We used to have classic muscle cars age up, this next generation of classic car is “ what can I fix myself”

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Gretta Oltjer-Timberg
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The best deal I ever made, was buying the showroom car from the dealer. It was the previous model (pre face-lift), so they had to switch it up, it had barely been driven (less than 2500 miles in six months), I just asked them to have it thoroughly cleaned, because a lot of people had been sitting in it. 😃 But the car had good basic fittings and all the necessary settings and extras (they had to show it off after all) and I got a long warranty and all the extras that come with buying a new car, except the price, that was for a used car. I like to say it was a new car with a used car price. Best deal I ever made!

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dev mehta
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buying a 3-5 year old certified used car is probably best bet

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Alfred Doubleday
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you know how to work on them yourself, it's great. If you're not mechanically-inclined and would get in trouble at work for being late multiple times, it's a very bad idea. Usually the best sweet spot is a 2-year old car after a company leased it. Lost most of its value, often has a perfect maintenance record, and is still new enough that the age-related issues with any car won't be popping up for a few years. Plus you skip the surprise issues that come up with some new models.

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Timbob
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

U.S.A. here.I understand that new cars are taxed at a higher rate than used ones in some countries. That would be a consideration.

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Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father and I didn't have problems buying used cars (pre-computerized) because we both knew auto mechanics. However, a 2nd hand truck was a whole 'nother story. Generally, you don't want to buy a truck that's been used for plowing.

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TKA
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve always noticed a large majority of broken down cars on the side of the road have temporary tags on them, meaning they were most likely purchased in the last 30 days.

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El Dee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I used to do when I was doing high miles and not well off was to buy a cheap car with one year MOT. I'd sell it/scrap it at the end of the year and buy another one. NB it was a VERY cheap car but worked out well..

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Panda_Sasha
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I bought my first car, I was a teenager with high standards of what I want in my car, but my dad found an old 97' VW for 450€ with 120000 km and I had to buy that. I remember being annoying, but in all these years, the money Iinvested in it (without the fuel, tires and filters) is less than I paid for it. It works great, gets me anywhere and it consumes so little fuel, I only fill up once (sometimes twice) a month. No regrets

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Roland
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the book "the millionaire next door" there's a very detailed explanation on why it is not the best Idea to buy brand new car. It is offered in the book that actually the most cost effective is to buy a 2-3 years old one if possible. If it was taken care of, have low mileage and was serviced on schedule, it is practically new and is expected to work just fine for many years without serious issue... for half or less the price of a new one. Cool book, read ti!

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liam newton-harding
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is Vime's, "Boots Theory of Socio-economic Unfairness". Yes, a $200 pair of boots is going to last you 20 years...but what you can afford is a $15 pair, that will wear out by the end of the year, and your feel will still end up wet. And no...you can't "save up" because your feet are wet NOW, and you need boots NOW.

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the Return of Bruno
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do very well buying cars in the 10-to-15-year-old range. I'll admit, sometimes they only last three or four years before something "totals" them... but it's very easy to "total" a $2,000 car.

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Sally Signup
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Depends on the car. My first one was 2 years old with 32,000 miles. I had it a few years, but didn't get to 100,000 miles before it acted up and I ended up selling it (Dodge Shadow). Current car is just starting to act up, has 170,000+ miles, and I've had it 10 years or so. (Scion XB). I'm hoping I can get a couple more years out of it. Fingers crossed.

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Yeah, okay.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a 10- year rule on used cars - because the 10- year hump is when the car will most likely need to have the most expensive repairs. So 3 to 5 years is my goal when looking. It's cheaper to trade in my 8-yr old car for a 3- year old one and avoid rebuilt trannys etc., particularly if I can get a decent price for my used one that hasn't yet hit that 10- year hump and has a good maintenance record.

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SabbeRubbish
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Buy a cheaper car new (like Dacia) and sell it after 5-6 years. Very little issues those first years and good resale value because it's still kinda young.

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Karl Baxter
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’ve always bought 2nd hand cars and it’s much better than new. My annual MOT bill is much less than my mate’s monthly repayments on his new motor

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Glass Ghost
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Apparently before my recent car accident, the car I was paying on (now totaled) was being sold to me for twice as much as it was actually worth😒 so it's fun to find out you've basically been scammed after the car is totaled. Thankfully because of that, they decided to write off the car. Don't owe a thing for it.

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Lisa Watson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to buy a replacement car last year. My choice was a new car, or I could get a 3 year old version of the same model with 35 thousand miles on and save....2 grand. I went with the new car. The used car market is nuts right now.

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Rens
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My ex-husband is like this and he hasn't changed in all these years, he always buys cheap cars which end up costing much more money in the end.

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ANA
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had to buy a very old car. I had 2 problems in 3 years an also I had a high insurance because I was a foreigner in that country and had no "insurance history". All in all I got lucky with that car BUT I didn't push it very hard. I was always afraid. My colleague had to buy also a used car and she had to fix that car many many times. She really spent a fortune. My dream: Buy a brand-new car and be the first person to unwrap the seats from the plastic (if it's a thing that exist). Ona day....

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Vladimíra Matejová
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that is why you dont buy the cheapest possible but you look for the best price/age/overal state car in the price category you can afford. it takes some time and energy but it is worth it

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Debby Keir
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have enough money to buy a new car but won't on principle - the minute you use it, it devalues by around a third. Go to the garage, and buy one of their demonstators or loan cars - may be 6/12 old or less, and (UK) with an 'old' number plate, or the older model - it's a real bargain - new car feel (and still in warranty) but much cheaper. I realise this thread is about buying a 'cheap' car, but buying 'almost new instead of new is so much better.

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Katja Katze
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone knows that a new car with a warranty is better than an old, used one with quirks. Therefore this hint is meaningless: Good man, I am poor but not stupid. I would have liked to buy a new car, but my income is only enough for an old, probably broken car without warranty!

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Maria Mandjik
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know a man that did that, was ticketed by the police because the car couldn’t go the traffic speed, being a nuisance for anybody that wanted to drive at the correct speed.

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Lisa H
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a theory (and anyone who knows more, PLEASE correct me, I'm not trying to spread misinformation) that if you're in the market for a new car, pay attention to what's on the road right now. Do you see a lot of older models of the same brand of vehicle? That might be a reliable car. Do you only see newer models of a certain brand? Stay away from that brand, they're not built to last. Again, someone please correct me if I'm wrong, this is just something I have noticed.

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DJR
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your idea is a good one, but it doesn't account for the human brain's inability to accurately assess statistics, or for the variability in original sales quantity.

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CJT MSG
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought a gently used car in 2016 and never once had an issue with it--until I was in a wreck last week and it was totaled. I'll never buy another new car again.

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Carolee Samuda
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find that buying most things second hand will end up costing more, especially anything electronic or with a motor.

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Boris
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you know just a bit about a cars you can buy smart and save A TON of money over buying one new. In other words, you just don't know what you're talking about.

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Geoffrey Scott
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Got lucky...JUST before prices went up, got an Escape w/ 9k miles (lease turn in) for $18k. Now at $25k+. We ALWAYS buy 1-2 yr old cars. Even the price we paid scared us.

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3 Owls In A Coat
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you’re going to buy cheap old used cars, don’t bother with dealerships. In my part of the world, a good rule of thumb is that if it’s a used vehicle under $10,000, it’s probably a piece of s**t and also likely overpriced. My last Camry was fantastic but fairly old and high mileage and I bought it off a friend-of-a-friend for $1200. My dealership would have had to sell the exact same vehicle “as-is” for at least $5,000, while at the same time being unable to fix anything major because it would run the cost up too high (can’t always be spending $10,000 fixing up a $1,200 vehicle or we wouldn’t be in business) Used car dealerships can be great for buying good-quality 1-9 year old used vehicles but I wouldn’t bother with the cheapest vehicles on the lot, I’d go through Craigslist or something for that! (And even then you can’t be certain what you’re getting!)

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Carrie Laughs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd just add that I have seen three friends fall out over buying cars from each other. One permanently. That was three completely separate friends/incidents/cars. People might blame the friend if the car goes wrong... just be careful with that one.

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Eric G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And only buy from brand name car dealerships car dealerships if you can afford it. Buying from Joe schmo's Auto World has never paid off for me but buying from XYZ Ford Lincoln Mercury has

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Barong
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To an extent I agree that buying from a reputable and and branded company can be a better choice. If you can afford it. They have a reputation to uphold and may do a better job of standing behind their sales. They also have the staff and fácil to check out their cars before they sell them. Perhaps more importantly, dealerships often sell newer used cars and buy their cars from sellers buying brand new or newer used cars or end of lease cars, often the maintenance history is known by the dealership. This contrasts with many smaller used car dealerships that don’t know typically buy their cars from auctions who sell many cars obtained from repossessions, insurance write offs, rental agencies and end-of-lease cars not kept by dealerships. Some mom and pop dealerships try to be fair and honest but it’s hard when you don’t know what you have or what you sell is typically older high mileage cars (and priced as such) where the buyer is taking a chance when selecting a car.

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#21

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Travel and times: A lot of people take the cheapest flight they can find, but to me, saving 50 bucks on a $500 ticket isn't worth a 7am flight or a red eye.

ironoctopus , Alan Levine Report

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Eric G
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It all depends. I'd rather get to a place super early so I feel like I at least have a few hours my first day on vacation.

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#22

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money "Buying that rent-to-own laptop Consumer Reports checked out is equivalent to paying 311% interest, which is far worse than the 30% interest rate you see on crummy credit cards.


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Eric G
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Any rent to own really. Check what you pay in the end. An $800 television will cost you $2,400

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#23

Buying a big cheap house far from your common destinations.
You will pay with time, petrol, housework, sleep, your relationships, and/or career
Instead:
1.Buy or rent a small house with a 10-30 minute commute.
2. Let happiness ensue.

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Kristal
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think not having to be with people/neighbors is worth the costs (if moving to a more rural area)

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#24

Home brewing beer.

It's a wonderful hobby and I highly recommend it, but don't think you're going to save money.

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My ex like to make apple cider moonshine. He had to buy mason jars and a s**t ton of alcohol, apple juice and whatnot. Thought he was going to make all these underground sales from his friends. Pfft. He sold nothing and I got to keep most of the mason jars. Those come in handy for many things.

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#25

Extended warranty

You think you are saving cash on the off chance the product you bought doesn't hold on and you need repairs, but I don't know anybody who has ever been happy about this choice

On the opposite end of the spectrum, car insurance for rental cars. My father and his colleagues used to travel the world and rent cars for several weeks at a time. It would only take one car accident in all those years of renting cars to justify the cost. Many of these rentals were for off-road use. The rookies thought to save cash passing on the insurance and would eventually shell out thousands on repair

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Eric G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On a totally unrelated topic... those reading this, I have been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty.

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#26

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Cloth diapers. You still have to buy special (expensive) detergent, and run so many loads in the washing machine. I worked it out when we started cloth diapering 3+ years ago, and it cost the same as if we just did disposable diapers.
Plus all the TIME put into washing/drying/assembling.
I like cloth diapering, I do recommend it, but I hate when it gets lauded as a cheap alternative.

(Edit: Yes, really, you do have to use specially formulated detergent. You don't? That's cool. Your diapers are getting build up of both ammonia and detergent. Good luck with that smell and the leaks, and that is coming from experience.
Also, nowhere did I mention the upfront cost of the diapers themselves. When I talk about price, I'm talking about water and electricity bills.)

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gas station cola
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

people don't do cloth diapers for the nonexistent convenience or the not-so-cheap price. they do it because it's more sustainable & better for the environment, & usually far more comfortable for the baby.

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#27

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Being cheap with anything you’re going to use a lot or over a long time. Better to spend $180 on a single frying pan that will last 10+ years than buy a $40 frying pan each and every year because they c**p out so easily no matter how careful you are with them. This metaphor, of course, fits the bill for almost any frying pan that is non-stick or costs less that $100 to begin with.

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Mimi M
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

BS. I've had the same non-stick 12 dollar fry pan for the last several years. And a cheap cast iron (10-15 bucks) will last indefinitely.

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#28

Leasing a car instead of buying one. I'm not gonna get into the specifics but it's pretty much always more costly

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Okkkkk
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only if you plan on keeping your car for longer that's two/three years. But if you plan on getting a new car every couple of years then paying only the depreciation seems like a better deal. But if you keep your car for 5-10 years... then buying is definitely cheaper. Longer than 10... might start looking at costly repairs.

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#29

Justifying the purchase of anything solely because it's a "good deal." I hear this misconception all the time.

If you spend $100 on shoes, even if you bought it at 99% off, you're still out $100. You haven't saved a penny, and that'll be a real problem if you needed that $100 to pay your utility bills.

Edit: clarity and $10,000 shoes.

http://www.luxist.com/2010/02/26/louis-vuitton-offers-10-000-alligator-wingtips/

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's all in the intended budget of what you were planning on spending. If you're expecting to buy $200 shoes and had allowed room in the budget or saved for them, and then the shoes are found to be $100 on sale, then, yes, you saved $100.

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#30

Professional home repair services. Real companies have insurance, you can sue if things go wrong. Some handyman that someone knows is likely going to do something that violates a warranty, will be judgement proof, and won't get a permit.

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Eric G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do construction defect claims and this is partly true. A contractor's work product is not covered by insurance. That's if you hire a guy to install Windows and they are defective, insurance does not cover the replacement of defective windows. Not unless they are installed in such a way they cause damage to other parts of the home. I.e. Leaks and damages the interior drywall

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#31

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money People with flex fuel vehicles buying E85 instead of gasoline. The reduced mileage you get out of E85 eats up any saving you get at the pump.

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#32

I know people that skip going to the doctor until the last minute to save the office visit payments. It's a terrible idea since by the time they get there the simple cold turns into pneumonia and costs much more to heal.

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gas station cola
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

bad example. going to the doctor for a cold is a waste of time & money. there's no cure for a cold, nothing the doctor can do other than say "you have a cold." so if someone has a cold, yeah they're gonna wait until it turns into something bad to get help; it would've been a needless expense & it's not like they could've known beforehand that this particular cold would be pneumonia...

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#33

Not paying off your mortgage to save the tax breaks...

While it is nice to save taxes, the long term financial benefits are astronomical when you free up a mortgage payment.

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Donkeywheel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Completely stupid assertion because it obviously depends a lot on the situation. If the interest rate is very high and the property value not increasing then yeah, pay it off early if you can. If you have a low rate, if the value is plummeting, if you use the extra money to invest in anything with better returns then no, don’t pay it off early and keep it for as long as you’re in the second situation. Never heard of leverage or gearing?

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#34

Dining Plans at college. I literally could go out to eat for every meal for the price of them. And I often did. I saved a ton of money because I don't eat that much/snack more often .

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harpling
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Part of my scholarship at school was earmarked for the dining plan. I got the cheapest one available - one meal a day. I'd go to the dining hall once and make sandwiches for the rest of the day.

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#35

Supermarket specials.

Next time you go shopping, grab a calculator and work out the cost per 100 grams (or whatever equivalent weight) and you'll almost invariably find that the products with the big 'Sale!' signs are not the cheapest.

Of course it's impractical to do this with every item so you can of course estimate, or shop at a store that all ready has the cost per 100 grams of the price tag like I do.

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Peter Parker
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Germany (or the entire EU?) the store needs to put the price per 100g on each item, so you can easily compare.

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#36

Shaving with a straight razor. It's a larger down-payment to start into it (simple but nice razor, strop, and brush cost me about $100), but I recouped that in less than a year just by not buying more cartridges. In theory, a razor will last pretty much forever, for free.

Here's the problem, though. I nicked my blade and had to repair it, so I bought about $80 worth of reworking stuff (much less than I could have spent). Then I bought a fancy 1930's blade and restored it. Then I bought a better brush, and a better stop, and a better shave mug, etc.

I started because it appealed to my practical side. Then it quickly became a ritualistic money hole.

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JayWantsACat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You could also split the difference and buy a double edge razor, where you just need to replace the blades, which are cheap.

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#37

A $5 pair of sneakers is not a deal, no matter what your wallet says.

Maybe consider them if you only need shoes for another month...

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gas station cola
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$5 isn't gonna be great quality, but most $20-30 shoes are just as good as $100-200 shoes. so don't go to the other extreme either. depends what type of shoe & how much use you'll get out of them. i've been wearing a $30 pair of off-brand converse that i actually got for half price at $15. they've lasted five years & counting, & they're my go-to everyday shoes.

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#38

Where I work, we do price adjustments on products that have gone on sale since the customer purchased them. Most of the time, the refund isn't worth the amount of time, energy, and gas the customer uses driving to the store.

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Little Wonder
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't even imagine making the effort to go get the adjustment. It's on sale now and I bought it last week? Oh well. My bad timing.

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#39

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Steam sales. You think all these games are a great deal, but you end up playing very few of them and proceed to buy new games you would buy anyways. Remember, you didn't save $7.50, you spent $2.50.

Pokemon_Rusty , steam Report

#40

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Stopping at Costco for just one thing because its cheaper than the grocery store. Sure I save 3 dollars on the initial item that I went in to get, but the bill at the till always seems to average 400 bucks.

The_Devil_Memnoch , Mike Mozart Report

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Bobert Robertson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol this is dumb. I get that it's easy to spend a fortune at Costco (I love costco) but I regularly go in for a couple things and spend less than $50

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#41

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Cheap legal services.
A good lawyer that takes 3hrs at $300 an hour will do a much better job far cheaper than a shitty lawyer that takes 5hrs at $200 to do the same job.
This is partly why good lawyers are so expensive - because they're cheaper.

ChannelVendetta , Karolina Grabowska Report

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Eric G
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a former lawyer, BS. All it means is that they had their paralegal or secretary prepare everything and they spent less than a half hour on it. They charge that much to pay for the paralegal.

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#42

People overinflate the hell out of their tires to get better gas mileage, then have to spend much more to get new tires when they wear out far sooner.

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Valden
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't mess with air pressure in tires period. Those numbers are not just a suggestion. It may cost you more than just a new set of tires. Does not matter what your dad's nephew's uncle's hairdresser's dog's ex roommate said, keep your tires properly inflated. Also the air you put in tires is already 78% nitrogen, don't pay for the other 22%. Edit: Sorry for any confusion. I am referring to paying for 100% nitrogen in your tires.

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#43

"False Frugalities": 45 Examples Of People Trying To Save But Actually Losing Money Rewards points. You are paying for them.

ihaveseenthefnords , Karolina Grabowska Report

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A. HAM
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not necessarily true. I’ve had a rewards points credit card for 10 years now, and they haven’t gotten a dime out of me. My card carries absolutely no fees, and no interest because I pay it off every month. I get the convenience of paying by card vs cash, and I receive between $200 - $400 back each year in Amazon gift cards. (I purchase from Amazon anyway, so it’s as good as money in my pocket). If you have the discipline to pay off your credit card every month, you can be the person credit card companies hate.

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#44

Restaurant specials. It's rarely cheaper and it's typically food that is about to go bad and needs to be sold instead of thrown out.

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StrangeOne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But then people complain when food is thrown out, and if it's still good enough to be consumed without much difference then it's all good.

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#45

Hybrids. Sure, you save $200-$500 dollars a year on gas costs. But every 5-10 years you will have to replace the battery pack, which can go from anywhere from $2,500 to as much as $6,000, especially on some of the new electric cars with larger packs. Not to mention the initial bump in price you pay with most hybrids. You add a small cost for low rolling resistance tires every time you change them.

Furthermore, the so called point of a hybrid car is saving the environment. The materials used in hybrid cars, specifically the batteries and other components that require rare earth elements, not only require more energy, but put out more harmful types of chemicals than traditional processes. The story gets worse if you go with a plug in hybrid, as 60% of wall power comes from coal plants, a less cleaning fuel than gasoline.

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APFLAC
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope nope. In germany alone the charging stations are powered by windmills

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