THE BROKEN WALLET

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“So-Called Frugal Habits (that don’t work)! 

Being frugal isn’t just about spending less—it’s about spending wisely. But wannabe frugal people often fall into traps that waste money instead of saving it. Here are five common mistakes to avoid.

1. Buying & Underutilizing Money-Saving Items

Wannabe frugal people love the idea of saving money, and some are even willing to spend money to save. But unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to buying things that never really justify their cost.

Food vacuum sealers, pasta makers, or all-in-one coffee machines that promise to replace your daily café runs sound smart. However, if they sit unused on your counter, they’re not saving you anything—they’re just another expense.

The key to true frugality is questioning whether a purchase actually saves money or if it just feels like it does. Because if an item costs $100 but only saves $20 a year, it takes five years just to break even. In reality, some of these tools just end up as clutter—proving that the best money-saving trick is often just using what you already have.

2. Buying Too Many Reusable Items

And yes, some of these items like water bottles, grocery bags, and storage containers are great; but not when you own 20 of each and aren’t using them.

The truth is, buying endless “eco-friendly” alternatives to things you already have is just another form of waste. A wannabe frugal person might convince themselves that buying five different types of reusable sandwich bags is a smart move, but if they only use two, the rest just sit in a drawer.

Real frugality means making do with a few high-quality, versatile items instead of stockpiling replacements for things that didn’t need replacing or buying “just in case” items.

3. Trying to ‘Hack’ Every Purchase

Some of these people also get lost in a black hole of cash-back apps, coupon stacking, and rebate sites, spending hours trying to squeeze every penny out of a purchase.

However, if you spend 30 minutes finding a coupon to save $1, your time might be better spent elsewhere.

Not every shopping trip needs to be a strategic money-saving mission—sometimes, simply being mindful of what you buy is the best way to save.

True frugality means recognizing when the effort outweighs the savings and focusing on efficient, impactful ways to cut costs.

4. Obsessing Over Handmade Everything

DIY and handmade items can seem like a frugal dream, but not every alternative is actually cheaper.

Wannabe frugal people can sometimes go overboard with homemade candles, skincare products, or furniture. In which case, they’ll sink too much money into high-quality materials and tools that they rarely use again.

But while making things yourself can sometimes save money, it’s important to compare costs. Because if you’re spending more on supplies than the store-bought version costs, you’re not saving—you’re just paying extra for the experience.

5. Falling for ‘Too Good to Be True’ Secondhand Deals

It’s no shock that frugal people love a bargain, but sometimes they can easily get caught up in the thrill of secondhand shopping without considering quality. Therefore, that $50 used treadmill might seem like a steal until you realize it squeaks, barely works, and is too heavy to move. And the same goes for thrifted clothes that need tailoring or garage sale furniture that requires costly repairs.

The bottom line is that a deal is only good if it actually saves money in the long run. Real frugality means being selective and knowing when a “deal” is actually just a waste of money.