wasting money but think you're saving

**Sara Noel** · 10-06-2009, 10:20 AM

There are times people think they're saving money, but are actually wasting it. Or jumping over a buck to get a nickel type of things.
When have you seen this happen?

For example, driving to a store further away to save a dollar on an item that's on sale in their flyer.

**Pemberleyan** · 10-06-2009, 10:27 AM

Let me count the ways! I've done this so many times. With me it might be buying some sort of supplies or tool to repair something that I should have given up on in the first place.

**Greebo** · 10-06-2009, 10:47 AM

The gas example isn't so easy to demonstrate.

Assume gas = $3.00/gal
Assume MPG = 25
$1.00 gas = 8 miles (25/3)
Round trip = 4 miles before you lose the benefit.

If gas is $2.50/gal then you can go 8 miles round trip.

**danni** · 10-06-2009, 11:33 AM

It also depends how much of the sale item you buy. If it was only for 1 item it might not be worth it but when there is a good sale I usually stock up therefore saving alot more.

I have also bought a tool or something that I needed to finish a project that might never get done.

**KeithBC** · 10-06-2009, 12:19 PM

Yeah, driving into town to buy anything less than a full carload of anything is something we have to really think twice about. We have to take a ferry, so in addition to the gas and depreciation cost on the car, there is a minimum $20 fare added to anything. Unless we are saving $20 off the price at the local general store, it just doesn't make sense.

We've done it, though.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-06-2009, 12:28 PM

Not paying attention to prices. The stores around here advertise stuff with a big sign like it's a sale item, but sell it at regular price. They cover up the original shelf tag so you can't see what the discount is, if there is one. Sometimes they put stuff on sale 5 or 10 cents off the regular price, which is no bargain on a $3 item, and sometimes the price doesn't discount at all, but because of the big sign it *looks* like it is a sale.

**Telephus44** · 10-06-2009, 01:33 PM

Driving home from work for lunch. It takes about 1 gallon of gas. If gas is $2.50/gallon, I can go home and eat lunch, or I can order out a pizza at work, get a small one for $5.00 and have leftovers to eat two meals. Go figure.

**Judi Dial** · 10-06-2009, 01:46 PM

Buying food on sale, not using it so it goes bad, and you throw it away. An estimated 25% of the food in the US and UK is thrown away.

Judi

**NikoSan999** · 10-06-2009, 01:51 PM

Also sometimes you just need to go someplace different, see some place else. Just plain need to go. A few ( not 50 ) miles for a lighter heart or a brighter day sometimes is worth it. If it makes you feel better occasionally look at it as entertainment. I don't do it often at all but when I do I take the 17 year old with me and we spend slow drive time catching up on life, love and her pursuit of unhappiness.

**MaryCarney** · 10-06-2009, 04:57 PM

Something we were just talking about on the food forum - those expensive vacuum seal bags. If you are buying the meat on sale to save $0.20 per pound, but packaging each pound in a bag that costs $0.40, you're paying more per pound than the regular price.

**ravenmaniac** · 10-06-2009, 05:10 PM

My biggest problem was not planning well enough so I would just grab the item at whatever store I was shopping. I have done much better. I am famous for finding items marked down by 50% or more then buying only one or two items. I could kick myself!

**Nishu** · 10-06-2009, 05:38 PM

I bought a bunch of the coffee that we liked because it was on sale. We're stocked up for as long as coffee's shelf life. But we don't have to have coffee so it's still kind of a waste.

Sometimes when I get overzealous i plan for a bunch of healthy, frugal meals that take time to prepare. I do end up being to busy or exhausted to cook on occasion so we end up eating out. It would have been more frugal just to buy a frozen pizza.

I guess it really just depends on how you look at it.

**alarosalpn** · 10-06-2009, 06:57 PM

I am one that goes 30 minutes away for a good sale. However, when I go, I stock up and get as many as I can while I'm there. Last week I got maxwell house coffee for $1.99/13 oz can. I got 20 of them.I also stocked up on spaghetti sauce at $0.88 each.. and used a few coupons for some Wacky Mac pasta and got those for $0.19 each. I make the drive worth it.
This week is Folgers coffee for $1.88. I'll go again and get as many as I can. Coffee hasn't been this cheap in 6 months! I stocked up last time and had just opened my last can when I saw the sale again. This time I'm making sure I have more than enough to make it to the next sale.

**TigerGirl1226** · 10-06-2009, 07:02 PM

Buying things with a coupon just because I have a coupon. I've gotten better about this, but at one point I was crazy. I'd buy BrandX when I knew I liked every brand but BrandX just because I had a coupon. I'd end up either throwing it out or hating every single bite.

**mauimagic** · 10-06-2009, 07:05 PM

Sometimes I'll get on what I think will be a cooking kick, only to not use whatever I bought and it goes to waste. Learning to plan much better!!

Am also getting better about asking neighbors for spices, things I hardly ever use - they don't mind as I'm the supplier of all the basics that they run out of.