Cheapism
It’s natural to tighten the purse strings when money feels tight. But not all cost-cutting measures are worth your time — or your sanity. If you’ve ever debated rinsing out plastic bags or driving across town just to save 40 cents on canned beans, this list is for you.
While skipping the gym to save money may seem like a convenient excuse, even the internet's thriftiest users say that hobbies are worth the extra dough. "Life is too short and many hobbies are pretty affordable," the thread's top comment reads. But you don't have to take some random Redditor's word for it; the benefits of leisure activities are well-documented.
Redditors overwhelmingly agree that pets are worth the vet and kibble bills. And while companionship is priceless, some of the positive health effects of pet ownership are measurable.
"Higher survival rates, fewer heart attacks, less loneliness, better blood pressure, better psychological well-being, lower rates of depression and stress levels, fewer doctor visits, increased self esteem, better sleep, and more physical activity" are just a few of the benefits, according to psychologist Harold Herzog. In an interview with CNN, he added: "Studies have shown repeatedly that people's good mood increases and bad mood decreases around pets."
Vampire energy — the power that certain electronics use while in standby mode — may sound scary, but it doesn't have a huge impact on your utility bill, experts say. That's because manufacturers have vastly cut standby power consumption, with reductions as high as 90%. If you're still concerned about the environment or your bill, consider using a power strip instead of unplugging individual devices.
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Toilet paper, paper towels, chocolate, ketchup ... these are just a few of the items that thrifty Redditors won't skimp on, even if it means buying a brand-name product. Dawn dish soap, for example, continually receives praise on r/Frugal for its effectiveness. "Dawn works, every time, without crazy amounts of elbow grease and requiring only a small quantity of soap," one Redditor writes in a different thread.
If you're one of those people who picked up 15 do-it-yourself hobbies during the pandemic, you may consider yourself a DIY expert. But however fun it may be to watch your sourdough starter grow or create your own soap, it likely isn't saving you money, Redditors argue.
This is especially true when it comes to DIY laundry soap, which could wreck your washer. "My roommate murdered our washer by gunking it up with her laundry soap," one comment reads. "The repair guy that came out to fix our washer said that DIY laundry soap kills washers left and right."
Sure, you may save a couple bucks on a few products if you shop around, but is it really worth the time and suffering? Redditors say no. "I have two small children and going into any store is literal torture," a commenter writes.
It may seem like buying in bulk is always cheaper, but shoppers should ask themselves two questions. Will you finish the product before it goes bad? And is the product really cheaper when you consider the unit price?
"I used to buy a lot of stuff in bulk because it’s 'cheaper per unit,' only to find that I couldn’t finish it in time and would throw some of it out," one user shares. Their new rule of thumb: If you end up tossing a bulk product, then it probably wasn't worth the savings.
Gas station A is 10 cents cheaper than gas station B, but it’s five miles further. Once you factor in the cost of the gas it took to get there (not to mention your time), you’re likely breaking even or worse. Unless you’re already in the area, it’s not worth the detour.
There’s frugal, and then there’s too frugal. Washing and reusing disposable items like paper towels or aluminum foil might save a few cents, but at a certain point, the effort outweighs the benefit. If you're going to the trouble of laundering your paper towels, consider investing in reusable cloths instead.
Related: 27 Signs You're Too Frugal
