Sometimes, it really is worth being cheap. Some things just don’t deserve your hard-earned money, and saving your dimes on them makes perfect sense.
Here are the things frugal people always cheap out on and never spend money on (but don’t feel deprived).
First Dates
First dates should be about chemistry, not price tags.
A simple coffee tells you far more about someone than a fancy dinner ever will.
I once had someone insist that a low-key first meet meant I wasn’t “committed.” Committed to what? I’m not signing a lease with you. I’m meeting you for the first time. If someone needs a lavish production to make a good first impression, that’s already a red flag.
Keep it cheap, keep it casual, and keep your sanity.
Caskets
Caskets are an easy place to save money. The person using it doesn’t care, and the funeral industry is notorious for preying on grief.
Skip the overpriced box and spend that money on something meaningful at the wake: good food, a warm space, and people who loved them. No one is judging the casket while eating cake.
Birthday Decor
Birthday décor is one giant money trap. Everything, from plates to balloons to plastic forks, can be scooped up at the dollar store.
It all gets thrown away anyway, so why overspend? You can host a great party on a tiny budget.
Greeting Cards
Greeting cards have somehow become $5 slips of folded paper.
No one is treasuring the card; they’re reading the message and moving on. Grab a cheap one, write something thoughtful, slip the gift in, and be done with it.
Save the money for something that actually matters.
Baby Clothes
Babies outgrow clothes faster than you can fold them.
They don’t need designer outfits. They need items that go on easily when they’re squirming and come off quickly when they’re covered in… whatever that is. Cheap baby clothes are your best friend. And while you’re at it, look into free baby gear too. It’s out there.
Medications
Generic over-the-counter meds are basically the same thing as the name-brand versions.
Tylenol, Advil, cold medicines, they’re all regulated and required to meet the same standards. The branding is what costs extra. You can save a surprising amount each year by switching to generics.
Bottled Water
Bottled water is often the biggest scam of all. Many brands pull from the same sources, slap on a different label, and charge wildly different prices for it. There’s rarely any real difference between a $1 bottle and a $5 bottle. Better yet, just refill a reusable bottle at home for almost nothing.
New Cars
Buying a brand-new car is usually a terrible financial move unless you have serious disposable income. The value drops the second you drive off the lot. A one-year-old version of the exact same model, with low mileage, can save you thousands. Let someone else take the depreciation hit.
Weddings
Weddings do not need to be budget-destroyers. At the end of the day, you’re married. That’s the whole point. Save the big spending for a honeymoon or something you’ll both enjoy long after the cake is gone.
Milk
Milk is milk. Generic and name-brand come from the same dairy cows in your area. Paying double for a logo on a jug is truly pointless. Grab the cheaper one and move on.
Rain Ponchos
Theme parks overcharge wildly for rain ponchos. I always toss a few dollar-store ponchos in my bag. They work just as well, cost next to nothing, and let you avoid paying $10–$15 for something you’ll never use again.
Read More:
- 16 Highly Unnecessary Things Adults Waste a Fortune On
- 10 Examples of the Differences Between Thrifty, Frugal, Stingy, and Cheap
- 14 Companies That Will Give You Free Food and Products Just for Asking
