Do you have a frugal choice that ended up being a waste of time?
One Reddit user posed this question on the platform, and it elicited a lot of reactions from other users. He says that he used to turn off the lights in rooms after leaving them, but with such energy-efficient LED bulbs today, the savings from energy consumption are negligible (less than $1 a year). He feels that it was a frugal choice that became a waste of time.
Other Reddit users came up with their versions of frugal choices that became a waste of time. Here are some of the most interesting ones:
Homemade Laundry Detergent
It is popular but does not work for everyone, “Making homemade laundry detergent. I saved a dollar, I spent 15 minutes hand grating a Fels Naptha bar into tiny pieces, and my laundry felt slimy and smelled funny.”
Electric Bike
He thought he would save money but realized he was risking his life, “I bought an electric bike, but it was too dangerous to ride one in my city, so now I just have an electric bike with a flat tire, spent hundreds on Ubers until I could afford a used car.”
Driving Instead of Flying
Driving for 10 hours to save $100 does not seem frugal, “Driving ten hours each way instead of flying. It’d make sense if it were more than one person, but I only saved like $100, and it was stressful.”
DIY Mechanic
He had to call a professional to undo the damage he did, “Went to work on my own vehicle that wasn’t starting, thought I knew for sure it was the starter motor, changed it out myself no problem, but don’t fix the issue, and lost my chance to return it by installing it, then doubled down on a different part replacement that also didn’t work and now I’m out $250 and still had to get it towed to a shop all for what is apparently a computer glitch with the anti-theft system… oh well, good learning experience.”
Gardening
This is not a frugal hobby for everyone, “Having a garden. I hated having to come home from work and pull weeds in the heat. When things ripen, you have way more than you need. You have to give it away, and nobody wants it. Most people don’t cook anymore and have no use for your zucchini. I’d rather just go to the grocery store and buy produce as I need it.”
Tried Pet Grooming, It Became a Disaster
Some activities are better left to professionals, “I tried to groom my dog myself, cut her, and ended up at the vet getting stitches. Tried to save 60$ and ended up spending 150…”
Buying Cheap Appliances
“Went through multiple dishwashers and washing machines until I realized I could get better quality appliances that cost more initially but stretched far further in terms of usage,” noted another user
Washable Reusable Diapers
“Made them from scratch. Bought expensive materials, including waterproof flannel for the outer layer. Spent hours constructing them. They. Always. Leaked. Ended up having to wash her bedding and clothes so much, it was cheaper to buy disposables,” added another
Gas
Wasting so much to save so little did not work with one user, “Waiting 30 minutes at Costco to save $0.05/L adds up to $5 for my truck… Lol. I value my time more than $10/hr. Or driving that extra 15 minutes to a gas station to save a few cents. Not only are you wasting 30 minutes (return trip) but probably blowing 5L in fuel to get there and back.”
Thrift Table That Ended Costing More
Sometimes not all thrifty items save money, “I thrifted a dining table for $23, a steal, right? Well, about $225 in supplies and many hours of labor stripping, sanding, conditioning, and re-staining later, I probably could have purchased a sturdy, lovely table. That said, I’m pretty sure I have a one-of-a-kind table now!”
Hanging Clothes To Save $1 on Electricity
We lived in Florida. I had this grand idea not to use the dryer and hang up all the clothes on the line outside. Hubby wasn’t happy, so we said we would see the difference In The bill. We lived check to check back then. So the bill comes in, and the big reveal…under 1.00 Saved.
Refusing to Service Car and Lost More When It Broke Down
My sister saved money on things like brakes and tires with traction and wasted a lot of my time having me push her out of the ditch or back up the driveway, etc. Then I’d have to hear her complain about how it’s unfair that other people always get cars that work or complain that people are mean about how her car mysteriously loses grip going down hills when it’s raining.
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This article was produced and syndicated by A Dime Saved.
