10 Ways Being Frugal Can Actually Cost You Money

It pays to spend less whenever you can, right? Well, not necessarily. There are some cases where the “less is more” principle doesn’t work.

Being cheap cuts costs for the moment, but may cause you to incur additional expenses in the long run. That ends up being the antithesis of frugality.

Here are a few instances where thriftiness can backfire:

1. Couponing

As an ex-couponer, I know about this firsthand. I remember sitting at the dining room table every Sunday afternoon cutting away at the weekly circulars and matching the coupons from my ridiculously large collection to the sale items.

I saved a ton of money, but I also ended up with a massive stockpile of items I had no real use for.

The moment of truth came when I headed to my stockpile, only to realize I had accumulated six jars of mayonnaise and 18 sticks of deodorant, which I likely wouldn’t use before the best-by date. That’s not to mention the hours of my life spent clipping away that I could have used to generate additional income.

The choice is yours, but I suggest you conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the hours spent on couponing are worth it. Here’s a perfect example from LearnVest that really helps put things into perspective.

2. Adopting a Deprivation Budget

When you decide to create a budget in an effort to curb spending and reach financial goals, it may be tempting to jot down the leanest figures imaginable. But what will you accomplish if you severely underestimate your expenditures?

I totally understand cutting costs, but being unrealistic means your spending plan will fail. For example, if you typically spend $600 at the grocery store for a family of four, what sense does it make to shave that number all the way down to $200? The answer is simple: none at all.

3. Cutting Corners on Insurance

Are you riding the wave of luck when it comes to your insurance policies? Do you carry the bare minimum level of coverage that’s required by your state on your vehicle? Or perhaps you’ve signed up for mediocre health, dental, homeowners or life insurance policies.

While you may have done so in an effort to keep premiums low, if an emergency arises, your wallet and bank account could be turned upside down by out-of-pocket costs and exorbitant deductibles.

4. Skipping Routine Medical Visits

Ever heard the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? You definitely want to keep it in mind the next time you’re tempted to skip a visit to the doctor or dentist. Even if you dread doling out cash for co-pays or meeting deductibles, it’s worth it to stay on top of things.

Just think about those individuals with debilitating medical conditions who could have detected them earlier with routine blood work, or those who ignored dental visits for so long that they now must live with gum disease and costly deep cleanings for the rest of their lives.

5. Buying Inferior Big-ticket Items

If frugality is deeply embedded in your genetic makeup, it’s no surprise that big-ticket items with low sticker prices may be enticing. However, cheaper is not always better, especially in this situation.

A perfect example is the purchase of a cheap car. It may look good, smell great and be priced at an incredible point, but snagging it for the good deal could leave you with a clunker.

Car leases can work the same way. You cut costs for the life of the agreement, but end up where you started when it’s all said and done.

6. Avoiding Car Maintenance

It’s imperative that you have the routine maintenance done on your car to keep it running.

Says Bankrate.com:

Postponing maintenance is the No. 1 car maintenance mistake, according to research by CarMD.com, which polled certified master technicians. Of the top 10 maintenance mistakes in the firm’s study, four of them were related directly to regularly scheduled car maintenance and could be avoided.

Besides, avoiding the mechanic may shelter your wallet, but you could be putting your life at risk.

7. Cutting Back on Nutritious Food

With the rising cost of some foods, like orange juice and beef, you may be tempted to reduce the presence of healthy foods like fresh produce in your family meals. Replacing nutritious food with less expensive fillers or processed foods can be bad for both waistlines and health.

8. Frequenting Deal Websites

These are what I like to call the forbidden fruit. When websites like Groupon and LivingSocial burst onto the online scene, Americans were in a frenzy. Says Forbes:

Sure, Groupons can save you hundreds of a dollars a year if used right, but they also come with plenty of risks attached. You could risk the fear of double-booking yourself, as most of the Groupons run by dates. Then, you would be missing out and losing money, to boot.

I’m no exception. I got sucked in and vowed to myself that I’d buy just this one thing, but it turned into a lot of fine dining vouchers, spa treatments and weekend excursions, some of which I didn’t even use.

9. Shopping at Warehouse Clubs

This is another area where, when used properly, can produce major savings. These businesses pride themselves on selling you massive quantities of a particular item at a discounted rate.

But what happens if you can’t consume it all before the expiration date? And let’s not forget about the membership fees and the storage space you will need at home. Plus, if you’re not comparing the per-unit price, are you sure you’re always getting a better deal?

Says Today.com, “Customers may believe they’re paying for a chance to save money, but some experts think membership fees actually cause consumers to spend more.”

10. Upping Your Deductibles

This one is also insurance-related. It’s often said that you can reduce the cost of insurance by raising the deductibles.

But what’s the point of raising your deductible so high that you don’t have enough money in the bank to cover it if you need to? Will you have to borrow the money and pay interest? Don’t set a deductible that’s higher than you can afford to pay. You can always revisit the deductible after you have a healthy emergency fund in place.

This post originally appeared on Money Talks News.

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