For years, people are told the same budgeting advice: track every penny, clip coupons, drive across town for sales, meal prep an entire week, and never buy anything convenient. But eventually, a lot of people realize that some of these “money-saving” habits save very little and cost a lot of time, energy, and sanity.
A recent thread on Reddit posted by “PaycheckWizard” on r/frugal asked people “which budget habits they used to swear by but eventually gave up”What budget habits did you used to live by that you don’t do anymore?“. The answers were surprisingly relatable.
I won’t skip going to the dentist and I won’t live off microwave meals.-Initial_Welder3674
The whole meal prepping thing isn’t for me. I don’t want to spend almost a whole afternoon cooking for a whole week. I do however make sure there’s always fresh soup in the fridge. That’s easy to make, healthy and cheap. It’s perfect for when I feel the need to snack. I drink some soup instead. -Adventurous-Sealion
I stopped trying to shop all the best deals at 3-5 separate stores. They weren’t near each other, it became too hard to track, and I ended up losing time that wasn’t made up for in the savings. It just wasn’t worth it anymore.
Edit: I still do stock up every few weeks or months at places that aren’t my regular grocery store, but not every week or twice a week like I was at one point.- Chance-Work4911
Your time is money also. If it takes you four hours to do something or you could pay someone or for a convenience, sometimes it’s worth paying for it rather than doing it yourself. Obviously only you can determine what is worth doing yourself versus paying for. But it has helped me make a lot of decisions regarding what I want to spend money on. -GravityWillNotHold
“Every dollar has a job,” tracking every purchase. I’ve never had overspending issues, so it just stresses me out without helping. -Dear_Ocelot
I used to buy used tires but now i buy new at walmart for the same price -trainrweckz
Buying clothes during sales online. Turns out it’s a big sham. Getting them stiched with local tailors now – they last longer than mass manufacred and are customised for me. -mercurialGecko
Not eating out or ordering delivery AT ALL. Now I try to limit both to once monthly at not-too-expensive places.- tippytoecat
There was a time when supermarket chains used to double manufacturer coupons. The chains stopped doing that, and then I realized manufacturer coupons are usually on processed foods with ample markup.
Since then I’ve become a better cook who buys ingredients in bulk. -doublestitch
We have always done our own diy but last year the hallway needed painting. I was talking to someone at work about how I was a bit nervous about using the ladder on the stairs or hiring the proper ladder. He said how long will it take you and how much can you earn if you work overtime that day. Price difference was £40 so I worked overtime while the painter did the job. It felt great walking in to see a freshly painted hall and I didn’t have to do it. -TimeNew2108
The biggest lesson from the thread is that a budget should make your life easier, not harder. If a money-saving habit leaves you stressed, exhausted, or miserable, it may not actually be saving you much at all.