4 Money-Saving Moves I’ve Given Up On

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Saving money is a good thing, but some efforts to keep more cash in your bank account can backfire. Here are four frugal habits I no longer indulge in. 

Keeping more money in your checking account can really help your finances, so it can pay to implement some money-saving moves. For example, habits like steering clear of high-interest credit card debt and avoiding splurge purchases can help you use your money more wisely.

But, while there are frugal habits worth implementing, not every money-saving move makes sense in every situation or for every person. In fact, there are four techniques I used to implement that I’ve since abandoned. Here’s what they are and why I no longer practice them.

1. Buying groceries with coupons

One of the biggest things I’ve given up is obsessing about using coupons for as many purchases as possible.

For many years I was an extreme couponer, which meant I collected tons of coupons, spent time poring over sales flyers, and always paid with a big handful of coupons that helped me pay pennies on the dollar for food and personal care items.

Ultimately, though, I decided the time spent couponing was not worth the savings, and I also realized I wasn’t eating the way I wanted or buying the products that really felt right for me since I was so focused on finding bargains.

Instead of using coupons at the grocery store, I now keep my bills reasonable by shopping local, participating in community-sponsored agriculture, and using a cash back credit card that provides bonus points for grocery purchases.

2. Living on a detailed budget

Living on a detailed budget is another thing I gave up on. I used to budget every dollar, but this ended up taking too long and was frustrating because I always felt I was depriving myself.

Instead of doing this, I’ve made sure to keep my fixed costs to 50% of my income and I’ve automated my savings so 20% of my money comes out of each paycheck and goes directly into savings or investment accounts.

Since I’ve automated the process of paying bills and investing for my future, I know anything that’s left in my checking account is there for me to spend on whatever I want. I spend it guilt-free without pre-planning where it will go, since I’ve already taken care of the big things.

3. Chasing the best savings account rate

I no longer switch savings accounts to get the very best rate possible. This became a huge hassle that was time consuming and left me with several open savings accounts I was no longer using. And, it just wasn’t worth it.

I only keep the bare minimum in a savings account that I will need for emergencies or short-term purchases, so with the low amount of money I have in savings, a small difference in interest rates really doesn’t make a big impact.

Rather than dealing with the process of opening and closing accounts, I’ve found a high-yield savings account with a consistent track record of paying a generous rate and I just leave my money there. It’s a lot less stress, and I know that earning an extra percent or two on a small sum isn’t where I should focus my energy.

4. Driving out of the way for cheaper gas

Finally, I’ve given up driving out of the way to reduce the cost of gas. By doing so, I would usually end up negating most of the savings from the lower prices at the pump as a result of the extra driving. The time wasted also cost me, as it was time I couldn’t work.

Ultimately, it’s important to realize not every frugal habit is worth it. Take the time to think about what really works for you in terms of saving money and focus on those big wins instead of trying to force yourself to adopt habits that don’t make sense for your situation.

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