Its probably safe to assume no ones ever gotten rich clipping coupons.
That doesnt mean saving money is a waste of time, though.
Some money-saving habits are worthwhile and save you aheap of cash in the long run.
Others just arent worth it.
Here are somespecific habits Ive ditchedbecause they arent worth my time and energy (or yours).
For me, it didnt.
Lets look at the math.
The math adds up, but it lacks common sense.
I dontactuallyearn $60 an hour the way I would at a normal job.
Also, Im not a robot.
There are easier ways to save $10-$15 a week.
And then there was the clutter.
It was a waste of space and paper.
It costs $3.99, but its worth it for the functionality and simplicity.
it’s possible for you to also save weekly templates.
Overall, I saved more by ditching the coupons and focusing on my real spending problem.
Ive learned to be pretty savvy at finding the best deal on stuff and sometimes it pays off.
Im still proud of the KitchenAid mixer I scored for $160, for example.
The small stuff adds up, but that logicapplies to your time and energy, too.
If I spend two dollars more on toilet paper, so be it.
There are bigger regrets in life.
Your own guidelines should vary from mine, and mine arent set in stone.
I just have a general idea ofwhen deal hunting is worth my time and when its not.
Tech can help with this, too.
Frankly, I was cheap!
It was like playing a game in which I saved a few cents here and there.
It was all too much work.
Plus, those shopping portals and apps are just that:shoppingapps.
Not all appsor shopping portalsrequire a ton of work.
Im fine with the ones I use because I never have to look at them.
Will it end up in the crap pile one day?
Where am I going to put it?
Have I included this in my budget?
Why do I want/need it?
Theres nothing wrong with spending your money, but itcomes down to priorities.
If its worth your time and doesnt encourage bad financial habits, go for it.
Dont get me wrong, I still spend.
For example, when I talked about my experience usinga last-minute hotel hunting app, the hotels hated it.
Sometimes that resulted in less-than-stellar service.
Its easy to overthink the effort that has to go into finding the best travel deal.
Sometimes its as simple as picking up the phone and booking.
Flights are expensive, so you want to do whatever you’ve got the option to to save.
The savings can be worth it,but they can also be really inconvenient.
You want to fit your time and comfort into the equation, too.
Especially if youre on vacation, you want to enjoy your time traveling.
It automatically saves you hundreds on flights, hotels, and more.
These are the costs that are so expensive, the savings are actually worthwhile: flights and lodging.
Frugality is great wayto help reach your financial goals, but it isnt just about saving money.
Its about utilizing your resources efficiently, and that includes your time and mental bandwidth.
Illustration by: Angelica Alzona
