Beware These 14 Sneaky Frugal Habits That Actually Cost You Money

You may have adopted frugal habits to save money for a specific goal. Maybe you want to start investing, or you're interested in buying a house. But you could be unintentionally hurting your wallet.

Check out some of these surprising financial mistakes you could be making by being too thrifty so you can get back on track and keep money in your pocket.

Gas prices can vary from station to station, and it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for the lowest prices, but driving far out of your way to save a few cents per gallon on gas could end up costing you more money in the gas it cost you to get there in addition to the wear and tear on your car.

Places like Costco and Sam’s Club can save you cash when you buy items in bulk, but you might want to rethink what you’re buying in bulk.

Spending money on bulk produce that goes bad before you can eat it all or spices that you only need a little bit of can end up in the trash along with the money you thought you were saving.

Sale items can save you money when you buy clothes from the discount rack or pick up essentials at the grocery store, but they can also cost you if they end up staying in your closet or cupboard and never get used.

Decluttering your home is a good way to find items that you can sell for cash, but you have to put in the work to actually sell them. Some trendy items won’t be worth as much if you wait too long.

Sell them as soon as you can or just skip the sale and get rid of them. The best time to sell is now and not wait around for a “good time” to come.

Home improvement stores are affordable options when you need to fix a little patch in your wall or touch up some paint, but big jobs should be left to professionals — especially if you aren’t well-versed in how to fix something.

Your major repair could cost you more when you have to hire a professional anyway to fix your mistake in the end.

Cars can be expensive purchases so you may be trying to put off buying a new one by paying for car repairs instead, but those small fixes can add up quickly and end up costing you more over time than just buying a new car.

Clothes can get expensive, but cheap clothes could also end up costing you more money. It can be tempting to buy $5 shirts or $10 sweatpants until you realize that you’re constantly buying new clothes to replace them due to wear and tear from their poor quality.

Instead, invest in a few good pieces for your closet that will last and save you money over time.

It can be tempting to reuse plastic cups or aluminum foil, but washing those things over and over again could end up wasting water and time when they fall apart anyway.

Instead, invest in some solid dishes and glasses that can withstand plenty of wear and tear for years.

Cheap food can be a good way to save money when you’re trying to keep your grocery budget down, but it could also cost your health in the long run.

Instead, spend a little cash on healthy items like fresh fruits and vegetables or meal options to keep away expensive health issues later caused by eating unhealthy choices.

You may worry that investing in a 401(k) or other retirement plan could be putting your money at risk and it’s better to leave your cash in a savings account that’s barely earning any interest.

But there are ways to invest your money and get better returns over time than a basic savings account. Look into things like index funds and other options that could help you earn more for the cash you have without losing it.

Is there a hobby you want to try but haven’t because it costs money? It might be time to give it a go.

A hobby not only gives you happiness and an outlet to try new things but could also make you money if you can find a way to turn it into a side hustle. Learn how to sew and make clothes that you can sell, or buy a guitar and take on gigs at local restaurants and bars so you can add some cash to your pocket.

It can be hard to look at the cost of toilet paper or laundry detergent and choose the more expensive option, but spending a little more could actually save you money.

You may need to use more cheap toilet paper compared to the thicker option or more detergent to get your clothes clean, and those additional costs can add up.

You may have a plan to go to three different grocery stores because some have better deals on certain foods or different clothing stores to buy shirts at one and pants at the other.

But driving to so many stores can cost you gas money and waste your time, making it more affordable to spend just a few dollars more by picking up several items at the same store.

You might think unplugging a coffee maker, television, or microwave when it’s not in use can help you save a few cents over time, but it can also wear out the plug and your outlets, which will cost you more to fix or replace rather than just leaving things plugged in.

Being frugal can be a great way to avoid wasting money, but it can also cost you cash if you pick up habits that don’t actually help your wallet in the long-term.

Take some time and go through your shopping tendencies and see if there are small choices you’re making that can be changed to truly maximize your savings.