When Cutting Corners Doesn't Make Cents

Sarah-Beth Floyd

Rather than following a strict budget, some people prefer to cut corners on their everyday, or larger expenses. Which may sound like a good idea at the time, but it doesn’t always end up all sunshine and rainbows. For example, expenses like mattresses, shoes and manual labor will almost always justify spending the full cost. To save yourself money and frustration, check out what purchases you shouldn’t cut corners on below.

YOUR TABLET BECOMES AN EXPENSIVE COASTER

That Black Friday deal looked great until your $50 tablet turned into a coaster on the coffee table. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. With electronics it’s easy to cut corners and buy a cheaper version, but just like with everything else on this list, it ends up hurting you in the long run.

With electronics, you get what you pay for. It’s usually not what you want to hear, but unfortunately it’s true. The best thing to do when buying electronics is to do your research, shop around and see where you can find the best deal. By doing this, you’ll save yourself money, and a headache when your $50 tablet keeps shutting off for no reason.

EVERYONE NEEDS A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES

Think about your shoe purchases in the past. Has it ever been worth it to buy that cheap pair of Target shoes? In most cases, the answer will be no. In the end you’ll spend double the amount of money because high quality shoes are meant to last longer than the discount options.

It’s pretty common knowledge that when you aren’t sleeping, you’re more than likely on your feet. Which makes it extra important that you invest in a good pair of shoes.

DRIVE MORE TO SAVE MORE?

We know it’s tempting to drive out of your way when you see that gas is a whopping 50 cents cheaper in the next town over. But have you ever done the math to see if it’s worth the extra hassle?

Think about it, you’re probably driving no less than 15 minutes out of your way, through traffic, and chances are there’s a gas station right next to your house. Which means driving that 15+ minutes in the opposite direction for a small savings will result in actually spending more money.

Before you go out of your way, do the math and see if it’s truly worth it.

WHEN YOU HEAR, “I KNOW A GUY”

Most people have that one friend who has “a guy” for everything. This isn’t a bad thing, but it can also get you into trouble. For example, say your friend’s cousin replaced his roof one time and now he’s offering to replace yours for way less than anyone else in the area.

Initially it sounds like a great idea. Way cheaper, your friend has recommended him and hello, CHEAPER! But if the “guy” does a poor job, you just wasted your time and money. Which will result in you paying at least double the price to get the job done correctly.

LOW QUALITY MATTRESS = LOW QUALITY SLEEP

The average human sleeps 8 hours a night (jealous). Over the course of your lifetime, it’s estimated that 26 YEARS of your life will be spent sleeping! Needless to say, you don’t want to spend those 26 years sleeping on an awful and uncomfortable mattress.

That’s why cutting corners on buying a mattress just isn’t worth it. In the long run, you’ll end up losing sleep and losing money when you have to buy another new mattress. Spend a little extra money, get yourself a nice mattress and thrive. Everyone needs their beauty rest.

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY, MARSHA

If you’re using these things as tools to save money, you’ll be relieved to hear that you don’t have to! Cutting costs doesn’t have to mean you cut corners.

After all, making a budget doesn’t need to be super strict. In fact, the biggest thing is to be aware of your spending and finding where you can cut back.