Do you hate wasting money? I certainly do. If you’re like me you’re always trying to buy everything, and I mean everything, at a good price. If I buy something and find it cheaper somewhere else (although that rarely happens because I always research my purchases) I feel sick – and I return the original item. If I buy something – particularly food – and don’t like it my entire day gets ruined.
Wasting money and being ripped off are two things I really hate. However people do it all the time. Some of the things we love in life cost money and more often than not they are a waste of money. So why do we buy them? Maybe it’s for convenience, maybe it’s because of a fear or maybe it’s because of an addiction. Who knows why we do it.
These are seven of the biggest rip offs and ways we waste money:
Buying bottled water
This is absolutely one of the biggest rip offs of all time and surprisingly (or maybe not) one of the biggest consumer markup profit makers for retailers. Think about the last time you bought a case of water. Maybe you paid $3.99 for 24 bottles.
Now think about the last time you bought an individual bottle of water, it probably cost $0.99. Now that’s a huge markup. Next time you’re thirsty fill up a reusable water bottle and save yourself some money.
Upgrading to medium size anything
Think about the last time you went to Starbucks, look at the price difference vs. size difference of small vs. medium vs. large size drinks. I usually stick to the small size or splurge for the large size because I find we don’t get our money’s worth when it comes to the medium size in between. I’m O.K. spending a little bit more on a Venti drink because the quantity is so much more.
Paying for a room with a view
How much time do you really spend in your hotel room when travelling? Probably not a lot. I personally don’t understand why anyone would pay extra money – even $20 per night – for a room with a view. Isn’t it much better to go out an experience the city in person than look at it from a window?!
Upgrading your airplane seat
I have never done this and with my recent newfound fear of flying I probably never will. I guess I could understand paying for an upgrade to first class, (maybe) but paying for a preferred seat in coach just doesn’t make any sense to me. Have you ever paid to change your airplane seat?
Using plastic bags
I bring a reusable bag with me everywhere I go, mostly because it’s better for the environment but also because I hate paying $0.05 for a plastic bag at the grocery store. It may seem silly to carry a reusable bag around all the time, but you just never know when you’re going to pick something up at the pharmacy or need to stop at the grocery store on the way home from work.
Kristina Tahnyak
Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.
Truly inspiring article tks. Check out my new blog My Rickety Road http://myricketyroad.blogspot.com.mt/
We did pay for a room view upgrade back on our honeymoon in Hawaii. Though we certainly didn’t spend a lot of time there, the hour or two a day that we could sit on the balcony and enjoy the view of the ocean was worth every penny.
Airplane seat upgrades can vary in price a lot……on smaller airlines upgrading from coach to “business class” can run as low as $35. I’d pay $35 for a wider, more comfortable chair and free drinks and snacks. However….when you look at the price difference between coach and business class – or even worse yet, first class, when the ticket is purchased. Yikes….total waste of money. Sometimes it’s 100’s or 1000’s of dollars more!
We have paid to have a seat with more leg room….felt it was worth it. I’ve always wanted to fly first class at least one time but our enthusiasm for traveling is beginning to wane what with poor treatment from the airlines, airport security hassles etc. Plus, I hear you on the fear of flying. I am absolutely terrified but it seems like on many vacations, we end up taking all kinds of side excursions which involve flying. Spoils the whole trip for me.
I HATE bottled water and plastic bags. Not only are they a waste of money and space, but they’re horrible for our environment. I avoid buying bottled water at all costs. We have so many plastic bags in our home I’m trying to figure out what to do with them (any ideas?). We have reusable bags but often forget them, so we need to do a better job with that. To your question about the airplane seat, I have upgraded my seat and here’s why. Airlines are making seating smaller and smaller, and I am 6’4”… paying $25-50 to upgrade to a preferred seat is worth it for the extra leg room alone. Especially for long flights. I see Kathy (above) agrees! One more waste of money while I’m thinking of it… cable!