We’re all familiar with the standard advice on how to save money: “Quit buying lattes. Start automatic transfers. Make a budget and stick to it.” But there’s another tier of tips that people know they should be using.
These tips sound like smart ideas, but they can be hard to put into practice. Some are just inconvenient, some are easy to forget, and some are just too much work. Frankly, most of us have our moments when we blow off these tips, too. Here are 11 money-saving tips adults admit to regularly skipping.
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Actually Returning Unused Items
We tell ourselves we’ll return those shoes, the power tool, or that kitchen appliance we bought on impulse. But the two-week return window feels far away, and the receipt goes missing. Before we know it, that $40 purchase just ends up sitting in the closet.
Cancelling the Free Trial Before It Charges
The “sign up now, cancel later” trick can work for free trials. But weeks go by, and suddenly there’s a $12.99 charge for a membership you don’t even use. Many adults admit they forget to do what they swore they would remember, like setting a calendar reminder.
Taking Advantage of Warranty Claims
People rarely make warranty claims, even when products have defects in their first few months. Filling out paperwork, mailing items away, or talking to customer service can be a huge pain. So instead, they just buy a new one.
Adjusting Insurance Deductibles
Most people stick with the insurance deductible amount they started with. But what made sense at 20 or 30 might not be so great at 50 or 60. Lowering your monthly premiums by increasing the deductible (or vice versa) can save a bundle. Revisiting and changing those deductibles can feel like a hassle, though.
Re-Shopping Subscriptions Annually
We sign up for services like internet or cable packages, entertainment bundles, or antivirus software. But after the first year, we rarely compare prices again. We know we should, but it usually only happens if there’s a major service issue or a big life change.
Selling Unused Items
That camera you never used, the extra phone charger, and that treadmill taking up space could be sold to make some easy cash. But uploading listings, responding to messages, and packing items feel like too much work. So the boxes just sit, and the savings opportunity rots with them.
Paying Attention to Interest Rate Changes
Most people do not move their savings when banks raise or lower interest rates. Instead, banks count on this inaction to earn more from deposits. Even when better interest rates are just a few clicks away, many adults remain inactive, caught by inertia. This passive decision slowly but surely takes away money that could have been theirs with almost no effort.
Tracking Small Shared Expenses
Small things like ride shares, group dinners, and shared subscriptions often never get paid back. No one wants to be “that person” who keeps pestering others to repay what they owe. But all those small costs add up to lost money over time. Most people admit they ignore these debts to avoid uncomfortable conversations.
Using FSA or HSA Funds Before Deadlines
People with Flexible Spending Accounts or Health Savings Accounts often forget to use the money in time. They lose track of receipts or miss the expiration date, and the cash just vanishes. It’s free money that gets wasted because they didn’t plan ahead. And they always swear they’ll be more careful next year.
Calling for Better Rates on Recurring Bills
You can often lower your cable, phone, or insurance bill just by asking. But people hate calling customer service, sitting on hold, or negotiating. They know the savings are there, but the idea of that phone call makes them delay it forever. So they just keep overpaying every month.
Planning for Irregular Yearly Expenses
Large expenses such as vehicle registration, yearly subscriptions, or Christmas come once a year but surprise many people every time. Instead of saving a small amount each month, most just panic and try to make it work when the time comes. They go through the same stressful process every year, even though it is completely avoidable. That failure to plan steals from their savings year after year.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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