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Cheap habits are supposed to help you save money, but some of them are basically financial boomerangs: you throw them out there, and they come right back to smack your bank account.
If you’ve been “being frugal” and still feel broke, it’s usually not because you’re bad with money—it’s because you’re doing the kind of cheap that creates expensive problems later.
In this post, you’ll spot 13 sneaky habits that look smart in the moment, then quietly keep you stuck in the same broke cycle.
You’ll also get practical swaps you can start using immediately, even if your budget is tight and your motivation is… inconsistent.
I’m pulling this from real-world budgeting patterns, common “leak” categories, and the same behavior traps that show up again and again when people try to save but can’t get ahead.
If you want a solid money foundation alongside these habit fixes, this guide on student-friendly budgeting rules that actually work in real life is worth a read: 12 student budgeting lessons I wish I learned earlier.
Now let’s talk about the “cheap” stuff that’s quietly keeping you broke—and how to stop doing it.
1) BUYING THE CHEAPEST VERSION OF EVERYTHING (AND REBUYING IT TWICE)
A $12 item that breaks in a month isn’t cheaper than a $28 item that lasts three years.
It’s just a subscription you didn’t agree to.
This usually shows up with shoes, chargers, kitchen tools, and anything you use constantly.
Key takeaway: Cheap once hurts, cheap twice hurts more.
Do this instead:
- Spend more on things that protect your health or save time (shoes, mattress basics, work tools).
- Go cheaper on things that don’t matter (decor, trend items, “nice-to-have” extras).
- Use the “cost per use” test: if you’ll use it weekly, quality matters.
2) “I DESERVE A TREAT” MICRO-SPENDING EVERY DAY
A little treat isn’t evil.
A daily treat becomes a bill.
Coffee, snacks, delivery fees, “just one thing” at the store… these are tiny, frequent withdrawals.
They don’t feel like overspending because no single purchase looks dramatic.
Key takeaway: Your budget doesn’t break from one big splurge. It breaks from a thousand “small doesn’t count” moments.
Do this instead:
- Pick one treat category and cap it weekly.
- Make treats intentional (planned) instead of emotional (impulse).
- Keep a “cheap comfort” list: music + walk, hot shower reset, library audiobook, free movie night.
3) SKIPPING A LIST (AND SHOPPING ON VIBES)
Shopping without a list is like going to the gym without a plan.
You’ll do random stuff, feel accomplished, and still not get results.
Stores are designed to make you “accidentally” buy more.
That’s not a conspiracy theory. That’s literally the business model.
Do this instead:
- Keep a running list on your phone (notes app counts).
- Shop once a week if possible.
- Never shop hungry. That’s not discipline—it’s strategy.
If your grocery spending specifically feels chaotic, it helps to plug the food leaks first.
This post has practical fixes that don’t require you to become a chef: 11 frugal food habits for people who can’t cook.
4) BUYING BULK… WITHOUT A PLAN
Bulk can save money, sure.
Bulk can also turn into a pantry museum of “great deals” you never use.
If you buy a 48-pack of something you don’t even like that much, you didn’t save.
You just paid extra to store it.
Do this instead:
- Only buy bulk if you already buy it consistently.
- Only buy bulk if you have a storage spot (no storage = wasted money).
- Start with “boring staples” (toilet paper, rice, oats, detergent).
When bulk actually makes sense, warehouse pricing can help you stop overpaying for regular essentials—especially if you stick to your list.
If you already shop this way, a membership setup like Costco’s warehouse deals can be worth it for staples and household basics.
5) REFUSING TO BUDGET BECAUSE IT FEELS “RESTRICTIVE”
Some people hear “budget” and think “financial jail.”
But a budget is just a plan for where your money goes so it doesn’t mysteriously vanish.
No budget means every purchase competes with rent, groceries, and future-you.
And future-you usually loses.
Key takeaway: A budget doesn’t limit your life. It protects it.
Do this instead:
- Start with 3 buckets: Needs / Future / Fun.
- Automate “Future” first (even small).
- Track for 14 days to see what’s actually happening (not what you think is happening).
6) CANCELING “SMALL” INSURANCE (THEN GETTING HIT WITH A HUGE BILL)
Skipping renters insurance, health coverage add-ons, or basic car coverage because it’s “extra” is a classic broke trap.
You save a little… until life happens.
Then one accident turns into months of financial recovery.
That’s not frugal. That’s gambling.
Do this instead:
- Keep basic coverage where one incident would wreck you.
- Raise deductibles if needed (often cheaper than canceling entirely).
- Review once a year so you’re not overpaying for things you don’t need.
7) BUYING “CHEAP” CLOTHES THAT DON’T MATCH YOUR LIFE
A $9 shirt isn’t a deal if it sits in your closet with the tags on.
Most “cheap wardrobe” spending is actually fantasy-self shopping.
Also, cheap fabrics that shrink, itch, or fall apart?
Congrats, you’ve unlocked the “buy it again” level.
Do this instead:
- Buy fewer pieces, but make them wearable with what you already own.
- Choose simple colors you repeat.
- If you feel the urge to buy something “just because it’s cheap,” wait 48 hours.
For essentials and household basics, shopping smarter (not more) is the win.
If you’re restocking practical stuff on a budget, Walmart’s everyday low-price essentials can help you keep recurring purchases cheaper without turning it into a “wander the aisles and black out” situation.
8) DIY-ING EVERYTHING (EVEN WHEN IT COSTS YOU MORE)
Sometimes DIY saves money.
Sometimes DIY is you buying six supplies to avoid paying one professional.
And if DIY takes you five hours and the result still looks like a crime scene?
That “free” labor wasn’t free.
Do this instead:
- DIY only when you’ll reuse the tools/supplies.
- Pay for expertise when mistakes cost more than the service.
- Learn one or two “high-value” skills (basic cooking, basic repairs, simple budgeting).
9) AVOIDING THE DENTIST / DOCTOR TO “SAVE MONEY”
This is one of the most expensive “cheap” habits on the planet.
Small health issues become big health bills when ignored.
And even if you’re lucky medically, pain and stress wreck productivity and decision-making.
That spills into money, too.
Do this instead:
- Do preventive care when you can.
- If you’re uninsured or tight on cash, look for local clinics, sliding scale programs, dental schools, or community health options.
10) EATING OUT BECAUSE “GROCERIES ARE EXPENSIVE”
Groceries are expensive.
Eating out is usually groceries plus convenience fees plus “while I’m here” spending.
If food is your biggest leak, it’s usually not the grocery store alone.
It’s takeout, delivery charges, and “I’ll just grab something” meals.
Do this instead:
- Keep 3 emergency meals in your house at all times.
- Make a “lazy meal formula” (protein + carbs + sauce + produce).
- Plan for your tired days, not your perfect days.
If you want structure while you build the habit, meal kits can temporarily reduce waste and decision fatigue (which is what drives takeout).
Something like HelloFresh meal kits can help you practice eating at home without buying 19 random ingredients you won’t use.
11) CHASING COUPONS… THEN BUYING STUFF YOU DIDN’T NEED
A discount doesn’t create value.
It reduces the price of something you already planned to buy.
When coupons make you buy extras, you didn’t save money.
You just got emotionally bribed.
Key takeaway: A deal is only a deal when it matches your plan.
Do this instead:
- Start with your list, then look for discounts.
- Don’t stock up on things you don’t regularly use.
- Use cashback/discounts strategically (not as an excuse).
If you’re trying to cut the cost of things you were already going to do—like a planned date night, a local service, or a specific purchase—discount marketplaces can help without turning into random spending.
For planned savings, Groupon’s local deals can occasionally knock down costs if you choose intentionally.
12) PAYING “CONVENIENCE TAX” BECAUSE YOU’RE TIRED
The broke cycle often looks like this:
You’re exhausted → you choose the easiest option → it costs more → you feel stressed → you get more exhausted.
Convenience isn’t the enemy.
Unplanned convenience is the enemy.
Do this instead:
- Create defaults: the same cheap breakfast, the same backup lunch, the same “I’m too tired” dinner.
- Pay for convenience only when it replaces a more expensive habit (like daily delivery).
For household staples, some people save money by buying curated bulk items and avoiding impulse purchases inside giant stores.
If that sounds like you, Thrive Market’s grocery membership can work well for stocking pantry basics (especially if you’re trying to stop “quick snack runs”).
13) IGNORING “SMALL” FEES AND INTEREST
Late fees.
Overdrafts.
Credit card interest.
Subscription renewals you forgot.
These aren’t small. They’re silent.
They also hit hardest when you’re already tight, because they stack at the worst times.
Key takeaway: Fees are a tax on disorganization.
Do this instead:
- Turn on autopay for minimums (at least).
- Set reminders for renewals.
- Keep a small buffer, even if it’s tiny (because it prevents expensive mistakes).
A lot of “cheap” habits don’t make you rich—they just make you feel responsible while your money leaks out in the background.
When you stop buying disposable junk, stop treating daily micro-spending like it’s invisible, and stop paying convenience tax with your future, you finally give your budget room to breathe.
Pick three habits from this list and fix them first.
Not because you need perfection, but because momentum changes everything.
And if you want one simple, low-effort win: make “easy at-home defaults” your new normal, so tired-you doesn’t keep outsourcing every meal and snack to expensive options.
If quick nutrition helps you dodge random overpriced snack runs, Myprotein’s supplement and nutrition store can be useful for stocking simple options you’ll actually use.
You don’t need to be “better with money.”
You just need to stop doing the kind of cheap that keeps you broke.