Sometimes You Just Don’t Feel Like Saving Money
Blasphemy, I know…but it is true. I am not talking about some calculation that I do in me head that says doing X isn’t worth the time for the money, but about blatant laziness or avoidance. Sometimes when certain moods strike I am just unwilling to put in a little extra effort to save another dollar or two.
Three incidents stand out in my mind from the last week or two :
- I can remember about a week ago realizing that I had not been charged the sale price on ice cream. I was already in the car with the groceries and my son and I didn’t feel like going back in for the $1.50.
- I was at a flea market with my brother-in-law, who currently makes his living off eBay, and I just did not feel like haggling. I was just buying a small toy for The Pebble and I knew I could get it probably %50 or more cheaper than I did. I just paid full price.
- Price Protectr had emailed that the price on a recently purchased book had dropped about a dollar, but I avoided sending a quick email multiple times until I finally let it go.
I know the money involved in these three examples is minor, but the same thing occasionally happens with larger money returns and other random finance activities. The bigger the purchase, like a car, the more detrimental the behavior. I am usually not hard on myself, because I know that my energy for such activities was invested into other areas of life that are more important. With that said I do see an oppurtunity for growth. The oppurtunity to just summon a little extra strength when I see a similar lackadaisical situation developing. Even reaching deep within myself to overcome my shyness and make the extra call or haggle that I sometimes avoid because of my personality foible. Now that I have made a public declaration my weakness, I will be more strengthened to tackle the problem in upcoming siutations.
Does anyone else every feel the same way? Got any examples?
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Nice post! I used to beat myself up over ATM fees, because I was too lazy to drive to my credit union, but then I sat down and did the math… my credit union is X miles from my house, and with the cost of gas and the mpg of my car, the ATM fees are actually cheaper to pay then a round trip out to the credit union. I guess that’s just an example of laziness working *for* me. =)
Interesting Alan with the ATM fees. You could always get a 2nd bank account.
I think returns are always a hassle and rarely get done. I wish I had the same enthusiam for waiting in a return line as I do a checkout line. I should be happy; they are giving me money back.
Target is great for returns and exchanges. Very easy.
This happens to me all the time, especially at the grocery store. I’m sure I could save a bunch of money in small doses from situations such as this. I also will not save money a lot of the time because I don’t research a purchase as much as I should before going through with it. Often I can save a ton of money by buying online, using a coupon, or whatever. It’s just laziness that I don’t sometimes.
I always forget to use my coupons and miss sales off. I avoid going to the less expensive grocery as it is situated far from my house. If I were not so lazy I could save some money and buy something really useful
@Alan – Nice analysis. Laziness and effeciency are two different things!
@Sue – Target is great and lines are usually short whenever I go, but returns are often on of those lazy items on my list.
@Pete – Online buying is a place were a system or a habit can go a long way. My a list that details your pre step process to saving money that you refer to. Writing things down is usually good motivation.
@Gloria – Don’t beat yourself up, accept it and try to create a habit that helps you accomplish your goal without having to put in to much energy.
I used to do this all the time. The worst occurrence was when I was living in the UK and my card was charged twice for a plane flight (about £150). I didn’t even call them because I was too busy and didn’t want the aggravation in the little free time I had.
I can’t believe I did that now – I’m much more careful about money these days (although that probably has something to do with being married with a family now!).