Not every money-saving hack actually saves money. In fact, many frugal habits people swear by end up costing more in the long run. A recent Reddit thread highlighted dozens of examples where shortcuts backfired. Gas was one of the most common culprits. People admitted to driving across town for a few cents’ savings, only to waste both time and fuel. Grocery trips with multiple stops for small discounts often had the same effect, with one commenter saying it rarely saves more than a couple of dollars. Bulk buying also came under fire. While buying in large quantities can lower the price per unit, products often spoil or get forgotten. Some even confessed to eating more just because they had extra on hand, defeating the purpose of buying in bulk. Others warned that cheap goods usually end up being expensive. One person said their father bought at least ten cordless drills over the years, all breaking within a year. A quality drill lasted decades. The same lesson applied to clothes, shoes, and appliances, with cheap versions leading to pain, frustration, and repeat spending. Financial habits like chasing credit card points, buying things just for coupons, or skipping maintenance also topped the list. What feels like saving in the short term often turns into bigger costs later.