12 Things It’s Better Not to Try and Save On

Not all of us know how to save money, even though it’s a great skill to have. However, some people tend to think that the only way to save money is by buying cheaper things. But this can lead to the opposite effect — paying twice for the same thing because of its poor quality.

At Bright Side, we believe that you should cut your spending in a smart way, so we’ve put together a list of goods and services that it’s better not to pinch pennies on.

Professional services that you can seemingly do yourself

The Internet is full of DIY videos. But there are also a lot of videos that prove these life hacks don’t work or demonstrate do-it-yourself disasters.

It’s great that you know how to make certain things with your own hands. However, if you have to deal with a problem that requires certain skills you don’t possess, it’s always a good idea to turn to a professional. A plumber, a carpenter, or a tailor has to study for a number of years to be considered a professional in their field.

Beauty injections

Saving on your health is not the best thing to do. And this also applies to facial injections. You’re unlikely to receive a high-quality service if your beautician offers you products that are much cheaper than usual. These products might be uncertified, the beautician may dilute them with water, or they may not adhere to sanitary and hygienic requirements, etc.

The side effects of such procedures may lead to serious health risks, which may require extra treatment or can’t be treated at all. That being said, trying to save on beauty injections is one of the worst ideas.

Pedigree pets

Before buying a pedigree cat or dog, you should keep a couple of things in mind. First, a rare breed can’t be cheap. Second, there are people who breed animals for money, and these animals are usually raised in an abusive environment and can have health issues. This is why they are sold at a lower price.

In order to avoid unscrupulous breeders, you need to check their certifications and get all the paperwork for your pet, including breed registration records and a vet examination report. If possible, visit the breeding facilities to see in what conditions the animals are kept.

• As a child, I dreamt of having a dog. My parents didn’t let me have one for a long time, but eventually, my dream came true. At the time, I knew very little about breeds and breeders. My parents and I went to a pet store, and we bought a small puppy. It didn’t have any papers, except for a veterinary passport, but the sales assistant assured us that this was the purebred Russian Toy. When the puppy grew up, we found out that it was a mix of some small breeds. Of course, this didn’t make me love my friend any less, but he had quite serious health problems.
  

Fragrances

In the photo: counterfeit Black Opium

Nowadays, there is a wide variety of fragrances for every budget. It doesn’t mean that cheap perfumes are bad, however, you have to think twice before buying a fake perfume because this can be unsafe.

• My favorite perfume is Black Opium by YSL. I ran out of it once, and I came across a replica on the Internet. The merchant assured me that it smelled exactly like the original perfume and was as long-lasting. I knew that it was unlikely to be the same, but the price was very attractive. My order arrived, and I used it immediately. The smell wasn’t exactly the same, but it was still nice, so I decided to check how long-lasting the perfume was and went for a walk. However, the results turned out to be unpredictable. I had a terrible rash all over my body. The skin was itchy and swollen. I tried to wash away the “perfume,” but this didn’t help. The doctor who I had to see immediately advised me to never use unknown products in the future. I’ve never been allergic to the original fragrance, so I’ll never risk my health again, regardless of potential savings.

Phone chargers

There are many cheap versions of phone chargers. You can find them in electronic stores and online. But this is another item that is best not to try and save on. Most fake chargers are of poor quality and don’t last long.

• After a few years of everyday use, the original charger for my tablet stopped working, so I had to buy a new one. Since it was quite expensive, I decided to go for a cheap replica. Eventually, it lasted only a month. I thought that I was probably just unlucky and decided to buy another replica. It worked a bit longer, for a few months, but broke down anyway. Eventually, after wasting money on poor-quality chargers, I still had to buy an original one. I wish I’d bought it right from the start.

Useful information

With the help of search engines, you can find the answer to almost any question. But when it comes to really important and useful information, such as training courses, it’s unlikely that anyone would share this information for free.

• Once, I attended free marketing courses. They gave us extracts from articles that you can easily find online and then promoted their paid services, which were not cheap at all. Later, I bought a marketing course, and it was really interesting. Marketing experts taught us and provided all the necessary information. I chose the course, guided not by the price, but by the lecturers’ experience. My friend once bought a very cheap course, and she also received extracts from articles that can be easily found online.

Shower curtains

If you plan to buy a cheap shower curtain, you should consider it only as a temporary solution because it won’t last long or be able to protect your bathroom from water, and it’ll stick to you during showering.

• I once bought a shower curtain at the dollar store when I got my first apartment, and I was infuriated by how it always seemed to want to drift toward me and stick to me because it was so thin. There’s a reason why shower curtains are so thick and heavy. © PM_ME_LIMERICKS / Reddit

Internet access

It’s really convenient to use public Wi-Fi, but it’s not really safe because you are at risk of sharing your confidential information with computer fraudsters. If you plan to make online purchases where you have to enter your credit card details, it’s best to use your mobile Internet.

If you don’t have it and need to use public Wi-Fi, it’s worth setting up 2-factor authentication or other means of protection.

A mouse pad

There are people who have to use a mouse pad because their wrists start hurting without it, so it’s best not to put your health at risk and save on this item.

• At college, I had to use a piece of paper or a magazine for a mouse pad, and then I bought a cheap one. Later, I got a remote job and worked at the computer for 10 hours a day. In a couple of months, I developed carpal tunnel syndrome (a condition that is caused by compression of the median nerve, which leads to numbness and pain in the fingers). Eventually, I bought a mouse pad with a wrist rest. It was more expensive, but my hand didn’t hurt anymore.

Massage

A massage at a price that sounds too good to be true can lead to unpleasant consequences. Sometimes, a massage salon can have low prices because of a temporary promotional campaign, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

But most often, the reason for this “good” offer is different. For example, a massage stall can hire incompetent or inexperienced massage therapists who can hurt you. So if you don’t want to put your health at risk, it’s best to visit an experienced therapist, whose services will surely be more costly.

Jewelry

If you want your jewelry to last long, you shouldn’t save on it. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to buy one high-quality piece of jewelry instead of a few cheap pieces.

• I found myself paying more for fake gold studs (around $16.99) that would turn green or chip off within 3 months than it would to buy a pair of $30 studs. Now, I pretty much don’t buy jewelry unless it’s real. © Unknown author / Reddit

Batteries

Even batteries can be of different quality. If you don’t want to continuously replace them, then it’s a good idea to pay more for them. Cheap batteries are usually zinc-carbon batteries, and they are less effective than alkaline batteries.

What other things shouldn’t you try to save on, in your opinion? Tell us in the comments below.