29 Terrible Ways to Save Money (That People Have Actually Tried)

You would not fly on an airline that kept prices low by saving on preventative maintenance. The same might be said of a doctor who skimps on anesthesia or a teacher who doesn't spend money on "all that education stuff."

The same applies in your private life. It's very smart to save money, but not always a great idea to skimp in areas where it might hurt you more than help.

Healthcare is expensive even if you have health insurance. But in the long-term picture of your health, it's not worth saving your co-pay to risk not getting the care you need.

It can be tempting when nothing is wrong with your car to avoid getting oil changes and other preventative maintenance. You should follow all recommendations for routine work even if it does not seem like it's worth the money. After all, it's the preventative maintenance that helps to prevent the more serious (and more expensive) issues from popping up later.

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It's great to get long life out of your shoes and clothing. Wearing shoes or sneakers for too long, however, can lead to foot problems or bigger physical issues. Get as much life as you can out of your shoes, but don't keep them past their point of usefulness.

If you rarely wear a suit or dress clothes, it's tempting to not spend money in that area. In reality, most people need dress clothes for things like funerals or job interviews and it can reflect poorly if you have ill-fitting or worn out items.

If you don't use your gym membership, by all means drop it. If you do go to the gym, however, it would be foolish to break a strong, healthy habit that may lengthen and improve your life just to save a few dollars.

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Not saving for retirement isn't saving money even if you save the money in some other fashion. In many cases, your company offers a match for some of your own 401(k) contributions. Not taking that match is literally leaving money on the table. But even if there is no match, it's important to contribute to your retirement.

It's possible to get healthcare plans that only cover catastrophes. That's a terrible idea even if you're young and reasonably fit. It simply leaves you exposed for a major financial loss if you have normal, but not catastrophic, healthcare needs.

Keeping your car for an extra year or two after you pay it off makes sense. In fact, it's smart to drive a vehicle as long as it's in good shape.

Once your car becomes unreliable, however, it's not saving you money. If you get stuck or can't get to work, that's ultimately going to cost you money.

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Coffee is an affordable luxury for most people. If a daily latte or cappuccino makes you happy, it's silly to give it up. Cut back here only if it's something that brings you no joy. If that's not the case, this is an area that many people can afford that pays off in happiness.

If you're not handy, doing home repair may waste a lot of time without saving you any money. It's great to do it yourself if you have the skills. If you don't, pay a pro.

Taking an active interest in your investments is a great idea that should help you understand them better. That does not mean you should not meet with a professional every now and then to make sure you are on the right track.

ALSO READ: 3 Signs You Could Really Use a Financial Advisor

If you're young, life insurance feels like a luxury. In reality, if you have a family, think about what happens to them without your income. If the impact is life-changing -- and it almost certainly is -- then you need life insurance.

It's not expensive to get a will -- especially if you have limited assets. Having one, however, can make things easier on your family and allow you to disperse of your assets as you see fit.

Some airlines offer really low base fares but charge for "extras" like having a seat assigned or bringing a carry-on bag. In many cases, what seems like a deal isn't. Read the fine print and realize that the "savings" may not be worth it.

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Some places, specifically lower floors of tall condo or apartment buildings, don't have great water. In that case, it makes sense to buy bottled (though environmentalists might argue for a filtration system).

It's generally not a great idea to pay for an extended warranty on a television or for a computer. For some household items -- central air, your hot water heater, and home heating systems -- it does make sense.

In most cases, you sign a service contract that pays for a maintenance visit twice or four times a year (it generally depends on the age of your system). These visits can stop small issues from becoming large and let you know when your unit is nearing the end of its life. In most cases, having a maintenance plan earns you a discount on any purchases or repairs.

Unless you shave your head, cutting your own hair seems like a big risk. Find an inexpensive local place or chain over a high-priced salon, but don't take the scissors to your own head just to save a few dollars.

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Fast food is cheap, but it's also generally bad for you. You can save money eating at fast-food chains, but you're much better off opting to eat at home.

Joining a warehouse club costs money, but if you use the membership correctly, it should save you some cash. If you can be disciplined and only buy what you need, then the upfront charge to join is really just the price you pay for saving money each time you shop.

When your roof leaks, it's tempting to get a bucket and hope the problem goes away. The smarter answer is to have the source of the leak checked out and to make any needed repairs.

That may be expensive in the short-term, but not fixing the problem can let it grow into a bigger one. A bad roof can quickly turn into a bad ceiling, mold, or other major problems.

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When your doctor writes you a prescription, you should take that medicine. That seems obvious, but some people opt not to, because even with health insurance prescription drugs can be expensive.

That's a terrible idea and one that can lead to major health problems. It may be expensive, but following your doctor's recommendations is not optional.

If your teeth don't hurt, it's tempting to put off your twice-a-year dental visit. That's not a good idea as these visits can prevent major (and expensive) problems from developing.

Amazingly, there are states where car insurance isn't legally mandated. That might tempt you to skip getting it, which leaves you with huge exposure in the event of an accident.

It's not just about the cost of repairing your car. Skipping out on insurance leaves you exposed to paying huge medical bills if you happen to hit someone else and hurt them.

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Chicken soup may help you if you have a cold. But it won't cure your pneumonia. It's tempting to try cheap home remedies when you really need a doctor, but that's a bad idea which will probably lead to bigger expenses.

Just because your animal friends seem healthy does not make it okay to skip a visit to the vet. Preventative care helps spot problems before they become expensive. For the sake of your pet's health, these types of appointments should not be skipped.

When you buy something that's on sale, you're spending, not saving money. You might be spending less, but you're still spending. You should think of the money leaving your account, not the amount you saved over the list price.

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Warehouse clubs can save you money. They can also waste money if you buy bulk items that then expire before you use them. It does not matter how much less you spend if you let what you buy go to waste.

Rebates can make things cheaper and be a benefit to consumers. Be honest, however, if you're actually going to put in the effort to claim the rebate, which sometimes involves mailing forms and/or receipts back to the company then waiting for weeks. Many people won't actually do that, so it's important to only factor in a rebate as savings if you will actually redeem it.

When you buy some items, you're getting a fake deal because you're not paying the full cost. That might mean buying a printer without ink or something that's battery powered without batteries.

You're not saving money by delaying a needed purchase. If you have to buy something to make your first purchase work then you're only delaying your expenses.

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