The other day I was in line at the gas station. It was busy so a few people were ahead of me. Some had purchased fuel, others hadn’t, but everyone grabbed some sort of snack or refreshment. One had two drinks, two grab-bags of chips, a jerky stick and a granola bar. His total was $11 and change. Another was only $4 and change.
I’ve never been in the habit of buying fast food or gas station snacks more than a couple times a month, at worst. However, I got thinking about how those $4-$6 purchases could add up so quickly over the course of the month for people who are used to snacking like that if it were a regular habit. Even at just $4 a day, if someone does that each time they go to work, for example, that would be $20 a week or $80 a month. That’s more than I pay for our cell phone bill! I’d be frustrated if our electric bill jumped $80 in a month.
You can even save money without skipping these snacks. If you’re buying a sports drink and a granola bar each day, you could buy both in multipacks at the grocery store and probably save at least 50%. In my area, gas stations tend to sell individual granola bars for $.75 to $1.50 a piece, while the entire 6 pack box of those same brands may only be $2.50, or .42 per bar! The same is true for other commonly purchased gas station snacks such as chips, candy, gum, jerky, soda, energy drinks, etc. They are significantly cheaper at your average grocery store.
A similar habit that I’ve seen is using the Target dollar spot. I know people who have to check out the dollar spot each time they are at Target because everything is $1, $3, or $5 and it’s always new stuff and much of it is very cute. However, just buying one item at each price point ($9 total) each time you go to Target would add up to $36 if you go once per week.
My personal weakness is probably yard sales or thrift stores. I think about how items are cheaper than they would be new, so it seems like a great deal. And it is, if it’s items that I would have otherwise bought at full price. Or at least items I need. However, it’s easy to buy more than you ordinarily would just because it’s cheap and that isn’t nearly as logical and can even be problematic if done regularly.
It’s interesting how small purchases seem affordable so they can trick us into ruining our budget.
Do you have any “cheap” but regular habits that add up? What tricks or advice do you have for avoiding that pitfall?
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Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
This post currently has 10 responses.
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Cynthia R
Soda/water prices are so expensive at a gas station. The only time we really get anything at a gas station is when we are traveling. Very very rare will we buy something when we are out and about our own town.
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Barrie
gas station food is outrageious! When we travel, we bring our own water, soda, and snacks so we don’t waste money at gas stations!
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Margot C
We really enforce this. We have a cooler, sometimes 2 in the car for long trips. If you didn’t put your favorite drink in there then tough luck!
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shannon fowler
I totally agree with this. I always pack snacks. another big pit fall for us is going to the amusement parks near us. Luckily disney allows outside food and drink.
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Angela Nichols
Oh yes, we definitely do not do gas station snacks. It may be convenient but it definitely isn’t cheap. $2.00 for a small bag of cheez-its? I can almost buy a whole box for that.
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Michelle S
This is so true – the prices for these items are outrageous. When we travel, we typically pack snacks and drinks so we aren’t tempted.
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ellen beck
Thrift shops are my downfall, but not as much as they used to be. Nowdays as I am trying to purge some things I really think twice. I do still buy some books there and flower pots if I need them but little else. I see people all the time at the gas station buying snacks.
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Peggy Nunn
It amazes me when I am paying for gas and several people in front of me have $20 of junk food each. I try to watch all my pennies and eat healthy. So this is just against what I think and makes me wonder about how they spend the rest of their money.
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Gas station are pretty spendy when it comes to snacks especially wish kids.me and the kids stay in the car .th a y way my husband doesn’t have to spend that extra money
This is such a great post, I have thought about this often as well! I have never been one to buy anything other than fuel at a gas station, but I have on occasion (road trips) and it’s ridiculous how much more money you can spend. I buy a case of sports drinks for the price of 2 small bottles of it at a gas station! It is definitely not worth it to me.