Today’s economy doesn’t offer as much as it could, but it doesn’t mean you have to follow every single money-saving advice you find on the web.

In fact, some of them, like sleeping at the airport or separating the two-ply toilet paper, are simply crazy.

Below I examine some of the money saving tips that are less extraordinary and sound more reliable, when in reality, they’re simply ineffective and allow you to save up insignificant amounts of money.

Buy-One-Get-One Kind of Deal

Sometimes, buying one and getting other product for free or half price makes sense. If you’d like to stock up on something, feel free to go with it. Sadly, the BOGO is usually placed on products no one buys in bulk, like shoes.

If you find yourself considering the deal, think twice and ask yourself a question: Would I still buy this much of that item at this price? Do I really need another pair of shoes? Do I even like them or just taking them for the sake of saving money? Question yourself and you’ll never end up going home with things you don’t really need.

Going for the Cheapest Option

Now, you may think that in times of widespread financial crisis, choosing cheap things is a reasonable strategy. Well, you’re in for a surprise. Think about it in a long-term perspective – if you buy cheap shoes, chances are you’ll need to replace them after a month and spend money for shoes again.

In a short-term view, you do save money on buying cheap, low-quality items – but in the long run, the strategy is doomed to fail. Not only will you lose time going to buy them again and again in a never-ending cycle, but you’ll also spend money on gas.

The only time opting for cheap works is when you buy generic brands at the supermarket – more often than not, they’re the exact same products you find in the brand-name packaging (sometimes even made by the same producer). If you’re in doubt, simply read the ingredient list.

Lots of Food, Lots of Waste

There are people who believe that buying food in bulk will save them money. They’re right. The only problem is – who will eat all that food? People like that tend to throw away half of what they bought and that’s not only damaging to their wallets, but the environment as well. Food production is a complex process, which involves solutions that are far from being environmentally friendly (think transportation or soil fertilizers). Besides, throwing food away is simply a waste.

Going for an Old Vehicle

Buying a used car is not a bad idea – it just depends on how used we’re talking about. Before purchasing a car, it’s best to consult a mechanic who’ll be able to assess the car’s prospects.

Sometimes, worn-out cars are great for a few months and then they start to cause continuous problems. More often than not, with all that money you ended up spending on fixing it, you could have bought a shiny new vehicle.

About the author: Kelly Smith

Kelly Smith is a dedicated tutor and writer. Currently, she develops her passion at Career FAQs, one of the leading providers of career and educational resources in Australia, where she provides career advice for students and job seekers.