November 02, 2025

Greetings!

If you think you're saving money when you're really spending more, you're not alone. Many people fall into a trap called spaving.

Spaving may look like saving but actually costs you thousands over time. Thinking you're getting a deal is one thing.

Here are some real-world ways you might be letting savings slip through your fingers without realizing it and what to do instead.

Be Well,
Anisa

Please add anisa@gophercentral.com to your address book or visit here.

"Free Shipping" That Costs More

That tempting "Spend $75 more to get free shipping" offer? If you add $60 in extra items to save $10 on shipping, you've lost $50. That kind of decision repeated year after year can cost you thousands.

Or "free" shipping in general. Most of the time you are paying more for an item than the regular price.

Driving Out of Your Way to Save Pennies

If you spend twenty minutes driving to save ten cents a gallon in gas, you may burn more fuel getting there than you save. Time, wear and tear, your focus — all count. Smart saving includes opportunity cost.

Buying in Bulk When You Won't Use It

That "bulk discount" may look like a score. But if you let half of it spoil or go unused, you've wasted more. Back out what you'll actually use, not what the discount promises.

Investing Time But Not Results

Spending hours clipping coupons, chasing flash sales, or flipping through deals means nothing if you're still overspending overall. Real savings come from habits that stick and decisions aligned with your goals.

In Closing...

Saving money is not just about lower prices. It is about smarter choices, discipline, and focusing on what matters. If you avoid the spaving trap — buying more to save a little — your money can work for you instead of slipping away.

You Said It, We Saved It

From the 10/26 edition:

"I learned how to replace my dryer vent from a video and saved over $200. It was easier than I expected!" – Tom G.

"The Handy Hints newsletter taught me how to fix a wobbly chair instead of tossing it out. Now it’s good as new." – Carol D.

Note from Anisa: You can subscribe FREE to Handy Hints by visiting here

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