Nowadays money is tight for everyone. Between the stagnation of wages over the last twenty years, rampant student debt, and the unemployment rate that is consistently on the rise, few of us have money to spare and often have to resort to things like an auto title loan. Thankfully, obtaining an auto title loan is easy thanks to the Illinois Title Loan application process that is easy And to Americans’ credit, we’ve responded by trying to save money anywhere we can.

But unfortunately, sometimes in our zeal to save money, we end up costing ourselves more in the long-term. But that would never happen to you, right? Not so fast! It can be hard to know when you’ve fallen into this trap, but here are 3 ways it can happen.

Sales Tempt You To Buy What You Don’t Need

Sales are thought of to save you money; after all, they’re a dip in an item’s normal cost. Two for one BOGO sales always seem like a good idea because it means you’re getting one for free, but they're often on products that aren't always going to be necessary. In many cases, they might even be close to their expiration date and the stores are trying to get the items of the shelves as quickly as possible. While not true for every BOGO sale you come across, it's always important to ask yourself: do I really need this? Or am I attracted to the sale? It's true that sales can save you money, never forget that brands and stores will never offer one where they lose out.

The main way they make sure that never happens? While you would save money by buying something you’d normally buy when it’s on sale, often what actually happens is that you’ll buy something you don’t normally buy because it’s on sale. You may feel like you’re outsmarting the store, but they use sales to draw your eye, knowing you’ll most likely end up buying something else not on sale in the same aisle. 

Skimping on Food Causes You to Eat Out More

A lot of the time when we’re trying to save money the biggest way we do it is by simply scaling back how much we’re buying. And while it’s admirable to cut where we can, it can leave you midweek without any food in the house. And when that happens you’re more likely to go and eat fast food then go to the store.

While a quick burger from the dollar menu can seem cheap, those dollars can add up quickly. Because of the overhead of running a restaurant food from there will always cost more than a comparable meal made from scratch. It’s also worth pointing out that fast food is so unhealthy that every time you eat it, you’re making likely to develop heart disease or obesity later in life which will cost you thousands in health costs.

So don't be afraid to create a shopping list that has a few items on it. It might look like you're spending more money upfront, but more money spent now might save you a few dollars in the future. Just be careful about what you buy! 

 

You Miss Out on Buying in Bulk

Because of economies of scale, stores are often able to offer goods cheaper if you buy more at once. For example, buying one egg will always be more expensive than buying twelve in a carton. And while some goods like eggs can’t be store for long periods of time, others can last indefinitely and are always in need: salt, toilet paper, or soap, to name a few. Those are the kinds of things that are worth buying in bulk, as in the long term it’ll be more expensive to buy them a week at a time. 

How Title Loans Can Help

If you find yourself unable to afford a grocery trip (or a trip out to your local restaurant!) title loans are an option that will allow you to stock up on what you need from the grocery store. What's even better about these fast loans is that they can be obtained at the drop of a hat, as the application can take you as little as 30 minutes to finish. Check out our How It Works page for more information. We serve several locations throughout the state of Illinois and we're always here to help ensure that you don't go hungry. 

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.