Have you ever thought about what you are actually paying for when you purchase certain items? Some products are actually incredibly overpriced. There are valid reasons, while most price jumps are just scams. Here’s a list of items you should avoid when you are out.
Bottled Water
Bottled water is an incredible rip off for any consumer. Companies are taking one of free and plentiful sources and gaining a profit. All this profit results in plastic bottles filling our land-fills. You could be paying $1 up to $5 for a bottle of water. Depending on where you are can impact the price. If you are at an amusement park or MLB game, don’t expect to pay any less than $4.
Save yourself money by bringing your own water bottle places. You may not be able to bring into public events, but it will save you money just going out and doing shopping errands. A reusable water bottle can vary in price, but find one that suits you best.
5-Hour Energy
5-Hour energy may perk you up, but it will definitely make a hole in your wallet. 5-Hour energy runs around $3 or $4 a bottle. It only contains caffeine, but a coffee actually contains more caffeine than the small shot. Depending on where you get your coffee (or if you make it yourself), you can save a ton of cash. 5-Hour Energy boasts about keeping you slim with the few calories it has, but a plain coffee virtually as none. So if you’re looking to stay awake, either get more sleep or get a cup of Joe.
Prepared Fruits and Veggies
Sometimes buying and cutting vegetables and fruit may seem too time consuming. You may reconsider the cost of your time after you realize how much you are overpaying for pre-cut produce. On average you will be paying 40% more for them because someone else had to do the dirty work for you. You can spare yourself fifteen minutes to wash and cut your own food at almost half the cost.
Movie Theater Concession Food
The movie theater offers the biggest rip-off for food. It is also their biggest money-maker, in order to sell movie tickets at a low(er) price. The theater also has to pay its employees. Their food is marked up 400% and you could spend a fortune on food. Bring a purse, and stash food in it. It’s not necessarily ethical, but it can save you money.
Ashleigh Murray is a blogs about frugal living. She’s been working to eliminate most of her debt simply by changing her lifestyle choices. She follows sales and has received advice on credit repair.
