Do you end up spending more money when you are exhausted?

[Cheeble]

I was just watching a YouTube video on this: the so-called “Tired Tax”. Basically money you spend or lose not so much for convenience but because you’re f*cking tired. I suppose in some ways it’s related to the idea of the ADHD tax but it has more to do with exhaustion than being overwhelmed and forgetting.

I have unfortunately been very ill recently and have been guilty of a few of the classics:

• didn’t return some joggers I bought from H&M but look awful on me. Last year it was two pairs of sandals I bought for DD that she didn’t like.

• wasting food (I feel especially awful about this even though it was unavoidable), for example I was too ill to eat the ready-made salad I bought for myself; some cream went off before I could use it, likewise half a packet of grated cheese.

• I was overcharged by my phone company and haven’t had the mental (and often physical) energy to chase it up.

• Takeaways - we have had takeaways (fairly healthy ones) much more often lately because children need to be fed and I feel too nauseous or exhausted to cook.

Just to name a few examples!

Do you ever have this? What sorts of things have cost you money because you simply haven’t had the physical/mental energy to deal with them? It’s not so much “misery loves company” as that I’m curious!

I do actually 😬

Definitely. I buy my Dc ready made sandwiches or meal deals for lunch sometimes because I'm so tired and can't face making a packed lunch

Yes

usually takeaways but also coffee

Definitely.
Convenience/ busy life/ stress. All add up to spending more.
It takes energy to be frugal.

I don’t have that issue with coffee fortunately - I do sometimes buy it at the station but it’s more due to lack of time to make it at home than lack of energy IYSWIM. I do buy coffee when I’m out but as a treat that I enjoy.

Thankfully my DCs are old enough to make their own lunches now but I do remember what a struggle it was at certain times.

I find it really annoying as I absolutely hate waste and it’s not only such a waste of money chucking a lovely salad in the bin but it’s awful when so many people are going hungry.

(I’m not bothered about best before dates in general, but you have to be careful with fresh chopped veggies and I’m immunocompromised, so it’s better to be safe.)

No, I tend the other way. I retreat to my bed, don't spend anything, eat whatever is already in the cupboard no matter how unappetising and sleep.

After a couple of days I perk up and get back to normal.

Definitely. I’ve just bought some bits I needed from boots (where I don’t even have a points card) because I was too exhausted to traipse around the big Tesco next door to find what I needed.

But the worst is that we ended up in a higher council tax band because we got the letter days after DC1 was born and we were both overwhelmed and tired. By the time we remembered about it, it was too late to dispute it. We tried but I don’t think they even looked at it. We’re the only ones in this council tax band on a street of identical houses and it’s costing us about £500 extra per year.

Yes- I can’t stand food waste.
My family don’t seem to care as much - and it’s frustrating.
I think that “home economics “ ( not in the way we did at school- but running an household) are a skill, and it takes time and effort to run a house.

Not moved broadband even though it went up a lot in April I'm, not even sure if we are still in contract.
I regularly don't return stuff that doesn't fit/ didn't suit.
List stuff for sale and then can't be arsed to get it out when someone messages.
Lot's of takeaways and from the cheapest places/discounted places. They're usually not that nicest I just can't be bothered to cook and clean up or afford as many takeaways
Buying thing's I could get cheaper because I couldn't be bothered to go to another shop, or because I get points. The points/ cashback rarely mean I'm getting it cheaper.
Random buys of vinted/Amazon thinking they'll save me time/money they never do.

God, yes 😬 All of this except takeaways. I got around that by keeping a store of tinned curries and microwave rice! Would still cost a small fortune for a family, though.

I buy far too much stuff on a whim - have just narrowly avoided a yoghurt maker, inspired by reading a thread on here, but it's still in my Amazon basket. Then, as you said, I miss the return windows. I've got quite a pile of new clothes to be put on Ebay ... but haven't had the energy to do that either.

I'm a devil for forgetting washing in the machine, not having the energy or time to sort it, then wasting electricity, time and money rewashing it 🫪

Or using the dryer because somehow the day slips away and I miss the sunshine to hang it out.

And doing the world's most frugal online shop, then somehow spaffing thirty quid on utter overpriced shit at the corner shop 🫪

Couldn't agree more that this is a thing! Being frugal and smart with your money isn't rocket science on the whole, and in this day and age of everything being online it's easier than ever, but it still needs organisation, preparation and frankly energy. Not even in the ways that get talked about often on here like loads of takeaways or coffees out or whatever, it can be much smaller things but they do add up over time. For instance when on form I'm an avid meal planner and usually have a really good track on what fridge and pantry ingredients we have, stocking up when we can get to big supermarkets to buy in bulk or online or when there's an offer and cooking from scratch, batch cooking to fill the freezer - but if I'm run-down, tired or stressed about something else going on that will all go to shit, I won't think about dinner in advance or will forget key ingredients and end up resorting to expensive local shops for something easy (often unhealthy too), or worse the m&s food near work which is very expensive. If I have to take a DC with me to the shops on these emergency dashes it's so much harder to not give in to whinges for a small treat like a magazine or something.

Longer term if you are chronically exhausted or time poor it's hard to remember and summon the energy to shop around for best tariffs and deals on bills and to not let the insurances etc roll over (which always ends up costing more sometimes by hundreds and hundreds of pounds) and carefully searching and booking in advance for holidays and looking for free or cheap days out instead of last minute impulsively booking whatever will keep the kids quiet. It's not that people don't know you get get better deals with being more organised in advance, it's just lacking the headspace or the literal time to do it...

Also the other thing is when I'm exhausted I'm extremely prone to getting down in the dumps because I feel and look like shit and then wanting to buy myself a little treat or pick me up, e.g. the latest skin or hair care thing social media convinces me will solve all my problems or some new clothes or something - well news flash idiot, you feel and look like crap because you're knackered and stressed, not sleeping, eating rubbish and not looking after yourself in any way. Some snake oil off Insta or new lippie is at best a sticking plaster / placebo and at worst a total waste of £20, I know that if I can get a good sleep, eat some vegetables and get outside for a walk and/or call a friend I'll feel many times better for a fraction of the price but it's hard to convince yourself of that when the siren call of the dopamine hit of ordering something nice is ringing...

Yes this.

Just in the last few weeks:

Getting an uber because my schedule is so packed I haven’t got time to walk between appointments.

Visiting an out-of-network doctor not covered by my insurance and paying out of pocket because they are the only specialist with appointments in the very short window I have any availability.

Running out of time to return a dress and get a refund.

Firming up travel plans quite late and paying the associated mark-up on flights and hotels when booking last minute.