Why We Keep Buying Things We Barely Use
Most of us have spent money on something that seemed useful or oddly necessary in the moment, only to realize later that it mostly just collects dust in the corner. Sure, these purchases usually don't come with huge price tags on their own, but they do tend to add up over time the longer they sit unused. If you're looking to save yourself some extra cash, here are 20 items you should stop wasting your money on.
1. A Gym Membership
Unless you're hitting the gym every day and you're dedicated to getting some workout hours in, you should probably stop wasting money on a membership. If even that won't motivate you to exercise regularly, save your wallet the trouble and set simpler goals, like going for a 15-minute jog whenever you can.
2. Trendy Water Bottles You Don’t Need
A good reusable water bottle is useful, but buying every new oversized, color-coded, influencer-approved version is where things get wasteful. You probably already have several bottles at home, so stop getting another one in a different color or design. A simple, durable one is all you need.
3. Cheap Fast-Fashion Hauls
Fast-fashion pieces can feel like a bargain—that is, until they shrink, lose shape, and fall apart after a few wears. Sure, the low price makes it easy to justify buying more than you need, especially when trends change every few weeks, but you'll just end up with a closet full of clothes that don’t fit well and don’t last, and that's money down the drain.
4. Subscription Boxes Full of Random Products
Subscription boxes seem exciting to get, but they often send products you wouldn’t have chosen yourself. After a few months, you’re left with sample-size lotions, snacks, candles, or accessories that you won't use. The surprise factor can be fun, but it also makes it easier to ignore whether the items are actually useful.
BATCH by Wisconsin Hemp Scientific on Unsplash
5. Stuffed Toys
Unless you're buying it for your five-year-old niece or nephew, put the doll back on the shelf, please. One stuffy is enough for your bed; you don't need 20 of them. Plus, once they (inevitably) fall off your bed and get scruffed up or dirty, you'll toss them to the side, anyway.
6. Phone Cases
Phone cases protect your device, but you really only need one. Maybe two. But many people buy several because they want different colors to match their aesthetic, different designs to match the season, or different textures to suit their current obsession. The problem is that most of them end up being forgetten in a big bin once their novelty fades, or once you get a new device.
7. Exercise Equipment
If you won't spend money on a gym membership, is it better to purchase expensive equipment to create your own home gym? No. Again, workout spaces and gear can be great if you truly use it, but a lot of it becomes fancy decor after the first few weeks. Once your motivation dips or your routine changes, you'll forget all about those goals you set when hitting checkout.
8. Novelty Mugs
One funny mug is harmless, but a dozen of them is overkill. You really only need a few cups stocked in your cupboard, so stop collecting every character or slogan mug just because you think it would look great on a "Sunday chill vibes" Instagram picture.
9. Expensive Skincare Products
Skincare can be worthwhile, but many high-priced products don't actually do what they promise. A cream or serum that claims to transform your face overnight is usually leaning hard on marketing, so don't be so quick to buy into the hype. Oftentimes, drugstore versions can do the same thing or even better.
10. Scented Hand Creams
Hand creams keep your paws soft, but heavily scented ones (think "vanilla sugar cupcake") are likely filled with ingredients that do anything but. Sure, they might make your hands smell nice, but if you suffer with severe dryness, look elsewhere.
11. Overpriced Greeting Cards
Greeting cards can be thoughtful, but some can cost nearly as much as a small gift. It doesn't help, either, that many are read once, displayed briefly, then thrown away within weeks. A better alternative is to make your own with a personal note; this way, the card carries more meaning and actually comes from the heart.
12. Extra Cables and Chargers
It’s reasonable to have a spare charger, but you really don't need 20 of the same cable, especially if they're not compatible with most devices. It's nice to have a backup for your backup, though you'll likely realize the hard way that many extras often sit unused for years. Organizing what you have first can stop a lot of unnecessary spending.
13. Gimmicky Souvenirs
Souvenirs help you remember a trip, but once those good feelings fade, you'll probably wonder why you even bought them. Keychains, magnets, shot glasses, and novelty shirts are easy items to grab while traveling because they’re everywhere, though they're also things you can get anywhere. Photos on your phone, on the other hand, can keep those travel memories alive, and don't cost you anything (well, except maybe storage fees).
14. Junk Food
From soda to chips, your pantry is probably filled to the brim with ultra-processed foods that aren't good for you. And yet, every grocery trip you're back with more snacks and candies and chocolates, despite knowing that you're wasting money on treats that harm your body over time.
15. Reusable Bags
Oops, you forgot your reuseable bag at home. Okay, fine, you'll just get another one. Oops, you forgot them both at home. It's okay, you can just buy another one. Oops. See this loop? If you don't want your hard-earned cash to keep going towards reusable bags you don't need more of, make sure to always keep some in your car, and to bring them with you wherever you go, even if you think you won't need them.
Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
16. Cheap Jewelry That Tarnishes Quickly
Low-cost jewelry can be tempting to buy, especially when the pieces look shiny and stylish online or under store lighting. But once you get home, you'll quickly realize how fast they tarnish or break after a few wears. They may even irritate your skin. If you're into jewelry, save up and treat yourself to higher-quality pieces.
Nataliya Melnychuk on Unsplash
17. Apps Subscriptions
App subscriptions are easy to start and even easier to forget. A meditation app, photo editor, language tool, or premium game feature might seem inexpensive, but monthly charges can continue long after you stop using it. Many companies count on people not checking their subscriptions regularly, after all. To save yourself (and your wallet) the headache, make sure to review and cancel your subscriptions regularly. (For example, your Amazon Prime Subscribe & Save..)
18. Extra Phone Data
Trust us: unless you're working outside the office and you have no access to Wi-Fi, you probably don't need all that extra phone data you're paying more for every month. In fact, if you're introverted, work remotely, or you're just a homebody in general, you're most likely cooped up in your bed every day, anyway, which means all you really need is home Wi-Fi.
19. Decorative Throw Pillows You Never Use
Throw pillows can make your couch look more cozy, but too many of them become a daily inconvenience. Plus, they're often hard to wash (and some can't be washed at all), so that'll only add to the headache. While a few well-chosen pillows can work, a mountain of them usually just creates extra work—and eats your money away.
20. Extended Warranties
Extended warranties sound like good ideas until you're one year in and haven't cashed in on any of the benefits, and the warranty is ending in two months. Sure, you might think it's the better call when buying something expensive, like a laptop or phone, but if replacing the item would cost about the same as the warranty, you might want to redo the math. Many people also forget the terms, lose the receipt, or never file a claim, and all of that means wasted money.
