what did you used to buy that you now realise is a waste of money?

[overdrawn]

I’m trying to sort out a credit card debt and reduce my spending so wanted to ask what are things you used to spend money on that you’ve realised aren’t worth it?

For some reason, I used to buy the expensive Brabantia bin bags (I have no idea why!) and a few months ago realised it was a complete waste of money and now buy regular black bin bags.

I also bought a home gel nails kit and do my own manicures / pedicures (I did lots of research and bought a good brand, and follow all the advice) They look just as good (if not better) than what I was getting in an average salon and the cost per manicure is much less.

As in: someone could use it fine multiple times and then one time they could have a crazy reaction to it and it would be the same every time they used it.

I would do a patch test like I do for every hair dye

Every time before you use it? Because that's my point. You could be fine using it 10 times then the 11th time you may have a huge reaction.

In fact after reading this there is no way on hell I'd be using henna and especially not bought from Amazon..

Government guidance on henna

Cite? I've never seen any reports of people having allergic reactions to actual henna or actual indigo. I've heard of people having adverse reactions to some synthetic crap with the brand name "black henna" which is not related at all to the plant.

Did you read the article? Workers got irritated lungs from inhaling the dust as they were processing it. When you use henna you're not inhaling it are you. The only toxic material found was from other additives. I mean, don't use henna if you don't want to, more for me, but the henna panic isn't needed.

You're using henna powder aren't you? So when you mix it you'll be inhaling it.
And it's a sensitiser so it can cause allergic reactions even if you've safely used it previously.
I personally wouldn't risk it.

And it's not "panic" it's "awareness".

You can keep saying "sensitiser" but that doesn't make it mean anything scientific. Mixing a spoonful of powdered leaf into a bowl is nothing like working in a processing plant. But you do you, leave more for me.

@Coffeetree , it's well known that black henna can cause reactions.

Here is the definition of sensitiser:
Sensitisers are substances which can cause sensitisation in the lungs (respiratory sensitisers) and/or skin (skin sensitisers) after exposure to them. Once sensitised, individuals can have sever reactions to further exposure, even in small amounts

Henna is a sensitiser. That is scientific. In fact is was my analytical chemist (scientist) husband who told me about it in the first place. Jeez. I get it, you like Henna. Keep using it and hopefully you won't have a reaction..

Yes. Of course every time that’s the point of doing patch tests.

You can suddenly become allergic to any hair dye, not just henna!

I've gone back to plucking my own brows (although not as manically as I did in the 90s 🤣) and painting my own nails rather than gel polish. The beauty industry has blown up out of all proportion and costs a fortune imo.

Nail wraps are the way forward...especially at £2.99 a set!

Yes but "black henna" isn't actually natural henna powder nor is it indigo powder, it's synthetic crap which people have called "black henna".

@Hungrycaterpillarsmummy Most plant powders will be a "sensitiser" in industrial contexts, including coffee and flour, which you can see from reading (no matter what your husband says).

I sound like I'm a shill for henna but I just have a bugbear against people wilfully misunderstanding public health data.

@Coffeetree , I am aware that it isn't the same as regular henna, and as another pp all hair dyes can cause allergies. If you get on ok with henna then use it.
You have put me off it completely,

Pure henna allergy is rare, black 'henna' allergy is actually due to PPD, which is also in most boxed hair dyes, so it's presumably just as common as a reaction to normal dye. However. I think when people think of henna allergies they think of the reaction to the tattoos, which can cause horrible burns and scars etc. But I'd guess this is because it's left directly on the skin for a long period of time, compared to hair dye.

I wouldn't use a pre-mixed henna as I'd imagine they're not strictly regulated like your big brand box dyes and who knows what's in them, but pure henna is safer then 'normal' dye (from an allergen pov)

I've only ever heard of reactions to "henna tatoos" using "black henna" which is PPD. Never heard of allergic reactions to henna or indigo paste on skin.

Make up and getting my hair coloured. Very liberating to not worry about either

All cleaning products can be replaced by white spirit vinegar. A large container lasts me ages 50/50 with water. Also I use it as clothes conditioner and it keeps my machine cleaner too instead of that foul fatty grot in the drawer. As a furniture polish it's fine. Citric acid is great for the loo.

We've never had any problem claiming on the insurance for our cats. Had one bill over £4,000 when he was about 2 (hit by a car) and then another £1,500 the next year. I worked out we'd need to save the monthly premium for over 33 years to cover the bill!

You were lucky. We rescued our boxer at a year old and insured her straight away. When she needed mastectomy and hysterectomy a year later they wouldn't pay as they said it was a preexisting condition.

Total detail but your boxer had a mastectomy? I’ve never heard of that. Was she OK after surgery?

Yes it's a bit unusual alright! She had some reproductive issues that caused two of her breasts to swell and fill with fluid when she went into heat. They removed the excess fluid and tissues from both breasts and also removed her womb. She was great afterwards. Took a couple of weeks to recover and had a huge scar, but she lived to the ripe old age of 13. We lost her due to heart issues in the end. She was the best of dogs. She's been gone for 6 years and I still miss her happy little soul.