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.

I buy the ready made tubes from Amazon, no particular brand.

They are supposed to be used for tattoos but are fine for hair and far less mess that the power which I used to use.

I have quite short hair and use about 5 little tubes per time.

A storage unit. (Well, to be honest, we're still paying until the end of this month).

Adopted some (horribly many) years ago in a rush when we had to clear the house for builders. Anyone remember that sketch about the freezer of doom, where you dreaded finding out what was actually in there? It's been horribly like that. Apparently I have been paying to store baked beans and a whole unit (6 jars) of El Paso salsa, among other things. I have no recollection of the latter ever being in my life.

Among other comedy discoveries in this story was the fact that moving to a smaller unit will cost us MORE than the iniquitous £2k a year they were now proposing to charge us - apparently we were saving loads of money by being long standing customers.

@Raggammuffin I cringe to think how much I've spent on makeup over the years... it would all come in handy right about now, and I don't exactly have anything to show for the makeup I bought with the money!

If it makes you feel better, that is the standard MO in Germany. If you have a 3.50 euro coffee, you pay 4 euros, but if you're paying 152 euros you just say 160. I did very well from waitressing in the holidays.

@Trisolaris Is Henna good coverage for greys though ?

@overdrawn

YY to the moka pot. If you see coffee on sale, buy two. It keeps in the freezer. Don't forget you have it!!

Take the time to make a thorough list before you go shopping, if you go in person to the supermarket. Never attempt to wing it.

Which toothpaste please?

I agree with the PP who said mouthwash actually (unless you have gum issues like another PP pointed out). I finally invested in a good electric toothbrush and now don't need to buy all the other dental stuff I was buying.

A cup of tea at a coffee shop! It’s just a teabag water and a bit of milk but the price is almost as high as a fancy coffee. I don’t like coffee so my options are now limited 😅

Highest TV subscription where I have barely watched any of those channels anymore. It seems I am mostly using streaming services lately and at a fraction of the cost of the TV originally sold by our local telco. Bye Bye TV Subscription :).

Takeaways
Lunches
New cars
Gym membership and classes , I run instead
Flowers
Eating out in restaurants
Expensive make up
Magazines
Non essential clothes (not perfect on this)
Coffee from Starbucks etc. It's a rare treat not an essential.

WFH really helps with the food and takeaways,no commute, much less need for expensive clothes and I have more time to exercise cheaply plus shower here before work.

I can't believe I used to buy that fragrant water that you can put in your iron. For years. Also nappy bins. My goodness the refills were extortionate.

Handbags. Barely use them now I use Apple Pay & an app for store cards.

Phone / keys / tissue / shopping bag. My life is so exciting.

Ridiculously overpriced Farrow and Ball paint which can be colour matched at B&Q for a fraction of the price.

New clothes. I started buying clothes in charity shops but snobbishly only those that were designer brands or couture. My wardrobe now is better than before as I live / work near wealthy areas. Never thought I'd one day own Prada, Dior or Chanel. I tend to look for classic pieces rather than fashion ones. I'm 56, so although my tweed Chanel suit looks dated, I feel as I'm old it is excuseable. I love vintage chiffon dresses as well. Anything black or Navy.

I entertain a lot and have started buying supermarket brand vodka & rum and decanting it into my Smirnoff and Flor de Cana bottles. I'm still waiting for someone to notice and ask me about it...

Candles - I had so many at one point, stored in a sideboard, couldn't fit anything else in. I'd clean the woodwork weekly and it was covered in soot 😂
Tools - that was the ex really. 1000s worth, half I gave away
Bath bombs- £5 per bath, two sometimes three times a week. Madness.
Takeaways- I dread to think how much has been spent over the years. I only gave them up around 2 months ago.
TV/movie subscriptions
Bus fare
Hair dye

Vitamins / nutritional supplements.

They're one of millions of chemicals you get from the actual food source and study after study shows that they're not utilised in the same way when isolated. Some of the vitamin B supplements are actually potentially harmful as shown in some fairly rigorous studies (long term data shows increased risk of heart disease after obvious health factors are accounted for).

Lush bath bombs.
They used to be (somewhat) affordable at £3 ish each or thereabouts, they are now astronomical at about £6 average and some even £7 or £8.

It's LITERALLY money down the drain.

It's a shame because no other brand seems to smell as nice with the range of scents. I like them but there is no way I'm spending about £6 per bath to literally flush money down the plughole.

I now buy a litre bottle of sweet almond oil on Amazon, add a few drops of essential oil (orange or lavender etc) and use this in the bath. Just as nice (well, almost) and very cheap.

Same here. It's been a revelation. I had to try a few brands to find the ones I liked/worked the best. I'm using Dr Beckmann.

Never go shopping on an empty stomach, particularly for food.

This is good to know! I'll look into it

Subscriptions. I used to have a beauty one and a perfume one and just ended up accumulating things I didn't use often. Better to spend the money on items I like. Only subscription is Netflix.

BT TV or Sky - just basic free view now and we use the Smart TV app to watch I player and Netflix.

Nails and eyelashes. Nice to have but really adds up.

I entertain a lot and have started buying supermarket brand vodka & rum and decanting it into my Smirnoff and Flor de Cana bottles. I'm still waiting for someone to notice and ask me about it...

@Charlize43 I would definitely notice this but wouldn't dream of saying anything! Just as a heads up... your guests are probably polite! ;)

I used the buy the fragrant water too because we have awfully hard water. Until I realised I could just buy bottled water in it.

Fancy colourful underwear. Now all my underwear is plain and black, and I wear bralets rather than damned underwire itchy lacy bras. Also, I always buy in sales/on offer.

Jackienory please don't give up union subs, you nevrer know when you might need them to have your back and provide legal support.