What stupid stuff do you waste money on?

[SammyTheDog]

For me it's candles, and clothes in Primark that I'll either never wear, or wear once and chuck in the charity bag. Or getting tipsy on a night out and ordering (and paying for) expensive shots for everyone. I often wonder how much money I'd have for my retirement if I didn't spend so much on crap. Anyone else do this?

@Sharontheodopolodous

Put the soap in all your drawers your clothes will smell amazing. And soap should cure for a year before you use it. Then it'll last a lot longer. So you'll have enough for 4 years!

Snacks i love trying new snacks!
Books
Bags i have about 50 loungeflys and 50+ other ones i just had to have, what makes it worse is i only use one, it brings me so much joy seeing my other ones though!

Buying lunch out on work days (4 days per week), the only meal I can enjoy in peace without my toddler throwing food on the floor.

Likewise treats from the French bakery next to my work and expensive ‘healthy’ chocolate.

Pre having DD I used to spend way too much on travel.

Home improvement projects

Me!!

I really think we need a Royal Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Plants.
Especially looking at you, my local Asda - if you’re going to sell plants, at least get someone to water the poor things!

I would say thank you so much, but also oh no I’m going to have to have a look at this now… grrrrr

Vinted and charity shop clothes... need to cut what I already have by half, but it's a vicious cycle! Combined with this, I have some beautiful clothes but not the lifestyle to wear them, but can't quite let them go 😫

Fabric for dressmaking
Fabric for upholstery

Ha, I just spotted this post following the completion of my purchase of Simple Human bin bags on Amazon. They’re so expensive for something that is literal waste but I hate bags that don’t fit the weird shaped bin properly. I’m the exact sucker these things are marketed to

Good for you.
I am amazed at some of the other posts.

Amazed at what people spend their own money on?

I am susceptible to the false promise of miracle hair products; I buy them and find they don't do anything marvellous, then they end up half-used and abandoned when the next supposed miracle comes along.

In my defence, I periodically decide enough is enough and make myself use them all up so I have six months where I don't buy any shampoo or conditioner.

B&M/Home Bargains. I need to stop going to those shops as suddenly cheap kitchen roll has ended up costing me £30 in other crap I didn't really need.

Temu! I was wasting hours of my evenings scrolling and buying rubbish. Parcels would turn up and I couldn't even remember ordering half the stuff. Total waste and terrible for the planet. Have deleted the app now.

I'm also guilty of getting a takeaway coffee every day. Another habit I keep meaning to curb and have bought flasks but they still sit unused in the cupboard.

In my 20s I used to spend a lot of money of makeup and skin care in Debenhams. I could afford it and racked up so much credit card debt. One day it really hit me how I didn't need it and I managed to go cold turkey on the expensive brands. Tend to stick to simple face washes and basic makeup from Superdrug rather than the Dior makeup obsession I used to have!

Books, either new ones using birthday/Christmas vouchers or more often than not from charity shops.
Charity shops, I cannot walk past one without a quick look, I have got slightly better at not buying things to slim into, but I have had so many great bargains over the years, only last week I got a gorgeous white company table cloth for £5.
Wine , I drink far too much of the stuff, going to give it a miss for a few months to try and break the habit, might need to buy some books to help ? Quit lit

I used to be a sucker for cleaning products, I now just use the M&S ones which smell lovely.

I'm the same 🫣

Growing up in poverty does that to you

I think it can also go the other way. I grew up poor, never enough to eat, freezing cold in winter, clothes were hand me downs etc.

I went the other way. For years I spent too much on food because having full food cupboards brought me so much joy. I revelled in buying myself brand new clothes. I bought myself "treats" because I could. I spent every penny I had because I didn't trust someone wasn't going to come and take it all away from me! (which I know sounds illogical but certain events in childhood gave me that fear).

It quite honestly took me decades to reach a more balanced view. I think either extreme isn't good.

Wine, whisky and cigarettes.

Beauty products / make up - I just love buying stuff like that and have a cupboard full . Stupidly I got lured into buying a glossy box a few months ago and so now that arrives once a month..

That's it though really. My justification is that I don't smoke or really drink so this is my treat!

Oh and Primark novelty socks...

@eggandchip when you say you’ve always been like that - literally always? Were your parents similar?

😂😂
My own large B&M seems to have really small width aisles crammed full.

You have to constantly stop for 'traffic jams/oncoming Trolleys'.
So you pass the moment by gazing at the shelf where you are stranded.

By the time you get to the Dog treats, your trolley is bulging with Rock salt/Corned beef/W7 make up, soap dispensers..Goodmans Electronics etc etc.. 😁

I'm pretty good now apart from buying stuff on vinted that ends up a disappointment. Can't be smug though as I used to smoke which is the biggest waste ever.

You made me giggle at the thought of a blanket ban. Hehe.

Takeaways probably.

I am semi cured of a book addiction

I have started reading them! Who knew 😁

Novels i pass on, reference i keep, usually
Graphic novels i keep they are artworks

There are spaces opening up on shelves

I mean i will buy new books, but i reckon i read 10 buy 1-3 which is a vast improvement