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Original poster

What did you used to waste money on in the past and now find incredible?

146 replies

Fortunefavours1 · 19/12/2020 21:22

I'm trying to cut out unnecessary spending (have cut down massively already) and would really appreciate some inspiration.

My question is, are there things that you used to buy in the past that you wouldn't dream of now? In fact, things that now horrify you when you think of how much you spent over the years?

Mine are:

clothes, shoes

perfumes

crap from eBay cos it was so easy to PayPal and buy

Serving bowls (goodness knows why)

kid's toys

Toiletries. I could go on but will stop there.

What's yours?

OP posts:
2020hasbeenawful · 19/12/2020 23:20

Makeup - in my early twenties I would easily sink £100 odd whenever I went into Boots/Superdrug/Debenhams/Selfridges etc. Invariably it got lost, was the wrong shade when I got it home, just rotted away under my bed.

I must have spent thousands over the years.

Astella22 · 19/12/2020 23:22

Take away coffee 5 days a week- approx £800 per year
Take away dinner at least twice a week approx £2000
Gave up smoking roughly £1800

I’m Shock at the total - £4600 it’s the first time I’ve added it up and I believe I’ve been conservative. I don’t miss any of it, well maybe I miss the odd take away but we moved and nowhere deliveres to our area.

ClarenceBoddicker · 19/12/2020 23:35

You weren’t patronising. I can offer some examples the OP was initially expecting like daily coffees from Starbucks, Pret etc. There’s always ways to waste money by not making your own lunch etc. And poorer people don’t have that as an option. Makes me ashamed of myself snd my own prolificacy that there are things such as food banks around but suppose a lot us could cut out stupid spends but would have some sort of impact on the economy and not necessarily a good an impact as what some think it would do. One persons waste is another company’s profit and employees wages

Wendyhause · 19/12/2020 23:37

@FizzyPink

200 pairs of knickers Xmas Shock Were you addicted to buying them or something? And do you think you’ve actually worn every pair??
It was easy to accumulate so many. They include old ones I won't throw out. Thongs for trouser wearing then there are the bikini brief styles. Full knickers in cotton for every day wear. Not to mention the unmentionables (naughty ones for special occasions) plus the many MANY Primark 6 packs as they are so cheap. Silky ones, lace ones, I won't go on as you get the picture but it was easy to get to 200 pairs. Yes I may have worn every pair.
VictoriasCousin · 19/12/2020 23:41

I went through a phase of spending £10 every morning for a while, on 20 cigarettes which I only smoked about half of but shared around, a take away sandwich, crisps, chocolate, a couple of bottles of fizzy drink. Every day. That was before nails, sun beds, etc.
I used to get my hair blow dried 3x a week. I never washed it at home Blush I would go get it done after work so I didn't have to go home before going drinking!
I used to go stay with friends and instead of packing a bag I would just buy a bunch of stuff from primark or somewhere else cheap, and a set of cheap toiletries, toothbrush etc. After I became a mum, I went through old stuff and found so many toothbrushes it was unreal!

Xmasbaby11 · 19/12/2020 23:43

I used to spend a fortune on going out when I was younger especially when I lived in London. Not to mention clothes and makeup.

However I don't see it as a waste of money! It was part of being 25 and created so many memories. More memorable nights or days out than the last decade ,(I'm 44 now)

Wendyhause · 19/12/2020 23:47

@VictoriasCousin

I went through a phase of spending £10 every morning for a while, on 20 cigarettes which I only smoked about half of but shared around, a take away sandwich, crisps, chocolate, a couple of bottles of fizzy drink. Every day. That was before nails, sun beds, etc. I used to get my hair blow dried 3x a week. I never washed it at home Blush I would go get it done after work so I didn't have to go home before going drinking! I used to go stay with friends and instead of packing a bag I would just buy a bunch of stuff from primark or somewhere else cheap, and a set of cheap toiletries, toothbrush etc. After I became a mum, I went through old stuff and found so many toothbrushes it was unreal!
Wow you beat my knickers hands down! Shock
BuntysTwinkle · 19/12/2020 23:50

Perfumes and makeup. I bought into the "gurus" on YouTube showing off a new palette every week. I thought I needed a perfume for every mood, and a lipstick in every single shade. Of course most of it went off before I could even make a dent in using it.

And books. It's easy to not notice that £6.99 here and £5.99 there adds up to a lot of money. And I already owned so many I hadn't read.

Henrysmycat · 19/12/2020 23:55

Back in the day, Nicky Clarke haircuts every month. With highlights and assorted bits, it was £450 a month. We are talking 20 years ago.
I had plenty of disposable income. I was lucky to be young, with full healthy hair anyway. It was not the fancy shampoos and scissors, just genetics and youth.

thishouseisashittip · 20/12/2020 00:32

Nothing..... I have always been a tightarse 😂

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 20/12/2020 00:36

Hair cuts at the hairdressers. I bought a pair of hairdressing scissors in lockdown and now dh does it. I love him doing it, it feels very special 'coz he really tried to do a good job. I've taken to calling him Vidal 😂

PopsicleHustler · 20/12/2020 04:32

Candles

And clothes.

I have so many I dont have room for them. Have tried selling some on facebook.

I have an obsession with scented candles. But dont like to light them because they smell so gorgeous I dont want them to run out.lol. and yet I keep buying and dont use. Right down to even tealight ones. Smh

PandemicPalava · 20/12/2020 04:44

Alcohol 4 times a week on nights out and karaoke. Bloody brilliant times but I used to spend a fortune on shots!

Longdistance · 20/12/2020 04:54

In my 20’s I used to buy loads of clothes, shoes and handbags. That calmed down when I bought my first house. Going out loads. Buying the latest fragrances. Travelled loads.
I’m a complete hermit to my former self now. I’ve become very boring Blush

Original poster
Fortunefavours1 · 20/12/2020 13:52

@Thehogfatherstolemycurry I'm looking for good hairdressing scissors, any recommendations?

OP posts:
Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 20/12/2020 14:42

To be honest I just got some off Amazon with a decent review, they were only about £20 so not proper expensive ones.

Changethetoner · 20/12/2020 14:53

Before I had my DC, I used to spend silly money every month or so on those Beanie Bears. (still got them somewhere in a box).

HintOfVintagePink · 20/12/2020 14:57

Dior makeup. Masses of it. This was pre DC and I’d think nothing of getting primer, foundation, powder, blush, lash primer, mascara...the list goes on. I’d probably pop a bottle of Dior perfume in the basket too.
I now cannot imagine spending £25 on one lipstick, let alone £500+ in one drop.

MinnieJackson · 20/12/2020 15:36

Anything 3 for 2 at boots or you spend a certain amount and get a shit free gift

sofiaaaaaa · 20/12/2020 15:38

Makeup - I would buy every new release 🤮

Uber

Deliveroo/eating out in general

tectonicplates · 20/12/2020 15:50

Giving stuff away instead of selling it. I've been on Ebay for years, but a few years ago I decided I couldn't be bothered any more and gave a bag of clothes to charity, which I now regret. It just doesn't make sense to give stuff away for free when you get money for it. I now sell everything on Buy It Now and have a slow, constant turnover of stuff that sells. I make about £50 a month although it does vary.

tectonicplates · 20/12/2020 15:53

Pret A Manger. Shocked by how much money I used to spend. Totally stopped now that I'm at home all day.

Trendy gym classes. I realised I never fitted in there and didn't like it as much as I'd convinced myself. I have Jillian Michaels DVDs and there's endless free exercise videos on YouTube. I just pay my one yoga teacher now and that's it.

ZippedyDooDa · 20/12/2020 15:59

Clothes & footwear - used to buy so much, and so much has gone hardly or never worn - lots still with labels on - and now after having DC my body changed shape/size and even my feet went up a size permanently, who knew that might happen?
CDs - long ago
Coffees out
Lunches out
Books, magazines, newspapers

ZippedyDooDa · 20/12/2020 16:03

Oh yes, also makeup. I used to buy it frequently - again, so much has gone hardly or never used. Now i wear so little of it, i barely need to buy much

lazylinguist · 20/12/2020 16:04

Nothing much except going out and booze when younger really, but I'm not sure I can really count that as a waste of money- I had a great time!

I've never worked in a job where going out to get lunch or coffees was a thing really, so that's saved me money I guess. Never spent that much on clothes and make-up, and I twigged fairly early that high end lotions and potions are no better than their cheaper equivalent. Pleased to have that confirmed in the current AMA by someone who made them for a living!

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