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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:
ElliePhillips · 20/12/2020 16:05

Fashion magazines. In my defence I worked in magazine publishing but still, it was a massive waste of money.

IHaveBrilloHair · 20/12/2020 16:07

Magazines, mainly crampy gossip ones.
Sanitary products, I now have a vast array of different products, all reusable.

tectonicplates · 20/12/2020 16:09

To everyone who's still got loads of clothes and other stuff they regret buying - sell! If you feel you wasted money the first time around, don't waste money again by chucking stuff out. I firmly believe the vast majority of people have things they could sell if they had a proper clearout. Don't waste money again! Charity shops are already inundated with donations. They won't miss you.

MoltenLasagne · 20/12/2020 16:09

Since lockdown I've saved about £200 a month on petrol and £150 a month parking. Think I've managed to spend it all on on take out though as we now have it at least twice a week - I tell myself I'm supporting local businesses!

safariboot · 20/12/2020 16:12

Another for buying lunches from Greggs/Tesco/fast food/etc. That was 70 quid a month or more. Now I usually take a packed lunch. Still buy out sometimes but nowhere near every day.

tectonicplates · 20/12/2020 16:17

By the way if you still have a pile of old magazines lying around anywhere, they sell fairly well on Ebay too. And I read on a thread the other day that someone was selling her old collection of empty crisp packets from the 80s - I was amazed by the prices they go for. Sorry for multiple comments, but so many of us are sitting on stuff that we don't even realise is worth something.

cologne4711 · 20/12/2020 16:19

Expensive toiletries - I still buy Aveda shampoo but use Superdrug vitamin E moisturiser.

Magazines, I only subscribe to one a month now.

Buying bottles of fizzy mineral water to drink in work. The cost in £ and the plastic - I look back in horror on that now.

winemonster · 20/12/2020 16:19

Cocaine. Literally thousands. I look back to 20 years ago and just am so gobsmacked I was so very stupid Sad

Trailing1 · 20/12/2020 16:23

Make up
Shoes
Clothes
Handbags
Alcohol

longtompot · 20/12/2020 16:24

Smoking. So much wasted money and potential health issues for what?

Bloodyfrostycar · 20/12/2020 16:24

In my 20s

  • nights out that I didn't even really enjoy (£50-£100 per night for drinks/club/taxi)
  • clothes that I hardly ever wore
  • holidays that I pretended to enjoy because all my mates wanted that sort of holiday

In my 30s

  • crap but expensive sandwiches etc at lunch time at work
  • expensive presents for the DC that were played with only a couple of times
  • days out almost every Saturday and Sunday to 'make the most of my time off', when I think we would all really have enjoyed it more if we just stayed in
  • meals out every weekend
  • Relatively expensive but quite crap clothes/shoes for the DC because they were what 'everyone' was raving about

In my 40s I took a long hard look at life, switched a well paid but exhausting job for a lower paid but more family friendly job and cut back on loads of unnecessary spending. I kick myself that I didn't do it 15 years earlier!

Noshowlomo · 20/12/2020 16:25

Drugs- uni days, into the £1000s
Junk food, so much junk food
Shit sunglasses

Passmeabottlemrjones · 20/12/2020 16:25

Skincare and other general toiletries - I would stop by Boots after work and drop 50 quid on crap in there at least once a week! I have now figured out that most skincare is a con and I do still spend money on it, but I have a few bits that I just purchase again and again rather than buying every single new 'miracle product'.

Buying everything new, I buy loads of stuff second hand now.

Christmascrybaby · 20/12/2020 16:27

Audible subscription! My local library has so many audio books for free.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 20/12/2020 16:30

Alcohol, when I was an actively drinking alcoholic.
Cigarettes, years ago.
Having a half share in a boat. A hole in the water, into which you throw money, as they say.

Vieve1325 · 20/12/2020 16:38

Another one here who questions the sanity of having horses. Especially at the minute when there’s limited benefit to it.

Christmascrybaby · 20/12/2020 16:44

Razors, epilators, waxing over thirty years ...I have had my leg hair lasered this year and yes, it was expensive, but I wish I had done it years ago!

StoneofDestiny · 20/12/2020 16:53

Hard to say if it's a waste, but I do enjoy a takeaway coffee and regularly have them. Likewise clothes - I've too many, but enjoy wearing them and going out in them. Get gel nails regularly - but love them.

I balance it in my head that I dont buy makeup or expensive creams, don't smoke, not a heavy drinker and always look for sale bargains.

Plussizejumpsuit · 20/12/2020 16:57

[quote Fortunefavours1]@Plussizejumpsuit haha, I wish I could stop buying entirely! But no, I've cut down, massively, on everything, except stuff off ebay which is what I'm struggling with atm. It is stuff that's useful, or rather useable, but could do without just fine. I think it's just too easy that's my problem. Also now have ds who is loves looking for bargains on eBay...[/quote]
Ok! I was wondering if you'd cut out completely how you did it!

pilates · 20/12/2020 16:59

Cigarettes
Buying lunch in a sandwich shop every day

Charcutaria · 20/12/2020 17:04

Cigarettes. I managed to stop in 2019. I do use a vape but I was spending 157.50 per week, approximately 30 cigarettes per day. I now spend approximately £13.50 per week. It's quite a big saving, never mind how much better it is for my health.

Frouby · 20/12/2020 17:07

Horses too. Had 3 in full livery at one point, and oldest lawn mower had cushings and never worked a day in her life.

Dh spends an awful lot on our allotment, and currently spending around £10 a week for 15-18 eggs 😒.

Also when I was young, free and single alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. Just spend on alcohol now. And takeaway on a friday night, cos £30 for a meal for 2 is completely reasonable.

Come January tho, it's all going to be different. New year, new me obviously. Grin

AntiHop · 20/12/2020 17:07

Coffee. I can't believe how much I used to spend on take away coffee. Sometimes two a day. My aeropress has saved me a fortune.

CommanderBurnham · 20/12/2020 17:13

Coffees, fast food
Petrol when I could've walked
Gym fees to gyms I never went to. Never paying for a gym again
Direct debits for stuff I never use weightwatchers, etc
Repeat purchases of stuff that I've already got but had forgotten about/lost
Good intention buys - skincare, salad

However, this is the year of Making Do, and Using going really well and I've made some really nice, bigger purchases.

lljkk · 20/12/2020 17:37

Lunch foods from cafe or little shop near work. So much cheaper to bring lunch foods from home/supermarket.