to ask you what things people spend money on that you just don't understand?

[FeelinTwentySixPointTwo]

This isn't a judgey thread or a bashing thread. People are absolutely free to spend their money on whatever they choose. Horses for courses.

But that said.. what expensive things do you see other people spending their money on that you simply don't "get"?

Mine is personalised numberplates. Cannot compute why anyone would care what combo of numbers or letters is on their car.

Interested to see what others think!

Takeaways are the only break I get from seemingly endless meal planning and prepping (usually more than one meal due to a dietary intolerance and an autistic child with restricted eating). So I’m happy to spend money on them. I’d love more Botox as it made me look way less shit but can’t currently get it cos I’m on chemo. I’ve realised recently that most of my spending goes on anything that makes my life easier.

Prosecco/champagne
Caviar
Car number plates
Pre-chopped bags of veg as a regular purchase - so much cheaper to buy the unprepared version and take an extra 5 min
Designer clothes
Fancy haircuts (IE taking hours)
There will be many more 😂

I live quite simply and don’t judge what anyone spends their money on.
But I recently bought myself a mini convertible and a private plate out of redundancy money.
Many may view that as a waste but it makes me so happy!
and in 12 months there have only been a handful of days when I haven’t had the roof down at all - it’s all about wearing the right clothes 😂😂

Cleaning their house roof, unless there's some sort of issue that requires it

Cars.

I understand that if you're particularly wealthy and money is no object, you might drop £50k on a car. Drop in the ocean, why not.

But the amount of people I know with £30 or £40k brand new cars is huge. And these are people where I know what they do and more or less what they earn - so certainly not wealthy so I suspect financed. To me, the idea of paying finance or renting these expensive cars for £££ every month is even wilder to me, yet so many people do it.

I don't think I've ever owned a car worth more than £4k 😂 . My current car was bought for £3k cash, 2 years ago - a 2013 Zafira. Runs like a dream and it's in nice condition 🤷‍♀️ I just couldn't bear the thought of 'wasting' more than that on a car, there are so many more interesting things to spend money on!

They are absolutely fine.

Because you want a puppy and want to select a breed you know will fit your family.

I have a personalised plate. But not just of random words, numbers etc. it’s a very specific plate of which only a certain number were made and they accumulate in value. I get offers for it a lot. I paid £2k 6 years ago and was offered £12k recently for it. So to me it’s an investment.

Eating out, in somewhat overpriced restaurants just to be sociable.

Heaven forfend 🙈 🤣

Holidays
Weddings
Designer crossbreeds

If it makes people happy and they can afford it then why not - I love my Botox, nails and holidays but I don’t drink alcohol. Each to their own

Having your nails done regularly. I get them done for holidays and special occasions but paying for them every 3 weeks would sicken me, and I’m not exactly frugal.

Gambling.

New build houses.

The most up to date iPhone.

For me and DH we have always lived well within our means because we never want to take on too much debt so we always feel a little perplexed when people buy massive houses and fancy cars that they don't need. Obviously not knocking those that do, its a personal choice, but we have always preferred to have plenty of extra income each month to enjoy, go out, treat the kids, put into a pension than be worried about interest rates going up and not being able to afford the mortgage. Although I get that some people may be so wealthy they can do both, good for them 😂

We also never get Disneyland, Lapland or cruises. Our idea of hell!! 😆

Kitchen roll. I can’t understand why you spend money on something you immediately throw away, just use a tea towel, or a dishcloth, or a napkin, and then wash them.
I spent 5 minutes trying to think of an alternative to toilet roll, but that was a bit too grim.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506163557267?sort=relevance&searchId=6714a30e-da2e-4f43-86b9-f6d07ab2204a&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1&postcode=DE74%202UN&price-from=&price-to=500&fromsra

’spares or repairs’

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506304025327?sort=relevance&searchId=6714a30e-da2e-4f43-86b9-f6d07ab2204a&advertising-location=at_cars&page=1&postcode=DE74%202UN&price-from=&price-to=500&fromsra

’spares or repairs’

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507074241818?sort=relevance&searchId=6714a30e-da2e-4f43-86b9-f6d07ab2204a&advertising-location=at_cars&page=2&postcode=DE74%202UN&price-from=&price-to=500&fromsra

‘px to clear’

And they’re more expensive than your ‘few hundred pound’ budget.

i wouldn’t put my child in one!

Agree. Particularly when there are so many rescue dogs and cats desperate for homes. Pedigree Dog prices are especially ridiculous.

Bags of ice cubes from supermarkets.

I kind of get if you're in a hurry and your big party is this evening; but we have family who will buy a bag or two to keep ongoing in the freezer.

I know they don't cost a fortune, but if you have a tiny little bit of time, it's not a difficult recipe to follow

Old cars can be unsafe and also difficult to insure due to lack of availability of parts.
I, personally, would rather fork out more to know my children are in a reliable safe newer car.

I don’t understand spending money on football, Dubai, ugly looking dogs and new sofas. Who on earth is forking out 3 or 4k on a new sofa!? I’m glad they do so that they’re later available on Facebook marketplace but seriously how can anyone justify that!?

I'd always had rescue dogs but a couple of years ago I tried lots of rescue places to get another one but they wouldn't let me because I have young grandchildren who visit regularly. I suppose they have to guard against being sued if the dog injures a child. In the end I bought a puppy (and then a year later another one!) but my first choice was to have another rescue dog.

Spas and stuff like that, any sort of pampering and massaging, I don't even have my hair washed at the hairdressers, just have a dry cut

Labubu dolls. Literally can't make my brain understand it.

I was saying this to DH at the weekend - Havaianas!!

Flimsy, boring looking bland flip flops for £30?! My Primark ones cost a quid, look the same and have lasted me 3yrs so far! And when they do break I won't care cos they cost me virtually nothing

Magazines and comics. Different years ago when they were cheap things, but most seem to cost around a fiver nowadays. And they're mostly full of crap.
We got about five or six comics a week when we were children and I think they cost about 8p, 10p each, and were full of stories and actually kept us amused, but they're so rubbish now. Parents now are being royally ripped off.

I can’t really think of anything because I think people have different priorities. I might not buy a takeaway every day but I can understand why people would. I might not fancy a tattoo but they make people happy.

Brand new cars or a lease car
Branded groceries