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De-influencing thread - reasons why NOT to buy things

1000 replies

Whowhatwerewolf · 28/01/2026 20:21

Like quite a few people on here I have been trying to reduce or eliminate buying new clothes or beauty treats in 2026. For the most part I've failed miserably but I'm going to keep trying. One thing that helps me greatly is being de-influenced from a purchase. Unfortunately I'm very easily influenced by advertisements but my saving grace is that I can be easily dissuaded from buying things also.

Recently two lovely posters (@Johanna and @Cortietat ) managed to stop me from buying overpriced Sweaty Betty pilates socks and a potentially somewhat wonky Eribé fair isle cardigan respectively by telling me what wasn't so great about these items. I'm so appreciative as this has saved me heaps of money. So I was wondering whether anyone else has anything they'd liked to be talked out of purchasing?

The idea is to post something on this thread that you're considering buying despite trying to save money via a no buy or low buy commitment or simply because you're not sure about a purchase. Other posters respond to say why you shouldn't buy. If anyone thinks what you're considering getting is the best thing since sliced bread and you should definitely proceed they keep quiet about it please as this isn't the thread for that.

So...is anyone in?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
36
Frumpitydoo · 29/01/2026 05:17

@Sixseventeen That's just straightup foul, sorry!

Frumpitydoo · 29/01/2026 05:20

@Snugglemonkey Home Bargains have magnesium bathsalts in huge bags for £4.99 and the sprays for £2.99.

I don't find the H&B tablets help my sleep and they are ££.

teambrief · 29/01/2026 06:02

Goldpanther · 28/01/2026 20:59

Please help me out!
https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/product/vivienne-westwood-tartan-side-panther-cotton-mini-skirtR04561980/#colour=MULTI

I am desperately in love with this skirt! I have so many tops it would go with, cardigans and I love the fabric.

I've been trying to deinfluence myself - I'm trying to lose the last bit of baby weight (what size would I buy?) and also I don't know when I would wear it. But I NEED it!

Edit to add - I can justify it because I haven't brought any new clothes for almost 2 years, and I know I would it would be loved and looked after for years

Edited

I am from Edinburgh. We have loads and loads of cheap, tartan tourist shops. You’d be cheaper flying here, seeking one out for £11.99 and having a nice day in the city rather than buy that.

ThePerfectWeekend · 29/01/2026 06:07

SlothSpiritAnimal · 28/01/2026 21:44

Ok please don’t hate me - it’s hideously expensive but I love this necklace so much, please talk me down!
https://uk.burberry.com/charm-necklace-p81169051

HRTFT but it's not even solid gold. The plate will wear off and the pendant at the front reminds me of those awful clown necklaces c2000.

De-influencing thread - reasons why NOT to buy things
Tillygan60 · 29/01/2026 06:14

Great thread!!

TreacheryTraitor · 29/01/2026 06:14

I am a similar age and build to Claudia (who wears this) and think I will be coveting this kilt till I die. Too expensive but…

De-influencing thread - reasons why NOT to buy things
SlothSpiritAnimal · 29/01/2026 06:24

TreacheryTraitor · 29/01/2026 06:14

I am a similar age and build to Claudia (who wears this) and think I will be coveting this kilt till I die. Too expensive but…

Edited

You can get similar from Vinted
www.vinted.co.uk/items/8041489686-size-8-midi-skirt-kilt-styling-new

shiverm · 29/01/2026 06:27

Spot on @ThePerfectWeekend
I remember girls in high school having gold clown necklaces. I didn’t get it then either. And def don’t buy expensive “designer” if somethings not actually gold, it’s resale value would plummet. If you really still want one @SlothSpiritAnimal , buy secondhand at the already plummeted value, best of both worlds!

Whowhatwerewolf · 29/01/2026 06:27

YourFairCyanReader · 28/01/2026 22:55

No you may not. First of all the delivery time is 8 weeks so it will be too warm to wear it when it finally arrives. Secondly why not just wear a black crew neck jumper with a white top underneath for the same effect? Both of which would be much more versatile than this

OP posts:
3luckystars · 29/01/2026 06:30

I cannot tell you how much I love this thread. So far I have wanted it all, and been talked out of it all in seconds. It’s astonishing and really opening my eyes to what an easy target I am.

Next time I want to buy anything, I will think ‘what would the Mumsnet Snag Panel say’ and will laugh instead of buying. Thank so much.

Its brilliant!

InventedthePostIt · 29/01/2026 06:47

I absolutely need the Haus Labs foundation and it will be the one that absolutely changes my life and covers my rosacea and lasts all day.

Right?

RonnieCharter · 29/01/2026 06:53

Snugglemonkey · 28/01/2026 21:37

Ok, I am being very tempted by wee sachets of a magnesium drink becsuse most adults are deficient in it and taking it will help me sleep better. Or it might be nonsense. Do I need to try these?

You should definitely take magnesium but get cheaper tablets, no need to expensive sachets

SlothSpiritAnimal · 29/01/2026 06:56

@InventedthePostIt I bought the HausLab lipsticks and they smear really badly and wear off

chipsticksmammy · 29/01/2026 07:05

Viviennemary · 29/01/2026 00:17

I want a nice handbag. Only because everyone whos agnyone on here seems to have a collection of mulberry bags. Not a mulberry (too dear) but one a bit cheaper under say £450. But I dont need to spend as much and I'm resisting it.

Mulberry is so 20 years ago.

Serafee · 29/01/2026 07:06

WaryHiker · 29/01/2026 04:11

My 7-year-old one worked perfectly. One of the best things I've ever bought! I haven't even got it out for a retouch in 3 or 4 years.

I’m not sure you have understood the assignment. Please go back and read the question and you can resit this exam at break.

chipsticksmammy · 29/01/2026 07:06

ThePerfectWeekend · 29/01/2026 06:07

HRTFT but it's not even solid gold. The plate will wear off and the pendant at the front reminds me of those awful clown necklaces c2000.

This was how you spotted chavs / neds at school

chipsticksmammy · 29/01/2026 07:07

TreacheryTraitor · 29/01/2026 06:14

I am a similar age and build to Claudia (who wears this) and think I will be coveting this kilt till I die. Too expensive but…

Edited

Just no.

Silvertulips · 29/01/2026 07:15

This was how you spotted chavs / neds at school What’s a NED?

Best advice I place stuff in a basket and then come off the site - then see if you can remember what you put in it - delete as necessary!

I am fed up of life changing items when I am a creature of habit.

Definatly need less not more!

modernfairies · 29/01/2026 07:15

Ihateslugs · 28/01/2026 22:50

I like the look of Unfolded dresses, they claim to be more environmental by only having items made once ordered so less waste although this adds to delivery times. There is one dress I was looking at but the reviews are not brilliant, referring to poor quality fabric and not true to size.There are of course loads of very positive reviews!

I wonder if anyone has actually ordered something from them, I particularly like the Camilla dress but they are quite pricy for my budget so would want them to be decent quality.

If you have bought something, are they true to size or do I need to buy a bigger size? I think I’d need a size 22, I’ve lost weight recently but have not yet bought new clothes!

i ordered a skirt and trousers from unfolded. The skirt was really sheer so had to be worn with a slip because otherwise my pants were clearly visible. It also didn’t wash well and ended its life with me in the ironing basket. The trousers were better but the sizing is not generous around the waist and very generous around the length so I had to breath in an take hems up.

They also took about 5 months to arrive.

venus7 · 29/01/2026 07:23

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 29/01/2026 04:10

Magnesium isn't a microorganism that will perish on contact with stomach acid, but an alkaline earth metal that you ingest as a salt (a chemical made of a metal and an anion). Some magnesium salts dissolve in water easily, others less so. The stomach acid is less important than you'd think: it's aqueous hydrogen chloride, and chlorine will bond more readily with hydrogen than with magnesium, so the magnesium will tend to stick with the anion it was bonded to when you bought it.

Of course; you're correct.

Placestogo · 29/01/2026 07:27

Loving this thread! Unfortunately i hae already bought some Korean jelly face cream which i would have likes to be talked out of!!! Same with curling irons!!!

supersop60 · 29/01/2026 07:30

Snugglemonkey · 28/01/2026 22:11

Thanks. I might need to look at sprays. I am a bit sceptical about how much you would absorb from a spray though.

Depends which one you get. I’ve got one with added Capsaicin which is a pain blocker. It really works, but wash your hands thoroughly!

ChopstickNovice · 29/01/2026 07:33

I am loving this thread.

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