De-influencing thread - reasons why NOT to buy things

[Whowhatwerewolf]

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?

@Pigtailsandall I bought a very similar coat on Vinted for £30 - it was Massimo Dutti and a slightly nicer colour but the same cut. I ended up selling it on immediately as it made me look like I was wearing a bathrobe. So if you must have one get one second hand as there will be a lot of people like me who fell for the carefully posed photos of tall thin gorgeous models in those types of coats when the reality is very different.

I disagree - it is a brilliant thread. I especially love that the one thing all posters can get behind is keeping a one-eyed cat

I never understand why people say this.

There are many, many things I would never pay full price for. I love them, but they are too expensive and / or I cannot afford them. I will consciously take advantage of the sale price to get an item I really want, at a price I can afford.

It doesn't just work for me with expensive items - recently, in the Zara very-end-of-sale period, I got a great pair of jeans for €22 and a lovely perfect navy jumper that will work so well for me for €29. Neither would have been particularly expensive, even full price, but I would have hesitated to get the jeans at the original price, and the jumper, as they are more 'fashion' items e.g. the jeans are sort-of barrel style but with tapered ends, jumper chunky with additional ruffles front/side. I'd be worried the trend would pass and I haven't worn them enough - at a cheaper price, I'm happy to take the chance (as it happens, I love them both and am getting so much wear out of them, they have been super purchases!)

It looks like school uniform.

Agreed, some of the advice on here is gold.

It also shows me how easily I am influenced.

I'm standing strong this year, I have a wardrobe of nice clothes, all the toiletries I need for a few months, and just need to get on with life instead of holding out for the next product that's going to fundamentally change me, my hair, or my jowls!

Correct!

And magnesium supplements help many many people, especially menopausal / peri-menopausal women, to sleep much more soundly.

I agree.

It's very useful to have an opportunity for people to put the 'other side' about why not to purchase something; but some replies are quite horrible and actually a bit silly.

Some of the suggested purchases make a lot of sense and don't need to be rubbished, just because.

Thank you @Whowhatwerewolf - that's what I needed to hear. I'm getting much better at checking TrustPilot and trying to find scientific reviews, but the bombarding of ads is relentless!

Pleaseee deinfluence me from a White Company dressing gown. I love this one and there is one in stock in my local store: www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Unisex-Organic-Cotton-Hooded-Ribbed-Hydrocotton-Robe/p/A16643?swatch=Blush

How tall are you? They run very long and quite on the large side.
Not that that completely dissuades you, but try on the one you think you might want and maybe you will look as if it's engulfed you in an elephant trap when you look in the mirror.

Surely the point is that the people putting them on here have either debt or don't want to constantly buy things, so by thinking of the downside, they are (humorously mostly) getting put off doing so.

If this was a thread called: give me a realistic perspective on the AirWrap, or Vivienne Westwood clothes, it would be different.

What it's showing is that what we think we 'need' and imagine would make our lives better is often not all that!

Oh that's helpful to know!

I'm 5'1 so very petite! I did think it looked long on the model. However I don't really care how it looks as long as I feel snuggly (and it's not getting under my feet when I walk).

Oh gosh, I am a bit taller than you... the robes did indeed go under my feet and on the floor - I worked there for a while and can now fold wrestle them into near-cubes tied with their own belt, due to the amount of fabric in them!

I don’t see this as being rude so much as opting into a different kind of conversation. The whole point of the thread is that people only post items if they actively want to be talked out of buying them. No one is being targeted or criticised for their tastes. But humour and poking fun at things are a very effective antidote to marketing BS in my view.

We’re constantly surrounded by marketing and influencer content encouraging us (often women in particular) to spend money on things we don’t really need, so it feels useful to have a space that deliberately does the opposite and points out the downsides instead.

A lot of the replies are light-hearted, and I don’t think anyone’s taking it too seriously. It’s not about saying an item is “bad” — just offering the side of the story that brands and adverts don’t tell you. If someone still wants the thing after that, they’re absolutely free to buy it.

To me it's about being cruel to be kind. Hopefully we won't single-handedly crash the economy as fashion and beauty spending grinds to a halt!

I love my Currant Body skin mask.

Ah no this is different, a full price item you love bought in the sale is totally ok. An item found in the sale, thought to be a bargain, is not.

Honestly - you could make that for about £30 -£40 even with quality fabric. It is very easy to make. I think looking at picture the fabric on side where it is gathered is longer than other side - to allow for gathering. Can you sew? You could get a dress maker to make it for you too. You could make it up first using a dress pattern for a simple skirt and then adapting it - and/ or make it up first using cheap cotton as a template.

This jumper:
https://www.secretsales.com/df12448cdfed59-river-island-river-island-womens-jumper-nephthys-green-bow-christmas-colour-green/

It looks like the kind of cute vintage jumper that never actually comes in my size, but it's also made of that weird sort of fluffy compressed fabric that places like Shein use, is it likely to fall apart in the wash?

Thank you for creating this thread @Whowhatwerewolf - it's very helpful to me. Here's another one that I'd love to know about - the Liven app. Apparently it will fix everything...

It's quite cheap looking. Whats the point of buying someting expensive if everybody is going to think you bought it from Temu.

It's a £29 clearish varnish. Do you not have Superdrug where you live?

Expensive nail varnish made by fashion brands, as opposed to cheapo varnish or varnishes made by actual nail brands, is often crap anyway.

@WaitForMRI that jacket is giving me pure Roy Cropper

This is another one where your bum will be freezing …….

I’ve got the predecessor of that jacket. It’s a very light sling on thing for cool days - I actually bought mine in June. It’s not intended for freezing weather.