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?

It requires delicate washing care (according to the 3 star review) and the style is very basic. There are much cheaper versions out there!

and it's hand wash only who can be arsed with that.

Only I was thinking a bit the opposite.

I was thinking back to when I was young and we all saved for every new item and I was contemplating the pressure, the pricings and the simple INNUNDATION of marketing pressure every time you log on or pick up your phone and was wondering what levels of credit card debt there are around now.

Frankly I think this thread is a good idea (though I still think OP is secretly hoping we are all unbridled in our assessments😉👹)

My husband didn’t shut the lid properly on the mocha pot on holiday. For the size of the pot the coffee travelled an amazingly long way around the kitchen and we lost a good hour of our holiday cleaning it up.

Didn’t work for me and found out it didn’t work for a lot of people until I had wasted a lot of money. Try a warm glass of oat milk.

DF was Royal Navy, so I dare the same since Trafalgar. 🙂

It’s literally a Christmas jumper. No.just no.

You're very welcome, @WeAreNewHere I'm finding it helpful too.

I found this review of the Liven app on Reddit which makes it sound kind of dodgy. I don't think it's necessarily a scam as such but perhaps not worth the time and money.

"Don't bother, it's a scam. Just left a TrustPilot review and thought I'd share here:

I purchased the 3-month plan in October 2023 as a one-off payment. Liven is a brand, 'Resolutty' is the company that took payment. The confirmation email had barely any detail and gave me very little confidence. Only at this point did I read multiple reviews saying it's a scam.

On payment you gain access to a pretty poor app with daily modules, each is approx a 1 minute read. TBF some of the info on procrastination and habits is quite valuable but it isn't substantial enough to warrant the price. Overall not particularly valuable. On the app your 'Profile' section has no details - only the ability to change email and password. No billing, no card details to edit/update.

I've just received a scam alert notification from my bank that an unrecognised payment of £99.99 was attempted on my account, and was blocked. My card was also blocked. On calling the bank, it turned out to be Resolutty. Since the 3 months are about to finish (but technically not until tomorrow 11/1/24), they've attempted to bill me again despite the initial purchase being a one-time payment.

Dodgy company. Poor app and product. Unsolicitated payment attempts. Basically just a funnel for taking payments. Don't bother, find a procrastination book."

The Fatface shirt and Mulberry bag are entirely the wrong shade of blue. Weak, unflattering to everyone, will look grubby in a nanosecond.

Absolutely don’t buy them, every time you look at it/them you’ll think ‘I wish it was a nicer shade of blue’.

😂😂😂😂

Chunky cardigans: yes the CC one too cropped but they all are!
Where does one find bum covering cardies that are not frumpy ( for want of a better word).

Clever marketing also targets health worries. Most adults are magnesium deficient? There's no evidence for that. Various studies indicated perhaps 20% of the population, but that's easily resolved by diet rather than expensive supplements. Leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, cocoa, fruit...loads of stuff contains magnesium.

thank you @Whowhatwerewolf - that's great insight and I appreciate your sharing it. Feeling the shopping impulses ebbing away now. Just need to get around to buying a book on procrastination 😆

I have a wool duvet. I like it, but I don't know that it's any better than the various polyester or feather ones I've had in the past. It also tends to lie on top of me, so if you want one that shapes itself around you in bed, then it's not a good buy and I'd think about a feather one (which will then need plumping up occasionally).

Thank you OP for that summary re: Liven app. I was "this close" to clicking the "buy" button because the ads spoke to me. hahaha - that's their goal.

Fortunately, I did a Reddit search on it which highlighted their scammy tactics and saved myself $$.

I actually love our wool duvet which we’ve had years from The Woolroom - I don’t know what brands you’re looking it but theirs is excellent. We got the all seasons one but only have the 200 on the bed in cold winter! We bought the package with pillows and mattress protector that was a waste as pillows and protector were too hot for me. You will still overheat though esp if anywhere near menopause. Maybe a natural cotton light duvet from JL would be better they’re cheaper and what we use in summer as wool is still too hot then.

No idea what a Moka is, so you definitely don’t need one.

You're welcome! I also looked at trust pilot and many of the reviews say things like "I've not started using it yet" or "it's too soon to tell." It looks like they're soliciting reviews from their subscribers as soon as they sign up and before they have time to realise they've been overcharged or haven't received a quality service. They'll be doing this to try to drown out all the negative reviews but if you filter by star rating you'll be able to read plenty!

Any UK based brand expecting you to wait 6-8 weeks for delivery is taking the piss. Also in 8 weeks time - Spring will be nearly here and you will have less use for a warm jumper.

I agree with you about the lip oil; it is the best. Could you request the varnish as a birthday present if someone asks you what you want? Or could you buy it from a shop where you have points or a discount?

I also like my wool duvet if you are sweaty under micro-fibre, which I always am, but I made my own for several years by putting a heavy wool blanket in a duvet cover. It all depends if you have the money. I think stopping sharing duvets (or even beds) with your partner is by far the best solution to lack of sleep, once we had two duvets, sleep was much easier when we weren't pulling the duvet off each other.

It's oddly baggy in placed and shapeless in others. Doesn't even flatter the model.

Please don't try them until you have looked at your overall diet. Having a handful of almonds and some cashew nuts might be all you need to supplement with and they have the benefit of adding protein. Or, how about a cheap, general multivitamin containing magnesium if you really need help with sleeping? Google ways to improve your sleep hygiene - things like having a wind-down routine, stop looking at screens and hour before bed, dimming the lights etc.

Please someone talk me out of this. Since watching the traitors I want a chunky knit cardigan!
https://hopemacaulay.com/collections/cardigans/products/nova-colossal-knit-cardigan

It would have to be glycinate or you'll probably just get diarrhoea but sachets are going to be ridiculously expensive compared to tablets.

I can see what you see in it, but at the same time it sort of reminds me of something a strong female character in a Guy Richie movie would wear... I think its the central figure of a knight in armour. It draws the eye and makes you wonder "what's that all about?" For the money I think you could do better.
Sorry x