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?

I wear my scarves around the neck. This size is good to wear on the head and tied at the back of the neck in summer too. Gives the vibes of the 1950s tractor girl when worn this way but it’s cooler than a summer hat 😊.
@BreadstickBurglar has a point. The tiger does have the Shrek’s Puss in Boots expression, I can’t unsee this now.

Someone i knew bought one like this and returned it, I’d recommended the wool room as what I have, not thick and def no smell. Definite difference in brands.

Don’t fall for the influencer and instagram hype that it needs to be an expensive soluble drink. You can get magnesium supplement tablets for a very affordable price that are just as good (and tbh probably better) than the marketable drinks powder.

Oh no! Just as I was settling for brazil nuts!

I came here to see if anyone could help with my mild Temu addiction but this thread about £500 jumpers and £30 lipsticks is putting it into perspective. I'll show myself out.

very close to purchasing these £110 Keen trainers (no discount code, boo). I’ve got about 6 other pairs of trainers and don’t need these as well, but an influencer I like has them and they look cool?! 😅

www.keenfootwear.co.uk/products/womens-jasper-silver-mink

I’d like to put you off this but it’s really good and the bottle lasts ages. The consistency is like serum which works really well on my middle aged skin.

Do you have very short arms? It looks too short on the sleeve for the model. It makes it look so much cheaper than it is.

@CortieTat

This scarf reminds me of the type my Granny used to wear in the 1980s.

I hope this can help you with your mild Temu addiction: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-human-brain-may-contain-as-much-as-a-spoons-worth-of-microplastics-new-research-suggests-180985995/

The main source of microplastics is clothing, they are released mainly during the washing but also from friction while wearing. Most clothes on Temu and Shein are made entirely of or with lots of polyester/polyamide.

They look the furthest thing from cool it’s possible to be 😂. They remind me of these orthopaedic sandals that nannas used to wear in the 70s.

Love this. My deinfluencing advice is:

• Unsubscribe from all marketing emails and turn off shopping app notifications
• Avoid social media as much as possible (cos ads / influencers), only use it intentionally
• Don't go to the shops - real or online - for a browse
• Do grocery shopping online so you're not tempted by clothes / beauty / toiletries in store
• Don't ask stylish friends where they got stuff

In other words, dramatically decrease your exposure to new things.

You can't want stuff if you don't know it exists.

Il Mackiage

How can I possibly get the right colour when I can't go into the shop and test it. And yet... and yet...

Talk me down please.

MY EYES MY EYES 😂

I tried it. Sent it back as the colour was wrong.
Second bottle: better colour shading BUT really gloopy and looked caked on rather than natural

It's supposed to be horrible - really drying and cakey.

@Montysmoon - pale nubeck seems an odd choice if you are tempted to buy for practical/comfort reasons. You'll be forever cleaning.

https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/iphis-little-marlborough-tote-bag-000773727.html
I want this very much. It's a perfect size and shape and I love the design.
Please talk me down.

@FerriswheelsKissesandLilacs this thread is meant to be for all budgets and anyway small amounts of money spent here and there seems to add up surprisingly quickly. So please feel free to post anything you want to be talked out of buying. One of the items I mentioned in my OP was socks after all - overpriced ones granted but £25 not £500!

@DontKillSteve damn, in that case I'll be ordering it just as soon as I've used up my bottle of max factor

Here to help 😁

That yarn looks like roving. Roving absolutely will not last, it will fall apart the minute you wash it. For that price I'd want to look at it in person first at least.

Do you realise that alot if the stuff on Temu are cheap replicas of actual branded products, and not originals?

£450 for a linen cotton mix? Also looks a bit like Ms Marple's drawing room wallpaper.

I agree. Or dog walking shoes.