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?

Yes please! My assistant talked me out of a £700 robot vacuum… I still need talking out of fillers next month and not exactly a purchase but I quite want to adopt my one eyed foster cat 🐱 but I do have two already…

@Thingsthatgo don't do that lucky dip! I've seen the thread on it and...I'm not sure the word 'lucky' is what I'd use for those particular bags, but even if you like that style, people are not quite getting what they want, or getting one lucky, one other, then going back for more! It's madness. Go on Vinted to get the very specific thing you need in bag terms, either that brand or another, and bargain the shit out of it. I bet loads are turning up there after the (not so) lucky dip.

So, out of the three things, the only essential one is the one-eyed cat. Sorry!

Sorry! It looks like something out of a cheap cracker

@Buffypaws cats have an exemption, it's not possible to deinfluence sorry.

@Buffypaws you do have to adopt the cat, sorry!

Erm - the skirt looks a bit like the model is wearing a tea towel, IMO. That would be cheaper, too. 🤑More seriously, if you really like the design, could you get a seamstress to make it for you, and buy your own fabric?

I wish it was - I’d pay the fiver and wear it with pride, but (even if I had it spare) I know it’s not £1000 worth!

@Buffypaws just get the cat
@Lifeomars "like moles under the turf" is superb, bravo!

Don’t bother. It looks nice enough at first but within a day starts to look dull as well as peel and chip off. Also you can’t get the last quarter out of the bottle because the brush doesn’t go down low enough so that’s a waste of money.

Hi. Please Please talk me out of buying this gorgeous jumper! I have 30 jumpers and cc debt....but it's so lovely 😍

https://www.broraonline.com/uk/supersoft-lambswool-cable-jumper-cardamom-c4b129kt8552

I'm sorry, but to me you're looking at this backward.

It shouldn't be a matter of finding fault each item, but a matter of finding a genuine reason for the purchase: Is it unbelievably discounted? (For instance, a 90%-off sale.) Do I really need this? (For instance, I need these because I don't own rain boots.) Will it increase in value? (For instance, antique jewelry.) Is it an exceptionally beautiful design? Will I be able to use it for at least five years?

Seems like the easiest solution is to stop wasting time looking at ads.

@CoralTrout that is the colour of swamp mud

Also, Brora stuff is overpriced and the fabrics don't feel nice on your skin.

The reviews say it bobbles terribly-you could probably find very similar on Vinted

@Goldpanther I can think of 550 reasons not to buy that skirt!

My 11 year old keeps colouring in her fingernails with highlighter pen. Is it like that?

Ok well tbh I’m not surprised about the cat 😂

@CoralTrout the jumper is too long so that it would end just on the widest part of the hip. They’ve chosen a model with unusually narrow hips to disguise this.

@Buffypaws fillers make you look like an idiot who gets stuff put into their face.

But you can’t turn a cat out of your house.

Swamp mud! Bobbles!! Bad length!!! Thank you all. I just saw myself as Claudia in the Castle 🏰

3 things help me:

I only ever buy anything I would wear out of the changing room, would I walk out of the shop wearing it right now?

Everything I buy will end up dumped. Eventually. I remind myself that its the not the dumping of it that’s wrong, it’s the buying of it.

Lily and fox nail wraps are unbelievably cheap and I seem to get a fix of ‘buying shiny new things’ and optimism from buying some of those. I will use them, and they take weeks to arrive. So it staves off that hunger of wanting to buy something. (I realise on this thread that’s probably making the situation worse, telling you about a new thing to buy but if you can find something really cheap to get the fix, it can help)

@CoralTrout mmm yeah the jumper has a weird neck

Without the dior branding it would look like something tween girls buy in Claire’s accessories (but you could try manicurist active range for a much cheaper natural looking option)

I can’t imagine being influenced by a self appointed “influencer “ so that would be a reason for me.

I can’t imagine being influenced by a self appointed “influencer “ so that would be a reason for me.