12 Dumbest Purchases You’ll Ever Make

In our modern world, there is no shortage of “stuff” to spend money on.

Some purchases are game-changing, useful innovations that improve your life and offer tangible value to your daily routine. Other purchases are quite the opposite.

In this article, we’re taking a look at 12 items that are widely considered to be a complete waste of money. Read on to learn which items NOT to buy so you don’t have to learn the hard way!

1. Fast Fashion

ecstatic woman in dress standing inside wardrobe rack
Image Credit: Vadymvdrobot via DepositPhotos.com.

Seeing an ad for a shirt that is only five dollars can certainly be quite tempting. However, when it comes to clothing, if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Items that are mass-produced at extremely low costs are not built to last. They are not sustainable investments that you can wear again and again over the years. In many cases, you might only wear your new item once before it gets banished eternally to the back of your closet.

2. New Phones

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Image Credit: Jacob Lund/Shutterstock.

It seems like a new and improved phone model is coming out every other week. The entire Internet begins to buzz during these releases, with netizens sharing their excitement over the potential features and additions.

But when people scrap or trade in their current phone to get the newest, shiniest gadget, they often regret it. Their original phone could have served them well for many years and been a wise long-term investment.

Plus, whatever tech specs the new phone offers will likely be marginally better than the previous model.

3. Watering the Lawn

golf ball on grass with golf driver
Image Credit: Mr.Somchai Sukkasem/Shutterstock.

Perfectly green, manicured lawns are definitely a trendy staple for the ideal family home.

However, when you really stop to think about it, all the effort that goes into meticulously maintaining your greenery doesn’t really provide much payoff. If you live in a moist, tropical climate, nature might do the work for you so you can enjoy a lush lawn without shoveling over bags of money for constant watering.

But if you live in a dry, arid place, it might be best just to leave your lawn be.

4. Satellite TV

man watching TV on couch.
Image Credit: Cast Of Thousands/Shutterstock.

Paying hefty sums of money just to get saddled with a million channels you never want to watch? No thanks. Today, subscribing to one or two good streaming services that have your favorite shows is the smarter idea.

5. Weddings

Reflection of a young woman in wedding dress fixing her make-up.
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The wedding industry has made a fortune brainwashing brides into believing that their big day has to be the bash of the century. In reality, this celebration should be about the love and union of two individuals surrounded by close friends and family.

There’s no need to go into debt just to throw an extravagant event.

6. Branded Clothes

Crocs
Image Credit: claire Bullion/Shutterstock.

For some reason, lots of fashion aficionados are happy to splurge thousands of dollars for simple clothing items that have a famous name-brand logo printed on the front.

Instead of wasting money on a look that will only be trendy for a few months, prioritize quality over brand name.

7. Food Delivery

Mobile app icons of assorted food delivery services are seen on a smartphone, including DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, delivery.com, Seamless, Postmates and Instacart.
Image Credit: Tada Images/Shutterstock.

With delivery costs, cart fees, and driver tips, ordering food to your house can rack up a huge price tag in no time.

On special occasions, it might be nice to treat yourself to a meal without leaving the comfort of your home. But on a regular basis, taking the time to walk or drive to the restaurant yourself is much more budget-friendly.

8. Luxury Bags

Redhead woman in sunglasses with shopping bags on yellow background.
Image Credit: Masson/Shutterstock.

For many people, owning a bag from a big brand is a huge pride point. However, the truth is that a $5 bag and a $1000 dollar bag can hold your belongings just the same.

9. Fireworks

Fireworks over the river
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Let’s be real: if you’ve seen one minute of a fireworks show, you’ve seen the entire show.

One or two sparklers with friends can be fun for a special party, but at a certain point, spending tons of money to secure fireworks is like throwing away your funds for an experience that will only last seconds.

10. In-Game Purchases

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Image Credit: paffy/Shutterstock.

Whether it’s your favorite online game or the app you’re simply addicted to, shelling over money to buy your character a cool new outfit isn’t the best idea. Although it may make you feel good for a moment or two, it’s just not worth it to waste money on items that you can’t even enjoy in real life.

11. Greeting Cards

Restful young woman with cup of drink reading greeting-card
Image Credit: Pressmaster/Shutterstock.

Spending $5-10 dollars to get your loved one a card from the grocery store is a waste of money. Most cards simply contain generic quotes that we’ve already heard a million times or worse – failed attempts at witty comedy.

Instead of making this unnecessary purchase, use the construction paper you already have at home to make your own blank card.

12. Lottery Tickets

lottery ticket with hypothetical numbers, QR code and barcode,
Image Credit: Sagii/Shutterstock.

It’s nice to dream, but the reality is that your chances of actually winning the lottery are extremely, extremely, EXTREMELY low.

You are more likely to die in a plane crash than you are to win the lottery: that’s a true statistic. If you’re hoping for the lottery to be your saving grace, try saving or investing your money wisely instead of throwing it away on this wasteful game.

12 Not Very Obvious Sign That Someone Is Rich

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It is easy to know when someone is rich. However, sometimes it is not obvious. One Reddit user wanted to know what non-obvious signs pointed out that someone was rich. We have sampled some of the best responses from other Reddit users in that conversation.

12 Not Very Obvious Sign That Someone Is Rich

11 Insanely Frugal Things Most Frugal People Admit To Doing

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Ready to kick your frugality up a notch? We’ve rounded up the top 11 super-duper frugal moves that even the savviest penny-pinchers happily own up to. Yep, you might already be a frugality champ, but trust me, these ideas are like gems of money-saving wisdom you won’t wanna miss!

11 Insanely Frugal Things Most Frugal People Admit To Doing

The IRS Adjusted Its Tax Income Brackets — Are You Ready?

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Have you heard that the IRS adjusted their tax brackets? The reason behind the IRS adjusting its tax income brackets for next year is tax consolidation, which aims to simplify the tax code. You might have already heard about it.

The IRS Adjusted Its Tax Income Brackets — Are You Ready? 

15 Frugal Living Ideas To Make Your Money Stretch

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Frugal living comes with so many pros. You should embrace it whether you want to save up for big purchases, pay off your debts, or build a robust emergency or retirement fund. 

Implementing frugality is an excellent way to get your finances under control. These frugal living ideas can make that happen. 

While people embrace the lifestyle for different reasons, the motivation is usually similar; to save as much money for the things that matter the most to us—looking to get started? These frugal living ideas will help you hit the ground running. 

15 Frugal Living Ideas To Make Your Money Stretch

10 States Where You’re Least Likely To Find a Job

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Inflation has been cooling, unemployment rates are historically low, and wages have been rising, but that doesn’t mean the economic outlook is rosy everywhere and for everyone.

The following are the ten states where you’re least likely to find a job. The numbers are current as of May 2023.

10 States Where You’re Least Likely To Find a Job 
 

 

Hi! I am a millennial mom with a passion for personal finance. I have always been “into” personal finance but got inspired to start my blog after a period of extended unemployment. That experience really changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and the importance of accessible personal finance education.