Not every dollar you spend brings lasting happiness. In a culture that constantly pushes new products and experiences, it’s easy to fall into traps that drain your wallet without adding real value. From forgotten subscriptions to flashy gadgets that lose their appeal quickly, many purchases turn into nothing more than clutter and regret.
Being intentional with money means identifying these low-value purchases and redirecting your cash toward what truly matters. That could mean funding a trip you’ll always remember, knocking out debt, or building the financial safety net you’ve been putting off. Knowing what not to buy is just as important as making smart purchases. Here are 14 common spending pitfalls worth reconsidering.
High End Fitness Equipment
It’s a familiar story. We get a sudden burst of motivation, buy an expensive treadmill or elliptical, and then it becomes a very expensive coat rack. The key to staying fit is consistency, not fancy equipment. A Planet Fitness membership or just going for a run outside is much cheaper and just as effective.
Extended Warranties & Gadget Insurance
That extra “peace of mind” offered at checkout — whether for a phone, tablet, or other electronics — is usually a waste of money. Monthly insurance fees often cost more than a simple repair, and most devices either last well beyond the standard warranty or fail early enough to be covered under warranty. Consumer Reports advises skipping extended warranties altogether, since purchase protections from credit cards often cover you anyway.
Brand Name Bottled Water
Paying three dollars for a bottle of water is like paying for the air you breathe. The markup on bottled water is insane. Did you know that the cost of the plastic bottle is a significant portion of that price? According to a report from Boston University, bottled water can be up to 2,000 times more expensive than tap water. Just get a reusable bottle and fill it up from the faucet. It’s a no-brainer for your bank account and the planet.
High-End Coffee Machines
Unless you’re a true coffee connoisseur who can taste the subtle difference between a $1,000 espresso coffee maker and a $200 one, you’re better off with a simpler brewer. Many high-end machines come with numerous bells and whistles that people rarely use after the initial week. Most home brewers can provide you with an excellent cup of coffee for a fraction of the price. Consider the money you’ll save and the counter space you’ll regain.
Timeshares
The promise of a vacation home for a fraction of the cost sounds excellent on paper, but the reality is often a financial nightmare. Between maintenance fees that rise every year and the limited flexibility of when and where you can use it, a timeshare can become a burden. A report by the Timeshare Consumer Association found that the resale market for timeshares is highly challenging, with many owners unable to sell them, even at a significant loss.
In-App Purchases For Mobile Games
Those little microtransactions can add up to a macro problem. It might feel like just a few dollars for a new skin or extra lives, but these small purchases are designed to be addictive. Before you know it, you’ve spent more on a virtual game than on a real vacation. It’s easy to get caught in a trap where you feel you have to pay more to keep up.
Lottery Tickets
It’s the ultimate fantasy purchase, a one-dollar ticket to a new life. But let’s be realistic: the odds are astronomical, at 1 in 292.2 million. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning the Powerball jackpot. As the saying goes, “You can’t win if you don’t play,” but you also can’t lose if you don’t play. On average, only 50% of the money spent on lottery tickets is paid out in prizes, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries.
Expensive Car Washes
Sure, it’s nice to have a clean car, but those $20 washes with the “deluxe wax and shine” are a total rip-off. For just a few dollars and some elbow grease, you can wash your car at home and achieve better results. Plus, you get a little exercise. The savings really add up over a year, and the only thing you’re sacrificing is a few minutes of your time.
Fast Fashion Items
Unless you’re a fashion model, there’s no reason to shell out hundreds of dollars for fast fashion items. A good pair of Levi’s jeans or any other clothing will last longer and look just as good for a fraction of the price. Nobody will be able to tell the difference unless you’re walking the red carpet. They all wear out eventually anyway.
Subscriptions You Don’t Use
We all have them. That old magazine subscription, that streaming service you never watch, or that monthly box of a product you no longer need. They’re a quiet drain on your finances. We become so accustomed to seeing the charge on our bank statements that we no longer notice it. Retrieve your last three bank statements and identify all recurring subscriptions. I bet you’ll find a few that you’d completely forgotten about.
Brand New Cars
A brand new car loses a significant chunk of its value the minute you drive it off the lot. It’s a well-known financial truth. Let someone else take that initial hit. Buying a certified pre-owned car that’s only a few years old can save you thousands of dollars while still giving you a reliable ride. The average new vehicle depreciates by about 20% in its first year, so you’re starting from behind before you even put it in drive.
Pre-Cut Vegetables And Fruit
Convenience has a price, and when it comes to pre-cut produce, that price is way too high. You’re paying extra for someone else to do a simple task you could do yourself in a few minutes. Not only that, but pre-cut produce often spoils more quickly, so you’re more likely to discard it. Just buy the whole fruit or vegetable at the grocery store and chop it up when you get home. It’s a small change that can save you a lot over time.
Gym Memberships You Don’t Use
This one is a classic. We sign up with the best intentions, but life gets in the way. Don’t waste your money on a gym membership you only use a few times a month. Find a workout routine you can do at home or outdoors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that only about one in four adults in the United States meet the physical activity guidelines, meaning many gym memberships are going unused.
Movie Theater Popcorn And Drinks
The markup on concessions is legendary. It’s part of the business model. Movie theaters make most of their profits from these items, not from the tickets. A large popcorn and a soda can easily cost more than your movie ticket. Why not eat before you go or bring your own reusable water bottle and save the money for something better, like dinner after the movie? It’s a simple hack that makes a big difference.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
How Total Beginners Are Building Wealth Fast in 2025—No Experience Needed
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I used to think investing was something you did after you were already rich. Like, you needed $10,000 in a suit pocket and a guy named Chad at some fancy firm who knew how to “diversify your portfolio.” Meanwhile, I was just trying to figure out how to stretch $43 to payday.
But a lot has changed. And fast. In 2025, building wealth doesn’t require a finance degree—or even a lot of money. The tools are simpler. The entry points are lower. And believe it or not, total beginners are stacking wins just by starting small and staying consistent.
Click here and let’s break down how.
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5 Easy Steps to Change Any Habit
We all click on them with the hope that just THIS time the secret to changing a bad habit or adopting a healthy one will be revealed and we’ll finally be able to stick to that diet, stop that one or ten things that might in the moment make us feel temporarily good but really just make us fat, unhealthy, sad, mad or just frustrated with ourselves.
