11 Types of Regret Purchases & How to Break the Cycle
Always worried that you have to buy it now or regret it later? It’s time to stop focusing so much on so-called good deals for items that you really don’t need in the first place.
Kallie Branciforte says that there are 11 regret purchases that all of us make from time to time and learning what they are can help us break the awful purchase regret cycle we keep finding ourselves in.
Besides spending our hard-earned money on things we don’t absolutely love, these items typically sit around, collecting dust in our homes, and rarely get used like we once intended them to.
That’s why, when you splurge and make impulse buys, you will regret that purchase sooner rather than later and end up asking yourself why you keep doing this over and over again.
First up is paper planners. Kallie insists that while some people religiously use their paper planners throughout the year, the majority of people buy them and rarely use them for more than a few weeks.
Next, Kallie says to avoid any specially-formulated shampoos or skincare products. A better alternative is to ask a professional in real life.
After that, set down anything in the clearance section that doesn’t really wow you. Many of these impulse buys don’t match your decor or stay on trend for long. Once in a while, you may find things you won't regret buying in the clearance section, but not often.
In a similar vein, stop buying cheap sheets—because they wear out too soon—overhyped foods or drinks that cost a small fortune, and trendy fashion that doesn’t look good on you.
To finish up the regret purchases you should avoid, Kallie adds online courses that overpromise and underdeliver, single-use kitchen appliances, any products you see on TV, and brand new cars to the list.
Regret purchases
For more frugal shopping tips, discover the best things to buy at Aldi this month or these Dollar Tree cleaning hacks.
To see more videos, check out the But First, Coffee YouTube channel.
Comments
Join the conversation
Oh yeah, about new cars. My first ever was an out-of the showroom Mazda bought when I knew in my heart that I would soon be on my own financially and every other way. I needed a reliable, affordable vehicle in my own name, not my husband's. GMAC was courting new, female credit seekers. I drove it a year but also moved to a mountain state with wicked winters and that sweet little car was not a good choice. My brother found a city-dwelling gal in a different state who was eager to get it and paid what I had bought it for. Next new vehicle was top of its line Alero that I planned carefully to have paid off by retirement time. MISTAKE!! It was a bright yellow lemon that I should have invoked the lemon law over. Then I had to take early retirement with the resulting big hit on social security and my pension, before the 'wonderful new car' still cost $400 a month [2005 prices] and I had 3 years' worth of loan on it. Thankfully it got totaled before anyone got killed in it due to the various unreliable mechanical and electrical functions. Brand new sure didn't equate to reliable. And financially just a stupid mistake that I have not and will not repeat. And those avocado (and gold appliances...had 'em, hated them, and regretted being stuck with them. Cheap sheets...one time cured me. A bread machine did get used a couple times before I went back to hand kneading permanently and donated the machine.
thanks for this. I am very bad to shop the “good deal” and it’s getting packed up for later….haha I’ve run out of space and money. I am going to look for more of your ideas to help me stop this