20 Purchases Buyers Almost Always Regret
Money is tight for many Americans. Even if you’re one of the lucky few with their personal finances in order, throwing your money away on regrettable purchases isn’t smart.
Save yourself the buyer’s remorse and avoid making these 20 purchases in the new year.
1. Extended Warranties
Extended warranties for electronics and appliances are almost never worth the money, according to Consumer Reports.
“Today’s appliances are fairly reliable,” Dan DiClerico, a former home expert with Home Advisor, told Consumer Reports. “The chance that your refrigerator or dishwasher actually needs a repair during the extended warranty period is pretty low.”
If you do need repairs, it will likely cost about the same as you would have paid for a warranty.
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2. Timeshares
You might think of a timeshare as an “investment” — and if you do, it’s most certainly a bad one. Unlike a good investment, timeshares do not generate income or increase in value. And they cost a lot, between the initial loan and interest, and then annual maintenance fees on top of that.
Plus, you could feel like you have to go back to the same place at the same time every year to make your timeshare “worth it,” when instead, you could find bargain trips to different destinations each year.
3. Over-the-Top Weddings
Weddings should be memorable and special, but it’s easy to get caught up in the planning process and totally blow your budget.
“When you’re starting out, the worst thing you can do is put yourself in debt for your wedding,” Kevin O’Leary, an investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and personal finance author, told CNBC. “I know it sounds romantic to spend a lot of money — it’s crazy to do that.”
You’ll likely regret starting your new life as a couple thousands of dollars in the hole.
4. Pricey Engagement Rings
Conventional wisdom suggests you should spend three months’ salary on an engagement ring, but experts say you should spend no more than 5% of your salary.
“Far too many people [spend] too much on an engagement ring, and then, they have very little money left for their other financial goals, such as home buying,” Ryan Marshall, a certified financial planner and partner at Ela Financial Group, told CNBC.
5. Camping Gear You’ll Never Use Again
If you don’t camp regularly, there’s no point in buying a bunch of expensive gear. You can rent tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads instead of paying a lot of money for equipment that will end up collecting dust.
6. Exercise Machines
Going to the gym might not be an option for you — or you might not feel comfortable using a gym — but this doesn’t mean you should spend thousands of dollars on expensive home gym equipment.
There are plenty of exercises you can do using just your body weight, or you can invest in lower-cost equipment like hand weights and resistance bands.
7. Juicers and Other Expensive Kitchen Gadgets
Juicers can be very expensive, and it requires a ton of fresh produce to make a single glass of juice. There’s also a lot of time and cleanup involved. Unless you’re prepared to spend 10 to 15 minutes every morning to create a cup of juice, you’re probably better off shelling out the cash for an already bottled pressed juice.
Juicers aren’t the only kitchen gadget you’ll likely regret buying. There are a number of appliances on the market that only have a single, very specific use, and so likely won’t be worth the investment. Do you really need an egg cooker, dehydrator or pasta maker? Probably not, and these are gadgets you’ll probably use once or twice and then never again.
8. Unnecessary Baby Products
The baby product market is now a multi-billion-dollar industry, according to Statista, but many of the products out there are simply not worth the money. According to Parents.com, wipe warmers, diaper disposal systems, special “baby” detergent, baby timers, expensive crib bedding and baby food processors are all unnecessary purchases.
9. Pools
Pools can end up being a huge money pit. In addition to the initial cost of installing a pool, you can expect to spend $100 – $350 monthly, according to Home Advisor, with total yearly maintenance starting at $1,200 and then going up. Plus, you’ll also have to purchase a pool vacuum for $50 – $200 to keep everything nice and clean.
10. Hot Tubs
Hot tubs have a lower initial cost than pools, but they could still end up being a purchase you regret, especially after seeing the increase in your water bill.
11. Oversized Desserts and Cocktails
Some restaurants sell massive desserts and cocktail drinks as a novelty, and you might be tempted to buy them “just for fun” — but when you’re halfway through that giant sundae, you’ll probably wish you had just ordered one scoop of ice cream.
12. ‘As Seen on TV’ Products
Some “as seen on TV” products are truly out there — does anyone really need sauna pants or mitts that peel potatoes? — but even products that are more practical are usually marked up way above their actual value.
13. Fine China
Think twice before adding fine china to your wedding registry. You likely won’t use it very much, and it could take up a lot of space in your kitchen.
14. Collectibles
If you’re buying a collectible because it brings you joy, go for it, but if you’re stocking your shelves with things you don’t actually like, because you think they’ll be worth something one day, you’re probably wasting your money.
15. Expensive Clothes You Can Only Wear Once
Whether it’s a prom dress, wedding dress or other special occasion attire you won’t be able to wear again, you’ll probably regret spending a ton of money for it. And don’t bank on being able to resell the garment.
16. Lottery Tickets
While it might seem tempting to spend two bucks for the chance to win millions, the odds are not in your favor, and those dollars are better off generating interest in your savings account. Your chance of winning a Powerball grand prize is only about one in 292 million. To put that in perspective, your odds of being killed by an asteroid impact are about one in 74 million.
17. Season Tickets
Season tickets for your favorite college or pro sports team can come at a high price — and that doesn’t account for all the other expenses that come with regularly going to games, such as parking and concessions.
18. Items From Websites You’ve Never Heard Of
You’re constantly being bombarded with targeted ads whenever you go online, and it can be tempting to click through to purchase, even if it’s from a site you’ve never heard of before.
This is particularly true with women’s clothing. Many women end up with items that look nothing like what was pictured online when they order from unknown sites.
19. Cheap Kitchen Knives
Like furniture, knives are something that’s worth investing in. If you buy a cheap set, they’ll likely get dull quickly and need to be replaced.
20. A House You Can’t Actually Afford
The term “house poor” exists for a reason. This is what happens when you blow your budget on a home and end up having to use the majority of your income to cover mortgage payments, insurance, taxes, maintenance and utilities, leaving you with little money to afford much else. Aim to dedicate just 30% of your income to housing expenses, so your “dream home” doesn’t turn into a financial nightmare.
Ashleigh Ray and J. Arky contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice.
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