Do you regularly indulge in something that is a total waste of money? You’re not alone. One of my most ridiculous wastes of money in life was absolutely indulging in substance abuse. However, there are many other expenditures that prove wasteful.
After someone polled an online forum for examples of their biggest cash drains, here is what they confessed to as wasteful spending. Do you agree?
1. Produce
Guilty. I don’t want to know how much money I have wasted on fruits and vegetables left to spoil in my fridge. It’s an embarrassing amount, and my ADHD brain makes it worse.
Another ADHD’er explains, ” You got to love ADHD. ‘I need all these ingredients for these great recipes I want to try.’ Two days later — ‘Great! I don’t have any food, just ingredients!'” I mean, I felt this in my soul.
Side note: Do you know that plastic bags speed up spoilage? It’s funny how that’s what they give you to transport your produce home in. Not to mention all the produce that is sold in plastic packaging. They sell reusable bags, and if you’re like me, you’ll forget them every time! Semi-kidding.
2. Unused Streaming Subscriptions
Now that nearly everything has moved to streaming services, signing up and forgetting about things is easy. I can’t tell you how many months of Amazon Kids I paid for without realizing I was losing six bucks a month to this stupid service my toddler doesn’t even use. Have you taken a recent accounting of what services you’re paying for vs. the ones you use?
3. Celebrity Preachers
Celebrity preachers and televangelists get no love in this forum. Unfortunately, the idea that you will earn salvation through donations is a fear-based tactic they use to manipulate people into financing things like private jets in the name of Jesus.
It’s frustrating and leaves a bad taste in nonbelievers’ mouths about Christianity, which is the exact opposite of what their profession is meant to do.
4. Extended Warranties on Small Appliances
Do you frequently buy extended warranties on appliances under $200? They want to sell them for everything now, and it’s a total sham. One mom explains, “At Target the other day, I scanned a $9 package of Hot Wheels for my son, but before I could move forward with the rest of my stuff, I had to respond to an offer for an extended warranty for $3.50.”
5. Annual Phone Upgrades
Annual phone upgrading is a big business that many people participate in funding. You do not need a new iPhone every year. They make minor changes and a slightly better camera and then package it consistently a little higher than the previous model. It’s a massive waste of significant funds.
6. Food Delivery Apps
Uber Eats and DoorDash have gotten way out of control. The convenience of the services proves fruitful for these third-party food delivery apps. You are paying a 10–20% upcharge on the menu. That doesn’t cover the excessive fees and driver’s tips.
7. Extravagant Weddings
Marrying my husband the unconventional way was one of the best decisions we have ever made. We wore Batman t-shirts and jeans, and the courthouse provided a judge who willingly met us at a beautiful park with an ocean view. The whole thing cost $325. However, it costs even less if you do it at the courthouse.
Nonetheless, people are wasting tens of thousands of dollars (average $30,000- $40,000) on a one-day event without batting an eye, which is unbelievable to me and many others in the forum.
8. Unused Gym Memberships
How many people have gym memberships that they never use? I have been guilty of that at least three times in my life! Ugh. There are thousands of free workout videos on YouTube. In the words of Chandler Bing — “I wanna quit the gym!”
9. One-Ply Toilet Paper
Ok, why is one-ply toilet paper even a thing? Trying to unravel enough from the roll is miserable, and finger slips are the absolute worst! If you have a septic system, you get a pass, but otherwise, why?
10. Bottled Water
Considering that most bottled water is tap water, it’s a massive waste of money. The Los Angeles Times reports: “The leading bottled water brands are nothing more than municipal tap water that’s been run through a filter.”
Their source further clarifies, “Companies buy water from municipal supplies at very low cost and sell it back to the public at a huge markup.” Get a filter and save your money and the planet by eliminating unnecessary plastic waste.
11. MLMs
Are you familiar with network marketing or multi-level marketing (MLMs)? Pretty much all of the moms in your social media feeds who are constantly posting about products are involved with one. The products are seriously overpriced, and supporting their “small businesses” is a scam that really funds predatory multi-million dollar corporations.
Most people lose money on MLMs; the bigger goal is always to sign you up as a distributor. They don’t care about selling products. The real money is in the downline you sign up beneath you with false hopes of making money from home. It’s all a total waste of funds.
12. Espresso Shop Coffee
Do you regularly go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, or any other coffee stand or shop? It’s not uncommon, but it is a serious waste of money that people willingly indulge. I’ve been guilty of this. I’m from Washington. There is a coffee stand in every parking lot. You drive up, get your delicious caffeinated beverage, and massively overpay.
Instead, buy an espresso machine for your home, syrups if you use them, and save tons of cash by making them yourself. My machine was around $150, and my coffee tastes the same as going to a shop. Spending $10 for a coffee plus a tip daily adds up to a minimum of $300 monthly. So it paid for itself in two weeks.
13. Paper Plates and Plastic Cups
Do you use paper plates and plastic cups to avoid doing dishes? You’re not alone. Nonetheless, it’s a complete waste of money and resources. I’ve honestly met people who use nothing but — including plasticware.
14. Lottery Tickets
Buying the occasional lottery ticket to fantasize about what you would do with all the money isn’t detrimental if it’s a rare indulgence. However, far too many people dump their hard-earned money into the lottery, including the scratch tickets.
Side Note: Please take your scratch tickets and go. The number of times I have been stuck behind someone scratching it at the counter so they can get another one if they win is concerning.
15. Diamonds
Diamonds are one of the biggest financial scams in history. Despite the push to perceive them as such, they aren’t rare, and the labor involved in obtaining blood diamonds is unethical. Still, groom-to-be’s are wasting tens of thousands of dollars to put one on their partner’s finger daily.
Elizabeth Ervin is the owner of Sober Healing. She is a freelance writer passionate about opioid recovery and has celebrated breaking free since 09-27-2013. She advocates for mental health awareness and encourages others to embrace healing, recovery, and Jesus.