Years ago I happened to be in the same room as a friend who'd convinced themselves that purchasing a timeshare was a good idea. Try as I might, I could not get them to change their mind. Have you ever looked at the return on those things? They're horrible investments. Ever try unloading one? You can actually find them on Ebay––that's how desperate some people are to get rid of them.
After Redditor SamoooRa asked the online community, "What is a complete waste of money?" people shared some of their own observations.
"Cheap appliances..."
Cheap appliances that break after a year and need to be replaced, ultimately ending up in landfills.
"You won't lose weight..."
Detox teas/drinks. Your liver and kidneys do the job, you aren't detoxing a damn thing.
You won't lose weight by having uncontrollable diarrhea and if you do, you will be too sick to enjoy that 3 pounds you lost.
"When you buy a bunch of toys..."
When you buy a bunch of toys for a dog or cat then they only want to play with, boxes, paper, cardboard, cheap socks and shoes, shoelaces, and bowls.
I loved my old cat very much...
...but he ignored every toy I ever purchased and played with paper clips. I should have known.
"The fleshlight I bought..."
The fleshlight I bought got stolen before I got home to pick up the package. 100$ wasted. But I hope whoever has it is enjoying themselves.
This is the perfect time to say...
..."Go screw yourself!"
"If you want to donate..."
People starting a GoFundMe to give their money to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to pay their mortgage. If you want to donate there are so many more important causes right now...
"I'm no insider..."
Gym memberships if one doesn't ever go to the gym. I'm no insider, but I suspect this "ghost member" phenomenon is pretty quantifiable and reliable based on statistics and that it figures prominently in how gyms set their fee structures. I'm guessing that without these ghost members, the folks who actually show up would end up paying significantly more. So, waste of money for the ghost member, but I really appreciate their willingness to subsidize my fitness routine.
Planet Fitness has made an entire business model off of this.
It's rather hilarious to know how many people I've met over the years who had a Planet Fitness membership but totally forgot about it until they actually read their bank statements.
"Buying a car..."
Buying a car above your budget and earning money to pay for gas and/or parts, rather than buying a not as fancy car and living comfortably. A lot of people just want to look rich in modern society.
"Period."
The strip club. You ain't taking her home. She doesn't understand you. She's not even your friend. She's all about extracting maximum paper from your pocket. Period.
"Smokers never realize..."
Cigarettes.
Smokers never realize how much they spend not only on the product but on health issues later on.
"Putting that money away..."
Spending $5 a day for your morning coffee. Thats $1800 in a year. Putting that money away for life emergencies and mortgages adds up quickly.
You know what?
I have a few of my own habits. Sometimes I just don't want to cook. Other times simply getting to enjoy a coffee while out on a brisk stroll makes me happy. That peace of mind is often worth the loss, and it's all about choices. Do you want to make a big purchase of some sort someday? Then maybe slimming down your budget to cut out the coffee works for you. It differs from person to person, and that's okay.
Have some of your own observations to share? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments section below!
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