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36 Things That Are Actually Expensive And Not Necessary, Yet Folks Still Pay For Them
Interview With Expert
If you are a fan of the theory of minimalism, you might know that it’s the simple life that gives pleasure, rather than the one spent on unnecessarily hoarding things. Well, not everyone thinks so, because sometimes, people end up buying things—just for face value—which are actually a complete waste of money!
When a Reddit user posed the question, “What’s a total waste of money, yet people still pay for?”, netizens revealed a lot of things that honestly bring no value to our lives but are very pricey. You might be able to relate to a lot of these things, so just scroll down and check out for yourself!
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Lip fillers. 99% of the time it looks like s**t.
RELATED:
#2
Purebred pets.
Why? Just go to the shelter. Oh, and quit making new breeds that have medical issues.
PixieVonBehr 6 days ago (edited)
I foster for a UK-based rescue, and moggies and mutts are the best! They are generally healthier and suffer from less genetic issues as they have a nice, wide gene pool compared to pure breeds. As a result, their insurance typically costs less and their lifespans are longer. Animals from shelters will also usually come neutered and vaccinated. Adopt don't shop!
#3
Donating to mega churches. The pastor already has a mega mansion, there is no need to donate. People are falling for false hope.
We live in a world that is constantly on its feet and just keeps evolving eternally, with a rise and fall of inflation along with the changing economy. Oddly though, humans have this unquenchable thirst to own things that are expensive, even when they aren't needed.
Just look around your room and you will notice a few things which you bought but now lie forgotten in some corner. The real issue, however, arises when we question why we buy these expensive things knowing they could be a total waste of money.
To understand more about the human psyche and the factors that influence our decisions, Bored Panda reached out to counselor Faizan Maniyar for an interview. He mentioned that psychological factors come into play and influence people to spend on seemingly unnecessary items.
#5
Bottled water when you live in a place with clean faucet water.
Ariom Dahl 6 days ago
So true. I see people in the supermarket loading up with dozens of bottles when our tap water is 100 % safe and tastes better.
Faizan elaborated that people often compare themselves to others and feel the need to "keep up," which can lead to purchases that align with social norms or expectations, even if they are unnecessary. He pointed out instant gratification, where individuals prioritize immediate pleasure over long-term benefits, leading to impulsive spending.
"Purchases can serve as a way to express one's identity or elevate perceived social status. For example, luxury items might symbolize success or sophistication. Another key factor is the fear of missing out on experiences or trends that can push people to spend on things they might not truly need or value," Faizan noted.
#8
Tipping for to go orders. You’re putting in the order and picking it up yourself. Whoever is handing you the bag should be paid appropriately by their employer and if they’re not it’s not your fault.
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 6 days ago
If someone is picking up something for you and delivering it to your front door in their own personal vehicle, you should be tipping them for the personal service you received. Tipping the kiosk at McDonald's, not so much.
#9
Weddings.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 days ago
1000000%. Spend it on yourselves, go on a nice trip or something.
Our expert further explained that marketing strategies are designed to capitalize on psychological biases to drive consumer behavior. He said that limited-time offers or "only a few left" messages create a sense of urgency and make people feel they might lose an opportunity.
Another such strategy that Faizan highlighted was anchoring bias where showing a higher price first (e.g., "was $199, now $99") makes the discounted price seem like a great deal, even if the item is unnecessary.
"Social proof is also a tactic where highlighting reviews, testimonials, or how many people have purchased an item makes people feel validated in making the same choice. Bundle deals and upgrades also play a part as offering multiple items at a discount or suggesting upgrades can make people spend more, even when they initially intended to purchase less," he added.
#10
Most things that have the pink tax on them for women. Ex. The generic blue razors are exactly the same as the fancy pink ones marketed to women.
#11
Dude wipes, Man Soaps, Alpha Mouth Washes, and other products that charge a premium for keeping insecure men from feeling emasculated by basic hygiene.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 days ago
Alpha Mouth Washes? What the hell is that, coolant/anti-freeze I assume.
#12
Life coaches. 99.9% of them are crypto bro scam artists.
Ron Mael's devoted wife. 5 days ago
This is so true, they are all over the place where I live and they do nothing except offer false hope to vulnerable people.
Faizan strongly believes that emotions play a strong role in spending behavior. When we asked him to elaborate, he spoke about four major emotions that fall prey to these marketing tactics.
He explained, "First is boredom: shopping can be used as a way to alleviate boredom and provide a sense of novelty or excitement. Online shopping, in particular, offers instant engagement. Next is stress: retail therapy is real—buying items can temporarily distract from stressors and create a sense of control or comfort."
"Then comes happiness: positive emotions can lead to spending as a way to reward oneself or enhance an already good mood, often without considering long-term consequences. The fourth one is loneliness: people might buy things to feel connected to others or fill an emotional void, especially through purchases that align with social trends."
#15
Psychics.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 days ago
She looks like the real deal, she's got the beads and everything lol
Well, due to these marketing gimmicks, it's clear why people fall prey to them, but what after? When a person realizes that they have been duped, surely there are consequences.
Faizan emphasized that realizing a purchase was wasteful can lead to several psychological outcomes. He spoke about buyer's remorse, which is the regret or guilt experienced after making a purchase, especially when it wasn’t necessary or didn’t bring the expected satisfaction.
As per him, people may experience discomfort due to the conflict between their spending behavior and their values (e.g., "I value saving, but I wasted money"). He further mentioned that repeated instances of wasteful spending can lead individuals to feel they lack self-control or financial discipline.
#17
Homeopathic medicine.
Well, that's definitely something to think about, isn't it? Maybe if we are more aware of the psychological strategies that are marketed to us, we might refrain from such purchases.
Did you find the insights provided by our expert helpful? Also, which of the things from the list have you purchased without thought before? Go on, now; don't feel shy. Just share them in the comments below!
#19
Anything from Louis Vuitton.
#20
This happened to me recently, both key fobs for my car were low battery and needed to have the battery replaced. I took them to the Acura dealer and they quoted me 240 dollars EACH! I looked up what kind of battery they took and ordered them on Amazon 20 for like 11 bucks. Then I watched a 2 min YouTube video and did it myself. I really just thought they only charge that much cause they know people will pay it.
Dave In MD 6 days ago (edited)
I call BS. I work at a dealership and replace key fob batteries all the time. We charge about $5 to $6 depending on what battery it gets. And yes you can buy batteries cheaper but I know how to get the fob open without breaking it. $240 sounds more like a new fob, I think the OP wasn't clear on what they told the counter person they needed. You tell me you need a new key or fob and I will quote you a new key or fob, plus the cost of having it programed to the car. Some dealerships even give out new batteries in for free, we get them very cheap.
#21
Cosmetics - some of the prices on cosmetics is insane to me. I could never justify spending hundreds of dollars on it.
#23
Natural diamonds.
You’re never going to get even half of what you paid. You could spend 10k on a natural and be lucky to get 3k back, or pay $1000 for a lab and get nothing back. They’re chemically and optically identical, only their growth origin is different. Somehow there are plenty of natural diamond lovers!!
LonelyLittleLeafSheep 6 days ago
Colored stones are so much prettier anyway. My favorites are padparadscha sapphires.
#24
Warning; Oddly specific, but, I keep terrariums and I can't believe pet stores and more now sell "leaf litter" for like $1 a dead leaf. WTF. The scam is "if you take leaves from outside they might have pathogens and parasites! We have sterilized them with special means to make it safe!" except often than not they are in fact NOT sterilized at all, and it's super easy to do it yourself with the free dead leaves you find outside. What a scam. Same goes for rocks, branches. A bit of research and elbow grease and you don't need to spend all your money on "natural decor". Stick "Repti-" in front of anything and some people will buy it cause "ooo it's made for my reptile". Repti-stick. Repti-soil. Repti-rock. etc..
Donald 6 days ago
My reptile room had 10 different snake enclosures, one for a tegu and one for a beardie. I bought Cyprus mulch for the tegu and a few of the snakes who needed high humidity environments but other than that every piece of décor was found outside for free. Thoroughly clean and disinfect them and its good to go, never had any issues with my animals health.
#25
Microtransactions, heard a story the other day about a woman who took out a 20K loan in her daughter’s name to pay off her Candy Crush debt.
Array Index Out of Bounds 6 days ago
She must really suck at Candy Crush to need that many power ups.
#27
Internet providers that still haven’t caught on to offering unlimited data plans.
#28
What many of y’all consider a waste of money is actually helpful for us disabled folks - like pre-cut produce or food delivery services. But to answer - alcohol. No good comes from it.
#29
New cars. People will dump away $40k of their taxable income on depreciation alone every 2-4 years let alone, interest and taxes. Most of them say it’s because they need something reliable. Most cars will stay reliable for 10-15 years depending how much you drive. They don’t just break down all the time like some people think.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 days ago
It also has a lot to do with the banks here because they'll fully finance a new car but not a used car. However, I do agree.
#31
Restaurant delivery service. F*****g insane.
I just ordered ubereats for the first time in over a year and I was floored by the cost. Can't believe people use that regularly.
#32
Unpopular opinion, but... **Soft drinks at restaurants, cafes, and eateries**
It's just sugar water. For soda, add carbonation. **800% profit margin right there!** An old timer regaled us with a story how in the 70s, he used to help manage a burger joint. If everybody came in and only bought sodas... they'd be fine! Imagine that.. a burgers and fries joint, doesn't even need to sell, burgers, nor fries to stay afloat!
The controversy there (which is something I think about) is these levels of profit do help restaurants in an industry where margins are razor thin. [shrug].
John Dilligaf 3 days ago
which is why places give free refills. Once you've paid for the first drink they've made that 800% profit. You can't drink enough to make them lose money. Which is why you should never get the large drinks. Always get the smallest size possible when you're eating in.
#34
Super unleaded gas. Unless it specifically says in the manual that your car requires it, then spending more for 91 or 93 does nothing except empty your wallet faster.
#35
Reddit Avatars.
#36
EA Sports FC 24/25 games (previously called FIFA). Large chunk of folks swear they will never buy the next version because of how bad the current one is, still end up buying it.
Daniel Atkins 3 days ago
Used video game stores have lots of older versions of sports games for cheap game play doesn’t change much version to version.
DennyS (denzoren) 6 days ago
So what I did was I would always get the last year's version. Always half price.
Karen Bryan 1 day ago
ALL video games. Not just a waste of money but a colossal waste of time. (Yes, I'm old.)
What do you think ?
Liz The Biz 6 days ago
Big charities. Very little of what is donated (about 5p in every £) actually gets to where it is needed. Most of it goes to pay the eye-watering salaries of the directors and CEOs.
Ron Mael's devoted wife. 5 days ago
What gets me is the campaigning for clean water in the developing world. This has been going on for 60 years, do you mean to tell me that there are still parts of Africa and India that haven't been reached? I think not.
Load More Replies...
Dirk Daring 3 days ago
PB Premium. I'm not going to pay for dark mode, especially on a site that has transphobic ads.
DoubleDoubleTiredAndTuckered 5 days ago (edited)
Nestle products. Seriously, never, EVER spend a single cent on that shithole company. Edit for clarity: not exactly a scam, but I still heavily advise against providing money for that company.
Miki 2 days ago (edited)
The problem is they are owners of Nescafe, Gerber, Loreal, Maybelline, Vichy, Purina, KitKat, Nestea and many more.. i think i am not using any of this but i know these are popular brands. At Least in Europe.
Load More Replies...
dbildbo 2 days ago
I don't really understand what you mean about this one.
Load More Replies...
Cosmos in your eyes 3 days ago
I thrift shop often and see a lot of people's once treasured junk in there. Seeing what ends up in thrift stores has cured me of a lot of useless spending.
Miki 3 days ago (edited)
Single use razors, or all this "cool" ones with 300 blades. Till very recently I had a 40 usd safety razor which broke after 8 years. You spend close to zero cash on blades, and a little bit on a good shaving soap and alum. My next razor is much better. More expensive but I am sure it will outlive me.
Robert Maybeth 3 days ago
Like most people I know i give to charities now and then. But it only took one story I read to sour me on most charities and make me think twice. The story was about a charity bash thrown by Kim Kardashian. Her and her filthy rich friends for some cause or another. But somebody behind the scenes said Kim just takes like 98% of it all for herself! And gave maybe one or two percent for the actual charity. There are no laws specifying what percent of your proceeds actually have to go to the charity... and none of it is taxed! The greed just boggled my mind. HOW rich does Kim Kardashian need to be? How many more zeroes are enough for these people?
Jaya 3 days ago
There are no laws, but there is certification (in some countries at least) that charities can only get if they spend for instance more than 75% of the donated money on the actual goal of the charity, which means they can spend less than 25% on wages for their employees and on adds and stuff like that. And some certification demands that the charities publish their donated money and what they spend it on, so you can see that some charities only spend 80% on their goal but some spend 92% on their goal. I would only send money to charities that have such certification.
Load More Replies...
BrownEyedPanda 2 days ago
Credit cards when you don't actually need to have them. They're a lot of fun, until the interest kicks in.
Liz The Biz 6 days ago
Big charities. Very little of what is donated (about 5p in every £) actually gets to where it is needed. Most of it goes to pay the eye-watering salaries of the directors and CEOs.
Ron Mael's devoted wife. 5 days ago
What gets me is the campaigning for clean water in the developing world. This has been going on for 60 years, do you mean to tell me that there are still parts of Africa and India that haven't been reached? I think not.
Load More Replies... Dirk Daring 3 days ago
PB Premium. I'm not going to pay for dark mode, especially on a site that has transphobic ads.
DoubleDoubleTiredAndTuckered 5 days ago (edited)
Nestle products. Seriously, never, EVER spend a single cent on that shithole company. Edit for clarity: not exactly a scam, but I still heavily advise against providing money for that company.
Miki 2 days ago (edited)
The problem is they are owners of Nescafe, Gerber, Loreal, Maybelline, Vichy, Purina, KitKat, Nestea and many more.. i think i am not using any of this but i know these are popular brands. At Least in Europe.
Load More Replies... dbildbo 2 days ago
I don't really understand what you mean about this one.
Load More Replies... Cosmos in your eyes 3 days ago
I thrift shop often and see a lot of people's once treasured junk in there. Seeing what ends up in thrift stores has cured me of a lot of useless spending.
Miki 3 days ago (edited)
Single use razors, or all this "cool" ones with 300 blades. Till very recently I had a 40 usd safety razor which broke after 8 years. You spend close to zero cash on blades, and a little bit on a good shaving soap and alum. My next razor is much better. More expensive but I am sure it will outlive me.
Robert Maybeth 3 days ago
Like most people I know i give to charities now and then. But it only took one story I read to sour me on most charities and make me think twice. The story was about a charity bash thrown by Kim Kardashian. Her and her filthy rich friends for some cause or another. But somebody behind the scenes said Kim just takes like 98% of it all for herself! And gave maybe one or two percent for the actual charity. There are no laws specifying what percent of your proceeds actually have to go to the charity... and none of it is taxed! The greed just boggled my mind. HOW rich does Kim Kardashian need to be? How many more zeroes are enough for these people?
Jaya 3 days ago
There are no laws, but there is certification (in some countries at least) that charities can only get if they spend for instance more than 75% of the donated money on the actual goal of the charity, which means they can spend less than 25% on wages for their employees and on adds and stuff like that. And some certification demands that the charities publish their donated money and what they spend it on, so you can see that some charities only spend 80% on their goal but some spend 92% on their goal. I would only send money to charities that have such certification.
Load More Replies... BrownEyedPanda 2 days ago
Credit cards when you don't actually need to have them. They're a lot of fun, until the interest kicks in.
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