Money can buy a lot of things, but some items just aren’t worth it, no matter how deep your pockets are. For things such as lottery tickets, Starbucks coffee it’s important to think carefully about whether they are worth the money. Whether it’s because they’re overpriced, unnecessary, or just not worth the hype.
A list of 15 things you should think twice about splurging on, even if you have a lot of money.
ATM Fees
For Chase Total Checking customers, using an ATM that isn’t part of Chase costs $2.50 per transaction. While fees for using ATMs from other banks typically range from $0 to $3, these charges can accumulate over time. To avoid these fees, it’s best to use ATMs that belong to your bank. Alternatively, you can get cash back without any fees when you make purchases at places like grocery stores or other retail shops. This approach can assist in long-term savings.
Lottery Tickets
Buying a Powerball ticket for $2 might seem like a fun chance to win millions. However, your chance of winning the grand prize is only about one in millions. Instead of spending money on such a long shot, you could save that $2 and earn interest in a savings account. It would be a more reliable way to grow your money over time.
Hardcover Books
You can usually borrow identical books at no cost from your nearby library. It’s more economical to choose the paperback or ebook versions, which are much cheaper. For example, the hardcover edition of “A Game of Thrones” is priced at $19.99. The paperback is $10.49, and the Kindle version is available for just $2.99 on Amazon. At these prices, you could buy six e-books for less than the cost of one hardcover book.
Luxury cars
A luxury car such as a Cadillac Escalade, which costs $75,195, has higher-quality materials and a smoother ride. However, these advantages often don’t justify the higher cost compared to mid-level cars. For instance, a Chevrolet Tahoe, which shares many of the same features as the Escalade, starts at just $47,900. Additionally, owning a luxury car comes with extra expenses, including the need for premium gas, higher insurance rates, and pricier repairs and replacement parts. While luxury cars offer some perks, they also come with significant added costs.
DVDs and Blu-rays
You can buy the movie “Almost Famous” on DVD for $4.99, and a typical Blu-ray for $7.89 at Target. However, these prices are still considered high compared to the value offered by streaming services such as Netflix, which starts at $7.99 per month for unlimited movies. With affordable streaming options available, there’s no financial advantage to buying physical discs.
Wine Bottles at Restaurant
Restaurants increase the prices of wine bottles compared to their wholesale cost. For instance, at Olive Garden, a bottle of wine starts at $23. Restaurants typically mark up wine prices by at least 300 percent. This indicates that you can purchase a bottle of Sutter Home White Zinfandel for $4.79 at a store. The same bottle is priced at $23 in Olive Garden. It’s almost five times more. To save money, you can consider taking your own wine to a restaurant if they permit it.
Expensive Gym Memberships
Equinox Sports Club in San Francisco charges $250 per month for a membership. This is much higher than the average gym membership, which costs just under $60 per month, according to USA Today. While luxury gyms like Equinox offer better machines and fancier facilities, you can still get a good workout at a more affordable gym and save around $140 each month.
Starbucks Coffee
Buying a tall coffee from Starbucks costs $1.85, but making your coffee at home is much cheaper. A bag of Starbucks coffee costs $7.99 and can make about 24 servings. So, when you brew your own, it only costs around 33 cents per cup. That’s a big difference from the $1.85 you’d spend at the store. If you make your coffee every day, you save $1.52 each time. Over a year, that adds up to $554.80 in savings. Making your own Starbucks coffee at home is a smart way to save money in the long run.
Selected Organic Foods
Some foods are labeled as “organic,” which means they’re grown without certain pesticides or chemicals. These organic foods can be more expensive, sometimes up to 47% more than regular ones. However, for some foods, like quinoa, maple syrup, and seafood, choosing organic labeled ones doesn’t make a difference. it’s okay to go for the regular versions of these foods and save money.
Expensive Hair Salon
When you visit a fancy celebrity hair salon such as Nine Zero One, you don’t just pay for the haircut itself. You also pay for the whole experience, the luxurious atmosphere, personalized attention, and more. If you’re just looking for a basic haircut choose low-charge salons.
Luxury Watches
Buying a fancy watch like the Omega Aqua Terra 150M in gold on steel for $10,300 might not be a reliable investment. The market for watches can be unpredictable. Therefore, you might not make money if you try to resell it later. Instead, it’s smarter to put your money into something else that gives you a return on your investment. However, if you want a luxury watch, consider getting a Rolex. They might appreciate in value over time.
Expensive Skincare Products
Instead of being drawn by the high price, it’s essential to prioritize the ingredients and effectiveness of the product. Just because the skincare product looks expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best. Check out the reviews from other people who’ve used it. Look out for any studies or tests that prove it works. Sometimes, you can get the same results with cheaper brands from the drugstore or by trying out some DIY tricks.
Baby Products
The baby product industry is valued at almost $74 billion. However, not all the products you see in stores are needed for your baby. Some things, like diaper disposal systems, wipe warmers, and baby food processors, are not necessary for the baby. You can save money by skipping these items and still take care of your baby.
Premium Rental Cars
If you don’t need lots of space in your rental car for passengers or luggage, it’s smarter to go for the cheaper option, called economy class. At Enterprise, an economy car costs $30.89 a day, while a premium, costs $49.22 a day. If you’re renting the car for more than one day, picking the cheaper option can save a lot of money.
Big Snack Packs
Instead of buying little bags of pretzels of 100 calories each, you can save money by getting a big bag of pretzels and dividing them into smaller bags. The little bags cost about 40 cents each and have 9.2 ounces of pretzels altogether. However, if you get a big bag for $3.49, you’ll have 16 ounces of pretzels. When you divide that big bag into smaller portions, it only costs about 22 cents per ounce. So, you can save some cash by doing it yourself instead of buying the pre-made packs.