4 Terrible Purchases You Don’t Need To Make

When I decided I wanted to stop spending silly money and reduce the number of things that I had, I found out that some of the items that I owned were items that I purchased without thinking twice about it.

It was probably because I liked the idea of having that certain item without being realistic about how much I was going to use it.

I have made a list of some of the things I consider are my worst purchases. I regret purchasing them and wouldn’t mind returning them or moving back to the day I bought them and have a few words with my past self.

Why I regret it? I have never used some of them. Some others were poorly made and broke down after a couple of uses.

This self-reflection is an exercise I consider quite useful in order to do a self-evaluation. I believe it’s important to have a look at the past year and review your behaviour towards material stuff. Try to remember some of the things you bought and how many of them have been a waste of money.

1. My first camera

And the last one that I had. A very exciting trip was just around the corner and decided it was time to have a camera and stop using all my phone’s space. However, I wasn’t interested in professional photography and my knowledge about the topic was inexistent. I bought one with a decent amount of pixels.

It was not the most expensive nor the cheapest one. Just something in the middle. My logic was simple: “If the brand is good/well-known, the camera must be good”. Right?

Why was it a bad decision? The reason why this camera is on the list of items I regret buying is that I only used it once.

Apparently, I was wrong and pixels are not a proper synonym for quality. Also, it was a nuisance carrying a camera with me when I wasn’t travelling. I should have documented myself on the features that a good camera should have and then decide the price I was willing to pay for it.

2. Pricy Cosmetic Products That I Didn’t Test

I love trying new products on my skin. However, my skin type is not easy to please and, until now, just a few cosmetics have positive effects on my skin.

That’s the reason why I love buying travel sizes. Those are big enough to try for a few days and decide if I want to invest in the full-size version. Now, not all products have travel sizes.

My mistake was buying a product I had never tried before because it had a decent amount of good reviews. A few days after using the product, my skin would break and I wouldn’t use it again.

3. That Khaki Coat

I live in a cold city and am willing to pay a bit extra just to be warm enough. And for that, I need a decent coat. That’s all I was thinking when I got this Khaki-coloured coat.

The day I decided to buy the khaki coat, I was prioritizing my comfort over my fashion tendencies.

I thought the coat was almost perfect: warm and stylish

At the time I felt like the colour would look good on me and I would love it forever.

After the coat arrived, I was happy with it. It was comfortable enough, ignoring a tight feeling in the armpit fabric. The first time I wore it, I was still happy with it. It was warm and I didn’t give much importance to the lack of mobility under my arms.

The second time I wore it, the back of my jacket was unstitching.

I love my clothes, especially the new ones, so I am very careful not to leave them around or hook them in any door handle.

The reason of the unstitching was poor stitching. After watching some informative videos from designers, I found out that it is very common to find clothes with manufacturing bugs…

I decided to stitch it and give it a few more chances, but in just a few months I realise that the discomfort under my arm was very annoying and the colour didn’t feel that flattering anymore.

4. Formal Top

I could write a book about my bad experiences with clothing pieces.

Once upon a time (11 months ago) I was checking a clothing website (again). It was winter and I was enjoying all the comfort of my bed when I saw this off-shoulders grey top.

This time, I went to the real shop and tried it there. It looked perfect on me. I knew the style was quite formal, but I was positive that I would find the moment.

There was no moment. After 11 months, the piece is still my closet, as beautiful as the first day.

The price label remains part of the piece. The few days I had to dress up it was too cold to wear it.

Why was it a bad decision? I guess I wasn’t realistic when I bought it. I knew It would be difficult to find the occasion to wear it, but I still brought it home. One of the questions I should ask myself before buying something new is how often I will realistically use it.

When it comes to clothing, remember to always inspect the fabric and stitching before paying for it. Also, remember to buy something you feel comfortable wearing. Never underestimate any type of discomfort and select a colour you can combine with most of your current wardrobe.

Also, read the washing instructions!