What do you think people spend way too much money on?
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
United States
November 11, 2019 2:53pm CST
I'm taking bills off the table because it's so easy to say that we spend too much on our monthly and yearly bills.
So, other than bills / household expenses, what do you think people (or yourself) spend way too much money on?
For me, I'd have to say that people spend way too much going to the theaters. I like going to the theaters every once in awhile, but I think it can be too expensive to go see a movie. I don't begrudge anyone who likes to go see a movie, there are plenty I have wanted to see. I just can't personally justify the cost. I also feel as if the cinema / movie theater is going to be going out of style sooner rather than later.
What do you think?
15 people like this
13 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
I try to get all three of those things at the cheapest price I can. I want things to last years, but I don't want to spend exorbitant prices just to get it.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (119641)
• United States
11 Nov 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I buy things that are nice enough (Gap clothes, Converse sneakers, etc.) because, like you, I want them to last. I wouldn't spend $100 or $200 on a pair of jeans or shoes.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
@NJChicaa I buy vans, and usually try to get them when they are buy 1 get 1 free at Shoe Carnival. Jeans shouldn't cost more than $30 in my opinion. I buy a pair of jeans that is going to last me for years.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180825)
• United States
11 Nov 19
I would say likely eating out, and groceries. Restaurant food is expensive for the most part, and people end up throwing groceries away some of the time..so I would say either of those two.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
Yes, especially with the groceries. I have to sort of tell myself while in a store "Amber, you may want these, but how likely are you to eat all of them before they expire?"
Especially with apps like Ibotta, I feel tempted to buy more "because it's on sale + I can get cash back with Ibotta", I have to tell myself that just because it's a good price doesn't mean it's a good deal.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8767)
• United Kingdom
12 Nov 19
I think there are a lot of things. I agree with you that theatres/cinemas can be expensive. We paid £8 each the last time we went (and that was relatively cheap). I love to do a lot of things but find it hard to justify the cost.
I think people, in general, spend far too much on technology - a new phone every year when there's nothing wrong with the one they have, which is exactly the same as the new one for which they're paying hundreds.
There are things that are a person's 'thing' - I, for example, will spend a lot of board games while other people might see them as expensive. There are, on the other hand, things like going to concerts that I would love to do more often but can't afford and wouldn't justify spending even if I saved enough.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
I feel like by the time I've saved up for something like a concert, I could use that money on something necessary like minor repairs to the house or some paint to patch up areas on the walls in the house.
I agree with you about the phone thing. I used to be that way, but it didn't take me long to realize how much money I was throwing out. Now I use my phone until I simply can't anymore, and then I get another one. I do not like apple products, I have had one Iphone and I feel like it didn't last as long as it could have. Of course, it was a refurbished phone and several generations old but I stand by my opinion.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
@pumpkinjam I am sure they appreciate the spoiling, atleast the ones old enough to understand money. I think my niece and nephew both understand the value of money now, but it took them awhile to understand it.
The nephew used to get mad and throw his phone. His parents were always getting him a new phone until one day they stopped, and I think he finally learned that he needed to take care of his stuff.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
11 Nov 19
Coffee..Starbucks. Every single day ..could make your own drink at home.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70022)
• United States
11 Nov 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Oh yes people spend a fortune there
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
@TiarasOceanView Not just on the drinks either, but on the other foods they have displayed.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
When I worked for a grocery store, I knew of a few ladies who did that every single day and I couldn't help wondering how much they spent per year.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
People are not keeping their smartphones as long as they should. They see the newest thing and think they have to have it. I keep mine until it is necessary to replace.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
@LadyDuck Yes! I don't get those who wait in a long line to get the phone, or even those who preorder it. I can sort of understand those who work for the cellphone company. They may need to have the newest phone so that they can accurately describe it's features to potential customers. Everyone else? It's just ridiculous to get a phone simply because it's new. There are not many feature changes between different models.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471433)
• Switzerland
12 Nov 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum They see the new one and they even stay in line to have it immediately. Ridiculous!
@janethwayne (5191)
• Philippines
12 Nov 19
Holidays and shopping for clothing and food mostly.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
Definitely Holidays!
People go bankrupt giving gifts and I just can't justify doing that.
This year I decided to do handmade soap and I started spending on that in October so that I did not have to use my credit card.
@Tina30219 (81944)
• Onaway, Michigan
12 Nov 19
It could be a number of things like if they are addicted to something it could be something like that for instance with me it could be books or chocolate and some I think could be clothes or video games
@Tina30219 (81944)
• Onaway, Michigan
12 Nov 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am the same way even though I don’t spend much on my books most of them I only spend 99cents on them
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
@Tina30219 I think the most I spend at the thrift store is $5.00. I used to sale items to get vouchers and so a lot of the books I got were free. Still, I spend too much on kindle books sometimes.
Do you use the overdrive app on your phone? I have thought about getting it but the reviews arent' so good.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
Yeah, I do not want to admit that I probably spend too much on books. Even if I am getting them at cheaper prices.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
Do you think you spend too much? Do you think travel (plane, train, bus) can be too expensive?
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
I'm not saying the fun stuff isn't worth it, and I'm happy for those who can afford it, but I guess I think more long term. What can be done with that money in the future? What about saving it for the future?
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Nov 19
People have already mentioned the obvious. I will add costly video games. All that money for some game sitting on the couch.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
Yeah, I'll admit that I used to be part of that video game craze. I play video games occasionally, but I don't buy new video games either.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
12 Nov 19
You are also aware of what's going in the food if you cook it yourself. You can control the sugar content, the salt content etc.
@acrogodess (992)
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
13 Nov 19
I work in a restaurant. We have customers that eat there all three meals. It is so much cheaper to cook at home and the food is better than the sandwiches, soup and salads we offer.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
13 Nov 19
We go to a restaurant twice a week, but there is a guy that we see there and I've heard the waitress say "See you tomorrow." It might be that he just can't cook for himself, but I was like "wow, that's a lot of mony to spend per day."
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
14 Nov 19
@acrogodess Oh okay I see, that makes more sense.
@acrogodess (992)
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
14 Nov 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum the area i work at is mostly business workers: lawyers, nurses, dental assistants, secretaries, and more. Perhaps they just tired of working all day, but 3 times a day is a bit much.
Our other clientel is senior citizens. Some of them come from the alzheimers facility and are no longer allowed to cook for themselves
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
Yes, I agree, we all have our preferences. My own answer is very much a preference. I have to agree with you about going out to eat, I do think people (including myself) do it way too often. Do you feel as if that eating out is becoming the new norm?
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
11 Nov 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes I do because look at how any families now go out on Thanksgiving and even on Christmas. That used to never happen.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
11 Nov 19
@CarolDM True! I mean Golden Corral is open on Thanksgiving, and I think atleast on Christmas Eve. I know that people have less and less money to spend on big dinners for the holidays, but going out to eat shouldn't be the answer. Stay at home and spend time with the family, the waitstaff and cooks would definitely like to be at home instead of serving people.
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