Things that aren't worth the $ anymore..

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Things that aren't worth the $ anymore..
20
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 9:17am

I saw this thread on another board on iVillage and thought it could be an interesting one for this group as well.

I am going to start out by saying cable TV. Most of what is on there is rubbish, and every 6 months they put up the price. We are bombarded by ads and have to pay for the privilege of watching them as well.

Anyone else want to chime in?

Beach

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 9:29am

For me, it's:

designer clothing
manicures and pedicures
professional haircuts
expensive hair products
overdone holiday decorations
expensive kids' b-day parties
expensive department stores
Buying new books (library is free!)
Jewelry, unless for something sentimental such as an engagement/wedding
Brand-name candles (Yankee, etc)--dollar stores have a great selection now!

...and I'm beginning to think my lawn service isn't worth the money anymore. We pay $53 for each of seven annual treatments, and I still have weeds. LOL! :-D

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 10:42am

Name brand foods-I use generics for almost everything Coke is my holdout
Disposable diapers-Cloth diapered both kids
Fancy shoes-I buy Payless usually, second hand
New clothes-we mostly wear garage sale and consignment clothes.
Books-love the library!
Kids DVD's, CD's & videos-we also get these at the library
Clothes dryer-I love my outside line

Taleyna

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2001
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 11:21am

There are some great ideas of things I should consider aren't worth the $ anymore from the 2 previous posts...

I quit smoking and that certainly wasn't worth the $ - but now I have supplemented it with an expensive coffee habit.

Though they taste fantastic the Bad Ass coffees I buy in the AM aren't worth the $ I spend on them.

Eating out all the time is not worth the $ anymore. I convinced myself that cooking for a single person it worked out about the same, but let's face it - it doesn't!

Beach

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 11:22am

- since I'm planning a wedding, I'm going to say anything I can do myself, like invitations (do I REALLY need to spend $200 for 50 pieces of printed paper???), fresh flowers (silk are just as nice), professional decorators, bridal shop veils (one of the biggest rip-offs in the bridal industry - they basically sell $5 worth of tulle, beads, and rhinestones for $200), professional photographers (is 8 hours of someone's time and a few rolls of film really worth up to $2500?), and lots more.

- salon brand shampoo. I used to buy it all the time.

- most brand name foods, especially stuff like cereal (who can really tell the difference between Crunchy Oh's and Cheerios, other than your wallet?)

- movies at the movie theater. I just go see the ones I REALLY want the big screen experience for - like the last Star Wars, and the upcoming Harry Potter movie. :)



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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 12:50pm

Hi, saw some great ideas. Here is my list of too much $$$$:

l) Alterations and dry cleaning. Why do women's clothes alterations cost more than men's tailoring? If I could only hem things without it coming apart!
2) Pet supplies. Branding and product placement stuff. Doggie mouthwash (!) Rhinestone collars. Forget it.
3) Ladies lingere. Bras are outrageous. I started getting mine online or at Target.
4) Computer and cell phone accessories--wires, adaptors, plug-ins, cases,ink, etc. DH got some kind of inking system that he puts into the ink cartridges to make them last longer.
5. Gadgets marketers say you need, but dont----lettuce and onion containers for the fridge, mattress pad holders that look like grandmother's girdles, etc.
6. Baby items. Got some things for a shower. Oh my----just one little outfit---$25.00! Makes me want to start crocheting.

Whiz.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2005
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 1:34pm
To me it's anything purchased to "keep up with the jones's" or be cool or sexy or whatever advertising tells you their products will do. I just visited with an old coworker who has my old job, he is making maybe $25,000 after taxes and was saying he was going to buy a $40,000 car! he coulnd't believe i was (heaven forbid) still driving my 1997 car, that i've had for 5 years. I told him it's not worth it to me right now to have car payments.
Also toys for kids, you can get anything at yard sales for $1, great little tikes toys, This summer i got a little tykes slide for dd for $2, a baby doll stroller for $1, a little tykes baby doll carriage for $1, a brand new playpen for outside this summer for $5, (which hurt b/c i had purchased a $100 one the year before new) a little tikes shopping cart for $1 not to mention some really nice things that i am getting from freecycle, a table and chair from ikea and a rocking chair for dd. All of these items would have added up to maybe $500 and my grand total was $11, gotta love that!!!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-23-2005
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 2:08pm

Anything that I can make myself I do.

lvhunnie2005

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 2:41pm

I was going to say cable TV too.

Photobucket

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 11-04-2005 - 5:02pm

Things not worth the money:

New instead of used. There are a very, very few exceptions to this rule, but nearly everything we own now was pre-owned, because we pay pennies on the dollar that way. I gasp at the amount of money people happily hand over for something as simple as a mixing bowl or a planter. $10 not spent on a cheap toy at WalMart will buy me many nice quality items for $1-$2 (or less) a piece at yard sales.

Cable. But then we've never had cable.

Junk food.

Gasoline. Okay, obviously, it's worth it for traveling to work and buying the things we need; but it's not worth it just to run around town amusing ourselves, or running out for one last ingredient for a recipe, etc.

Some things that *are* worth the money:

A house that suits us perfectly.

Organic food.

Health supplements (herbal remedies for common ailments, cholesterol-lowering supplements for dh, vitamin and mineral supplements for kitty).

Targeted Education--whether that's good books (most I check out of the library, some I buy to refer to often), classes, workshops, or life experiences, anything that teaches us what we need to be more productive and get closer to our goals is worth the money.

Date night--yup, babysitting and a night out with just my spouse. Worth every penny.

Great thread.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-21-2004
Sat, 11-05-2005 - 6:43am

I love this thread! here are a few of mine!

1. name brand foods, i but them if they are on sale and I have a coupong, but otherwise it's generic!
2. name brand diapers (pull ups) - my daughter only wears one at night, and i buy generic. although, i have always bought the generic diapers as well.
3. name brand dog food - my dog will eat anything, literally.
4. my dishwasher - i loved it when i had it , but when it broke, i realized i didn't need it.
5. books - although this one kills me. i am borrowing from the library or buying used.
6. eating out - we are refusing the eat out, but once a week. And it has to be a sit down mea. I mean, we need a waitress, no standing at the counter. We used to spend a fortune on take out and fast food and didn't really enjoy! when we go out, it's got to be a real treat so we really appreciate it. (hopefully we will be saving this type of meal for date night)
7. preschool - I am feeling alot of pressure from people telling me my three year old should be in preschool. I don't think so. I work from home, so why should she? she is in a playgroup and a storytime and she goes to work with me. I am also starting a very informal home school program next week. (free from the internet - letteroftheweek.com) I don't need to pay for preschool right now.

and um, i think thats it for now!!! great thread!

kel

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