Five Things I Regret Buying

And a few things I learned...

I tend to be very intentional about what I invest in — but I can also be wildly impulsive and impatient. Not an ideal combination. I don’t tend to wallow in regret, but I do believe in learning from my mistakes.

In no particular order, here are five things I truly regret buying:

The IKEA Couch Made of Actual Plywood

When Jordan and I first moved in together, we bought a pastel couch from IKEA — student budgets, limited options, you know the deal. It fell apart almost immediately, and we realized we could have found something far better at a secondhand store for the same cost or less.

My Takeaway → When it comes to daily-use furniture, invest in quality and consider vintage pieces, which were often better constructed.

The One New Car I Ever Bought

I genuinely couldn’t care less about cars, and they’re one of those things that loses value the moment you drive off the lot. Lesson learned: used only, from here on out. Note: I do plan to drive the car I bought for a million years until it dies.

My Takeaway → Depreciation is immediate and steep. A well-maintained used car gives you most of the benefit at a fraction of the cost.

Everything I’ve Ever Bought on Vacation

My theory is that travel temporarily suspends our sense of self — which can lead to some genuinely terrible shopping decisions. The metallic high heels I bought in Paris made zero sense once I got home and remembered my actual life. Same goes for the platform boots from London and the neon sneakers from Amsterdam. Now when I travel I look for specialty foods to bring home - really good chocolate, spices, or other non-perishables. Art or handmade goods when purchased selectively can also be a big win.

My Takeaway → Before buying anything abroad, ask yourself if you'd buy it at home. If the answer is no, put it down and walk away

Our Terrible Refrigerator

I won’t name the brand, but our refrigerator is truly the worst. Poorly made interior, limited storage, and an inexplicable habit of beeping relentlessly for no reason. Our counter depth limits the options, but with more research I’m confident we could have found something better.

My Takeaway → Appliances are long-term relationships. Spend an extra hour reading reviews before committing — your future self will thank you.

Every Variety of Non-Stick Pan

Turns out I’m not a fan of coatings — or the idea of chemicals leaching into our food. It’s stainless steel or nothing from now on. The chefs in my life swear by Made In cookware, plus a good cast iron skillet that only gets better with age.

My Takeaway → Buy fewer, better things. A stainless pan and a cast iron skillet will outlast you. Non-stick is a convenience that comes with a short shelf life and some unanswered questions.

Hopefully sharing my shopping blunders and lessons learned will prevent some costly mistakes. My biggest lesson? When in doubt - wait. Even 24 hours can be enough to break the spell.

Reader Prompt: What's one thing you've regretted buying — and what did you learn?

Fun Feature: my closet organizing tips are in Vogue (!)

Reading: Cazzie David’s new collection of self-deprecating essays, Delusions

Making: Swirled berry yogurt popsicles via Smitten Kitchen

Fewer Better Faves: A ruffle blouse for spring, workwear-inspired denim, an oversized scarf bandana, and the cutest organic pajamas for the littles in your life