The vacation purchases are so relatable! I went to Costa Rica a few years ago and bought some pretty expensive beachy flowy pants that make zero sense for my real life as a mom in Colorado. And you have to basically take them all the way off to pee. Like whattttt was I thinking 😆
Non-essential hobby items! I’ve definitely been guilty of starting a new hobby and gotten overly excited about all the fun “accessories” that go along with it, only to pursue the hobby for a few months before realizing it’s not for me and now I have all the kit to open an Etsy shop for said hobby (I’m looking at you sewing and sourdough). Lesson learned - try the hobby with the minimum gear or rent/borrow what I can until truly confident this is something I’ll continue long term.
Fancy dresses for work holiday parties. I was young and so worried about being festive while also being appropriate while also being cute but not too cute. Man those were deeply specific occasion where I did not need to spend beaucoup bucks.
On vacation, I sometimes buy inexpensive art. The things I've bought spark such great memories. But I am very picky and proud of the fact that there are still a lot of blank spaces on our walls years after moving into our home because I know I have space when I see the "right" thing.
Many many items I’ve regretted. So many clothing items that kinda fit or were discounted. Cute one off decor that looked great in the shop but not great at home. Makeup that I thought I needed. And my new one is perfume- smells pretty at first but I end up not liking after all. Uggggggg!
I definitely have regretted some vacation purchases! Now I buy either a Christmas ornament or a vinyl sticker to go on my computer or iPad. Once in a while I’ll buy a nice long sleeve tee or stylish sweatshirt that I know I’ll wear in chilly Ohio. But the material and style have to be just right and I have to LOVE it before it comes home with me! Too many ugly t-shirts have been bought in the past.
Yes, Christmas ornaments! My son and I started picking one ornament for each trip when he was 5. He’s 17 now and we have fun remembering each trip when we unpack the ornaments. :)
Yeah I prefer to clothing shop in person but I don’t usually fit that into my regular life, so sometimes buying normal real life clothes on vacation works as a fun practical souvenir.
Clothing or anything really that I can’t return. I mainly shop at places that have good return policies. Because sometimes purchases don’t work out the way you thought they would. Also, all books, library only -unless it’s an absolute favorite. (So fun to try new cookbooks from the library.) Also, most subscriptions. I try to only have one streaming platform at a time. And if an app is going to be helpful for something in my life it needs to be free. Oh and items for vacation. Whatever I have is enough. I don’t need more travel items. I have two large containers at this point! Ugh!
I have a few fancy - aka weird floral pattern - designer dresses that I bought for “garden” weddings or events. They are sitting in my closet unworn like some 1950’s I Love Lucy dresses!
Ha ha - thank you for your candor, Shira. I related to every single one of your purchasing errors and could add more than a few of my own.
The most recent, glaring error was buying an electric vehicle, sure that I was being environmentally conscious and doing my part to save the Earth. No one mentioned what a learning curve there was involved in driving it efficiently. I realized how much work I needed to put into it to enjoy driving the way I used to. I had a lot of anxiety due to charging expediently, so we never took a road trip in the year and a half that we had it!
Now we have a safe and easy hybrid and feel safe and sane again behind the wheel.
I identify with your list sooooo much except the IKEA couch. Mine is circa 2008 and still going strong thanks to several sets of slipcovers to keep it looking clean and fresh. Especially buying a car that is new. Four years in still regretting it.
Hard agree on used cars. New cars are just too precious! We drove a 2001 Toyota 4Runner forever and it was so satisfying to see the odometor keep going up knowing we had no payment and no stress around anything happening to it.
I hope I’ve finally learned that if I need a fancy occasion dress and can’t make it work from my closet that I should just subscribe to Nuuly for one month and grab a few options and be done with it.
Regrets:
- many thrifted clothing items bought online that aren’t returnable or hard to return.
- vacation adjacent: panic buying stuff to pack before (like buying the flowy beach pants and linen shorts the week before quickly)
Yessssssss to the vacation purchases !!! Those are certainly in the regrets category for me almost always :/ I’ve stopped letting myself buy vacation items that aren’t thrifted !
Any kids carnival/fair game peddling cheap prize stuffed animals for which we inevitably spend $50 to avoid a meltdown. Because of this, we now own a stuffed unicorn, which slightly resembles a clown, who we affectionately call “Rainbow”and has a Texas accent similar to Matthew McConaughey. Howdy, Howdy 🤠
The vacation purchases are so relatable! I went to Costa Rica a few years ago and bought some pretty expensive beachy flowy pants that make zero sense for my real life as a mom in Colorado. And you have to basically take them all the way off to pee. Like whattttt was I thinking 😆
Non-essential hobby items! I’ve definitely been guilty of starting a new hobby and gotten overly excited about all the fun “accessories” that go along with it, only to pursue the hobby for a few months before realizing it’s not for me and now I have all the kit to open an Etsy shop for said hobby (I’m looking at you sewing and sourdough). Lesson learned - try the hobby with the minimum gear or rent/borrow what I can until truly confident this is something I’ll continue long term.
Aspirational books. Better to get through the library!
Fancy dresses for work holiday parties. I was young and so worried about being festive while also being appropriate while also being cute but not too cute. Man those were deeply specific occasion where I did not need to spend beaucoup bucks.
On vacation, I sometimes buy inexpensive art. The things I've bought spark such great memories. But I am very picky and proud of the fact that there are still a lot of blank spaces on our walls years after moving into our home because I know I have space when I see the "right" thing.
Many many items I’ve regretted. So many clothing items that kinda fit or were discounted. Cute one off decor that looked great in the shop but not great at home. Makeup that I thought I needed. And my new one is perfume- smells pretty at first but I end up not liking after all. Uggggggg!
I definitely have regretted some vacation purchases! Now I buy either a Christmas ornament or a vinyl sticker to go on my computer or iPad. Once in a while I’ll buy a nice long sleeve tee or stylish sweatshirt that I know I’ll wear in chilly Ohio. But the material and style have to be just right and I have to LOVE it before it comes home with me! Too many ugly t-shirts have been bought in the past.
Yes, Christmas ornaments! My son and I started picking one ornament for each trip when he was 5. He’s 17 now and we have fun remembering each trip when we unpack the ornaments. :)
Yeah I prefer to clothing shop in person but I don’t usually fit that into my regular life, so sometimes buying normal real life clothes on vacation works as a fun practical souvenir.
Clothing or anything really that I can’t return. I mainly shop at places that have good return policies. Because sometimes purchases don’t work out the way you thought they would. Also, all books, library only -unless it’s an absolute favorite. (So fun to try new cookbooks from the library.) Also, most subscriptions. I try to only have one streaming platform at a time. And if an app is going to be helpful for something in my life it needs to be free. Oh and items for vacation. Whatever I have is enough. I don’t need more travel items. I have two large containers at this point! Ugh!
I have a few fancy - aka weird floral pattern - designer dresses that I bought for “garden” weddings or events. They are sitting in my closet unworn like some 1950’s I Love Lucy dresses!
Ha ha - thank you for your candor, Shira. I related to every single one of your purchasing errors and could add more than a few of my own.
The most recent, glaring error was buying an electric vehicle, sure that I was being environmentally conscious and doing my part to save the Earth. No one mentioned what a learning curve there was involved in driving it efficiently. I realized how much work I needed to put into it to enjoy driving the way I used to. I had a lot of anxiety due to charging expediently, so we never took a road trip in the year and a half that we had it!
Now we have a safe and easy hybrid and feel safe and sane again behind the wheel.
Maureen
I identify with your list sooooo much except the IKEA couch. Mine is circa 2008 and still going strong thanks to several sets of slipcovers to keep it looking clean and fresh. Especially buying a car that is new. Four years in still regretting it.
So happy to hear you had better luck! xx
Hard agree on used cars. New cars are just too precious! We drove a 2001 Toyota 4Runner forever and it was so satisfying to see the odometor keep going up knowing we had no payment and no stress around anything happening to it.
I hope I’ve finally learned that if I need a fancy occasion dress and can’t make it work from my closet that I should just subscribe to Nuuly for one month and grab a few options and be done with it.
Regrets:
- many thrifted clothing items bought online that aren’t returnable or hard to return.
- vacation adjacent: panic buying stuff to pack before (like buying the flowy beach pants and linen shorts the week before quickly)
yes! panic buying before vacation - that's a rough one
Yessssssss to the vacation purchases !!! Those are certainly in the regrets category for me almost always :/ I’ve stopped letting myself buy vacation items that aren’t thrifted !
Carbon steel is also non stick (eventually)
Any kids carnival/fair game peddling cheap prize stuffed animals for which we inevitably spend $50 to avoid a meltdown. Because of this, we now own a stuffed unicorn, which slightly resembles a clown, who we affectionately call “Rainbow”and has a Texas accent similar to Matthew McConaughey. Howdy, Howdy 🤠
I love your life edit. Always something so relatable. Thank you.