Consumerism has eaten deep into American culture, and it’s now hard for Americans to ignore certain products that come with very few benefits. We’ve compiled 18 of these that you need to reevaluate your attitude towards today.
Pre-Cut Fruits and Vegetables
We still end up buying pre-cut fruits despite the fact that they’re sold at prices marked up way higher than their whole counterparts. And this isn’t even the worst thing about them. Pre-cut fruits often lose their freshness and nutrients before you get to eat them, and they unnecessarily contribute to plastic pollution, too.
Supplements and Detoxes
Learning from Harvard, there’s generally no evidence that detox spas and treatments have any benefit for our health, and some even come with negative side effects. Yes, healthcare is way more expensive. But it’s always better to visit the doctor whenever you feel uncomfortable or to just start prioritizing balanced diets.
Fast Fashion Items
There’s a lot of cheap manufacturing that goes into providing us with the mass-produced “fast” fashion items we wear. And this inevitably leaves us with poorly-made clothes that are less durable and will need replacement frequently. It’s a cycle of consumption that’s bad for both our finances and the environment.
Bottled Water
In many cases, bottled water comes from the same source and is no healthier than the regular tap water you drink at home. And investing in a water filtering system reduces our plastic waste and serves us even better financially in the long run. But we still buy bottled water anyway because it seems more accessible and convenient.
Cheap Kitchen Gadgets
Specialized gadgets eventually clutter our kitchen space because, more often than not, they end up being rarely used. These specialized gadgets are also usually poorly made and break easily, and we still go back to general-purpose kitchen equipment like knives, microwaves, and pots.
Latest Smartphone Models
New models of smartphones typically come with expensive price tags, easily extending beyond $1,000 for the base versions. And you realize it’s only a waste of money considering that they depreciate fast, offer barely any upgrades from older generations, and these older smartphones suffice for what most people need one for.
Designer Baby Clothes
On one hand, designer clothes are not any more functional or comfortable than their cheaper, more affordable counterparts. On the other hand, babies outgrow clothes quickly, making it hard to justify spending that much in the first place. What’s more, these designer clothes come with very specific washing requirements, eventually making them impractical for everyday use.
Extended Warranties
Not only are extended warranties often overpriced and not used to their full value, but many come with very specific, restrictive terms and frustrating claims processes that make recoveries on them almost impossible. Talking about extended car warranties, Forbes shares how the more reliable deals from manufacturers also come with higher initial costs.
Subscription Boxes
Subscription boxes are a new concept in e-commerce. And they’re known to contain trendy items, enthusiasm for which eventually wears off, leaving us with products we wouldn’t use. They also give us extra items we pay for but don’t necessarily need, and they trap us in ongoing costs because subscriptions are hard to cancel too.
Name-Brand Medications
In case you didn’t know, over-the-counter generics are regulated by the same standards as branded alternatives. Hence, for a fraction of the price, you get products with the same ingredients that perform the same function as the more expensive branded medications. However, even people who know this still end up skipping them, seeing brand-name medications as more trustworthy.
Impulse Buys at Checkout
Those items you see at the checkout counters of supermarkets or drug stores aren’t there by coincidence. CBC explains how it’s a strategic move from stores to entice you into impulsively purchasing items you don’t need. You end up regretting your purchases, and you also spend significant money on these items if you can’t control the urge to.
Specialty Cleaning Products
Multipurpose cleaners typically handle most cleaning needs without any hassle. But many people still end up buying the more expensive specialized or branded cleaning products, which promise more than they deliver. These specialized products accumulate in bottles in our homes that we rarely use.
Trendy Fitness Equipment
Rather than focusing on cheaper, more versatile gear that provides the same result, many people still end up buying trendy equipment, which is often more expensive and abandoned after the enthusiasm for it dies out. It’s a preference for gimmicks over long-term, sustainable fitness habits.
High-End HDMI Cables
When it comes to HDMI, digital signals are either on or not, and higher-priced cables don’t assure you of better picture quality, audio quality, or performance. Moderately priced generic cables do a perfect job, and the only time people need to pay more for one is if they need it to be longer.
Overly Specific Cookbooks
There are some things many people fail to consider when it comes to cookbooks. Ingredients in specialized cookbooks are typically expensive and hard to find, and you’ll eventually end up abandoning these books after trying out the first few recipes. What’s more, online recipes are typically free, more easily accessible, and offer more variety.
Gourmet Pet Food
Dr. Joseph Wakshlag, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, shares with Consumer Reports, “There’s no scientific evidence that any food is better than the next.” Gourmet pet foods only take up more of your money without any health benefits over cheaper, well-balanced pet diets.
Luxury Bed Linens
Bed sheets with high thread counts are typically more expensive without any significant boost in comfort. And they’re more difficult to maintain, forcing you to buy replacements sooner than you’d like to! You find the best balance with mid-priced linens, which you get the most out of with proper maintenance.
Seasonal Décor
You’re better off renting your seasonal décor than outright purchasing it. This is because it’s typically expensive when you consider the amount of time you need the décor, and you also have to find almost permanent storage space for seasonal items you use only once a year.
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