What Do People Spend Money on That You Think Is Stupid and Extravagant?

jellykingdom on 19/12/2018 - 11:27
Last edited 19/12/2018 - 11:41 by 1 other user

Hard one to word correctly in the title…

I have seen a few examples lately of silly and over-the-top things that people pay loads of money for, and it honestly makes me a little angry that people waste money on such nonsense.

My list includes (they're mostly vanity related I notice):
- $1000 sneakers
- $20 pairs of socks
- Butler's pantries - so now you have a 'Good' kitchen, and an 'Actual' kitchen… (mod: language)
- $2000 iphones

I'm certainly guilty of wasting money from time to time, on clothes or booze or furniture etc, and I make a decent living so this isn't a whinge about "Why do people have money and not me??". I am just absolutely gobsmacked sometimes at the stuff people spend their money on….and yes it is their money to waste obviously

What's on your list of "WTF Expenses"?

General Discussion

Comments

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 20/12/2018 - 15:47
    +3

    OH OH OH people that buy a bottle of water in the food court for 4$ but can buy it at coles that is 20 meters walk up from the food court for a dollar…

    I reckon i could for forever

    • dufflover on 20/12/2018 - 16:15
      +2

      On the same topic, I find it annoying the people who do the whole sarcastic "oh noes it's only (some amount under $5)". There's stingy, then there's just plain rip-off laziness/poor value, especially if you multiply that many times per day it really adds up.

    • brad1-8tsi on 21/12/2018 - 10:42
      +1

      "People that buy bottled water."

      That's all the sentence has to say.

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 20/12/2018 - 16:28
    -5

    Travel is my addiction; regularly flying premium, dining at the best restaurants in the world, staying in luxury hotels and resorts.

    My lifestyle and travel photo looks 'amazing' to my friends on Facebook - it is a hard gig and someone has to do it ;)

    Some restaurants we have dined at in 2018 include Osteria Francesana, Gaggan, El Cellar de Can Roca, Hisa Franco, Ithaa at the Conrad Maldives …. easily spending > $1,000 on a meal.

    Staying at resorts where they ask you at check-in to pre-authorise $10,000+ …. crazy.

    Boarding planes whenever I feel like it - including pushing past everyone else because I am entitled to do so OR that airline staff are escorting me through people OR even better, getting a limousine directly to the door of the plane. Amazing.

    • DiscoJango on 20/12/2018 - 19:12
      +2

      when you take a shit, does it look & smell better than the average persons too?

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 21/12/2018 - 06:34
        -3

        Very educated and thought out comment, from this I can guess either your left or right, or even both sides of your brain isn't functioning optimally.

        • DiscoJango on 21/12/2018 - 08:28
          +1

          Enough hyperbole from you sir fancy pants.

          We all know your cant fly "premium" without premium toilet paper

          But i do wipe both left and right cheeks, so my brain functions most optimal

    • JelIyfish on 20/12/2018 - 22:42
      +2

      Premium economy… that's when you know you've made it…

  • MementoMori on 20/12/2018 - 16:39

    iPhone 8's (when a 6S is basically the same thing esp with iOS 12).

  • kahn on 20/12/2018 - 18:20

    Do you want fries with that? I ain't made of money, pal.

  • serpserpserp on 20/12/2018 - 20:45

    Ultra Luxury Brands. I just don't see the value you in it when you can literally get it made bespoke for yourself through someone that can make clothes/shoes/bags etc.

    • jellykingdom on 21/12/2018 - 08:02
      +1

      I hear that! When i was in Vietnam, i got myself a freaking beautiful jacket and completely customised pair of leather boots (chose the style, the fit, the toe, the leather colour, the embossing, etc) and still get compliments on them when i wear them out. All for something like $120AUD all up. And even that was probably more than i should have paid haha

      • serpserpserp on 21/12/2018 - 10:44

        You'd pay $10,000 at Gucci so a bargain really.

  • Deadalready on 20/12/2018 - 21:34

    Couple owned two Lancers which were repossessed due to not making the payments. Replaced them with the even more expensive Subaru WRX, which I assume also aren't being paid for.

    If you can afford it, then I don't really see a problem but if buying it puts you into massive debt you can't afford - there's a problem.

  • abuch47 on 20/12/2018 - 21:36
    -1

    Designer drugs and alcohol

  • bmerigan on 20/12/2018 - 22:35

    I like your list. An $1800 phone every year is some pathetic fandom.
    I'll add:
    Cigarettes.
    And maybe:
    Real LV bags.
    Kanye sneakers in particular.

    • belongsinforums on 21/12/2018 - 01:16

      Sadly,.lv is childs play. I wish my other half loved lv instead of chanel

  • bmerigan on 20/12/2018 - 22:46
    +8

    Pokies!

    • inherentchoice on 22/12/2018 - 11:44

      So sad but true. Australia has among the highest numbers of pokies per capita in the world.

    • Cluster on 23/12/2018 - 12:18
      +1

      Some people claim to play pokies for fun, but if that's the case they can download free apps and play as many pokies as they like. So most people are there for the money, and obviously most people lose most of the time. Australia has a severe gambling problem (just watch a sports broadcast, many ads are for betting agencies). Pokies to me seem as fun as sandpaper toilet paper.

  • Toothfairy0412 on 21/12/2018 - 00:21

    gucci bags. WHy do people pay around 2000$ to advertise for a brand. Apparently costs like 200$ to make max.

    • asrey1975 on 21/12/2018 - 16:24

      Peeps should just buy the fake ones and save the money for something worthwhile.

  • Overcomerak on 21/12/2018 - 01:49

    Replica championship belts. I bought the NWA replica belt for 900 AUD shipped. I have also other 7 WWE replica belts. Call me crazy.

    • Baysew on 21/12/2018 - 14:08

      Perhaps call you "Super Crazy"

  • cnmarine on 21/12/2018 - 01:50
    +8

    Kids, they're expensive and you don't even know if they'll turn out to be an asset or major liability.

  • Serapis on 21/12/2018 - 07:50

    Lambos

  • dust on 21/12/2018 - 08:48
    +6

    Bottled water.

  • miller0 on 21/12/2018 - 08:50
    +2

    Paid parking, 1-2 takeaway coffees & lunch 5 days a week. I don't know why or how people do it.
    In Canberra that's around $140 a week… In Sydney or Melbourne, I'd expect that to be much more.

  • Eeples on 21/12/2018 - 09:23

    $4 for a 600ml Diet Coke bottle.

  • blergmonkeys on 21/12/2018 - 10:01

    A buddy of mine just spent $50k on a demo Audi A3. Ugh.

  • swen83 on 21/12/2018 - 10:19

    anything bought with a loan that could have been had either cheaper second hand, or by waiting a few months.

    Young people and new cars is a classic one. 50k new car with a borderline predatory loan (cause they cant get anything else) ends up costing over 80k, and can set a young person back years financially.

    a numpty at work redraws from his mortgage annually to go on a holiday. he's 5 years into a 30 year mortgage after 20 years. crazy.

  • brad1-8tsi on 21/12/2018 - 10:54
    +1

    I don't see the value in Foxtel but I think Netflix is great.

    Buying your lunch and several coffees every day.

    Boats - and I've owned 3 small sailing boats so "guilty as charged". The ultimate money pit.

    Cars and modifying cars - man have I wasted money on that.

    Rent.

    I do think if you have the money then great but i have friends who haven't worked in 18 months and can't afford rent and the guy always drinks at the pub at $9 schooner (rather than take home) and the woman spends crazy amounts at the hairdresser / beauty parlour.

    Personally, i spend a truckload of money on travel, music concerts and theatre, booze and restaurants (I budget $40k/yr on it) but if my wage dropped I'd wind it back straight away.

    • boostpak on 21/12/2018 - 13:29

      whats wrong with buying lunch every so often? get out of the workplace, its refreshing and having something different every so often. I think it's actually good to do mentally

      • miller0 on 21/12/2018 - 13:51
        +2

        In my opinion, every so often is perfectly OK. Every day however is lazy and a massive waste of money.

        • boostpak on 22/12/2018 - 17:39

          agree, even at once a week is perfectly fine and a good thing

      • Some Human on 22/12/2018 - 17:57

        I read “every day”, not “every so often”

        • boostpak on 22/12/2018 - 18:02
          -1

          I read "Buying your lunch and several coffees every day" .. bUt gOod One mAte

          • Some Human on 22/12/2018 - 19:49

            @boostpak: Yet you responded with “whats wrong with buying your lunch every so often?”

      • brad1-8tsi on 24/12/2018 - 07:49

        Every so often is fine. Every day is a personal choice that I don't subscribe to. I take my lunch almost every day. Today is a nice palak paneer. I have a couple of teenage kids and a girlfriend that I'd rather spend the money on.

    • Some Human on 22/12/2018 - 17:58

      I don't see the value in Foxtel

      You can’t see what’s not there :)

      • brad1-8tsi on 24/12/2018 - 07:52

        A mate left his foxtel box at my place and kept paying the subscription. Besides "Walks with my Dogs" there wasn't a lot that interested me. I assume it's aimed more at people that like watching sports

  • madseason on 21/12/2018 - 10:59
    +2

    Personalised Number Plates…. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills when I see people drop hundreds of dollars on these things!

    Each to their own though I guess.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2018 - 17:31

      Some are pretty cool, but a lot lately are just things like "STR4Y4" (straya)… Not very creative lol

  • asrey1975 on 21/12/2018 - 16:20
    -2

    Any 4k TV over $1500 for a run of the mill 65"

  • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2018 - 17:30

    Almost everything sold by Harvey Norman.
    Most extended warranty packages*
    Premium installation/support^
    Telco (particularly mobile plans)
    Bluetooth speakers°
    Nimble/personal loans

    *This really depends what it is, though in particular extended coverage on items like washing machines. The item is already expected to last X years and the seller already legally has to provide pickup - the extended coverage provides literally no extra service beyond existing consumer rights.
    ^For example, Telstra charges something like $159 to setup a new wifi router… You literally just plug it in - it auto configures.
    °Particually the Kmart crap with fancy lights/etc. Often see people paying 70-100+ just because it looks good, even when they sound worse than ~$20 speakers on gearbest.

    • JimB on 21/12/2018 - 21:53

      Harvey Norman sometimes have the best prices on appliances.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2018 - 22:40

        Yeah, more referring to the ultra retail product lines.

        • JimB on 21/12/2018 - 23:02

          Fair enough, but I wouldn't consider 'ultra retail product lines' Almost everything they sell.

          • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2018 - 23:21

            @JimB: Nah yeah, they have some decent stuff when it's a good bargain… But in general it's very overpriced. Just watch any Harvey Norman advertisement where it's a "SUPER HALF YEARLY SALE" and they show a laptop that's still literally double the price of elsewhere…

            • JimB on 22/12/2018 - 09:01

              @[Deactivated]: Yeah laptops are pricey..

              I find their TVs and Whitegoods competitive and sometimes cheaper.

              Really depends on the store and salesperson but I've had good experiences with Knox City HN.

  • Hotpotcorn on 21/12/2018 - 18:06
    -1

    menulog/ubereats when no discount code is used….
    these prices are super jacked up…

  • Overproof on 21/12/2018 - 20:37

    Cigars. The excise duty is out of control here

  • sandman87 on 21/12/2018 - 20:43
    +1

    People who spend thousands, if not tens of thousands on a wristwatch. I understand that people may appreciate the craftsmanship, but spending more doesn't increase its ability to tell the time.

  • letmesingh on 21/12/2018 - 23:59
    +1

    Foxtel

  • eggboi on 22/12/2018 - 00:38
    -1

    New cars 100%. I will never understand why so many people are happy to fork out 30-40k for a brand new car only to have a third of that value evaporate in the first couple of years. Then as soon as the depreciation starts to slow down, they offload the car and buy another brand new one!

    • brad1-8tsi on 24/12/2018 - 07:56

      I agree but apparently once the warranty runs out the wheels fall off! :-)

      • aussieolfaction on 24/12/2018 - 11:36
        -1

        I agree but apparently once the warranty runs out the wheels fall off! :-)

        This is true for most European cars.

  • Farrba on 22/12/2018 - 00:39

    food drinks at the airport, especially alcoholic drinks…$10 for a bottle…

    • shadowangel on 25/12/2018 - 08:57

      or service station snacks and drinks.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2018 - 06:20

    Having children.

    • love2buy on 23/12/2018 - 08:09

      My inlaws from china will say they'll look after you when you get old.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2018 - 22:17
        +2

        I'm ready now.. address please?

  • jno on 22/12/2018 - 08:40
    +1

    People that buy 100 sneakers they never wear

  • try2bhelpful on 22/12/2018 - 12:02

    Things you buy and don't use are an extravagance. The best way to work out if something is extravagant is to work out how much something costs, how much you use it and how much satisfaction you get from using it. Even expensive stuff can be good value if the ratio works out. Nothing worse than compromising on buying something and then feeling disappointed everytime you use it so you dump it at the back of the cupboard and never look at it again.

  • exit on 22/12/2018 - 12:49

    Watches. Especially the ones that get repeatedly posted by usernames ending with 'nerd'.

    None of them are actually cheap. They just have their exorbitant markup removed

  • love2buy on 22/12/2018 - 15:47
    +1

    Expensive haircuts and meals. Upgrading pc for sake of upgrading.

    • Some Human on 22/12/2018 - 23:22
      +1

      Or upgrading anything for the sake of upgrading.

    • shadowangel on 25/12/2018 - 09:00

      every year now i have had haircuts in thailand. full massage, haircut, shave for less then $3. here $120 for massage, $25 for haircut and more for shave.

  • Julius on 22/12/2018 - 16:59

    To OP: why did you make the title so polarising?

  • PAPower on 22/12/2018 - 19:56

    Most items on FARFETCH.

  • ozdesi on 22/12/2018 - 23:45

    Hoarding Digital Content [music, movies, apps, games] when only 5% to 10% of the entire library is used for consumption

  • Rumstein on 23/12/2018 - 14:23

    Video Game cosmetics (Dota, LoL, Path of Exile) - above and beyond just the game itself.

  • shaybisc on 23/12/2018 - 17:35

    Insanely expensive paintings. Stupid, extravagant but often a good investment to sell to a stupid, extravagant person later on.

  • O15 on 23/12/2018 - 18:22
    +1

    Alcohol.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2018 - 22:15

      Blasphemy.

  • DiscoJango on 23/12/2018 - 21:26

    im curious to know who buys those insanely prices action figures in eb games/zing stores. the ones in the glass cabinets that cost $500 - $1000 each

    • BradH13 on 23/12/2018 - 22:44

      Never underestimate the power of fandom.

      • altomic on 24/12/2018 - 22:26

        ^most of the stuff I sell on eBay is targeted at certain fandom groups. And it is stuff that sells for a 600% mark up.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/12/2018 - 22:14

    Weddings. Funerals. Brand new cars.

  • BradH13 on 23/12/2018 - 22:44

    There are a plethora of things I see no value in, and would personally categorise as wasteful, but I also buy things that others would deem wasteful.

    How I see it; whatever helps you get through life, and contributes to your overall happiness and functionality is no one else's business if it's not directly effecting others.

  • pogichinoy on 23/12/2018 - 23:51

    $1000+ bottles of wine

  • IdBuyThat4aDollar on 24/12/2018 - 00:33

    Mini bar items in a hotel.

    I stayed at 4 seasons hotel in Sydney for work, and they had a $10 bottle of Fiji water!

  • hasher22 on 24/12/2018 - 01:04
    +1

    Brand new cars
    latest, highest GB iPhones
    "high end" mattress

  • 18t on 24/12/2018 - 01:17

    In no particular order,
    House cleaners
    Mobile dog washers
    Meth

  • [Deactivated] on 24/12/2018 - 21:12

    Two for the girls… Flowers and makeup.
    More than three working mobile phones, your a mindless consumer.
    Travel overseas, flights, flights, flights, particularly if not seen Australia by car.
    Throwing away appliances, cars, even houses that are easily repaired.
    Wine, liquor over $30.

    • shadowangel on 25/12/2018 - 09:04
      +1

      want to add shoes and cloths as well, my wife use to be bad until i showed her how much she could have saved.
      I found a huge bag of shoes hundreds of pairs, thousands of dollars gone. yet she only ever wears thongs or joggers.

  • mortgagebroker on 26/12/2018 - 21:04

    Paying too much on your mortgage.
    New cars, car loans.

  • paddington on 28/12/2018 - 13:14

    Pokies and alcohol.

  • Ragnarok1983 on 31/12/2018 - 21:24

    Yeezy and beats, if you own them you are a moron and deserve to be ripped off.

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