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These Everyday Items are Never Worth the Money

Those little purchases that seem harmless can add up over time. Here are 15 everyday buys that are never worth the money.

women and shopping
Updated April 10, 2025
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Crunch the numbers and you may find you spend too much on useless items that shouldn't be part of your budget.

Experts advise people to stop throwing away money on these everyday purchases. They can quickly get in the way of your ability to build wealth.

Here are 15 everyday items that are almost never worth the money.

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Lottery tickets

Wirestock/Adobe scratch off lottery tickets

When it comes to the lottery, your odds of winning are quite close to zero. According to Powerball itself, the odds of actually winning a jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

It can be tempting to splurge on a few tickets when the big jackpots climb to jaw-dropping amounts, and perhaps there is no harm in that.

However, lottery tickets are almost always a waste when you're trying to get ahead financially.


Food delivery

SFIO CRACHO/Adobe anonimous delivery food service at home

Some days, we just want to open up our Grubhub or Uber Eats apps and order a pizza for dinner. But making food delivery into a habit can cost you dearly.

One LendingTree survey found that American consumers spend nearly $2,000 on food delivery and other delivery services per year. That's quite a big chunk of change that could be devoted to financial goals.

A new phone

dusanpetkovic1/Adobe Man trying out new smart phone

If your phone is functioning perfectly fine, you probably don't need to splurge on a new iPhone or Android each time a new model comes to market.

Don't be fooled by persuasive language either: "Just $50 a month for a new phone" really adds up — especially when you didn't need it to begin with.

Get a protection plan on all your appliances

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Premium gas

Niko/Adobe gas petrol pump detail buttons at USA gas station

Unless your car manual specifically says premium gas is required, you can get by without it. Most cars will run perfectly fine with regular gas, and there's no need to shell out the extra cash.

Bottled water

ombre water bottle

It comes as no surprise that cutting out bottled water can save you money — maybe even hundreds of dollars per year.

There are plenty of cheaper solutions to help you stay hydrated, such as purchasing a Brita pitcher to filter your tap water or a reusable water bottle to take when you're on the go.

Dryer sheets

Shotmedia/Adobe  dryer sheets into the dryer

You may think you need dryer sheets to remove static from clothes and keep them fresh, but you can buy a set of wool dryer balls from Amazon for about $13 that do the same job — and they're reusable.

Dryer sheets, which are full of chemicals, are actually bad for your dryer and may cause so much buildup that you have to dry your clothes for longer. This also adds to the electric bill.

Rags

Drobot Dean/Adobe charming asian girl cleaning table with detergent and rag

Having rags on hand can save money you otherwise would spend on disposable paper towels.

Fortunately, you don't need to go out and buy rags. Old T-shirts, sweatshirts, and towels make perfectly good rags. Just cut them to the size of your liking and use them for all your cleaning needs.

Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals

rh2010/Adobe happy women with shopping bags

April brings not just warmer weather and sunnier days, but also excellent shopping opportunities. With Easter happening on April 20, retailers will offer significant discounts on seasonal items at the end of the month, while also preparing for graduations, weddings, and spring cleaning season.

Here are some of the best deals to watch out for:

  • Cookware sets on sale for graduation and wedding season
  • Winter clearance items like coats and sweaters at end-of-season prices
  • Spring cleaning supplies with potential BOGO offers at stores like Target
  • Air conditioners before peak summer demand drives prices higher
  • Lawn care equipment as homeowners prepare for the growing season
  • Post-Easter candy and ham at deeply discounted prices once the holiday has passed
  • For grocery savings, consider seasonal produce like asparagus, broccoli, and spinach, which will be at their freshest and most affordable.

Remember that retailers are always thinking a season ahead. They're already preparing to get rid of spring merchandise while you're just getting ready to enjoy it. This makes April a great time to find budget-boosting deals of all kinds and save money at your favorite retailers.

Name-brand medicines

Tada Images/Adobe Children's Tylenol

The secret big drug companies don't want you to know is that many store brands are the same medicine you get with the name-brand version.

Here's a great Costco hack: Buy 1,000 tablets of Kirkland Signature ibuprofen for about $13. Big savings are also possible when you opt for the store brands at drugstores like CVS or Walgreens.

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Cardboard boxes

alphaspirit/Adobe pile of cardboard boxes on the floor on a yellow background

It may seem like a bargain to buy a bunch of boxes in bulk if you're moving or need to pack a bunch of things away. However, you should check if you can get cardboard boxes for free first.

Supermarkets, pharmacies, and liquor stores all get shipments in boxes and will likely hand some over if you simply ask.

Sandwich/lunch bags

makistock/Adobe mother cooking school lunch box set

Buying Ziploc bags or brown bags to carry your lunch to work every day can really add up. Instead, you can get a pack of reusable food storage containers and an insulated lunch bag on Amazon for a great price.

It will save you money and help keep your lunch fresh and cool.

Disposable hand towels

mandritoiu/Adobe Costco store aisle

Disposable hand towels are a big waste — of paper and money.

Investing in nice, washable hand towels will save you money and get the job done just as well.

Detox teas or cleanses

JackF/Adobe seasonings and tea at counter

"Detox" teas and cleanses are popping up all over social media, with ads claiming these products can help eliminate toxins, bloating, excess weight, and more.

However, experts stress that there's little legitimacy to many of these claims. Also, the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate them.

They can be pricey, too. So you're better off cleaning up your diet through traditional methods rather than leaving the work to an expensive tea.

Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill

Halfpoint/Adobe mother with son outside grocery store

Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank when you use the right strategies. Here are some of our favorite tips for reducing food expenses that we personally put to use:

  • Plan your meals around what's already in your pantry, then create a shopping list to prevent impulse purchases.
  • Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
  • Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
  • Stock up on staples when on sale, but don’t ever buy just because something comes in bulk.
  • Shop the marked-down section for near-expiration bargains
  • Join your store's loyalty program so you don’t miss out on member discounts.

Even though something like choosing coupons in your grocery store app can feel like an annoying task to handle every week, the savings can really add up. Double check in case your store also offers perks like gas rewards or any other discounts you might be able to take advantage of outside the grocery store.

Specialty food-prep tools

mitev/Adobe open kitchen cabinet with cans

If you have a knife in your home, you do not need a special tool to cut an apple or an avocado.

Fancy food tools can be pricey, and few function better than the typical tools and utensils you already have in your kitchen.

Pre-portioned produce

fruit and cheese tray

Anytime a grocery store does something special to produce — such as cutting up strawberries or melons and putting them into a plastic container — the store will mark up the price.

Again, if you own a kitchen knife, cutting up the fruit yourself is much cheaper.

Paper plates/cups

Africa Studio/Adobe table served with disposable tableware in garden

Regularly spending money on paper plates and cups is a huge waste of money, even if it saves you cleanup time.

Add up the money you spend on sponges, dish detergent, and anything else you may need to wash reusable dishes, and it's still cheaper than using paper or plastic products regularly.

Bottom line

Tomas Skopal/Adobe pouring coins into empty wallet

Many of these products make life more convenient, so they may be worth a splurge every now and again. But regularly purchasing items, like lottery tickets or unnecessary plastic products, will cost you a lot in the long run.

If you are looking to crush your debt, start by cutting out some of these unnecessary purchases. It is a quick and easy way to boost your bank account while breaking bad habits for good.

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