20 Household Items That Are a Waste of Money

Photo of author

By Jonathan Trent

It’s natural to want to fill your home with useful items, but thanks to consumerism and so many impulsive purchases these days, many things you’re buying are likely pointless. These are 20 household items that you’re wasting your money on.

Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets

Photo credit: Jayjay Adventures/Shutterstock

Single-use kitchen gadgets are often only used once in a blue moon, and they’re hopeless for keeping your drawers uncluttered. Items like garlic presses and pizza scissors simply aren’t needed when you can achieve the same result with items like knives that you use all the time.

Expensive Cleaning Products

Photo Credit: Maxx-Studio/Shutterstock

It’s easy to think the more expensive the cleaning product, the better the clean, but it’s not the case. Generic brands will do the same job just as well, or you can even save more money by making your own. Most DIY cleaners will cost less than a dollar to make, says Today.

Decorative Pillows

Photo credit: Danielcc/Shutterstock

Investing in bed pillows for proper neck support is one of the best things you can do; buying too many decorative pillows is not so much. They don’t serve any function except to gather dust, and if your taste constantly changes, they’ll quickly go out of style.

High-End Coffee Machines

Photo credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

You don’t need the biggest and most expensive coffee machine to have the perfect brew. Simple and affordable options can often get the same result. The initial cost plus the regular maintenance of cleaners, parts, and any capsules you’re using will all add up.

Premium Paper Towels

Photo credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

Paper towels are marketed as being better quality and more absorbing the higher priced they are, but in reality, you don’t even need to buy them at all. You can use alternatives like cloth rags to get the job done, which can easily be thrown in the wash and reused.

Designer Laundry Detergents

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

When it comes to laundry detergents, choose something that won’t irritate your skin. Aside from that, any detergent will clean your laundry thoroughly. Fragrance-free options are effective at lower prices, and often, you’re only paying for the brand and the scent.

Specialized Storage Containers

Photo credit: XIA WEIQING/Shutterstock

It can be tempting to buy specific containers for certain jobs around the home to better organize everything. However, specialized containers often cost a lot more, while a standard multipurpose container offers the same organization for a lower price.

High-End Vacuum Cleaners

Photo Credit: ZikG/Shutterstock

The Telegraph mentions how choosing the right vacuum depends on the area you have to clean, which means the most expensive brand might not be the right one for your space. Think about whether you really need cordless or whether you need the extra brush parts if you only have a simple pet-free space.

Top-of-the-Line Shower Heads

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

The allure of a huge waterfall shower is understandable, yet in the long run, high-end models can be costly to maintain and repair. Basic models that provide perfect water pressure and hot water are all you really need if you’re looking to save money.

Trendy Small Appliances

Photo credit: XIA WEIQING/Shutterstock

Adding popular small appliances to your living room or kitchen might provide a small dose of dopamine—but this can be short-lived. Trendy appliances can quickly become obsolete, and once the novelty wears off, you’ll realize you already have something that does the same thing.

Luxury Bath Towels

Photo credit: Uuganbayar/Shutterstock

High-end towels may seem like the height of luxury at first, but they will need special laundry care to keep them in their best shape. Over time, they might lose their charm. Affordable towels are just as soft and absorbent, and no extra care is needed.

Smart Home Devices

Photo credit: Proxima Studio/Shutterstock

Having a Smart device for every appliance can be a waste of money if you can easily accomplish the tasks yourself. The high initial cost and the need for tech upgrades make it a costly venture. Forbes tells us that one area that is worth switching to Smart, though, is your home security system.

Electric Can Openers

Photo credit: MarinaTr/Shutterstock

Really, how long does it take you to manually open a can? Manual models are easy and inexpensive, as well as easily replaceable. Electric models may seem helpful, but they’re more expensive, more prone to malfunctioning, and also use electricity you’ll need to pay for!

Sheets With a High-Thread Count

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

High-thread count sheets are marketed as worth your money due to their finer yarns, which make them a more expensive and luxurious product. Yet, when it comes down to it, you likely won’t notice a difference in comfort from sheets with both a lower thread count and a lower price!

Expensive Candles

Photo credit: Breezze/Shutterstock

With scented candles in particular, you can often get what you pay for – but the most expensive doesn’t always equal the best. If you don’t mind about scent, then often basic candles or even LED alternatives will create the same ambience for a much lower price.

Premium Toothbrushes

Photo credit: Alena A/Shutterstock

Premium toothbrushes are expensive to buy and expensive to replace, and you’ll need to regularly charge them to keep them functional. But “manual toothbrushes are effective at cleaning teeth if you use proper technique and brush long enough”, according to Healthline.

Designer Dishware

Photo Credit: Chzu/Shutterstock

Furnishing your kitchen in beautiful dishware patterns will ensure it looks great—but how practical are they? If you chip one, it’s going to be more painful to endure compared to cheaper plates. Ultimately, regular dishware can still look stylish while providing durability.

Cleaning Wipes

Photo credit: Zigres/Shutterstock

Single-use cleaning wipes are a quick and efficient way to keep everything clean. But they’ll be pricey over time, not to mention environmentally unfriendly compared to reusable cloths. They’re also not as effective as a spray cleaner and a durable cloth.

Premium Cookware Sets

Photo credit: FabrikaSimf/Shutterstock

Cookware sets can be enticing because they offer so many different sizes in stylish designs. But you’ll likely realize over time that you only use one or two of them regularly. Large sets mean wasting product and money, so stick to investing in one or two good pans.

Decorative Rugs

Photo credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

If you’re looking for a rug to improve your hardwood floor, a simple rug can be more cost-effective than an expensive design without compromising on style. More detailed rugs can be harder to clean and more expensive overall. It may even be cheaper to just get carpet!

Up Next: 17 Things Men Start Doing After 50 That They Never Did Before

Photo Credit: Christo/Shutterstock

As the years go by, many men find themselves changing. In fact, when they reach the age of 50, they may start having a different behavior and habits, distancing themselves from their younger selves. Here are 17 things men begin doing after 50 that they never did before.

17 THINGS MEN START DOING AFTER 50 THAT THEY NEVER DID BEFORE

17 Reasons Why Men Refuse To Date Anymore

Photo Credit: Andrii Iemelianenko/Shutterstock

The dating game is hard enough when everybody wants to do it, but it’s even harder when men give up on dating altogether! Men might be taking a break from dating for many reasons, such as the following 17 examples.

17 REASONS WHY MEN REFUSE TO DATE ANYMORE

17 Household Items That Are a Complete Waste of Money

Photo Credit: Estrada Anton/Shutterstock

In our homes, we accumulate many items over the years, even if we don’t need them. Not surprisingly, many people want to become more minimalistic, reconsidering the amount and types of household items they have. Here are 17 household items that are an utter waste of money.

17 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS THAT ARE A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY