“Months Of Saving”: 50 Times People Instantly Regretted Spending Money

None of us want to see our hard-earnedmoneygo to waste. That’s what makes buying things of poor quality and other unnecessary spending so painful. But sometimes you can’t know that you’re spending money on something that is totally not worth it until you see what you got.After such unsuccessful attempts atshopping, many people let their frustrations online, and today, we’re bringing them all to one bittersweet list – arguably only amusing to those who weren’t the ones paying. If you’re curious to see what people were frustrated about, scroll down to find netizens’ instances of ‘money not so well spent’ on the list below and use this as a reminder – buy cheap, buy twice.On the list below you will also findBored Panda’sinterview with an expert in personal finance, the co-founder and CEO of ‘Spring Planning’, and the co-author of “Women & Money”, Julia Chung, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about saving money.This post may includeaffiliate links.

After such unsuccessful attempts atshopping, many people let their frustrations online, and today, we’re bringing them all to one bittersweet list – arguably only amusing to those who weren’t the ones paying. If you’re curious to see what people were frustrated about, scroll down to find netizens’ instances of ‘money not so well spent’ on the list below and use this as a reminder – buy cheap, buy twice.

On the list below you will also findBored Panda’sinterview with an expert in personal finance, the co-founder and CEO of ‘Spring Planning’, and the co-author of “Women & Money”, Julia Chung, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about saving money.

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Cat inside a homemade cardboard house labeled “heavy,” reflecting spending regret.

A snake coiled on wooden beams, regretted spending money on unneeded pest control.

Raccoons on a roof, a humorous reminder of spending money on unexpected home visitors.

Have you ever found yourself in the “you have to save money” and “treat yourself” limbo? If you have, you might take comfort in knowing that you are definitely not alone. Arguably especially relevant for young adults, who are trying tocreatea life for themselves, at the same time trying to actuallyenjoy livinglife, such a limbo can feel really draining.Take something fun, like a concert ortraveling, for instance. Both might be quite costly, but on the other hand, you will never be this young again, so what better time is there to enjoy one or the other? (Or both?)For many, feeling torn between saving money and ‘living life’ results in them looking for middle ground – buying the cheapest concert ticket, for instance, or looking for affordable ways to get from point A to point B. But the former might result in a seat with no visibility whatsoever and the latter – sleeping in airports, neither of which make the two experiences any more enjoyable.

Take something fun, like a concert ortraveling, for instance. Both might be quite costly, but on the other hand, you will never be this young again, so what better time is there to enjoy one or the other? (Or both?)

For many, feeling torn between saving money and ‘living life’ results in them looking for middle ground – buying the cheapest concert ticket, for instance, or looking for affordable ways to get from point A to point B. But the former might result in a seat with no visibility whatsoever and the latter – sleeping in airports, neither of which make the two experiences any more enjoyable.

The baker we ordered it through said it was “no problem” and she’s done “many like it”. It was $175 plus he tipped her $20. She dropped it off at our house at 6am (she was supposed to bring it around noon-2pm) so in the chaos of her literally waking him from a deep sleep with the doorbell and handing her the tip (he prepaid for the actual cake so he didn’t have to handle that), he didn’t even think to check it and she didn’t offer (probably because she knew it’s not what we wanted lol). He stuck it straight in the fridge and didn’t even look at it until we were getting ready for my party, and he was heartbroken. We don’t usually order cakes like this, we just don’t have the money, but he wanted to do something nice for me this year because we’ve had a lot of crap going on. He was very upset with the final product. Not only was it ugly and not what he wanted, but it tasted awful, it was very bland but also VERY salty. He reached out to her about it, but heard nothing back whatsoever, so he left a review showing the pictures. Her site isn’t up anymore, or on Google. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Top image of beautifully decorated number cake; bottom image shows a messy, regrettable cake fail.

Sparse pumpkins scattered across a wide, grassy field under a cloudy sky.

Be it traveling, a concert, or anything else, for that matter, it’s important to think long and hard about what it is that you want and if it’s worth spending your money on. In many cases, it is, so you can go ahead and treat yourself; but when it’s not, taking a moment to think about it can really help minimize unnecessary spending.Discussing unnecessaryspending, the personal finance expert Julia Chung pointed out that the things we tend to regret buying are the stuff that isn’t aligned with our values; like visiting a place we didn’t even want to go to or dining in a restaurant with people we don’t like. Thinking things through beforehand might help avoid such situations.

Discussing unnecessaryspending, the personal finance expert Julia Chung pointed out that the things we tend to regret buying are the stuff that isn’t aligned with our values; like visiting a place we didn’t even want to go to or dining in a restaurant with people we don’t like. Thinking things through beforehand might help avoid such situations.

Seated student observing a classroom presentation, showcasing regretted spending decision.

Mini Boo collectibles with polka dot figures, showcasing months of saving regrets on a wooden table.

A mouse peeking from a brown paper bag with croissants, next to a bottle of water.

The expert continued to note that there is no ‘one right way’ to spend your money other than a way that is aligned with your values and your goals for the future.Just like there is no right way to spend money, there is no one right way to save money, either – while some tips and tricks regarding saving can be helpful to many, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

The expert continued to note that there is no ‘one right way’ to spend your money other than a way that is aligned with your values and your goals for the future.

Just like there is no right way to spend money, there is no one right way to save money, either – while some tips and tricks regarding saving can be helpful to many, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.

Man on couch confused after accidentally buying 60 pairs of reading glasses online; regret over spending money.

Jumbo forceps held next to a wooden water bottle, symbolizing regretful spending.

Car stuck in sand on beach as people gather around, illustrating regret after spending money.

Discussing advice for those struggling to save money, Julia Chung emphasized that it’s important not to beat yourself up about it. “Sometimes we’re struggling to save money because we just don’t have enough,” she toldBored Panda. “I’ve read enough personal finance media, books, texts to know that what people hear all the time is that it’s some kind of moral failing on our part if we can’t save money. It’s not. The first thing to do is to stop beating yourself up.”

Uneven haircut, illustrating regret after spending money on a trim.

Burnt pizza with ham, cheese, and tomatoes; an example of spending money.

Plastic cup with a tea bag floating in water, highlighting instant regret spending money on a questionable beverage choice.

“The second piece of advice is to be realistic: Do you actually have enough to save?” Chung continued. “Sometimes you do because you’ve been spending on things you don’t even care about. Sometimes you do because there are changes you’ve been wanting to make in big places like the cost of your housing and transportation that you just haven’t pulled the trigger on.

I have to walk home now

Worn-out black boot with detached sole, symbolizing regret after months of saving.

Colorful eyeshadow palette with floral design, showcasing shimmer shades, illustrating instant regret after spending money.

Purple footstool on carpet with feet in gray socks resting on it, depicting regretful spending.

“Other times, you simply don’t have enough,” Chung noted. “You may be in a low-paying job in an expensive part of the world and you are scraping your way up. You might be a single parent just trying to get through each month with enough food in the pantry. Those are really good reasons to not have enough to save. It doesn’t mean you never will, but it might mean you don’t right now.“I often tell parents of very young children that if you can saveanythingduring those first 7 or so years, I’m impressed with you. Reduced income, increased housing and childcare and living expenses all combine to make those times in your life really tough.”

“I often tell parents of very young children that if you can saveanythingduring those first 7 or so years, I’m impressed with you. Reduced income, increased housing and childcare and living expenses all combine to make those times in your life really tough.”

A cookie from Tim Hortons with a messy face design, symbolizing regret in spending money.

Inflatable hot tub with murky water in a wooden fenced yard, representing regrettable spending.

Stadium view of a football field with spectators, highlighting potential regret over spending money on expensive tickets.

During times when it’s difficult or impossible to save up money, it might be good to try and imagine when such tough times might end, Chung suggests. “Plan for those. What will you do when you get there? Yes, you might increase your lifestyle a bit – that’s fair. [But] consider splitting the additional money between improved lifestyle and savings, so that you get to enjoy your life now as well as in the future.”

Southwest chopped salad kit on a counter, an example of regretted spending money after months of saving.

Person sitting in an airplane seat, expressing regret about spending money.

Broken smartphone with arrow piercing the screen, reflecting regretful spending.

Granite post with “220” engraved, beside a forest, reflecting potential regretful spending choices.

I had misplaced my wedding ring, I didn’t want anyone to find out about the missing ring hence I spent a bunch of money to get an exact same band. Couple months later my mom found the lost ring at home. Now I’ve got two identical wedding rings.

Close-up of two rings in hand, symbolizing regret after spending money.

A person’s hand holding a vintage cassette tape, illustrating regretful money spending decisions.

Foggy car side mirror reflecting regretful spending decision.

A hollow chocolate croissant showing buyer’s remorse, highlighting regret after spending money.

Rooftop view with air conditioning units overlooking mountains and trees, symbolizing regretful spending decisions.

I bought this bird sculpture for my dad for Christmas and spent, what for us, is quite a bit of money on it (£90). It’s just arrived and there is visible glue around the beak, its legs are so uneven in length it can’t stand up, and it’s less than a third the advertised size. I contacted the company, TwentyTwenty One, to arrange a return and refund, and whilst that’s possible (which is good though still annoying), the person on the company chat tried to convince me that 8cm is approx. 12cm. They even told me that it’s actually the height standing up that counys - which if it could, would make it only 7cm. That feels like that’s a push, right? Anyway, the interaction with customer service upgraded this from a mildly frustrating moment for me to a mildly infuriating one for me.

Mini crow sculpture beside ruler with chat screenshots about unexpected measurement discrepancies.

Regrettable spending: disappointing bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich with minimal fillings on a foil wrap.

Football match obstructed by a large pillar, highlighting buyer’s regret after spending months saving for tickets.

Diamond ring in a box for sale after a rejected proposal, showcasing regretful spending.

Fog obscures the view of a large bridge, symbolizing regretful spending decisions.

A broken TV screen displaying colorful vertical lines, symbolizing regret over money spent.

Boxed Pro Power save device placed on a table, related to spending money regrets.

Couch stuck in staircase corner, a regretful spending decision.

Person holding unique white shoes, seeming to regret a purchase decision.

Damaged white van with dents and scratches, showing regretful spending decision.

Bike rack with theft evidence, including bolt cutters and a shirt, illustrating regrettable spending.

Living room with unpainted walls behind a gray sofa, illustrating regret in spending money on new home decor.

Diamond ring close-up showing craftsmanship; a possible spending regret.

Unfortunate haircut result highlighting instant regret after spending money.

Broken violin scroll on a black surface, illustrating instant regret in spending money.