13 Purchases Buyers Almost Always Regret

There have been too many times when I purchased an item only to regret it almost immediately, and some of these purchases were large.

I’m not the only one either. According to a Thriving Wallet study, about 25% of Americans experience buyer’s remorse. But on what?

I’m curating this list based on my experience and research. I also consulted Reddit and the Wall Street Journal.

Here are 13 purchases buyers almost always regret.

1. Extended Warranties

I’ve almost always regretted buying an extended warranty. Salespeople are excellent at their job. They have such a way of convincing you that you’re doomed without this warranty.

Most of the time, you never use it, or it covers very little. Some surveys find that as many as 55% of respondents never use their extended warranty.

2. Timeshares

I tried going to a timeshare presentation once, and they promised a $50 gift card. It was supposed to be just 90 minutes, but we were there for almost three hours and never received the gift card.

This situation isn’t uncommon. It’s one of the reasons buyers almost always regret buying a timeshare. The pressure is easy to cave in to. According to one study, as many as 85% of timeshare buyers regret their purchase.

3. New Cars

A lot of buyers regret purchasing a new car, especially with a loan. New vehicles are pricey and often harder and more expensive to repair. A study found that about 40% of new car buyers regret their purchase.

The average new car sold in January 2024 was a jaw-dropping $47,401. You can get a decent used car for less than half of that. I purchased my 2014 Kia for just under $12,000.

4. Boats

Boats are just like new cars – expensive. So many people regret buying boats because repairs and maintenance are costly. Also, they aren’t used as often as you’d think.

My neighbor growing up had a beautiful boat parked in his front yard. I saw him use it once, but most of the time, it sat in the driveway alone. The last time I went to visit my childhood home, the boat was gone. It had experienced a lot of damage because of the lack of use.

5. Houses

Buying a house isn’t as easy or relaxing as many people assume. Actually, many homebuyers have regrets about their purchases. About 90% of millennial homeowners have some regrets about their home purchases.

Homes come with a lot of unexpected costs. There is always something that needs to be repaired or upgraded. There are also costs like home insurance, property taxes, and HOA fees to consider.

6. Condos

Like houses, condos are expensive and so many buyers regret this massive purchase. For a while, my partner and I were looking into buying a condo. They are a bit less expensive than homes depending on your area.

We quickly gave up after looking at how expensive insurance and HOAs are! I don’t mind paying for a mortgage, but HOA fees are where I draw the line.

7. Cheap Drones

This one is more from personal experience. My dad purchased an inexpensive drone because he didn’t want to spend a couple hundred or thousand dollars on a professional one.

Do you know what happened? He crashed and broke it within the first day. While trying to figure out how to use it, the drone moved too quickly and erratically. Needless to say, he regretted spending $60.

8. Luxury Weddings

I’m biased. I eloped and can’t imagine spending thousands of dollars on a night only a few people will remember or appreciate. I know way too many people who regret spending a lot of money on their wedding instead of using the money to fund a home or honeymoon.

According to a survey, about 10% of respondents said they regretted the cost of their wedding the most.

9. Watches

Watches are really easy to misplace. Imagine misplacing a luxury watch that costs well over $300. I’d cry, but also I’m not a huge watch person.

I’ve seen so many people regret buying watches. My husband loves buying them but constantly loses them. He has over a dozen and yet only wears one or two regularly.

10. Luxury Purses/Handbags

Luxury items lost their value fast. This is especially true about luxury purses and handbags. One of my friends bought a Gucci bag for a little over $5,000. A year later, she tried to sell it and couldn’t find anyone who wanted to buy it for over $1,000.

Not everyone regrets purchasing luxurious items, though. They are made with quality and durability in mind.

11. Expensive Wedding Rings

I can’t wrap my head around how some couples spend tens of thousands of dollars on wedding or engagement rings. But this is coming from a pretty cheap person. My husband and I wear matching engraved rings that cost less than $150.

You can do whatever you want, but many people regret buying expensive rings. Like with luxury accessories, they lose value quickly.

12. Vacations

It’s hard to imagine regretting a vacation. Vacations are a relaxing way to take a break from everyday life. And yet, there are regrets tied to taking vacations.

According to Forbes, people regret taking vacations for many reasons. A top reason Americans regret taking vacation days is for wedding-related reasons. With such limited days, no one wants to use them for large festivities.

13. Printers

Last but not least is something I heavily relate to. I bought a printer three years ago and have used it only a handful of times. I’m not the only one who regrets buying a printer.

While printers aren’t overly expensive, they take up a lot of space. They also get expensive when you need to buy ink.