My pet peeve is Cable TV and Internet service. Every year my cable provider keeps inflating the bundle of TV shows that my wife and mother-in-law watch. I routinely find that I have to take my itemized bill to the cable provider’s office and force them to do a line by line audit with me which routinely drops my bill by 5 or 10 percent. I am waiting for the cellphone carriers to provide 5G home networks so I can get off the cable TV provider merry go round.
Edwin Belen
10 months ago
Everyday purchase that is overpriced – generally a meal more than $20 a person. It’s nice to eat at a quality and fancy place on occasion but for most days, not necessary.
J Naman
10 months ago
Distilled Water. Price was $1.00/gallon last year, $1.60/gal this year. Think about what the cost drivers are …
Jerry Pinkard
10 months ago
Cable TV
Jerry Pinkard
10 months ago
Expensive cars. Well, pretty much all cars are expensive nowadays. But buying luxurious European cars that cost double what a Camry or Accord cost.
I don’t consider it unnecessary here as they’re implementing toilet to tap. Sooner or later, someone is going to f up, and I don’t want to drink the results.
Casey Shumaker
1 year ago
Watching television. Remember when cord cutting saved you big bucks? Seems the networks figured it out and are locking down their broadcasts on streaming apps. Sure $5 a month won’t break anyone but tack this onto your internet service and streaming service. Not to mention, how mny of the different apps your need or want.
Roboticus Aquarius
2 years ago
I’d have to say education. It’s incredibly valuable, but the cost structure of colleges and universities is complex, and doesn’t always serve the students well.
If you’d asked what do people spend too much on – Cars. Cars are just a depreciating asset. Housing comes in second place. A big mortgage makes saving difficult. Also, it’s expensive to sell a house, so renting is often a better option if you move a lot.
Worth is a very personal thing though. A car enthusiast may find that their expensive purchase makes them very happy, while I would simply begrudge the monthly payment. The amount I spend on sporting equipment and leagues might fluster the car guy, though. It’s important to know what makes you happy; it helps you decide where that extra dollar should go.
Last edited 2 years ago by Roboticus Aquarius
Mike Zaccardi
2 years ago
Perhaps driving an expensive car 10+ miles to a mundane task that could be done online these days. Just yesterday I had a couple drive 100 miles round trip in their big truck to buy a used desk from my place. I was perplexed – just buy one online and have it delivered.
Also, some meal choices at restaurants. I get that going out is to be enjoyed, but often a $15 entre does me just fine. I don’t desire to go for the $50 6oz rack of lamb. Of course, that’s just my frugal nature coming out.
I’m curious to read others’ thoughts on this because the most overpriced things are the big purchases in life – housing, cars, education, healthcare, child care, debt servicing, boats, vacations. All of those things are great, but if you can optimize them a bit, then you can buy all the $5 lattes you want.
My pet peeve is Cable TV and Internet service. Every year my cable provider keeps inflating the bundle of TV shows that my wife and mother-in-law watch. I routinely find that I have to take my itemized bill to the cable provider’s office and force them to do a line by line audit with me which routinely drops my bill by 5 or 10 percent. I am waiting for the cellphone carriers to provide 5G home networks so I can get off the cable TV provider merry go round.
Everyday purchase that is overpriced – generally a meal more than $20 a person. It’s nice to eat at a quality and fancy place on occasion but for most days, not necessary.
Distilled Water. Price was $1.00/gallon last year, $1.60/gal this year. Think about what the cost drivers are …
Cable TV
Expensive cars. Well, pretty much all cars are expensive nowadays. But buying luxurious European cars that cost double what a Camry or Accord cost.
Gasoline in California. What a ripoff.
Financial services to the less informed.
Bottled water
Yes — not only overpriced, but also unnecessary.
I use a water bottle daily but if it runs out bottled water is better than a soft drink.
Sometimes at a bar, I’ll get a bottled water instead of a beer.
I don’t consider it unnecessary here as they’re implementing toilet to tap. Sooner or later, someone is going to f up, and I don’t want to drink the results.
Watching television. Remember when cord cutting saved you big bucks? Seems the networks figured it out and are locking down their broadcasts on streaming apps. Sure $5 a month won’t break anyone but tack this onto your internet service and streaming service. Not to mention, how mny of the different apps your need or want.
I’d have to say education. It’s incredibly valuable, but the cost structure of colleges and universities is complex, and doesn’t always serve the students well.
If you’d asked what do people spend too much on – Cars. Cars are just a depreciating asset. Housing comes in second place. A big mortgage makes saving difficult. Also, it’s expensive to sell a house, so renting is often a better option if you move a lot.
Worth is a very personal thing though. A car enthusiast may find that their expensive purchase makes them very happy, while I would simply begrudge the monthly payment. The amount I spend on sporting equipment and leagues might fluster the car guy, though. It’s important to know what makes you happy; it helps you decide where that extra dollar should go.
Perhaps driving an expensive car 10+ miles to a mundane task that could be done online these days. Just yesterday I had a couple drive 100 miles round trip in their big truck to buy a used desk from my place. I was perplexed – just buy one online and have it delivered.
Also, some meal choices at restaurants. I get that going out is to be enjoyed, but often a $15 entre does me just fine. I don’t desire to go for the $50 6oz rack of lamb. Of course, that’s just my frugal nature coming out.
I’m curious to read others’ thoughts on this because the most overpriced things are the big purchases in life – housing, cars, education, healthcare, child care, debt servicing, boats, vacations. All of those things are great, but if you can optimize them a bit, then you can buy all the $5 lattes you want.