8 things I don't regret spending money on (and 7 that I do)

What’s not worth it? And I don’t mean in the influencing “free stuff that I probably wouldn’t buy with my own money” vein. What was a total and utter flop of a dollar?

I wanted to do a follow up to my second most-read letter (22 things that are, unfortunately, worth it!) pretty much as soon as I hit send and realized I forgot a bunch of stuff. (Once you’ve hit publish on specifically twenty two things, you can’t go on adding thirteen more!)

But then I realized the reverse was interesting to me too— what’s not worth it? And I don’t mean in the influencing “free stuff that I probably wouldn’t buy with my own money” vein. What was a total and utter flop of a dollar?

Without further ado: the things that were and still are worth every cent, and the things that… sure aren’t!

1. A good notebook. And on that note, a good PEN. (I really am liking these very juicy pens right now as I’m writing longhand every day. Sadly I only have 10 pages left in my favorite journal, which I bought at Gleneagles in Scotland over Christmas and I fear will be impossible to replace!!)

2. BOOKS, baby!! Though Libby and my library cards have absolutely changed the game for me these last few years, my parents were incredibly generous with buying me books since I could read, and they’re one thing I never ever feel an ounce of guilt about treating myself to. (My ultimate summer reads are here, and my July book reviews here, should you be jonesing for a new book!)

3. The really good smelling laundry detergent. I don’t wear perfume, I love how the French Saffron scent makes me smell as if I did! [Editor’s note: they made us a code, so we can spend a little less! FIRSTRODEO15.]

4. My wedding. I know you hear the opposite refrain all the time and there are plenty of rants about how wedding spending is out of control— I won’t disagree with you, but I don’t regret an IOTA of time, energy or money spent on it. It rocked, no notes, end of story.

5. A bathing suit that fits and feels like a second skin— a bathing suit you feel good in is priceless. I’d rather have just one bangin’ bathing suit than ten bathing suits that each have a little quirk that makes them fit odd or feel uncomfy! This and this are my “second skin" options this year, both have multiple style options for bottoms based on your rise and coverage preference.

6. Nice sunglasses, once or twice in my life. Not all the time! But I’m 32 now and I can be trusted not to smash them into smithereens or lose them in the back of a cab.

7. Cute, colorful flip flops with actual arch support. I can’t believe it took me this long to get onto Archies…

8. Topical with The Odyssey out right now, but I can’t say that I’ve ever really regretted buying movie tickets— even now that they are $25+! Going to the movies with a friend is truly never time wasted.

1. HUNDREDS of dollars on obligatory catch up dinners with friends at NYC restaurants. I’m talking a casual $150 a pop for dinner on a Tuesday— there is no such thing as an under $75 “happy hour” (and I mean $75 each) in New York City anymore. Most of the time it’s just that we wanted to see each other, not that the restaurant had good food or was exciting, and for a long time I treated this just as another tax to live in NY and keep up with friendships. Now I just… don’t accept that! I wish instead I’d gone for an after-work walk with that friend, met for a coffee, or had a shared experience— like a cooking class or something! I feel like the hangs that refill my cup and keep a friendship fresh are often the simplest/cheapest. And living like this kept me in debt for even longer.

2. Those things you buy on vacation that make a lot of sense in the destination you’re in, but not for the life you have! Example: super preppy outfits that belong on Nantucket but I’d never wear in New York City… I’ve gotten a lot better at this as I’ve gotten older. (I skipped the Nantucket sweatshirt this year even though I REALLY wanted one in the moment!)

3. Paying upfront for any sort of “pass” or “package” for beauty treatments. I know a lot of people love these, but saving 10 or 15% is not worth plunking down all that cash upfront for me! I love cash flow and I’d rather my money sits in my HYSA or my checking account than in the bank account of whatever corporation owns European Wax Center.

4. Unnecessary and overcomplicated skin care routines. Sometimes the pricy stuff is special and worth it (right now the only “fancy” things I would re-buy are the Elemis exfoliating pads and YISE Vitamin C)… but a lot of the time it’s not. When I first started writing a sustainable product review newsletter in 2019, I actually damaged my skin barrier so bad trying and writing about expensive Goop exfoliating serums… Jesus… I can tell you that was definitively not worth it. But I guess those 10 subscribers in 2019 eventually turned into THIS. 🥲 So in another way… worth it!!

5. This is extremely personal and specific to me, but I bought a used car when the prices were at a record high, one of the dumbest choices I’ve ever made. My Jeep is my little money pit.

6. For me personally, any time I’ve “invested” in a nicer or fancier bag for work, it’s been money wasted. Every “sensible” work tote I’ve ever bought has been sold to The RealReal after one season— I inevitably begin to resent said bag, or, in post-Covid years, have rarely used it. Instead, I’ve had way more success renting from RTR or borrowing from Vivrelle. (I don’t have a code for RTR, but you can get a free Vivrelle month with code AZORAZOE.) When the ubiquitous work tote I’ve been shlepping every day for months starts to feel oppressive… it can just go back! And I can swap it for one that reflects my style or the changing seasons, sans shopping guilt— which as you can tell, I have issues with.

7. Last but not least, 85% of what I buy TJ Maxx when I go in slightly hungry and over-caffeinated. Did I really need those resistance bands for $3.99? Or that novelty cup? The answer is… almost never.

Of course all I can think now is that I must be forgetting something huge!! You’ll have to tell me— what is worth every penny to you?

And what— maybe more importantly— was a huuuuge waste of money!?