Overpriced Gifts, Groceries, and More to Avoid Buying

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Budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher explains how to save money by avoiding these overpriced items

Co-authored by Karrie Thatcher and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: February 18, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Holidays & Gifts
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• Groceries
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• Treats
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• Products & Services
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• How to Save Money in 2025
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• Video

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Things are expensive these days—there’s no denying it! So, when it comes to shopping, you need to save every penny you can. But what items should you avoid buying altogether? Is there a cost-effective way to shop and live? A budgeting expert partnered with wikiHow to go over some of the most overpriced items to avoid buying and share advice for saving money. With our tips, you’re sure to cut down your costs!

What items should you avoid buying?

Budget and affordable living expert Karrie Thatcher says to avoid brand-name pantry items, excessive subscription services, and trendy impulse items. Cut out convenience foods, like bottled water and single-serving snacks, as they tend to be the most overpriced items. It’s more cost-effective to buy bulk and reusable items.

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Section 1 of 5:

Overpriced Holiday Items & Gifts to Avoid

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1. 
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   Noise-cancelling headphones Noise-cancelling headphones are a trendy tech item this holiday season, and their hefty price tag is just as trendy. High-end headphones can cost up to $600, but many say that the price doesn’t mean quality.

   • Alternative: Test out a pair of headphones before you make a purchase (if you’re able), or keep an eye on Black Friday deals to save some money.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Karrie Thatcher is a budget and affordable living expert and the founder of Goglitchdeals. She shares content about finding deals, couponing, saving money, and opportunities for at-home earning.
2. 2
   Massage guns A massage gun can be a great gift for an active loved one, but you have to be willing to hand over the cash. Good-quality massage guns cost around $200 on average, and that’s usually without all the accessories.

   • Alternative: If you can’t think of another gift, stay alert for Black Friday savings and deals—you may be able to purchase the gift for half the price!
   • Thatcher advises that you skip out on any trendy impulse item to help save money.
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   Designer accessories Fancy purses, wallets, watches, and sunglasses can be wonderful gifts; however, their price often doesn’t warrant the purchase. Items with lots of brand recognition are fun to fawn over, but they’re often not worth gifting (especially if they won’t be taken care of).

   • Alternative: Purchase a similar item in an alternative brand. The product can still be high-quality without a $1,000 price.
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   Oversized inflatables The giant Santa on your front lawn is super adorable, but is it really worth it? Oversized inflatables are fun holiday decorations, but they’re often too pricey to take out for only one month out of the year. Plus, it increases your electricity bill to keep them inflated and lit.

   • Alternative: Decorate with color-changing lights that can be altered throughout the year for each holiday.
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   Holiday accessories Those Santa hat headbands and Christmas light necklaces can bring a smile to anyone’s face, but these gimmicky accessories can cost a pretty penny, especially if they’re only going to be worn for a day or a couple of hours.

   • On a similar note, Thatcher also suggests that you avoid buying décor and seasonal items at full price.
   • Alternative: Check your local dollar store for accessories (they may not last, but they’ll only cost $1). Thatcher also recommends shopping for secondhand items, or waiting for sales. These often happen after the holidays.
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Section 2 of 5:

Overpriced Grocery Items to Avoid

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   Bottled water Bottled water is convenient, but it’s more cost-effective to carry around a refillable water bottle. Single-use water bottles can cost around $2.50 individually or $6 or more per case. Over time, these prices can add up!

   • Alternative: Use reusable water bottles!
   • Tip: Get the most out of single-use water bottles by filling them and using them more than once.
2. 2
   Single-serve snacks A single-serving snack can be a great treat, but it’s cheaper to buy in bulk. A single granola bar, bag of chips, or fruit cup can cost between $2 and $5, whereas a bulk box of the same item is just around $5.

   • Alternative: Aim to buy in bulk when you can (especially if you’re feeding a hungry family).
3. 3
   Name-brand spices Breaking news: You don’t always need to buy the name brand! A name-brand spice can cost around $10 for a little bottle, whereas you can get the same spice for around $1 from a generic brand. The same contents are inside; the branding is all that differs.

   • Alternative: Focus on the price of a spice rather than the brand associated with it.
   • Tip: Dollar stores usually have a small pantry-stable section full of fun spices to try, and only $1!
   • Thatcher advises that you avoid all brand-name pantry staples to help save money (where generics are comparable).
4. 4
   Pre-cut fruits and vegetables There’s a big markup for precut produce, because a machine or a person does the cutting for you. And along with being more expensive, precut produce spoils faster.

   • Alternative: Spend 15 minutes cutting up your veggies and fruits for the week.
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   Single-serve coffee pods Single-serve coffee pods or K-cups can cost nearly $40 per case (and that’s only for 24-40 cups of coffee). Buying ground coffee in bulk can help you save a hefty penny.

   • Alternative: Purchase ground coffee (or grind your own coffee beans) in a flavor you love.
   • Tip: Don’t give up your Keurig! Simply invest in a reusable K-cup you can fill with your own grounds.
6. 6
   Organic food If something says it’s “organic,” it doesn’t automatically mean it’s healthy. Organic foods primarily have less pesticide residue and radiation, and while this can be an important factor for many, it may not always warrant a greater expense.

   • Alternative: Focus on the price and quality of an item rather than the brand or label (unless you know the price jump is worth it).
7. 7
   Packaged salad kits Packaged salad kits have everything included: dressing, toppings, and the lettuce. But while these kits may be convenient, they’re often overpriced. It’s more cost-effective to buy each salad ingredient individually. Plus, you’ll be able to make more than one salad.

   • Alternative: Make the salad yourself or only purchase salad kits when they’re 50% or more off.
   • Tip: Save your convenience foods (as well as drive-through splurges) for your busiest and hardest days, suggests Thatcher. On days that you do have energy, meal prep and plan.
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   Premade smoothies and juices A freshly squeezed juice or cooling smoothie can be a nice purchase on a hot summer’s day, but it may not be worth it. Premade smoothies and juices carry a hefty price tag, and most of the time, you can make the beverage at home for a fraction of the price.

   • Alternative: Buy frozen fruit to blend up into a smoothie at home or invest in a juicer if you crave freshly squeezed juice.
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   Individual yogurt cups Individual yogurt cups are convenient when you’re on the run, but they’re not ideal for saving. On average, yogurt cups cost around $2 individually; meanwhile, you could be buying a tub of the same yogurt for around $4.

   • Alternative: Opt to purchase tubs of yogurt that you can portion.
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    Individually wrapped cheeses The fancy cheese section at the grocery store can be appealing, especially if you love a charcuterie board, but the cheeses are often overpriced. While these cheeses can be fun to try, they’re often a small portion for a hefty price tag.

    • Alternative: Buy a block of your favorite cheese to slice for a cheese board or charcuterie arrangement.
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Section 3 of 5:

Overpriced Treats to Avoid Buying

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1. 
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   Movie theater food Seeing a new movie in theaters is an experience the whole family can enjoy! But once you get through the door, the prices can get steep. Movie theater popcorn, candy, and drinks can turn a fun family outing into an expense. Popcorn alone can cost around $8 a tub, and a single pack of candy can be $5.

   • Alternative: Eat before you head to the movies.
   • Tip: Keep kids happy with a small, snack-sized portion of candy you keep in your purse or pocket.
2. 2
   Soda Your daily crisp Coke may be putting a hole in your wallet. An occasional drink while out won’t damage your pocketbook, but making it a regular habit can cost you, especially when soda at restaurants costs around $3.50.

   • Alternative: Purchase a pack of soda at the grocery store and indulge in a drink from home.
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   Coffee You may think you need that daily Starbucks to keep moving, but you don’t! The average Starbucks drink costs $7, and that can start to add up every day. If you were to buy a cup of Joe every day for a year, that’s $2,555!

   • Alternative: Make coffee at home and bring it with you to work or school.
4. 4
   Greeting cards Believe it or not, that birthday card for your friend may be an unnecessary expense. Greeting cards are just fancy pieces of paper at the end of the day, and they could be costing you up to $5 a card.

   • Alternative: Try making your own greeting card or buying cards in bulk for an entire season.
5. 5
   Flowers While beautiful, flowers can be a costly expense, especially if you’re trying to stay on a budget. A bouquet of flowers costs around $20 (and that’s for the cheapest blooms).

   • Alternative: Aim to only purchase flowers for special occasions, grow your own. Flowers to make bouquets with, or decorate your home with fake flowers that last forever.
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   Wine and champagne A glass of wine or champagne can be a nice treat after a long day, but when you’re out, it can cost a hefty penny. Restaurants tend to charge two or three times the retail price for a bottle of wine.

   • Alternative: Skip the drink or look for a more reasonably priced house wine on the menu.
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Section 4 of 5:

Overpriced Products and Services to Avoid

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1. 
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   Food delivery services Yes, getting food delivered is super convenient; however, it may be costing you more than you think. The extra expense to have food delivered rather than going a restaurant or grocery store and making the meal yourself can blow out your budget.

   • Alternative: Treat yourself by going to your favorite restaurant and ordering a special, or challenge yourself to make your craving at home.
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   Streaming services It seems like every streaming platform has a must-see show or movie these days, and while it may be fun to scroll through all your services, they’re likely costing you. The average cost of streaming services per month is $15, and if you have more than one, that adds up!

   • Alternative: Only subscribe to streaming services you use regularly, or look for bundle deals that’ll help you save without sacrificing entertainment.
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   Subscriptions There are tons of subscription services available, from makeup and skincare to books, fitness equipment, pet products, alcohol, snacks, and more. While it's fun to receive goodies in the mail each month, the cost can really add up. So, Thatcher definitely recommends cutting excessive subscriptions to save money.

   • Plus, there are often a few good items mixed in with cheap "fillers" that you may not really want or end up using.
   • Alternative: Only buy items that you truly want, and save these purchases for special occasions rather than getting new products every month.
4. 4
   Cosmetics If makeup is a staple in your everyday routine, it can become pretty costly. When you toss out a new product, it doesn’t mean you have to buy the most expensive one to replace it. Makeup products can range from $5 to $50 or more.

   • Alternative: Save money by buying drugstore makeup products or only getting products you know you’ll use.
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Section 5 of 5:

How to Save Money in 2025

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1. 1
   Use loyalty programs. Many of your favorite retailers, including grocery stores, often have loyalty programs. Signing up can give you exclusive offers, coupons, and more! Center your trip and weekly food haul around whatever deals you get—you’ll save a nice penny.
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   Stack discounts with coupons. Maximize your savings by stacking deals on top of deals! Coupons can often be used on top of store discounts. Just be sure to check the fine print of your coupon.

   • Save money online, too. Thatcher recommends that you use digital coupons and rebate apps when you shop.
   • That said, Thatcher suggests that you only stock up on deals that your family already uses. She says to be careful about stocking up on something you’re not sure your family likes just yet.
3. 3
   Compare the unit prices of items. “Look at the price per unit amount on the price signs to see if you’re being tricked by pricing,” warns Thatcher. Just because something has a cheaper price doesn’t mean it’s actually cheaper. A unit price is the cost of an item per ounce or single unit of measurement. Sometimes, the better deal is for whatever item has the lower unit price, especially if there are more units within a product.

   • If you’re grocery shopping, Thatcher also recommends that you meal plan before shopping and avoid shopping hungry.
   EXPERT TIP

   

   Andrew Lokenauth

   Finance Executive

   Andrew Lokenauth is a Finance Executive who has over 15 years of experience working on Wall St. and in Tech & Start-ups. Andrew helps management teams translate their financials into actionable business decisions. He has held positions at Goldman Sachs, Citi, and JPMorgan Asset Management. He is the founder of Fluent in Finance, a firm that provides resources to help others learn to build wealth, understand the importance of investing, create a healthy budget, strategize debt pay-off, develop a retirement roadmap, and create a personalized investing plan. His insights have been quoted in Forbes, TIME, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Yahoo Finance, BankRate, and U.S. News. Andrew has a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (BBA), Accounting and Finance from Pace University.

   

   Andrew Lokenauth
   Finance Executive

   The best way to save money is to compare prices. Use an app to help you find the best price possible. Simply scan the barcode or an item, and see a price breakdown.
4. 4
   Stick to the sales. Thatcher definitely recommends that you shop and stock up on sales. Check the promotions and deals at your local store before shopping. This way, your list will cater to the best deals the store has to offer.
5. 5
   Avoid pre-made items. Convenience can cost you, so unless you’re in a pinch, it’s best to buy products you have to prepare. Stay away from pre-cut vegetables and fruits and pre-made dinners or sides.
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   Buy generic. Thatcher highly suggests that you buy store brands. More often than not, you pay for the name of a brand rather than the quality of the product itself. Purchase generic or store-brand products to stay under budget.

   • For more money-saving tips, check out “How to Reduce Expenses.”
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   Commit to small, daily habits. “Small habits add up,” says Thatcher. For instance, brewing coffee at home, canceling unused subscriptions, setting a weekly spending budget, using cashback apps, and planning purchases instead of impulse buying can all make a big difference over time.
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