18 Popular Things People Buy and Then Rarely Use
Inside: Do you own any of these popular things people buy and then rarely use? If you don’t love it or use it, go ahead and let it go.
How much stuff have you bought that rarely, if ever, gets used?
Chances are, it’s more than you realize.
There are lots of things we buy that sound like they’re a good idea – but once they’re actually in our home, we use them way less than we think they will.
Instead of becoming part of our routine, something that gets regular use, they’re neglected and forgotten about, only making an appearance on rare occasions if at all.
Even if you bought them at a great price, it still doesn’t justify the fact that you’re hardly ever using them and they’re continuing to take up valuable space.
Instead of being useful additions to your home, buying stuff that doesn’t get a ton of use is an easy way to accumulate clutter in your house. As hard as it might be to accept the fact that you didn’t even get much use out of them, these types of items are great candidates to get out of your house while you’re decluttering.
Wondering what you might’ve bought that has become clutter?
I’ve got you covered. Here are some of the most common things people buy and then rarely use.
Common Things People Buy and Rarely Use
I hope that this list of common things people buy and rarely use will serve a two-fold purpose. One is to help you to be more intentional with shopping so that you avoid purchasing things that you’ll later regret.
The second is to help you identify things you may already own that have perhaps become clutter in your home. Once you can acknowledge that you don’t need or use an item it becomes easier to get it out of your space.
1. Home exercise equipment (or a gym membership).
The first one of the things people buy and rarely use is exercise equipment. It’s common that when the new year arrives, health and fitness goals take center stage.
Some people sign up for a membership at the gym down the street, while others buy a second-hand treadmill. Or splurge on a Peloton. Or a squat rack for the garage.
However, typically after a month or two, most of us lose our momentum. Our motivation for working out consistently escapes us and life happens.
And that fancy, expensive exercise gear we invested in becomes one more thing in our space, taking up unnecessary room. Or that gym membership we were convinced we’d make so much use of keeps getting paid even though you’re not using it.
Exercise is important, but so is being honest with yourself. If the equipment or membership isn’t a good fit for you, let it go and find something that is. Personally, I enjoy walks and hikes.
2. Single-purpose appliances.
Single-purpose appliances sound like they might be helpful, but they’re one of the biggest culprits to clutter.
Many can be found in the kitchen. There are grilled cheese makers, panini presses, waffle irons, cake pop makers, bread machines, juicers, fondue pots, apple slicers, donut makers, ice cream machines… you name it, and it probably exists.
These single-purpose appliances seem fun and useful, but really? They’re taking up way too much valuable space on your countertop or in your cabinet, and they’re getting used rarely – if ever.
The next time you’re looking around your kitchen wondering how it got so cluttered, count the number of single-purpose appliances you’ve got laying around. Chances are, you’ll be able to identify the culprits and free up some counter space pretty quickly.
3. Cleaning gimmicks.
If you’re like me and don’t enjoy cleaning, then tools or products that others claim are miracles are particularly alluring to you.
There is a slew of mops, vacuums, cleaners, and various gadgets that claim to make cleaning a breeze.
Are there some cleaning tools that will help you to save time? Sure, but there are also plenty of them that don’t get used (or work as well as advertised) that become clutter in your home.
Even larger items like carpet cleaners and pressure washers can feel like necessary items but they end up being used very little. If you have friends or family who live near you consider sharing these types of tools. It’s a great way to give you access to it when you need it without each of you having to store them all year long.
4. Very specific tools or supplies.
Have you ever purchased an unusual or obscure tool for a very specific use case? These types of items are often used once and then never again.
You may even come across it in your garage later and have no earthly idea what it is or why you bought it.
These can come into play not only with DIY projects but also with craft supplies. If you got really into scrapbooking when it was popular, you may know that hobby comes with a host of tools that are really only useful for that particular type of project.
Re-evaluate the tools that you have and decide if realistically you’ll ever use them again.
5. Lawn games.
Another one of the things people buy and rarely use is yard games.
Do you own a cornhole set? Horseshoes? Bocce ball set? Croquet set?
If so, do you recall the last time you used them? Chances are, you only bring those out to use once a year – maybe two or three times, if you live somewhere with long summers and like to host friends and family for a BBQ.
Otherwise, they’re taking up space in your shed, garage, or basement, just waiting to see the light of day – and collecting plenty of dust in the meantime. Before buying lawn games, see if you can borrow a set from a friend or neighbor to see if it’s worth the money and storage space.
6. Magazines.
Magazines can be an enticing buy. You’re standing in line to check out at the grocery store, and one catches your eye – so you grab it. After all, it’s only a few bucks, right? Not a big deal.
But those magazines are entertaining maybe for an hour max (let’s be honest, most of it is advertisements). You skim them once and you’re pretty much done.
And if you subscribe to a number of them, those magazines pile up quickly. It’s easy to justify keeping them, especially if you’re into scrapbooking or paper crafts, but the reality is they take up space and end up creating clutter. Not only that, but they’re difficult to organize and store.
If you’re trying to cut back on clutter and frivolous purchases, getting rid of magazines is a good call. It’s one of fifteen things I opted to stop buying since simplifying our home.
7. Books.
I know some people will get to this one and immediately decide to stop reading as they’ve determined that books can never become clutter. But for many people, they can.
Some people love buying books and aim to fill their shelves with everything they’ve read (or plan to read). Consider how much use you will actually get from the books. It isn’t very helpful to have a bookshelf full of good intentions that you haven’t gotten around to reading.
And unless it’s a book you absolutely love, you’re probably going to read it once. Maybe twice. Aside from that? It’s collecting dust on your nightstand, on a shelf, or in a stack.
If you like the library aesthetic, it might make sense to keep them around. But otherwise? Consider making future book purchases on your e-reader, or seeing what you can find at your local library.
8. Specialty foods & cookbooks.
With the ever-changing trends of diets (I’m looking at you vegan, whole 30, and keto), it’s not uncommon to have various specialty foods and cookbooks.
Perhaps you thought you were buying supplies for what would be your new way of eating but that didn’t end up working out for one reason or another.
You don’t have to keep holding onto unusual ingredients or cookbooks you won’t reference again. See if you can find someone else who can make use of them instead. And going forward, use online recipes until you are sure it’s a way of eating that you’re sure you will stick with.
9. Shoes.
Having some shoes is a necessity. After all, we need to wear shoes any time we leave our house. And having a few different options, depending on the weather and the occasion is helpful. But that doesn’t mean you need dozens of pairs.
If you love shoes and consider shopping a hobby, it’s easy to let your shoe collection spiral out of control and become a problem. Before long, your closet is filled with slides, heels, and boots – many of which you’re only wearing once or twice a year (if that).
Use these tips to declutter your shoes and carefully consider future shoe purchases. Life’s too short for uncomfortable shoes even if they’re cute!
10. Formal clothes.
Another one of the things people buy and rarely use is formal clothing. Think about it. How often do you really need to get dressed up?
Between funerals, weddings, and other formal events, most of us go to no more than a couple each year. Thinking need a new dress for every occasion is an easy way to wind up with way too many formal clothes in your wardrobe.
Unless you’re the type who dresses up often for date night or needs to wear formal attire for your profession, you may want to consider cutting back on the number of formal pieces you buy.
Instead, consider donating the ones you won’t wear again to a good cause – and keep the classic black dress that you can continue to restyle in different ways. Another great option is to borrow from a friend should the need arise.
11. Trendy styles.
By definition, trendy styles are going to go out of style, sometimes quickly. If it is not something you love and that you feel comfortable in, you’re not very likely to wear it.
Be ruthless as you declutter your clothes and be equally ruthless, if not even more so when deciding to buy additional pieces in the future.
If you watch YouTubers or Instagram influencers who are constantly showing off the latest trends, consider unfollowing them. This becomes a form of advertising where you may feel the need to buy something that isn’t well suited to you simply because you’re constantly being told it’s the new ‘it’ thing.
12. The latest and greatest beauty products & supplies.
Similar to trendy clothes, there are constantly commercials and advertisements for the latest and greatest beauty products on the market.
Beauty companies are experts at convincing potential buyers that their products can solve all of your skin and hair challenges.
Rarely though do the results match the hype. And all too often they become another rarely used item that gets stored in your bathroom.
13. Planners, calendars, & journals.
How often have you started a new year with the best of intentions of finally making use of that pretty new planner? Or maybe you hoped to start a journaling habit that just didn’t happen.
These are common items that are purchased with the thought that new habits will come with a new year.
However, a traditional planner isn’t a great fit for everyone, so if you’ve bought them on repeat only to find you’d only used them for a month you’re not alone. Considering opting for an alternate printable option or using a digital calendar, like Google calendar to keep track of your appointments.
While journaling is great, make sure that you will create a habit of writing before continuing to purchase new pretty journals. Start with a notebook you have on hand to see how you enjoy the process.
14. Movies & music.
It’s probably not too likely that you are actively purchasing new CDs or DVDs very often these days, but how many are you still holding onto them despite rarely (if ever) using them anymore?
Years ago it was common to amass a collection of music and movies as we didn’t have the digital options that we do today. With Spotify, Netflix, and all of the other choices available, there is no longer a need to keep a large library of CDs and DVDs.
Additionally, if you have formats but no compatible machine to play them on, there is very little point in continuing to own them. For family movies, do some research to find out how to digitize them.
15. Hobby gear.
Do you have camping gear but find that you much prefer staying in rental homes when you vacation? Or maybe you have bikes you don’t ride, golf clubs you don’t use, or tennis racquets that you don’t know how to play with.
Hobby gear is a common one of the things people buy and rarely use. Perhaps those items were ones you did use with some regularity in some past season in your life. Or maybe you got them thinking you’d pick up a hobby that never really stuck.
Either way, there is no reason to hold onto massive amounts of gear for activities you rarely or never do. Go ahead and pass them along to someone who will actually enjoy them instead.
16. Vitamins & supplements.
Another category of things people buy with good intentions but then rarely use are vitamins and supplements. They gain popularity at the beginning of the year but are often not taken with regularity as time goes on.
Go through the vitamins and supplements you have on-hand (& while you’re at it your medications too) and get rid of ones that are well past their expiration date. Make sure to take proper precautions in how to safely dispose of them.
If you have vitamins that are still good and you want to begin taking them regularly consider using habit stacking to add that to your daily routine. Make sure to do adequate research prior to taking anything new to ensure you won’t have any unfavorable interactions.
17. Subscriptions or memberships.
It seems that many companies have moved to subscription or membership-based models in recent years. Unfortunately, that can mean that you sign up for repeated payments on services or goods that you don’t need or rarely use.
Sometimes you may not even remember what things you signed up for until they appear on your credit card statement. It’s helpful to review your charges monthly to ensure you’re making use of what you’re paying for (and if not so you can go ahead and cancel).
Having fewer subscriptions and memberships is a great way to simplify your life and save more money.
18. Impulse buys.
The final one of the things people buy and rarely use that we’ll talk about is impulse buys. How many times have you been in a checkout line and picked up an item you hadn’t planned to purchase?
Online stores have gotten good at this as well by suggesting additional products before or during the checkout process. Take the time to consider if you really want or need any item that you’re planning to purchase.
Another area that can trip people up is sale and clearance items. Often the goal of getting a great deal can overshadow how likely you are to make good use of that item.
By learning and practicing how to be more intentional with shopping you can simplify your space as well as prevent bringing additional clutter into your home (while also saving money!).
What is something you’ve bought, only to find that you rarely – if ever – use it? Leave a comment and let me know!
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Air fryer
Shampoo-er
Waffle maker
Toaster
Toaster oven
Juicer
Lots and lots of craft supplies which I’ve got down to one tote, which when I’m done simplifying will go thru and see which ones I enjoy, if not I will pass them along! I got to the point where I’ve looked back on my life when I was 18 on my own and didn’t have hardly anything and got along just great, gonna get rid of my microwave- my kitchen is that tiny so it’s in my sunroom soaking up the rays, 😂 I’ll get along just fine without it. I crave and love simplicity
You are my hero, and an inspiration!
I’m a collector of table linens. I love a pretty table. But I’ve gotten to the point, where the collection is taken over me. I’m aiming on keeping my table coverings simple; I’ve eliminated placemats, which take up storage space. In addition, I’ve a collection of vintage luncheon cloths, which I use for special occasions as well as decorative displays. As I prepare to retire and move to a much smaller home in Florida, I’m working hard to downsize and be more simple and selective in my tableware.
Instapot I gave it to a deserving lady who couldn’t buy one herself
Love this! ❤️
Blender/food processor
My husband’s fry baby and waffle maker.
They sit on the counter gather dust.
Cuisinart Toaster Oven. I might have used it a dozen times. Gave it away to a happy cousin. Countertop real estate restored.
I finally gave mine away and all the accessories and her husband is using it. Win win!
All but one. I’m trying to declutter
Large slow cooker. Got rid of that and found a sandwich toaster at the back of cupboard, now using that regularly, thank you
One thing was an XL Pressure cooker. (Used it for a ‘while’) but it took up a lot of counter space—and of course a year later, the Insta Pot came out. By that time I had learned my lesson. Also got every small appliance known to mankind–only to find a spot in the garage and collect dust–until finally given away. Fads are dangerous too as when scrapbooking first got started, it was easy to spend a fortune that became all consuming. I know those impulse buys, like as you say, gym memberships and exercise equipment may sound good at the time, but cost a lot of money, and are useless if not used consistently. With so many more options for exercise, my membership is outdated and of no use to me. Great article–you really hit the bullseye!
Earrings and Bracelets
Craft Supplies
I fall into the book and magazine category 🙁
Trinkets from vacation – I no longer do this.
I have loads of craft supplies and was thinking I’d get rid of them. But then I did a few free online craft courses…and now I’m using them and found new crafts I’m loving!
I also think it depends on where you live. I couldn’t live without some of my single use appliances in Arizona. When it’s 114 degrees outside, I will not use the oven or stove. Using a toaster oven or George Forman grill saves money in cooling costs.
Yes, it depends on your location and lifestyle. There will always be exceptions and some of these things may get regular use in certain households.
I have bought multiples of hair products & makeup for years trying to find the perfect products, wanting to make sure I don’t run out. However when they don’t produce the result I want, I blame my poor beauty routines, keep the multiples & swear to myself I really will use them. Those will now be much easier to toss out!
I’m having difficulty getting rid of the cookbooks & magazines I haven’t read yet.
Since I’m on a whole house purge, I’m giving myself 1 hour ‘rest’ periods 2 x a day to go through them, pull out recipes, etc. ,(I have a file binder ready for saving the great ideas😉), & anything that doesn’t fit in my storage system has to go!
With all due respect, just wondering after 15 years of veganism how it’s defined as a ‘trend’, that’s kind of like saying Christianity is just a fad. Veganism is more than just a diet, it is a philosophical underpinning of life.
It’s not solely a trend. There definitely are people who adhere to a strict vegan diet for whom it wouldn’t be a trend. It was trendy for others though who tried it only for a short time and didn’t stick with it though. I hope that helps to clarify what I meant.
Make sure you have your bone density checked
Well, just sayin, some of what passes for Christianity these days is a fad.
Some libraries have lawn games that they lend out too.
Garden supplies, tools, pots, decor etc. My goal is to give away all the items I know I won’t be using. However, we don’t download music & do buy CDs still, so we won’t be getting rid of any music in the near future including our 800+ CDS, 30-40 albums & numerous cassettes. We still use our iPods all the time, lol.
My toaster, chopper & coffee pot are single use, but get used constantly as does my coffee grinder. I still love earrings, but no longer buy them very often. I’ve gone from a couple dozen pair of cute shoes to about 7 pair of comfy, supportive shoes & boots. I don’t buy many clothes anymore since I’m retired & I kept only one dressy dress for weddings. Now books are another story. I got rid of quite a few when I downsized a few yrs ago, but I love books and I don’t care.
I love your book attitude!
Spot on list! Your articles are always so helpful.
a juicer!!! lol eating the fruit is so much healthier in my opinion for the skin
Eating the fruit is definitely healthier. Once juiced much of the fiber is reduced making the fruit less beneficial. As my primary care physician says, best to eat your food, not drink it.
I just can’t help myself, and I really can’t afford to spend the money any more.
Waffle maker
Mop and bucket sets
Shoes
Craft
Bed linen and doona covers
Saucepan sets
CD’s and DVD’s
Jewelry
Tea towels
And the list goes on.
Too much holiday decor seems to be a problem for me. I’d hit the after Christmas sales on December 26th and get lights, ornaments, cards etc. etc. When downsizing I was amazed how much I’d forgotten about. Our family room looked like Santas garage sale was about to take place. Going through it all with the ‘keep’, ‘give away’and ‘donate’ took me alot of time but was worth it in the end and I DONT go to any after Christmas sales anymore …
red light therapy panels and my husband’s bike. I ride all the time and he thought he’d go with me but only did once. We use our massagers, stem, yoga mats, balance ball and foam rollers a lot but the red light therapy just sits there
Perhaps approach a psoriasis help group on FB.
I think extremely severe variations of the condition can benefit from red light therapy….
toys and board games 😁
I just bought a bunch of board games. Why did I think I would need them? Somewhere I got the message that all retired people play board games. Clearly critical thinking temporarily deserted me.
I am guilty of buying things as gifts and clutter my place with those , but sometimes, things I buy for me seem to be better for others plus I do regift as most of what I get back , no matter how nice it is , is not always useful but to someone else , it may be. I am terrible with books and magazines, I rarely read the books but love the titles! But I have got rid of a lot , selling new books on selling sites if I can or give them away
Glassware. (I’ve said too much already. 🍺)
I find that it’s cheaper to buy used cds and rip them to my computer than to purchase them digitally.
I have bought a crockpot, slow cooker. About 10 different cookbooks. Books on how to do my own acrylic nails. Including all of the things to do them with. I have bought a highlighting makeup kit. I have also purchased many DVDs that we have never watched!
I’ve got something in most of these categories. However magazines are my biggest clutter. I have finally started tackling these by giving them to friends and charity. I stopped all my subscriptions in April 2020 when I realised I was buying them but wasn’t even reading them. I have only bought a couple of magazines since then.
It broke my heart but I had to let go of The New Yorker. The reading is dense, which I love, but the once a week arrival meant that I never read it in its entirety. Sometimes I’d read one essay. Plenty of months I read nothing. Consequently I had three years stacked in my study telling myself I’d get to them eventually. When I decluttered in February I ended my subscription and tossed the old issues.
I’ve bought a lot of book about my job, but I have’t read more than 20 pages of them 😐
All things promising “organizing” and “time-management.”
I love knowing hacks to just about anything, if it helps. But, I find that on Facebook, when there is a video of a certain type of hack (say, for makeup, cleaning, camping, etc.) they show so many, so quickly, you can’t possibly see them all (the video never seems to end), and I can’t remember all the good ones, or have time to watch all of them, etc. I have gotten a few good ideas, but feel it is a huge waste of time, so I don’t watch them any more.
Get used to using an air fryer. I use mine at least once a day and save time and electricity if I was to use my oven.
I use mine for everything-pizza, cakes, vegetables.
Things bake a few minutes faster, too. I love when it saves 10-15 minutes on any item.
One time, I wasn’t really thinking about its space, so the doors were open a bit! Lesson learned that I couldn’t use that pan in it.
I’m guilty of so, so many of these, either currently or in the past. I currently need to let go of the following:
*Brand-new, unopened box KitchenAid mixer
*My grandmother’s old bread pans
*A Dutch oven
*Nutribullet Blender (never used!)
*My grandmother’s microwave oven cookbook – it was published in 1981!
*Beginner’s books for crochet and for knitting
*Shoes – I work from home now, so don’t need so many options
*OMGosh! So, so many work clothes! I’m 3 sizes larger since the pandemic, but it’s so hard to give them up because, let’s all sing this together: I might need them. I’ll lose weight! Lalala
*Beauty products – I’ve had a problem with subscribing to multiple subscription beauty services
*a never used Nailboo nail dip kit (who was I kidding?)
We all should start a swap list! lol
Yes we should as I could put your KitchenAid mixer to work!
I retire tomorrow. Yesterday I threw all of my heels down the trash chute. It felt marvelous!
I’ve bought a blender/juicer that was a terrific buy at Kroger, a George Foreman grill (on sale) for myself at Christmas to grill burgers/chicken. Back in January, I bought an electric heater fan to put out in the garage where the washer/dryer are because it’s freezing, but I don’t have three feet surrounding it of empty space. My son & family bought me a big AirFryer at Christmas & I haven’t used it yet. I wanted one much smaller. I buy books I don’t read but plan on donating them to a ministry. I buy things for my daughter because she likes a particular theme or color & then when I get home she doesn’t like them. I bought her a housecoat for Christmas & she didn’t wear it once. The tag is still on it. I’ll put it away with the winter clothes I store & more than likely, I’ll donate it to someone who can use it at Christmas. I also buy a lot of what-nots or wall decor that I won’t use or use it for a short while. I do gift bags for a silent auction with some of my things I collect & also give away nail polish & file, with a frame as a birthday gift/Christmas present.
Instapot
Scanner
Hot rollers
Life changes. Old age and surgeries really change your needs. I have to get rid of most of my clothes because my arms won’t let me put them on. I love them, some I made for myself out of silks and wools. It will be as hard as getting rid of my 40 scrapbooks of my life that my kids don’t want. I am glad I didn’t get rid of my medical equipment that I haven’t used in 5 years, sadly I need it now. Sometimes we really do need to keep just in case things, because rebuying them is difficulty and very expensive!
Nd
Clothes
While most single use appliances are a Waste of time and space and money, I would not part with my Kerig coffee maker. The only time I haven’t used it is the 3 months I was in the hospital this winter, and then I had my pods with me and the nurses made coffee for me! There is no equal to waking up and having a fresh cup of hot coffee of your favorite kind hot within a minute or 2! Gladly my husband agrees! Since I am very disabled it is really the only appliance right now I can use. If I ever get better I love my Sunbeam mixer, and nut chopper. But for now don’t take away my Kerig! Please.
great post..
2nd hand exercise bike
hair straightener
Many people are going back to discs, especially DVDs, due to services not offering or discontinuing particular titles.
This is why people have a ton of subscriptions and not use them -they can’t find what they want to watch.
I still own DVD and VHS players. I used to buy DVDs just so I could “rent” them. I would buy them for $1-$5 just because I wanted to see ithem.
Blender
Kitchenaid Mixer
Instapot
Big food processor
All sold or given away in the last couple of weeks. I use my toaster oven daily and I use my waffle maker weekly. Also sold large gas grill we rarely used.
office supplies, pretty post it notes, markers etc.