11 Things That Should Never Cost More Than $99

Mikey Rox — Thu, 25 May 2017 08:30:13 +0000

Life is expensive, y'all. Food, rent, home energy, gas — the basic necessities for modern living — cost a fortune these days. This is precisely why we need to avoid overpaying elsewhere in our budget. Save yourself some dough by rethinking some of these could-be pricey purchases that should never come in at more than $99.

1. Men's haircut

I don't have the beautiful ginger locks I once had — it's gettin' pretty sparse up there, friends — but even when I did have a generous coif to maintain, I never spent more than $20 on a haircut. I spend even less now — from $8 to $15 at Great Clips (they often have $9.99 specials in my area, and I receive $2 off regularly priced haircuts when I show my local gym membership). Unless you're getting a serious 'do done, you shouldn't pay more than $35. That's the highest I've ever forked over — in Manhattan — which included shampoo, cut, rinse, and hot towel service. Even then, I could have done without three of those things.

2. Jeans

If you read my posts frequently, you know I like to shop. Clothing is one of my few budget vices, and I'm generally not apologetic about the amount of money I spend to look good. I do draw the line at expensive jeans, however.

In the past, I've spent more than $100 on a single pair of jeans — with purposefully designed holes in them, no less. But you know what happens to them? Eventually I get tired of them or they fade or I lose/gain too much weight to wear them, and they get sent to charity. And when I started putting that sitch in perspective, I decided I'd much rather send $20 jeans to charity than $150 jeans. Now I almost strictly buy denim at the J.Crew Factory Store (they retail for around $65) that I can score between 40 percent and 60 percent off, and many times I have an additional discount on top of that. I've also started selling my unwanted jeans on Swap.com to recoup some of that cost. I recommend the latter strategy if you have stylish, in-good-shape denim lying around. You may be surprised at how much you'll get for your old clothes. (See also: How I Make $800 on Month on eBay Selling Used Clothes)

3. Halloween costume

Some of my friends are super into Halloween, spending hundreds of dollars on their elaborate costumes each year. I don't get it. A couple Benjis on a goofy get-up that you'll wear one time for, like, four hours? Get outta here. Raid your closet and the local thrift and craft stores to DIY your costume if you enjoy the holiday, but there's no reason to spend more than $99 to be an internet meme or a superhero.

4. A dress you'll only wear once

If you plan to be buried in that dress, spring for it. But if you know you'll only wear it once, what's the point of dipping into your savings to buy it? Instead, ask your friends if they have a dress you can borrow for whatever the occasion may be. It'll be new to you, and no one else has to know you borrowed it. Otherwise, try secondhand stores, online consignment shops, and re-accessorizing what you already have to find a dress you won't feel guilty about wearing when you're already short on rent. Or, if you are looking to splurge on a dress, make sure it's versatile enough to wear multiple times. You can never go wrong with an LBD, after all.

5. Multiple trips to Starbucks in one month

Listen, if you have a $99-plus monthly coffee habit, you have a problem. Coffee is so much cheaper when you make it at home. Brew a pot before work and take it to go. Then take that extra cash you save by making coffee at home and put it toward a vacation fund or retirement. (See also: Here's How Rich You'd Be if You Stopped Drinking Expensive Coffee)

6. Gym membership

Even when I lived in Manhattan, I didn't pay more than $99 a month for a gym membership, and mine gave me access to all the locations on the island, including the steam rooms, saunas, showers, and towel service. It wasn't a luxury gym, per se, but it did have some luxuries. Plus, there are so many ways to get fit for free that a triple-digit monthly charge hardly seems worth it.

If I ever pay more than $99, I want somebody to work out for me while I watch. Weight loss through osmosis. I like that idea.

7. Textbook

College courses like to stick it to you by constantly updating the editions of the required textbooks so you have to buy the latest, most expensive version. Sometimes you can't avoid it, but most of the time you can find used versions of the books you need in the campus bookstore or online. Bonus if they have notes from the previous owner in them. Added value!

8. Massage

There are very few professions out there that command nearly $100 per hour for services. Massage therapy is one of them, but usually you're not getting what you deserve for the money, i.e. the therapist has hands like a Tonka truck. Skip the high-end spas and try out your more affordable, local options instead. You can also score really great spa deals on daily deal sites that often cut the prices in half.

9. Sneakers

In New York City, I regularly see people standing in line for expensive limited-edition kicks, and I'm sure you've heard the story about NBA newbie Lonzo Ball, who recently released his own $495 shoes. I get it. Guys love their sneaks and they'll pay out the wazoo for them. But until they make shoes that render me able to fly, I'm perfectly happy staying in the $75 to $95 range for shoes that I plan to get dirty and sweat all over.

10. Warehouse club memberships

We've written about the pros and cons of warehouse memberships, and they make sense if you're feeding a large family, but if you're only feeding one or two mouths, you're probably paying more for the membership than you'll save over its annual lifetime. Combine that with the amount of food you'll waste when you buy in bulk without the need to buy in bulk, and you're really doing your wallet a disservice. Clip your coupons and shop small at your local supermarket where there's no fee to enter.

11. Fresh flowers

If you think about it, flowers are the only living, non-consumable item that we buy at extraordinary prices just to watch die and throw in the trash five days later. Would you buy a fish for $100 if the pet store told you you're gonna have to lay it to rest by the end of the week? Absolutely not. Set a reasonable maximum amount for your fresh bouquets, never exceeding $99. Or skip the buds altogether and spring for alternative gifts that bring joy, like ice cream. Wouldn't you be happier with a pint of Ben & Jerry's than a bouquet of wilted roses? So would everyone else.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: