The ultimate in smart shopping is knowing what not to buy. Keep that latte habit that the finance gurus tell you to kick, but stop paying for things that don’t even give you the benefit of a bright-eyed commute.
UNLIMITED MINUTES!!
ALTERNATIVE FLU REMEDIES
The pitch
Fight back against the aches, chills and other misery-inducing symptoms with herbs or vitamin supplements
The truth
From the CDC: “There is no scientific evidence that any herbal, homeopathic or other folk remedies have any benefit against influenza.”
The exception
Chicken soup, especially if it’s homemade
UNLIMITED CELL-PHONE MINUTES
The pitch
Sign up for an all-you-can-yak plan and never pay over-limit charges
The truth
The average family uses only 735 minutes of talk time a month, which is close to a typical family-plan threshold of 700 minutes
The exception
If you’ve tallied your usage and find that you gab more each month than other plans cover
BOTTLED WATER
The pitch
Quench your thirst with water from a place that looks nice on a label
The truth
You’re probably paying more than a dollar per gallon, and many brands’ dirty secret is that they use tap water and treat it with minerals or chemicals
The exception
If you’re on vacation in a country where the tap water can’t be trusted
LOTTERY TICKETS
The pitch
Win big! Never work again! Make your neighbors jealous!
The truth
According to Powerball, a player’s odds of winning the big one are 1 in 195,249,054. The odds of dying from a meteorite striking the earth are 1 in 700,000
The exception
If you’re the MIT computer scientist who discovered a glitch in the Massachusetts state lottery
CREDIT-CARD-PAYMENT INSURANCE
The pitch
Pay a monthly fee and the credit-card company will make your payments if you lose your job or become sick or disabled
The truth
This “protection” can cost a few hundred bucks a year, and there are often so many restrictions that you won’t see a dime
The exception
Wait, there is no exception here
For more tips on what not to spend your money on, go to time.com/stopbuying
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