The 10 Impulse Buys Americans Regret Most (Guilty!)
Written by Zach Miller on October 27, 2026
Let’s be honest. Somewhere in your house right now there’s a cute top with the tags still on it, bought on a “treat yourself” Tuesday after a day of carpool, conference calls, and someone crying over the wrong color cup.
No judgment here. We’ve all been there. But a new study says that little habit adds up to a lot more than we think.
How Much Are We Really Spending on Impulse Buys?
According to research highlighted by the New York Post’s look at the everyday items Americans regret buying, the average American spends around $150 a month on unplanned purchases.
That’s close to $1,800 a year. That’s a family weekend getaway, a few months of groceries, or a very nice Target run that you actually planned for.
The study dug through Reddit threads full of buyer’s remorse confessions to figure out which purchases people regret the most. Here’s the list.
The Top 10 Most Regretted Impulse Buys
1. Clothes You Never Wear
A whopping 86% of people say they own clothes they’ve never worn. Quick game: open your closet and count the “someday” pieces. We’ll wait.
2. Juicers
The dream: fresh green juice every morning. The reality: scrubbing pulp out of 14 tiny parts while the kids miss the bus. That cleanup is why so many juicers retire to the back of the cabinet.
3. Shoes and High Heels
Especially the pair bought for one “special occasion.” They looked amazing at the wedding… for about 45 minutes.
4. Handbags
If it’s too flashy or too pricey, the regret tends to kick in fast. Bonus points if it can’t fit a sippy cup and a granola bar.
5. Beauty and Skincare Products
Some of these expire before they’re even opened. Raise your hand if you have a drawer full of “I’ll try it next week” serums.
6. Craft Supplies and Yarn
Apparently people are still buying yarn, and a lot of it is still sitting in a bin waiting for its moment.
7. Home Sewing Machines
A great idea in theory. In practice? It’s a lot of work, and the hemming pile somehow keeps growing.
8. Cameras
They’re bulky, and let’s face it, your phone takes pretty great pictures of the kids’ soccer games already.
9. Notebooks and Journals
We buy them with the best intentions. Gratitude journal! Meal planner! Then they sit there with three pages filled out from January.
10. Camping and Backpacking Gear
It sounds fun and outdoorsy until you have to haul all that stuff to the campground (and then haul it all back).
One Simple Question to Save You $1,800
Before you hit “Add to Cart” next time, ask yourself:
- “Is this going to end up living in my closet?”
- Will I actually use it this month?
- Would I still want it if I waited 24 hours?
If the answer is “eh,” it might be time to close the app and walk away. Your wallet (and your closet) will thank you.
Okay, time to confess! 👀 What’s the impulse buy you regret most? The juicer collecting dust? The heels you wore once? Drop it in the comments on our Facebook or Instagram page and let’s make each other feel better!