15 Things to Stop Buying Immediately to Get Out of Debt
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1. Takeout Meals and Food Delivery
You already know this one’s coming.
That Uber Eats habit? Yeah, it’s basically stealing your paycheck.
You tell yourself it’s only $15 here and $20 there, but add the delivery fee, service fee, and tip, and suddenly you just dropped $30 on a burger that doesn’t even taste as good as when you make it at home.
Funny thing is, you’re not paying for the food. You’re paying for someone else to carry it to you.
And sure, sometimes you’re tired and don’t want to cook, but remember. Your debt doesn’t care how tired you are.
You want freedom? Cut the $200 a month you’re throwing away on soggy fries and reheated pizza.
Eating At Home Is Smarter
Cooking at home isn’t glamorous, but it’s powerful.
You get more meals for the same money, you eat healthier, and you finally stop wondering why your bank account feels like a leaky faucet.
It’s like having a cheat code for life. Except the code is pasta and eggs.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Plan 3 simple meals for the week, buy groceries under $50, and batch-cook them on Sunday so you stop tapping Uber Eats.
2. Fast Fashion and Cheap Clothes
You walk into the store “just to look,” and somehow you walk out with three shirts you don’t need.
Congrats, you’re the perfect customer.
Fast fashion plays the long game.
It looks cheap up front, but it falls apart in three washes.
So you replace it. Again. And again.
It’s like setting your money on fire, but with a fitting room involved.
Buying Quality Over Quantity
You don’t need 15 versions of the same black T-shirt.
What you need is a few high-quality basics that actually last.
Spending a little more once saves you from spending too much over and over.
Think of it like building a money shield in your closet.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Stop impulse shopping, buy neutral basics from discount outlets, and stick to the one-in, one-out rule with clothes.
3. Streaming Services You Rarely Use
You sign up for Netflix.
Then Hulu.
Then Disney+.
Then somehow, you’re paying for Apple TV, Prime Video, and that random subscription you forgot about from last year.
And the punchline? You still sit there complaining there’s nothing to watch.
Streaming services are like mosquitoes. You don’t notice how many are biting you until you check your bank statement.
Cutting Down On Subscriptions
One or two? Cool.
Six or seven? That’s a part-time job.
Cancel the ones you don’t use and rotate monthly if you need to.
No one needs every service at once, unless you’re running a movie theater in your living room.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Check your bank statement, cancel unused subscriptions today, and rotate one service at a time.
Bonus: Tracking All Your Subscriptions in One Place
So you canceled Netflix and Hulu, but what about that random $9.99 app you forgot about two years ago?
Yeah, that one’s still draining your account every month.
The truth is, subscriptions love to hide in your bank statement like cockroaches in the kitchen.
You think you’ve got them all, but then. Bam!. A charge you didn’t even notice shows up.
And that’s where a simple app comes in handy.
You can use a tool like Rocket Money to track every single subscription in one spot, cancel the ones you don’t need, and actually see how much cash is leaking out every month.
People who use it often realize they’ve been wasting hundreds a year on stuff they didn’t even remember signing up for.
That’s not just a money win. It’s peace of mind.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Download Rocket Money, connect your accounts, and cancel unused subscriptions in one click to start saving instantly.
4. Fancy Gym Memberships You Don’t Need
Let’s be real. If you’re only going to the gym twice a month, that $70 membership is just a donation.
You’re not working out, you’re sponsoring the gym.
And those “premium” gyms with eucalyptus towels and smoothie bars? Nice touch, but none of that pays your debt.
Gyms bank on people signing up, showing up for two weeks, and then forgetting about it.
Don’t be that person.
Exercise Can Be Free
Push-ups in your living room cost nothing.
Running outside? Free.
YouTube workout videos? Also free.
You don’t need a membership to move your body. You need consistency.
Cancel the fancy membership, use a cheaper local gym, or just commit to bodyweight workouts.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Cancel the $70 membership, download a free workout app, and use resistance bands or YouTube for strength training.
5. Daily Coffee Shop Runs
Yeah, this one stings.
That daily latte isn’t killing you. It’s burying you slowly.
Five bucks a day turns into $150 a month, which turns into $1,800 a year.
That’s a whole credit card payment.
And the worst part? You don’t even notice it because it’s “just coffee.”
Making Coffee At Home Works
You can still enjoy coffee without letting Starbucks own your wallet.
Buy a simple coffee maker or French press, grab some beans, and you’re set.
It’s cheaper, faster, and honestly, it tastes better once you learn to make it right.
And yes, you’ll feel smug every time you walk past the café line.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Buy a $25 French press, grind beans at home, and save $120+ monthly instead of buying lattes.
6. Upgraded Smartphones Every Year
You see the new iPhone commercial, and suddenly your perfectly fine phone feels like a dinosaur.
The camera has three extra filters you’ll never use, and the phone costs a month’s rent.
And you convince yourself you “need” it because, you know, you’re totally a professional photographer now.
Truth is, upgrading your phone every year is like paying rent to a shiny rectangle.
Using Your Phone Longer Saves Cash
Your phone works just fine for 3–4 years.
The apps still run, the screen still lights up, and the texts still come through.
You don’t need the latest model. What you need is less debt.
Keep your current phone, skip the upgrade, and use the savings to pay off that balance haunting you.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Keep your phone until it actually breaks, buy a budget-friendly case, and use trade-in credits only when necessary.
7. Extended Warranties on Electronics
The cashier always asks, “Want to add the extended warranty?”
And you panic, thinking your new TV will explode the second you leave the store.
So you say yes, because who wants a broken TV, right?
But here’s the truth: those warranties are designed to profit the store, not protect you.
Most Warranties Are Useless
Most electronics either break right away (covered by manufacturer warranty) or last for years.
The in-between “oops” situations are rare.
And if something does go wrong? Repairs often cost less than the warranty itself.
Don’t fall for fear-based spending.
You’re not buying peace of mind. You’re buying the store a vacation bonus.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Skip the warranty, rely on the free manufacturer coverage, and use a credit card with purchase protection instead.
8. Bottled Water and Energy Drinks
Paying $2 for water is wild when you can get it free from the tap.
But companies put it in a plastic bottle with a mountain picture, and suddenly you believe it’s “premium.”
And don’t even start with energy drinks.
They promise “wings,” but what they actually give you is a shaky hand and a hole in your wallet.
Free and Cheap Alternatives Exist
Tap water, filtered water, refillable bottles. You’ve got options.
As for energy? Try sleeping, coffee, or just eating better.
You don’t need 200 mg of caffeine in a neon can to get through your day.
Save your money, save the planet, and save yourself from looking like a human soda machine.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Buy a reusable $20 water filter, carry a refillable bottle, and switch energy drinks for homemade iced coffee.
9. New Cars Instead of Used Ones
You smell that “new car smell” and instantly feel like a millionaire.
Too bad the car loses 20% of its value the second you drive it off the lot.
Buying new is like buying a balloon. You pay full price just to watch it deflate.
Dealers love people who crave shiny dashboards, because they’ll happily finance you into a payment that chains you down for years.
Used Cars Save Thousands
A reliable used car, 2–3 years old, works just as well.
It’s cheaper, insurance costs less, and you’re not stuck in a five-year loan.
Your goal is freedom, not impressing strangers at red lights.
Skip the brand-new SUV. Get a dependable used car, pay it off faster, and keep your cash flow strong.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Shop certified pre-owned cars, check listings on Autotrader or Carvana, and aim for low-mileage models under 5 years old.
10. Designer Handbags and Shoes
Luxury brands have one mission: to convince you that their logo makes you special.
And hey, a $1,200 bag looks good… until you realize it’s holding $3 in loose change and a receipt from Taco Bell.
Shoes are no better. $800 sneakers don’t make you faster; they just make your wallet emptier.
Debt laughs when you fall for this trap.
Status Symbols Don’t Pay Bills
You don’t need a Gucci bag to carry gum.
You don’t need red-bottom heels to walk down the street.
What you need is a solid budget and less debt weighing you down.
Save luxury for when you can actually afford it. Without credit cards whispering in the background.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Skip designer stores, buy stylish basics from outlets like Nordstrom Rack, and focus on comfort and durability first.
11. Impulse Buys at Target or Amazon
You go to Target for toothpaste.
You walk out with candles, throw pillows, and a mini waffle maker.
And don’t get me started on Amazon. One “Add to Cart” click, and suddenly a package shows up every day like it’s Christmas.
Impulse buys are sneaky debt traps dressed up in cardboard boxes.
Small Things Add Up Fast
That $15 gadget you don’t need becomes $150 in a week.
Impulse spending feels harmless, but your bank account disagrees.
Debt doesn’t care if it came from a big purchase or ten little ones. It still owns you.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Delete saved cards from Amazon, use a 24-hour rule for purchases, and bring only cash when shopping in-store.
12. Lottery Tickets and Gambling Apps
You tell yourself, “Hey, someone’s gotta win.”
But statistically? That someone isn’t you.
Lottery tickets are basically paying extra taxes with worse odds.
And gambling apps? They’re casinos in your pocket designed to drain you one $5 bet at a time.
Luck Isn’t a Debt Plan
You can’t build wealth on scratch-offs.
Hope isn’t a strategy, and Vegas doesn’t send thank-you cards.
Every dollar you spend chasing luck is a dollar not crushing your debt.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Skip the tickets, delete gambling apps, and put that “bet money” into a high-yield savings account like Betterment.
13. High-Priced Beauty and Skincare Products
The beauty industry is a magician.
It convinces you that $200 cream is the only thing standing between you and eternal youth.
Spoiler: it’s mostly water and marketing.
Your debt doesn’t vanish when you apply that serum, but your money sure does.
Affordable Products Work Fine
Drugstore brands often use the same ingredients as luxury ones.
The packaging looks less glamorous, but the results are nearly identical.
Don’t fall for the hype. Your skin won’t know if it came from Sephora or CVS.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Switch to affordable brands like CeraVe or The Ordinary, buy multi-use products, and avoid buying 10 versions of the same lotion.
14. Subscription Boxes and “Surprise” Deliveries
The idea is fun. You get a box of random goodies every month.
Snacks, socks, candles, toys for your dog… whatever.
But here’s the deal: most of it ends up in a drawer, unused.
And you’re still paying $40 a month for clutter.
Random Boxes Drain Money
Subscription boxes trick you with the word “value.”
Sure, the retail price might be $80, but if you didn’t want the stuff in the first place, it’s still wasted money.
Debt doesn’t care how exciting the unboxing is. It just gets bigger.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Cancel all box subscriptions today, keep only services you truly use (be honest, it’s probably none LOL), and redirect that cash toward debt payments.
15. Overpriced Cleaning Supplies
Do you really need six sprays that all “kill 99.9% of germs”?
Half your cabinet is probably filled with overpriced bottles that do the same job.
Cleaning brands love selling you ten versions of soap, each with a different label.
Debt loves when you believe it.
Simple Products Work Just As Well
Vinegar, baking soda, and multipurpose cleaners handle almost everything.
Cheaper, simpler, and less clutter in your cabinets.
You don’t need a $12 lavender countertop spray when $2 cleaner gets the job done.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Buy a $5 multipurpose cleaner, use baking soda and vinegar for extras, and stop wasting money on duplicates.
Hi! I’m the founder of Money Vice and a passionate personal finance enthusiast. I started this site to help people across America save more with the least difficulty, get rid of debt, and to start putting their money to work (in the easiest way possible).
