The 8 WORST purchases I made in my 20s | things I regret buying

What were some of the biggest wastes of money in your youth? Lol

Every single thing that I bought for my fantasy self: a camera for $600, a longboard for like $200, clothes, make up etc etc. I wished that I realised that the person I was, was ok.

1. Clothing hauls
2. Sephora sale hauls
3. Vacations on loans
4. YSL jacket
5. Drunken generosity
6. Entire skin care/makeup lines
7. U2 Fanclub Subscription
8. Tattoos.

My worst purchases was regular ordered / TAKE OUT FOOD 😭 To a point where I ordered food 2 times per day! I justified this behavior with the fact that I couldn't cook so well. I'm glad I fixed this because it was hella expensive! Now I rather spend the money to go to a nice restaurant once in a while.

Through the entire video I was like: “But she is still in her 20s, what is she talking about?” And when in the end you said that you are 36, my jaw dropped!!!
Girl you look so young and beautiful! We need that drugstore skincare routine 😂🔥

The dopamine rush you get from buying things is so strong and difficult to give up!

Relatable, buying designer was important to me in my 20's for some reason, what's left is just sitting there, unworn, and it can burn for all I care, my kids tell me to sell it and they can if they want to. now in my 40's I love my secondhand stuff so much more and I feel more "me" than ever.

This was literally my life from 18-23, I'm in debt and working my way out, I got in debt by doing clothing hauls (fast fashion), sephora and travel, it literally felt like I was watching myself while listening to this, this is why I'm subscribed to you, you've made it out and makes me feel like I can do the same 😭💕

I was actually quite frugal as a young adult and I was so into my studies that I spent money pretty much only on books and necessities. My problem started in my late 20s when my Mom passed away and I got two new jobs. I started buying more and more clothes, homeware, skincare, just to feel better. Unfortunately I have not solved my problem of overspending yet, that's why I am glad to have discovered your channel so full of useful tips

High end makeup for sure was my worst purchases. I thought I had to have a “collection” just to use it as “decor” in those clear maekeup cubes when I only used makeup for a few years. 😂

Literally my life as well. Wasted so much of both my own and borrowed money on clothing and makeup that are not even in my possession anymore because they ripped, went bad, or were donated. The truth is, even if you grow up middle class, if your family or school don’t explicitly teach you money management skills, you struggle even if you make a good income. Trying to dig myself out of the hole now. Thanks for your honesty in this video! ❤️

I love you for videos like these, the ones that go into more depth about the good & the bad, keeping ourselves accountable while cutting ourselves some slack & learning from experiences. As a 23 yr old who discovered you last summer I'm a fan, while taking notes. Sending love from Romania, stay safe everyone 🤍

I also spent thousands (particularly when I was 21) on clothes and make-up that I didn’t really use as they were fast fashion or over-consumption, also alcoholic beverages, I wish I was smarter with money and got more longer lasting casual and natural stuff. It’s so hard as a girl to not buy stuff that claims to make you look better… there’s so much pressure…

I was the same way with Tattoos in my 20’s, now I am 58 and they look ridiculous, paying a lot of money now to have them removed and it is very painful 😩

Just found this video, it was super helpful. I currently have 2-3 tabs open for items I didn’t need and closed them. The mentality that more would equal happiness when I already have things that suffice at home is so silly. Thanks for your authenticity!

Well done paying off 120k! That is quite the accomplishment. It's awesome to see the financial turn around from the young money mistakes to being finacially responsible. My spending was on clothing, makeup and skincare. The only item I still own from that time is a pair of Frye boots, and those were a purchase I had planned for months whereas everything else was impulsive. So much of my money was squandered but thankfully I have learned and grown. Thanks for this video.

Hmmmmm, my worst purchases in my 20’s were marriage licenses!!! We are seriously drawn to the fantasies and you are truly ahead of the game in your 30’s! I hope this video gains a lot of traction. Timeless advice❤️

Please share your Drugstore routine products list with us! We like good bargains and effective skincare😅

subscribed the second you brought up "buying happiness". overconsumption is just shoved down young girls' throats and can't be stressed enough.

I just turned 20 in January, and your advice and mentality will help me be so ahead of the game. I am definitely not perfect, but I am grateful for what you have taught me! I love videos like this ☺

My spending never happened in such large chunks. Listening to your spending history makes me sad and helps me look deeper at my own. Even with small amounts, over consumption still leaves one with a bunch of junk you don't need or want after the urge passes. I am not talking about trying to reach perfection, just that waste is waste. Shopping is not fulfilling.

Love watching your channel for videos just like this one. You are so transparent. We make lots of mistakes when we're young lol. One of mine was buying incredibly expensive concert tickets when I didn't have any savings to fall back on and most of them were to see U2. Luckily we've grown out of our wasteful habits, some people are still wasting money in their 60s.

YES! I am turning 29 this year and I all of a sudden lost a lot of interest in purchasing in general. Back in the days it was always tons of makeup purchase and never get even close to finishing any of them😂

I love and admire your honesty. I can totally relate.

Appreciate the honesty and openness ❤ soooo relatable.

Thank you so much for this! I loved hearing your perspective on this. :)

i resonate with this video so much. 😅 thanks for great content as always!!

Thank you so much for this video. I can definitely relate to the clothing and makeup hauls. There’s so much I’ve been decluttering and I’m like, “why did I buy another red lipstick when I already have 10?” No lie lol.
I feel like 2023 is the first time in awhile I’m gaining perspective and setting boundaries for myself and spending. I save money, but have been known to splurge, or have that same mindset, “what’s another x amount of dollars on top of the debt I already have.” I really want to change this mindset and be more money efficient. I truly appreciate your transparency and honesty about money.

As always, thank you for your honesty ❤️

I am from France so I thankfully don't have student loan but I can relate with things you said. When I was young I didn't have pocket money (I don't know if you say that in english) and was very frustrated not to be able to buy things and have nice clothes like my friends. So when I had my first job it was like heaven being able to buy (almost) everything I wanted. At the beginning I told myself "I will enjoy my money for 2-3 months and then I will save money". This "2-3 months" thing lasted for 4 years ! (I lived at my parent's house so I didn't have a rent to pay). I don't know if you have this in America but I got a Sephora gold card (when you buy for at least 1500 $ a year). And the fact is I spent the same amount at MAC cosmetics. And this is without counting everything I spent on clothes and other stuff. And for at least 3 years I saved nothing. My bank account was always empty at the end of the month.
I was "Buy first, regret after".
Oh and I didn't mention that the makeup I bought... Was just influenced by makeup gurus, I bought everything and anything, eyeshadow in every color possible, blushes that were way too dark/pink for me... etc. etc. Never used most of my collection, and finally I had to throw everything because it expired.
So my worst purchases in my 20's were definitely makeup.
Today I am still struggling with saving money but I try to think before buying (not always very efficiently). I feel like a buying boulimic sometimes (I used my savings to buy 1500 $ worth of skincare during my trip to Korea last year 😖)

Always love your honesty in these videos Christina!! Sharing your story is so helpful !❤🫶

What a WONDERFUL message...thank you for your courage in sharing a dose of reality we can all use!

Fantastic video!

I started the shopaholic path on my thirties (a little later than the majority here) but nonetheless, so much wasted money that I now feel so guilty. I have spent money on labeled items that are so uncomfortable and a misfit that now I look back and regret almost all those purchases with only a few exceptions. I beg everyone reading this comment to think twice if you need the item and also to do research on the item (s) you want and make sure you intend to keep it for a long time. Thank you to this channel I have been able to realize my problem and found the solution. Thank you Christina for being transparent and kind enough to share your journey with those of us that need to hear it!

Thanks for this, you are shining a spotlight on my spending habits and encouraging me to try harder to be more mindful in my purchasing decisions. My desire for a simple aesthetic in my home has led me into the everything from one skincare brand trap also - fortunately my current choice is an affordable brand! Please do part 2. x

This is very relatable! Thanks for opening up and talking so candidly about this. I think we've all been there but are just too embarrassed to admit it.

Thank you for this video! Really love the honesty and sharing your story has been such a a strong reminder for my money spending and also to think why. I think I am more forgiving of my younger self than I am now in my 30's, I feel like I should know better now! I get massive guilt trips from bigger purchases. We budget but sometimes my control slips. Just learnt finance lessons later in life than I would have liked and needing to correct now. My spending is definitely insecurity related - I moved countries and feel like my clothing/ style is not good enough here. Also a big difference in weather/ temperatures doen't help! Would love to know more about the skin challenges you had. I also have problems. Still a skincare purist currently and not sure what to do, as I have very sensitive skin and eczema, but it's a big expense!

I completely relate to ALL of these things. I'm a 40 year old optometrist and you hit the nail for me on every single one of these points. Fantastic video, I love your channel!

I just want to say that your videos are absolutely relatable and its so refreshing. You have this fantastic way of being really real and honest and upfront and dont make anyone feel bad if they have been in this same boat. I was inspired by one of your last videos to do a no-buy / low buy March. Its day 1 and I am feeling so pumped for this challenge. Thank you!

This video is real as hell and I love it.

I'm in my 50s but my daughter is in her 20s (and fortunately she seems very fiscally responsible) and I just enjoy hearing your story and how you overcame your shopping habit and debt. It's inspirational and although I don't struggle with it myself, it's applicable to so many areas of life. I love shopping--makeup, fashion, all of it and I can completely understand how it can get out of control. Thank you for sharing your experience.

For me it was for sure tattoos and piercings, and honestly too much vintage shopping having the mindset that it's so cheap why not.
Also, that warm beige blazer you're wearing is really flattering!

I loved this video! Definitely relatable for many of us 😬 I remember I racked up a bunch of debt on an Express store credit card (my favorite place to shop for “going out” clothes) in my early 20’s. Then would go out with friends to clubs and bars where I would spend even more money I didn’t have 🤦🏼‍♀️

Compliments on your current makeup game! Looking very good!

Can totally relate! I regret impulse shopping for clothes, shoes, accessories, decor, travel souvenirs, and everything else really, mostly low price and poor quality. BUT will give myself slack because shopping then was all done in person and it was more inconvenient to return stuff or delay gratification and have to go to the stores again. Glad times have changed.

I can definitely relate to makeup and clothing hauls. Especially upgrading to Aritzia once I was making a paycheck! I’m much better at impulse buying now but I was REALLY bad in the past, so the bar was in hell hahaha

I am struggling with my shopping addiction now. I listen to your videos and get inspired but then watch other bloggers and impulsively buy stuff. It just never ends!

I really enjoyed this trip down memory lane and can relate to a few, LOLOL. I've never been in debt but I do have a high income that I used to spend within about 2 weeks of getting paid. My worst was, probably around 25 pairs of designer 10cm heels. I was "the doctor who resuscitates neonates in stilettos 🙈". I had my own first child and stopped....but I still do a bit of a line in designer shoes and mid-range designer ready to wear, must stop 😂. At least now I have savings, emergency funds and a pension plan! U2 for the win, by the way, but fortunately I am not the fan club or tattoo variety 😂.

It take a lot of courage and self growth to admit all of this Christina👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I can totally relate. Was an impulse buyer with credit card debt in my 20s too. So happy I got rid of that bad habit. 🙌🏻

I appreciate the openness about your choices. 20s are a difficult time.

Your diction throughout the video is so real and I really appreciate that. I really needed to hear this.

This was a good one. I am going to send it to my daughter (she is 26 y) because you describe a lot of her bad habits. Thanks for this video.

Hey Christina, I really enjoy your videos and your perspective on intentionality! But I’m glad you went on that class trip to Mexico, I bet you had a great time, that’s a very understandable splurge I reckon 😉

Thank you for sharing! ♥️

Thank you for being so honest Christina. I am currently struggling to get out of my own shopping addiction and this helps!
One good thing I found: when I am obsessed with something, I try thrifting it or an equivalent. Works except for the latest miu miu bags, lol!

Great video! Thinking back to my 20s, it’s a mixed bag as I was pretty minimalist before that was a thing and paid off my students loans first thing after getting hired full time but…I also spent too much on cheap clothes and going out drinking especially which was a bad choice on many levels. Ahh, our 20s, such a nice time to be foolish.

Thank you for this! I’ve been feeling super spendy lately and this kinda helped.
Thankfully I don’t have any significant debt, but I definitely have shopaholic tendencies like you described. The degree to which I experience it has changed a lot over time too.. In my teens it was really bad, when I was in university I was unemployed the entire time including summers, it got bad-ish again once I started making money, then it got better, then I got super into lululemon when Covid started. And now I’m 30 and still trying to balance “I want everything” with being realistic and still buying things without going overboard.

Thank you for your honesty.

I love you, Christina and I'm telling my husband he had better to too. 😁 I'm still a shopaholic at heart but we're building a family AND our forever home so I've had to come clean to be able to participate in our family finances the way I should. Your videos make so much sense to me and have helped me nurture that minimalist mindset I know my husband has by nature. It doesn't come naturally to me but videos like yours keep reminding me why I'm doing this. Even though I love excess, I hate being a slave to anyone or anything and I know my shopping habits made me a slave to consumerism in the past. Thank you so much for all you do, you're a true gem.

It took me so long to understand the value of the dollar and what financial independence should look like. Entire paychecks seemed to dissolve so fast and I couldn’t ever point to anything that made truly happy.
I’m so glad there are YT channels out there like these where it’s okay to say we make mistakes but we gotta learn from them and keep trying! ❤❤❤

Thanks for this thorough and honest video! I appreciate the perspective with which you offer your experience - opportunities for learning rather than fuel for self blame/shaming. My biggest financial regret is spending thousands on fancy online courses I never fully completed, marketed as "the key to self improvement." I wish I hadn't fallen into thinking I needed these things to improve myself or my situation.

I'm 26, yet I know my worst two purchases of my life so far: my driver's license and my first master's degree. Totally not worth the money, the time, and my mental health. Living and learning... 😂

So honest and so relatable! Definitely makes us think.
I think purchasing a luxury vehicle that I didn’t plan for and ate up a lot of my monthly income is one thing I’d like to pause and consider if it is was worth it… and as it ages will cost me in repairs/ maintenance.

I love your honesty, it's good to know that other people are as daft as I am at times when it comes to shopping. A recent bad purchase of mine was ab Anastasia Beverly Hills Eye palette which was clearly designed for a warm-toned person but one of my favourite You Tubers loved it so bozo here paid £48 for it. I used it for about a month then gave it away to a chum. Thankfully I learned from that experience. And I should know better being in my 50s!

Hi, Christina! Love your videos! Could you make a more in depth video about your makeup acne breakout?? I had a similar experience and suffered a lot for about 6 months before realizing that I just had to stop using almost ALL of the products I had (skin care and make up)... what a waste of money 🤦‍♀️

I'd love to see you do a skincare routine video with your drugstore stuff 😊

I’d love to see your simple skincare routine !

New to this page ....love your content

thanks for this video, i now know i want to have a minimalist wardrobe, and just the right amount of skincare and makeup and use my money to invest my money in my knowledge or have speacial moments like eating out or visiting places.

Omg I'm a die hard U2 fan as well! Their 360 tour was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I actually skipped physical therapy school to go to their concert and go apple picking the next day. No regrets here! 🙂

Really love your videos, I used to be a shopaholic as well and was in debt. Now I’m a minimalist and way more intentional with where my money goes.

This video was a good reality check!

One of the best and honest videos you made so far 👏

Thank you for being so honest. Financial literacy is something I really want to improve in my 30s and this video is inspiring. Anyone can change their financial habits 😊
Out of curiosity, what are the 3-4 drugstore skincare products you use now? I’m still on the hunt for my favourites.

these are really good tips.

I love the big tattoo on your back. Well, I've never seen it really well, but every time we get a peak, I think it's super cool

Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm turning 40 this year and I'm still an emotional shopper. I will buy almost nothing for months but when something goes wrong in my life, I'll turn to shopping to cheer me up and distract me, and when I start, I can't stop, I'm like I've already spend money so what's a little more? I've just spent 500 euros, in 2 days, on just 2 hair tools 😥I'm not a high earner, that's a lot of money for me, but for some reason these last couple of weeks I've been obsessed with hair, and having nice looking hair. I know it just a way to distract me from my problems but I really need to find a better coping mechanism.

Love you. I am same here as well. But I have close and clean up my messy. But I do still have a moment.

Would you do a simple skincare routine video for us? Currently on the same journey. Thank you!

I regret racking up CC debt to pay for holidays. I learned my lesson on one trip, saw the light and have never done it since!

Thank you for sharing! This makes you so relatable and easy to take advice from. For what it's worth, I do like your "cringe" tattoos 😀

Fellow millennial with a song lyric tattoo right here (Cyndi Lauper) !! 🙋🏻‍♀️😂 It’s kind and zealous of you to always be so open and honest about your experiences, with the goal of helping/informing others! 😊 Love and appreciate you and your videos! 🤗❤️

I wish I saw these videos when I was younger. Heck, I wish they existed! I was definitely raised in the KRplus Haul era where buying was cool 🥲

I have to admit buying a motorcycle with student loans during undergrad. And living like a queen. But the real money, graduate school loans that I have to start paying back once my internship is over, enabled me to be a stay at home mom, so, money well spent! I just hope I can buckle down and pay it back quickly like you.

Currently in my 20’s and I can definitely relate! I’m not typically an impulsive person so my worst purchases were probably the very impulsive ones! One huge mistake I made last year was putting a down payment on an experience trip to Europe without fully having worked out the kinks and read the fine print. Turns out the company was very disorganized and they double booked me but wouldn’t refund me. They said they could only give me credit towards a next experience. Lost $900 that way 😖 trying to figure out if I can take them to court on it since it was their fault but also just telling people to beware of the company altogether

This really spoke to me 😅😅😅

I like your honesty right now my money wasting weakness is handbags and I have alot!!!

I relate to you in so many ways!!
My question is, do you ever wear the smoking Leather jacket anymore?

i realized that being in Sephora is overstimulating and the aisles are too narrow. like no. I cant stay in there longer than 3 min

Oh so many mistakes I ve made with wasting my money, no one in my family really was finance-educated so I didn't have a good example how to spend my money. I rememeber I bought a lot of chanel cosmetics to feel special like I was worth it.. I never had a thought to save a penny. And I rememeber complementing you on that SL jacket a while ago cuz I missed the same one on a secondhand platform and kinda regretted it :) And now i see this jacket and feel nothing towards it))) it was just a fling )))

Love ❤️ Bono & U2. I don’t have any ink 🖋️ on me though, because needles 💉 scare me, but I regret spending on band tees, cds 💿 ( back in the day/ 00s) , SiriusXm subscriptions and the like! Rock on 🤘, hugs 🤗, Amy

Love your videos and your message. Viele Grüße from Germany ❤

Very educational video👍

I got to the time i wanted to buy a house and all my habits changed. At 23 I deleted social media & basically stopped buying. I concentrated really hard on pieces I wanted and I ALWAYS leave it in the basket for at least a week before i decide to buy or not. I also stopped eating out or going to bars. (Regularly) and that helped. I spent the last two weeks deciding if I wanted this really cool linen to make a wrap dress (because also learning to sew made me appreciate my clothes a lot more and I wear those pieces all the time).

I’m in my 20s and well-aware of my unstoppable impulse buying habit. I have SO MANY hobbies. If I’m not buying stuff from the hobby A, I’m buying things for hobby B. And I NEED to stop so bad. I’m not to the point to be in debt yet, but that’s just because I don’t own a credit card, thank god
Thank you so much for the video

I am in my late 40s and have spent quite a lot on clothings in the past years. Am trying to sell most of it. It takes time and effort but could recover some money. I was frugal in my mid 20s then was down with a sickness. My mentality changed and thought life is short, should pamper myself. That’s how the spendings started.

What an inspiring video Christina, thank you 😍😍 I thought it could be amazing to do a “look at my old style photos” video, I loved the one you included here. Your journey is a really big inspiration for me, lots of love ❤️

I did almost all the things you mentioned, but now that I'm in my 30's, I wish I was a bit wiser when it came to some decisions but...we can't go back now 😅

SO relatable