💸 Things I Refuse to Spend Money On (And Why)

We’ve been talking about what to invest in or how to save. In this article, I thought it would be nice to talk about something tangent to those. Here are the things I’ve decided aren’t worth my money and reason behind each.  

Quick disclaimer before we get into it: I’m not saying you can’t spend on any of these. The point isn’t to shame anyone’s choices. It’s about buying with intention instead of out of habit or boredom.

In today’s edition, we’ll go over:

• 6 things I personally refuse to spend money on and why

TLDR;

The Bottom Line

Seven personal spending rules built on one idea: buying with intention beats buying out of habit. The things on this list: expensive gyms, collectibles, gadget installment plans, unfinished books, investments you don’t understand, TikTok Shop, and postpaid plans. These aren’t off-limits for everyone. But each one has a cheaper or smarter alternative if you’re willing to look for it.

The content

1. Gyms That Cost ₱2,500 and Up Per Month

I train at a bakal gym. Full equipment and ₱1,000 a month. No aircon, but I’m only there for an hour and a half at most and I’m sweating anyway so it doesn’t matter. The ₱1,500 difference monthly is ₱18,000 a year. For the same result. 

2. Gadgets I Can’t Buy Twice

My personal rule: if I can’t afford to buy something twice over, I can’t afford it. This keeps me from stretching for gadgets on installment plans just because the monthly amount looks manageable. A ₱70,000 phone on a 24-month plan still costs ₱70,000. The monthly installment just makes it feel smaller than it is (but most likely you’re spending more with the interest).

3. Books, Makeup, or Skincare I Haven’t Finished Yet

Buying a new book before finishing the one on your shelf gives you the feeling of being productive without any of the actual work. Same with skincare and makeup. We collect things and tell ourselves we’ll get to them. Meanwhile the shelf fills up and the money is spent. Buy it when you need it, not when you see it.

4. Investments I Don’t Understand

If I can’t explain what I’m putting my money into and why, I’m not putting my money into it. Full stop. This one has saved me from a lot of bad decisions that sounded convincing at the time.

5. TikTok Shop Impulse Buys

I don’t even have TikTok Shop activated on my account. The entire design of it is to make you buy things you weren’t looking for. My rule is simple: if I need something, I’ll go look for it. I’m not letting an algorithm decide what I spend money on.

6. Postpaid Phone Plans

At least 20% cheaper than a comparable postpaid plan, and I can pause or skip renewal anytime I don’t need it. The flexibility alone is worth it.

Final Thoughts

None of these are universal rules. But each one came from a moment where I caught myself spending out of habit or impulse rather than genuine need.