George Kamel - 14 Things We Buy And Never Use

Episode Date: September 24, 2025

🎥 Watch my video Answering Your Real Questions (Should I Buy It?)   Have you ever bought something you swore you’d use, but it ended up collecting dust next to your Shake Weight? Today I’m reacting to a list of the most common things we waste money on, so you can avoid regret and use your hard-earned cash for things that last.     Next Steps:  • 📅Crush your money goals with the 2026 Ramsey Goal Planner. • 📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan. • 💵 Start your free budget today! Download the EveryDollar app.   Connect With Our Sponsors:  • Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe.  • Get up to 40% off Cozy Earth with code GEORGE. • Go to FAIRWINDS Credit Union for an exclusive account bundle!    Explore More From Ramsey Network:  🎙️ The Ramsey Show  🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour  💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights  🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show  💡 The Rachel Cruze Show  🪑 Front Row Seat with Ken Coleman  📈 EntreLeadership    Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever bought something you swore you'd use, but it ended up collecting dust next to your shake weight and your air friar coated with forever chemicals? We've all been there, and today I'm reacting to a list of the most common things we waste money on so you can avoid the regret and use your hard-earned cash for things that will last, like our friendship. I cannot find the words to say how I feel. Okay, first of all, this list comes to us from Money Talks News. Not the most trusted source for financial advice if you've seen this channel, but occasionally they have some solid nuggets. you can take away. By the way, solid nuggets, my nickname in high school. So I'm not sure why I don't want to know.

All right, 14 things we buy and almost never use. Buy Gail F. Cooper. Strong name. I like it, Gail. Online subscriptions. You'll find websites for every hobby and interest. Premium TV services let you stream endless entertainment programming. Genealogy sites. Help you make a family tree. Alumni sites.

Wow, we went real deep, real fast, Gail. I like this. No Hulu for Gail, just genealogy and alumni sites. That tells me your age gale, you're giving it away. Keep a close eye on those monthly bills. Are you still studying Spanish with those online lessons? Are you really reading your hometown newspaper online? Could you get by with the free option?

I like this so far. She says stick with the subscription you use. Cancel those you don't. And this reminds me of my friends, the minimalist. They have a great rule that says, hey, if you haven't used it in the last 90 days, you're not going to use in the next 90 days, then just cancel it.

Maybe it's 30 days for you. I haven't used the subscription in 30 days, and I'm probably not going to in the next 30 days. days, let me go ahead and cancel it and save that $12 a month that will inevitably hit my account and maybe I subconsciously forget about it. Let's just go ahead and cancel it. I'll take you two minutes. That's my rule. If it takes less than two minutes, do it now. If it takes more than two minutes, wait a year. Never said it was a good rule. It's just a rule. I like it, Gail, Strong Start. Next up. Extended warranties. You finally decided on a major purchase, but you're not done

yet at the cash register, the clerk. Again, showing your age. Cash. Cash. register, a clerk? I would love for there to be a clerk. Instead, it's just a raccoon running a coles. And they won't take my coals cash. That's a really bad sign. Should you bite? Generally no, but it depends. Money Talks News founder Stacey says typically extended warranties cost more than their worth. I agree with Stacey. So what do they say to do instead? Find out exactly what the warranty does and does not cover. Check to see if your credit card offers warranty protection on purchases, you lost me. You had me in the first half, Gail, but you lost me on that one. But I do agree that warranties rarely ever pay off, and instead, here's what you do.

Just put some money aside to cover or replace that thing in the future or make the repair on it. But don't fall for the extended warranties. There's a reason they're selling them. That's where they're making the majority of their money. The profit margin might be slim on the actual product, but that warranty that you paid $100 for, chances of you using that and actually getting anything out of it, slim to none. Next up, oh, Gail, you're getting me with this one. the old filing cabinet. A decluttering goal of mine, this is Gail speaking, is to give away my two-drawer and four-door filing cabinets. They're taking up space, and technology makes them obsolete. We used to

keep files for our utility accounts, taxes, warranties, operating manuals, car repair receipts, the list goes on. This part I'm relating with, I have a lot of this at my house, but now so much of what once was paperwork can be accessed digitally. These big cabinets are just taken up space. Yes, I have a smaller plastic version of this where I keep like all the things that I think I might need one day. They just collect dust and then 10 years later I go, hmm, turns out I didn't need that. But how do you know until you hang on to it for 10 years to know that you didn't need it? Smart move. But I do agree we need to declutter our lives. If you want to keep a digital file, that's fine. But the physical stuff, you probably aren't going to need it. Take a picture of it

if you think you might and then toss. Expensive home exercise equipment goes on to say where we live. This is, again, Gail speaking. The winters are rainy and often cold, biking outside, even just getting to the gym can feel impossible, so it might make sense to have the exercise bike as an option. But I've resisted. I've seen relatives by a treadmill or elliptical machine that ends up as a glorified clothing rack, hogging space. So true. If you simply must have a big expensive exercise machine, here's a tip, buy used. Plenty of other purchasers have trod this path before you and are ready to dump their mistakes for cheap. A hundred percent agree on this one. Expensive exercise equipment, as we all experienced during the pandemic, buying a Peloton for way too much, and then selling it for way

too little. It hurts. It hurts a lot. And as a person who, uh, in their mind could work out if they wanted to, but doesn't want their ego to get too big, if their muscles get too big, let me tell you, I have fallen for this trap many a time. In fact, I have a workout equipment right now that is collecting dust. I got a stair stepper, if anyone's in the market. I've got one of those like a weight benches where people, I guess, sit and lay down to then lift things. I think that's what you do. Uh, but I have so far not put it to use. So I'm, I'm feeling. Pretty shamed right now, Gail. Pretty shamed. Next up, silly baby care stuff. What could be silly? Let's find out what's silly. Other than this picture, which I assume is AI, where's the rest

of that baby's body? Is that a foot for a hand? What is happening? Is that a homemade knit bear beanie? So cute, but also alarming. Really trying to find out what happened in the rest of that baby. I swear that's a foot. Right, okay, it was funny the first time. Let's remember why We're here. New parents are nervous, making them susceptible to marketing during their early days with an infant. Talk with a veteran mom or dad before you spend money on baby wipes warmer or fancy shoes for a child who can't yet walk. Yes, Gail, the Venn diagram of where our hearts align. Here it is.

Babies don't need shoes. I know you want it for the photo, but they're going to go to waste. They can't walk. What are we doing? They don't need a soul. They have a soul. Experience parents will tell you which stuff they loved and used in those first days and which never left the box. Here's a better idea, instead of spending, put every penny you can into your baby's college fund.

I'm going to reach out to get. I think Gail and I would be good friends because Rachel Cruz, my co-host on Smart Money Happy Hour, roasted me for having a QR code for the family at my party for my daughter, her one-year birthday, to give to her college fund if they so chose. Didn't make them, didn't force them, had it as an option, and let me tell you, nobody gave. Unbelievable. But I like this idea a lot as someone who, uh, had a baby recently. Let me tell you, baby care gets out of control and you likely only need

the necessities. So don't fall for the extra stuff that might make your life easier, but we'll just collect and take up space. Next on the list, we've got cookbooks. Okay, Gail is reading my mail. And I'm not a poet and I didn't know it. She says, I confess, I love a gorgeous printed cookbook. Are we the same person? Gail, come out with it. Are you me? I used to review them and the advanced copies filled my bookshel. I even got an instant pot cookbook because I love that. Okay, I for real, Gail, I bought an instant pot cookbook because I thought I will become an instant pot guru, an expert if you will. Never read it. She says I've opened the cookbook only about twice. It's easier to search IP butter chicken online than to dig it out of the book. Do you use your

treasured cookbooks? If not restrain yourself from collecting more. Oh, IP stands for instant pot. See, I'm not, I'm not hip to all the lingo. That's how little I use my instant pot at home. It's scares me. For some reason, I feel like my final destination will be an instant pot explosion in my kitchen. Just the pressure building up in there and I didn't hit a button right. And I go, oh, let me see if it's done. George passed. Yeah, what happened? Yeah, instant pod got him. No, it's never happened to anyone in history. He died doing what he hated most. Cooking for his family. Well, no one's going to top that. But that is true. That is true. I own probably six or seven cookbooks against my will and I have never cracked them open. They are beautiful. Like sometimes I'll just look at the pictures. Like kind of what the president does when he's looking at bills. They just give them the photos and goes, you like me signy. But cookbooks are, I believe, beautiful because you don't have to go look at ads on blogs. That's the real reason I buy cookbooks. I'm so sick of the cancer that is advertisements on cookbook blogs. So what I do instead now? Let me give you a little life hack. I just chat GPT and say, give me the best recipe for this specific thing that I bought using this specific appliance.

Done. No ads. You're welcome. Next on the list, we have gym memberships. She says, confession, I have a gym membership. Thank you for your bravery. Every year, when the annual fee is due, I consider canceling. There are reasons to hang on. The gym is close to home. It has easy parking for days when I can't walk there. I bought the membership on Black Friday, so it's pretty cheap.

28 bucks a month for a limited use for both my husband and me. Is it a good deal money-wise? Not even close since I rarely use it. I too fell for this. I had a very expensive gym membership because here was my thinking. Go with me. The more I paid for it, the more I thought I would go use it. That, in fact, did not pan out.

It's just the more guilt I felt for not using it. And so I'm with Gail here. She says if you're looking to cut expenses, especially if you live where the climate is bearable year round, take another look at exercising outdoors for free. I live in Tennessee. And if you know anything about Tennessee, you know that summer starts from May,

and it ends in November. And so I can't go without working out for that long. You know what my body would shrivel up, like a hermit crab that fell behind the counter that you got from Myrtle Beach. Sound specific? Because it happened. And when we redid that kitchen, I found my hermit crabs. Oh, my God.

And boy, oh, boy. Don't Google that. Gosh, Myrtle Beach, man. If you've been to Myrtle Beach, you know. Dirty Myrtle, baby. Keep the dream alive. Guys, I got to say, we're like seven for seven here on the list. I'm feeling good about this.

Next up, planners and journals. She says, I bought a beautiful planner several years ago, spiral-bound, marbleized cover. I don't even know what that means. Go lettering and spaces for daily, weekly, monthly planning, told myself I'd use it. I used it once. It's easier to keep track of my articles on my Google Calendar or in a Microsoft Word document. Finding the planner and a pen, writing things down, remembering to check it daily is not for everyone in this digital age.

I think that is the key word here. I think planners and journals are wonderful tools. I think we need to go back to analog. There's something really powerful about that, and studies have proven that. But some of us are not wired for that analog experience. And if it's not, sitting there in front of us on a screen, we'll likely not use it. So I'm with her on this one. If you're a planner person, use the planner with all your might.

And if you know you're not that person, use that self-awareness to avoid another wasted purchase. Oh, and by the way, if you are a planner person, you got to check out the 2026 Ramsey goal planner. It's fantastic. It's beautiful. Our team has dialed this thing in. It's got weekly monthly calendars, monthly teachings, intentional goal tracking, and it's very durable. So you can take it everywhere all year long. drop a link in the description if you want to check it out.

Alright, next up on the list, single-use appliances. And there's a photo of cake pops. Oh, I guess you can buy like a cake pop maker, which is different than a K-pop maker, which is what they use to crank out those hit singles over in the East. That's what they're doing. I don't know. It's not in my purview, if you will. I'm not anti-K-pop.

I just can't be pro K-pop because I've never experienced K-pop, and I am unwilling to explore K-pop. I'm so happy. I love K-pop. The article goes on to say, I love appliances in kitchenware. More than once, I've been suckered into buying single-use appliances that look promising on late-night TV infomercials. Again, Gail, we're really giving it away here.

Might as well say, when I'm reading my readers' digest, here's what I love when I look at the TV guide to see what's coming up on TV land tonight. A hot dog toaster, a cotton candy cart, a cake pop maker, an electric crepe pan, just a few examples. Might be fun for a few minutes, great conversations, not that useful. And she says, and yet my imagination tempts me by coming up with exceptions. Maybe a person could teach French and demonstrate crape making for the class or run a monthly

bake sale where cake pops will sell like hotcakes. That was good. The reality, the appliances will probably just gather dust and take up space. Very true. And again, for this one, if you do need it once, see if you can borrow it from someone who does have it. And if you can't borrow it, see if you can buy it used from Facebook marketplace before you go spend the money to buy one brand new, only to find out you're not going to use it. And I'm a big single appliance guy. Single use, I have many in my house, and people walk in and they go, wow, so many appliances. And I go, aren't you impressed? But have I actually used the Ninja Creamy? No, I'm just going to go buy ice cream like a normal person. I'm not going to churn the butter like Little House on the

Prairie. Moving on to travel accessories. The article says there's no need for fancy passport covers, money belts, packing cubes. If you have a smartphone, you don't need foreign language. dictionaries or paper maps, the fewer things you take with you, the easier the trip, Bon voyage. Way to assume where I'm going. Bonjour. This is a good one. I love an accessory more than most people, and I have started to purge.

I'm a carry-on guy now, very proud to say that. I say that braggadociously, if you will, because I used to be a big Czech luggage guy. I was like a Boy Scout packing everything under the sun just in case, in case someone in the group didn't have the tied-to-go pen. But now, I just mooch off everyone else. And it's so much more fun that way. And you can usually buy it where you are in case you need it. So just take what you need, nothing more.

The key with travel accessories, choose the right tools for the best experience. And it's the same when it comes to banking. The right financial institution can make your whole experience so much better. And that's why I love Fairwind's Credit Union, a sponsor of today's video. They are owned by their members, not by Wall Street, which means they're not out here trying to increase shareholder value. And instead of sponsoring Taylor Swift's next tour, they're focusing on helping you win with money.

Seriously, that's what they're all about. With over 33,000 free ATMs and 5,000 credit union partners nationwide, you're covered just about anywhere you go. So go check them out at fair wins.org slash Ramsey or use the link in the description below. Okay, let's get back to our list of 14 things we buy and almost never use. Next up on the list, we have souvenirs. And what a freaky photo this is.

What is this? What am I looking at? Okay, this is giving like jungle book voodoo vibes. I would not buy this. Wait, is that made of actual coconuts? Because if so, I take it back. I want one. Who needs a souvenir keychain, refrigerator magnet, or coffee mug?

The best souvenirs, your photos and memories, are the cheapest. I do agree. I'm not a sentimental, kitsy guy. So when I travel, I don't feel the need to, like, buy the keychain or like the thing with your name on it. Now, when I was little, sure. But now that I'm a grown adult, I find that the photos and memories, the experiences, that's where I'd rather spend my money. I don't need more clutter.

Just think about it. Think through this question. What am I going to do with this when I get home? Put it in a junk drawer? Or am I going to put it on display in my house? Either way, probably not a good idea. I don't want that visible in my house. Next up on the list, over-the-top camping equipment.

It says, sure, get a tent, sleeping bags, a lantern, maybe a simple camping stove. But one walk through a camping equipment store will show you the many ways campers can be coaxed into buying luxury camping items. You can camp comfortably without this stuff, I'm thankful for our inflatable mattresses, but we don't need a smores maker, a curing single-serve coffee maker, or a cool headlamp for midnight trek to the bathroom. A flashlight will do just fine.

I like this one. I've been camping a few times, which might surprise all of you. I try to pack light, but knowing me, I got to bring the accoutrements. You know what I mean? And I do find that if you walk into one of these stores, you will be shocked at the accessories they've come up with to make your camping experience, quote, better. But I feel like that's kind of the opposite of camping. If you need a bunch of accessories, are you really camping? Or are you glamping, a la Tom Hoverford?

Your call. This is actually a dog couch, but it's super comfortable. Next up, we've got specialized sports equipment. I'm seeing a theme here. People who have hobbies tend to spend too much on their hobbies buying too much gear for said hobby. The article says, I still remember when my husband came home after he first played broomball.

Is that from Harry Potter? Oh, that's Quidditch. They should have called it broomball. That would have been a way better name. It's a winter sport that's kind of like hockey. We lived in Minnesota then, and he loved the outdoor exercise. I love that Gail really humanizes these articles. You know, you know it's not AI.

You can't come up with Broomball if you're AI. You've got to be Gail's husband to come up with Broom Ball. He bought special rubber-souled Broom Ball shoes, and it's possible he never wore them. Also love her throwing him under the bus in her articles that she knows he's never going to read. It's a lesson. Introducing new sports into your life is a great health boost,

but you may be able to get along by borrowing or renting specialty items until you turn into a serious contender. I relate to this one, because I decided, you know what, I'm going to try out golf. Call it a midlife crisis. I bought a set of clubs off Facebook Marketplace for $50 whole. I've used those clubs one time, which makes that purchase smart. I knew I wasn't going to be a serious player,

and if I ever do become a serious player, I will upgrade clubs over time as I take it more seriously. And I think that is the move with any hobby. Start small. Don't buy a $4,000 guitar if you don't know how to play guitar. Learn on the crappy guitar and work your way up as you continue with it. And lastly, on the list, we've got frivolous pet purchases, and this is where Gail comes from my throat. What are you doing, Gail? Come on.

She says, we all know what our pets love most. One or two nutritious meals a day, a treat, a favorite toy or two, and lots of love from their two-legged pals. Oh, that's me. I'm the two, I was like, two-legged pal. This is a dog in a wheelchair? What typically remains unused? Doggy dental hygiene, specialty items like microwaveable heated bed pads, pets' Halloween costumes, and 90% of their toys. True words, I've never been spoken.

If most pet items get any attention, it's when they're new, and then they're ignored after a sniff or two. Save your money or make a donation to your local pet shelter or rescue organization. Who rescued who killed? We'll never know. This is a true one. I think pet owners, and I'm very guilty of this, spend too much on their pets because we love them and we think it'll be cute and we think they'll love the toy. And it's okay to budget for pet spending, even if it feels frivolous and you want a cute picture in a Halloween costume. Just know that we're wasting a lot of money on things that will get used maybe once or twice and potentially destroyed by said dog. So tread lightly. Love it. So overall, not a bad list for Money Talks News.

In fact, this might be my favorite Money Talks News article I've ever reacted to on this channel. So shout out to Gail for some wonderful and personal writing. I'm a fan, Gail. I'm a fan. Maybe you're on the cusp of a purchase. You're not sure if you should buy it. And that's what I'm here for. I don't want you to waste any money or make any bad financial decisions. So check out this video where I helped real people navigate their spending dilemmas and give them clarity on whether to buy or not to buy. Click here to watch it next or use the link in the description. That's it for today. If you enjoyed this video, hit the like button, hit the subscribe button. It would mean the world. And share this video with everyone you know who has a cake pop maker.

Because if they ain't bringing it to work, to treat you, they ain't using it. They need this video. Thanks for watching. We'll see you next time.