I Could Have Been a Millionaire and Still Enjoyed My Daily Latte

home insemination Kit

Updated: July 28, 2016

Originally Published: July 28, 2016

Money — it’s a common wish to have more of it. But despite what numerous personal finance articles may suggest, skipping that daily $6 latte from Starbucks isn’t the golden ticket to financial freedom. If I could rewind time and take back some of the countless questionable purchases I’ve made as an adult, I might just find myself with a net worth in the millions. Here’s a rundown of some of the items that drained my wallet over the years:

1. Jeans in a size I hoped to fit into post-baby. Three kids later, those tags are still on, and I’m finally accepting it might be time to donate them.
2. A ball gown from a BCBG sample sale because I thought, “You never know when you might need one.” Spoiler: Only worn once.
3. Concert tickets to see Ja Rule. My 18-year-old self would disagree, but that $40 could have been better spent.
4. A shrimp quesadilla from a diner in a landlocked town. Lesson learned: think before you order seafood.
5. A DVD of Spanglish. Just because Blockbuster had a $2 bin doesn’t mean it was a deal.
6. Mini cheesecake pans I “invested” in while dreaming of regular baking sessions.
7. A Costco-sized bag of chia seeds. Because, why not buy a bulk of something I’d never tried?
8. Lime green sparkly eye shadow. No further explanation needed; it was a choice.
9. My whole trip to Aruba, including an overpriced horseback riding tour that promised “a free bottle of water!”
10. Suspenders. Because I thought I could totally pull off that look.
11. The nerd-cool My Little Pony sweatshirt I was convinced I needed.
12. IKEA Tupperware with lids that didn’t latch. Naturally, I assumed the first set was defective and bought another.
13. An at-home bikini wax kit. Some things are best left to the pros.
14. The Avril Lavigne CD. Yes, it was 2004 and My Happy Ending was edgy, but still.
15. Craft supplies for an Etsy store I never opened — bulk buying was a mistake.
16. Rosetta Stone. My Spanish skills haven’t improved, considering I barely got through Disc Uno.
17. That white bikini. White + water = regret.
18. The $12.50 I spent on Oz the Great and Powerful. Time wasted is priceless.
19. Tacos from a vegan taqueria. The taste of “nut cheese” still haunts me.
20. A $60 haircut from a stylist-in-training when I said, “I’m open to anything!”
21. A label maker that was supposed to organize my life, still unopened on a shelf.
22. A boutique modern art museum visit that showcased a mere four pieces.
23. Library fines for books I never read, including Go Set A Watchman.
24. Anything from Target’s dollar bin.
25. Kangol beanies because a guy once complimented me in one.
26. A complete potting kit for herbs I never grew.
27. Boba tea — only $4, but it was a regretful splurge.
28. An electrolysis session from Groupon; one session does nothing, and additional ones cost $500 each.
29. Self-tanning cream — I went through an orange phase that lasted way too long.
30. An infomercial product that definitely didn’t work as promised. Shocking, right?

I’m sure I’ll continue to rack up a list of regrets in the future. (Not you, my fabulous new shirt that the salesperson swore could be styled in four different ways.) But for now, I like to think I’m only a few better choices away from owning a vacation home in Hawaii. Hmm, time to grab a new swimsuit…

For more insights on home insemination, check out our post on intracervical insemination. Also, if you’re interested in tips on becoming a parent, visit Make a Mom for authoritative information. Additionally, ACOG offers excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.

Summary:

Reflecting on past purchases can be a humorous yet eye-opening experience. From questionable fashion choices to regrettable dining experiences, many of us have made spending decisions that we later wished we could take back. As we navigate through life, it’s important to learn from these financial missteps while maintaining a sense of humor about them.