03 Aug 2021

Here at Year13, we’ve made some pretty silly money mistakes growing up and I really mean that.

Gone are the days of your parents not buying your favourite toy or lolly for you. Now we are in control of adult money.

From throwing hundreds at VIP One Direction tickets (guilty - when is the reunion tour?), random games we have never touched after playing once, enough makeup palettes for an entire village to the most expensive water bottle ever (hey, if it helps you stay hydrated, it's probably more of an investment) - we’ve spent our last few dollars on some random things.

Your parents will probably tell you that you've wasted your money and you know you have but you've got too much pride to admit it.

@elsa.majimbo ♬ original sound - Elsa Majimbo

It’s a never-ending cycle of materialism. Receiving your paycheck one week to being broke the next because some targeted Instagram ad for a new face cream popped up but hey, if we didn’t spend our money, how would we ever learn how to be good at saving?

Then there are those purchases that literally change our life for the better - no matter how much money we spend on them, at the end of the day no matter what anyone says, they are bloody priceless.

I thought I’d ask some of my fellow Year13’ers to tell me what some of their most regrettable and best purchases have been and well, let’s just say lockdown impulse buying has taken over.

Without further ado, here are some of our worst and best purchases:

Bianca


Regret: I bought an iPad + Apple Pencil and it just sits in my room and collects dust. I have a laptop, phone and TV - it was a waste of $400 in my opinion
Changed my life: My foam roller was the best $30 I’ve ever spent - my back is forever thanking me!

 

Chris

Regret: Buying into the concept of pyramid schemes (don't do it, kids) and Adobe Creative Suite because it’s bloody annoying.

Changed my life: Adobe Creative Suite because it got me through my course and landed me a job here!

(it’s a love and hate relationship between Chris and Adobe).

Joshua

Regret: Nintendo 3DS - I literally bought it just for Pokémon Omega Ruby and I got bored with it after two days

Changed my life: Screen protectors for my phone because I’m clumsy and always drop my phone on the worst surfaces

Damo

Regret: Shares in bitcoin

Changed my life: A separate keyboard and mouse to get the screen at eye level solved so many problems

Richard

Regret: Got a car loan for $35k at 18-years-old, bought enough boxing gear to go pro after one lesson and haven’t used it since, bulk ordered protein bars and were sickening after a few days
(we've all fallen victim to the protein bar fad).

Changed my life: 1m USB extender from eBay, only $5-$10 and you can roll around freely while charging your phone

Tommy

Regret: Bitcoin but I still got hope though.

Changed my life: Samsung Galaxy buds, wireless headphones are sooooo good, such a good purchase.

@samfrickerr ♬ BEE GEES VS 50 cent - Eric

Izzy

Regret: Poppy Lissiman boujee bag - it was so expensive. I wanted to be THAT girl with the funky shell bag but as soon as I bought it, I saw that literally everyone had one. They are the price of Jesus’ tears. It’s too small to fit a book in it and why would I buy a bag if I can’t fit a book in it?

Changed my life: My towel dress - they’re iconic and so practical. I can wear it after a swim all day and I use it 24/7 (since I swim everyday!)

Will

Regret: Buying a pair of shoes online that were in the wrong size but rather than returning them, I just wore shoes that were too small for me for six months.

Changed my life: Buying a dog. She is cute and fun and also keeps me accountable to a healthy routine.