Older Adults, Tell Us The Purchases That You Don't Think Any Millennial Or Gen Z'er Should Make

We've all been let down by a purchase that didn't quite live up to the hype as we intended.

Like, earlier this year, I bought concert tickets the day of the presale, thinking they'd sell out, only for the concert to not only never sell out but also literally decrease in price day by day. I was BIG mad.

I was let down that I made the wrong bet, but it got me thinking about all the other possible purchases I could make in this lifetime and regret. So, if you're an older adult with wisdom to share, what are some purchases you don't think any Gen Z'er or Millennial should make?

Maybe you went all out for your wedding — a custom-designed dress, extravagant floral installations, a full-service wedding planner, and bespoke invitations — the whole shebang. Now, you deeply regret it. The process drained your time, skyrocketed your stress, and burned through money, all in the name of the "perfect day." You realize how insidious the wedding industry has become with its price-gouging, and now, you urge any young person to approach it with caution.

Perhaps, in your twenties, you landed your first big promotion and decided to splurge on a brand-new BMW. It felt like the perfect way to celebrate your success. But, within a year, reality hit hard. The car had constant issues, and you could only take it to one mechanic in town who specialized in its parts. When you finally decided to trade it in, you were shocked to learn it had lost 30% of its value in just one year. That old saying, "Cars depreciate the moment you drive them off the lot," stuck with you for a looong time.

Maybe for you, it's not one bad purchase you regret, but the pattern of going for cheaper options when investing in slightly higher quality would've saved you time, money, and frustration in the long run. Clothes, appliances, tools, electronics — you name it. You realize the cumulative cost you've spent replacing cheap, poorly made items has been far greater than if you just spent more upfront.

So, if you have a purchase you regret or words of advice to younger generations on the things they should avoid purchasing, let me know in the comments or at this anonymous form. Your responses could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post.