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It\u2019s always popular to spend money on things that feel smart. Intuitively, some items just seem like the right things to justify throwing money at, but when you look at the data and think critically, the underlying logic quickly falls apart.<\/p>\n
For example, Blockbuster might have looked like a great blue-chip style investment in the early 2000s with numerous retail locations and a household name. But the advent of digital media changed consumer preferences, leading to a sudden decline that (with some research) might not have been so surprising (1).<\/p>\n
Top Picks <\/p>\n
With that in mind, here are the top six things that may have been good purchases at some point, but are no longer worth your money in 2026.<\/p>\n
1. New cars <\/p>\n
Buying a brand new car was once justified as a way of saving money on maintenance in the long run. But with the price of new vehicles surging, you may want to reconsider this idea.<\/p>\n
As of April 2026, the price of an average new car was $49,461, according to Kelley Blue Book (2). To make matters worse, if you\u2019re looking to pay well below that mark, there are currently no auto manufacturers selling new car models under $20,000.<\/p>\n
Simply put, if you\u2019re on a budget and looking to save money, consider a used car instead.<\/p>\n
Read More: Here\u2019s the average income of Americans by age in 2026. Are you falling behind?<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Vacation homes <\/p>\n Decades ago, when wages were robust and home prices were reasonable, buying a vacation home was typical of upper-middle class or affluent families. But in 2026, with the ongoing housing crisis, buying a second home is a big stretch for most people.<\/p>\n It\u2019s especially true if you\u2019re buying a vacation home to rent out seasonally for a bit of extra money. All that extra labor for maintenance probably isn\u2019t justified when you can get access to rental properties much more easily.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why platforms like Arrived<\/a> have democratized this asset class so you can get exposure to world-class, professionally managed vacation homes online.<\/p>\n Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties<\/a>, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property. No midnight maintenance calls over busted pipes here.<\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties<\/a>, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100<\/a>, potentially earning monthly dividends.<\/p>\n Plus, for a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.<\/a><\/p>\n 3. Credit card travel benefits <\/p>\n The Amex Platinum (3) credit card now charges $895 annually. And Chase\u2019s Sapphire Reserve (4) is $795. Both cards lean hard on access to airport lounges as their marquee benefit \u2014 except airport lounges have become so overcrowded that they\u2019re no longer considered the luxury perk they used to be, according to Fortune (5).<\/p>\n Unless you enjoy overcrowded lunges and lukewarm, overcooked eggs, a no-fee credit card is probably a better deal for most people.<\/p>\n 4. Name-brand medicines <\/p>\n Generic drugs are exactly the same molecules as their branded counterparts. But, armed with a hefty marketing budget, name brands tend to be more familiar to consumers, who might overlook generic alternatives. That could be a costly mistake, because generics can be 80% to 85% cheaper, according to FDA estimates cited by the Association for Accessible Medicines (6).<\/p>\n Ask your doctor or pharmacist if there are any generic alternatives for your needs. This is especially important for retirees who may need to up their medication with aging to deal with chronic aches and pains.<\/p>\n 5. Exotic alternative assets <\/p>\n President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Labor are pushing to rewrite rules that allow you to invest your 401(k) plans in alternative assets like cryptocurrencies, private credit and private equity, according to CNBC (7).<\/p>\n However, with the lack of transparency, the liquidity and the high costs of these funds, retail investors should approach these exotic asset classes with \u201csome caution,\u201d Crystal Cox, a senior vice president at Wealthspire Advisors in Madison, Wis., told CNBC (8).<\/p>\n 6. Overpriced financial advice <\/p>\n With all the research and data available now, paying someone 1% or 2% of your net worth to manage money probably seems a little outdated. Instead, you could consider a flat-fee financial advisor to help you plan your budget and taxes, while also leaning on online platforms like Moby<\/a> for investment news and analysis.<\/p>\n Moby offers expert research and recommendations to help you identify strong, long-term investments backed by advice from former hedge fund analysts. In four years, and across almost 400 stock picks, their recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.<\/p>\n Moby\u2019s team spends hundreds of hours sifting through financial news and data to provide you with stock and crypto reports delivered straight to you<\/a>. Their research keeps you up-to-the-minute on market shifts, and it can help you reduce the guesswork behind choosing stocks and ETFs.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a smarter investor in just five minutes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bottom line <\/p>\n Times change \u2014 and so does good financial advice. It\u2019s often a good idea to be adaptable so that you can stay ahead of the many twists and turns of the financial world. In 2026, a good place to start is by cutting out at least some of these six overpriced items, potentially saving you a lot of money.<\/p>\n You May Also Like <\/p>\n Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise\u2019s best stories and exclusive interviews first \u2014 clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.<\/a><\/p>\n Article Sources <\/p>\n We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cato Institute (1<\/a>); Kelley Blue Book (2<\/a>); American Express (3<\/a>); Chase (4<\/a>); Fortune (5<\/a>); AccessibleMeds (6<\/a>); CNBC (7<\/a>), (8<\/a>)<\/p>\n This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. 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