Sometimes it’s not what you say & it’s what you swipe your card for that makes people think you’re a little strange. In 2025, some of the stuff you buy feels like it’s from another decade, and we spoke to some readers about this. Here are nine purchases they said make you seem out of touch. Which of these do you think is the ‘worst’?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
A new diesel passenger car
Trying to find a shiny new diesel sedan is nearly impossible in America. Most brands ditched them after the mid-2010s, so you won’t really find them outside of heavy-duty trucks & commercial vans. You’re unlikely to find them in the showroom. Plus, people’s concerns about the environment mean that buying one makes you seem like you don’t care about the Earth.
Single-function kitchen gadgets
Stores still sell hot dog toasters & random novelty popcorn machines. And while they’re fun in the moment, there’s really no need for them since an air fryer practically cooks everything. Almost every kitchen already has tools that do the same thing. Why waste your money?
A solo GPS unit
The electronics aisle usually has lots of solo GPS units. But paying $100+ for a gadget that your phone already does better just makes you seem like you’re stuck in 2010. Most cars have built-in navigation systems anyway. Pulling out a boxy GPS makes you seem like you’re from another decade.
Premium HDMI or Ethernet cables
Some stores sell “platinum” HDMI cables with shiny gold ends. They also have a price tag to match. However, fancy coatings don’t improve digital signals because they either work or they don’t. A basic certified cable online costs a fraction of the cost. It’ll also meet the same specs & stream your movies in perfect clarity. Why waste your money?
A selfie stick
Selfie sticks are still for sale in travel shops & in Amazon search results. But there’s no point in buying them. Most phones now have wide-angle front cameras & hands-free shooting. Whipping out a selfie stick at a busy street corner seems rather outdated. If anything, you’ll seem like you’re quite behind the times with phone tech.
Wired earbuds with the long plastic inline mic
Wired earbuds are cheap, and they get tangled in your pocket. Yet you’ll see them being sold in the electronics aisle, even though wireless earbuds have been popular for years. Most phones have ditched the headphone jack. What’s the point in buying the wired kind? Most people haven’t seen these kinds of earbuds since the early 2010s.
Disposable cutlery for home use
Don’t get us wrong. Plastic cutlery sets are fine for a picnic, but buying them for everyday use at home? That’s a whole different story. These sets bend and break, while also making you seem like you don’t care about Mother Nature. You’re better off buying reusable cutlery. At least this will last years and won’t end up in the trash after one meal.
Single-use water bottles by the case
Supermarkets usually line the front of the store with giant shrink-wrapped packs of bottled water. And people still buy them regularly. But these take up half the pantry & leave you with a lot of trash. That’s not exactly forward-thinking. A decent filter pitcher, along with a couple of refillable bottles, will help you achieve the same thing. And for much less waste.
Booking domestic flights for trips under 200 miles
Some travelers still get plane tickets for a trip that could be done faster by train or car. Just think about all that pollution. By the time you’ve waited at security & taxied on the runway, you could’ve been at your destination hours ago. The short-hop flight habit doesn’t really work in 2025.
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