6 Little Luxuries To Avoid Buying in 2025
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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According to Bain & Media Company, the luxury goods market saw a notable decline at the start of 2024 — between 1% and 3%.
This is largely due to macroeconomic concerns and diminishing consumer demand. Unsurprisingly, many luxury brand companies continue to seek ways to get customers flocking to their stores.
But if you’re on a tight budget, as many people are, you might want to avoid certain little luxuries in 2025. A treat every now and then is one thing, but a daily or frequent purchase constitutes a potentially expensive habit that could lead to greater financial stress.
Here are some little luxuries you should stop paying for in 2025.
Luxury Clothes and Accessories
Expensive brand-name items can put a dent in your wallet, especially if you purchase them regularly.
But according to Bain, jewelry, watches and other accessories like eyewear, perfumes and makeup are among the top “small indulgences.” Apparel and shoes are up there, too.
Example of luxury brands include:
- Apparel: Lululemon (athleticwear), Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger
- Watches: OMEGA, Cartier, Tudor
- Jewelry: Tiffany & Co, Hermes
- Cosmetics: Dior, Chanel
While many luxury items can feel worth it, they can easily add up in cost. Instead, opt for more affordable brands that are still high-quality without the high price tag.
If you must get a specific brand, consider thrift shopping for a light-used version of whatever you want.
Electronics
Having the latest gadgets can feel like a necessity, but more often it’s a luxury.
The difference between even one generation of laptop, desktop or cell phone can sometimes be hundreds or thousands of dollars. And this is if you buy two items from the same brand.
For example, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199. The iPhone 15 starts at $699. While the newer model may have better specs, ask yourself if it’s worth the extra $500.
Keep in mind that new versions of electronics come out frequently. If you must keep up with the latest gadgets, you could be spending thousands of dollars every year — if not more.
Dining Out Frequently
It’s one thing to go out if you’re celebrating, but it’s entirely different if it’s a regular habit.
According to Numbeo, the average cost of a mid-range restaurant is $75 for two people. Say you go out three times a week. That’s about $225 on meals every seven days — or $11,700 a year.
Of course, you might spend much less than that each time you go out. But you’ll need to consider other possible charges like taxes, tips and, in the case of food delivery services, other convenience fees.
You can always cook more at home and reserve the dining out for special occasions. If cooking isn’t your forte, stick with simpler meals that are easy and quick to prepare.
Daily Coffee Runs
You might need a cup of coffee — or caffeinated tea — to get your day going, but those daily cafe runs are a little luxury that you might want to cut back on.
According to the Krazy Coupon Lady, the average cost of a grande coffee at Starbucks costs about $2.95. This is assuming you don’t request a specialty drink or any add-ons. A venti costs $3.25 on average.
Say you get a grande for $2.95 five days a week. That’s $767 a year just on your daily coffee run.
You can still treat yourself, but you might want to start making more drinks at home. You can always put your coffee in a thermos that keeps it hot throughout the morning.
Monthly Subscriptions or Memberships
C&R Research found that the average U.S. consumer thinks they spend way less on monthly subscription services than they actually do — $86 vs. $219. That was back in 2022, so it’s anyone’s guess how much more people are spending on services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, music streaming services, and more.
People spend a lot at the gym, as well. The average monthly cost of a gym membership is $40 to $70 — that’s $480 to $840 annually.
Even if you regularly go to the gym, or you’re using all of those streaming services on the regular, you might want to stop paying for some of them.
There are often free or low-cost alternatives you can use instead — like free streaming apps, running outside or basic workout equipment you can purchase once and use at home.
The FTC is working on its “Click-to-Cancel” rule, which will make it easier to cancel recurring subscriptions.
Expensive Travel
The average American household was projected to spend around $2,843 on summer travel in 2024. The cost of travel also continues to rise, so there’s a good chance even a standard summer vacation will cost more in 2025.
While traveling can be an enriching experience, one for the whole family, it can also be a luxury expense that’s best avoided. At the very least, it’s smart to have a budget so you don’t take on any debt to fund your trips.
You may also want to avoid those expensive vacation packages. Take Disney World as an example. The average family of four spend $6,865 for five nights. This is for a baseline trip that doesn’t even include airfare. A more luxurious version of it costs over $10,000.
This doesn’t mean you should skip travel altogether. Make a realistic travel budget, save up until it’s time to take your trip or start purchasing tickets, and have a good time — just be more budget-conscious about it.
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