Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTVishesh RaisinghaniSun, June 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM GMT+2 6 min readMoneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.It’s 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.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).Top PicksHere’s how to get rich from rising US property values with as little as $100 — and without the stress of angry tenantsDave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s how to fix it ASAPThe IRS usually taxes gold as a collectible — but this little-known strategy lets you hold physical bullion tax-free. Get your free guide from Priority GoldWith 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 2026.1. New carsBuying 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.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’re looking to pay well below that mark, there are currently no auto manufacturers selling new car models under $20,000.Simply put, if you’re on a budget and looking to save money, consider a used car instead.Read More: Here’s the average income of Americans by age in 2026. Are you falling behind?2. Vacation homesDecades 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.It’s especially true if you’re buying a vacation home to rent out seasonally for a bit of extra money. All that extra labor for maintenance probably isn’t justified when you can get access to rental properties much more easily.That’s why platforms like Arrived have democratized this asset class so you can get exposure to world-class, professionally managed vacation homes online.Backed by world-class investors, including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, 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.Terms and Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info