WE WASTE £204 ON DUFF STUFF

BRITS shell out £204 a year on dodgy purchases they regret, including rowing machines and ill-fitting underwear.

Clothes that looked amazing on the model (38%), underwhelming takeaways (32%), kids’ toys which were never played with (21%) and fragrances that do not smell as expected (20%) are the most regreted purchases.

Christmas presents that fall flat (14%) also leave us deflated, while gym equipment is a major regret for most of us, with expensive kit that is never worn (12%) and running machines (8%) both featuring in the 20 most disappointing purchases. And eight in 10 people admit to feeling “buyer’s remorse”, which sees them elated by a purchase, only to feel gutted when it arrives.

One in four admit that Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals also pile on the pressure.

Consumer affairs champion Alice Beer, 57, who teamed up with Capital One for the study, said: “This year, more than ever, consumers will be eager to get a good deal. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals aren’t always the great value people are led to believe – and can lead to regret.”