Personal Stories

Buying A $50 Hand Soap Washed My Savings Down The Drain

I had no intention of buying it, honestly. I was just doing some late-night scrolling, mindlessly browsing through lifestyle content where everything looks ridiculously aesthetic.You know the type; neatly folded beige towels, diffused lighting, and products that belong in a spa, not in a rental flat’s bathroom.And then I saw it: Minimalist design. Soothing earthy tones. Buzzwords like “sustainably sourced” and “therapeutic blend”.Did I need it? Nope.But did I want to believe that a $50 hand soap could bring a bit of calm to my hectic routine? Absolutely.I clicked “Check Out” like my finances were perfectly in order. Just like that, $50 flew out of my wallet.A few days later, it arrived. Sat elegantly on my sink. More décor than daily essential. A symbol of aesthetic living... and the start of regret.The first time I used it, I felt fancy. It smelled amazing, and my hands were baby-soft. But then came the crawling guilty feeling in my belly.Thereafter every time I pressed that bottle, I felt a small pang in my chest and that nagging voice of regret: “Huhhhh. Did you really spend $50 on this tiny bottle?”So, I started rationing it. One tiny pump at a time. I even bought a basic supermarket hand soap to place next to it for everyday use. The $50 one became the reserve bottle to be used only for special occasions. Visitors weren’t even allowed to touch it. It became a sacred soap and slowly a scented regret.The basic hand soaps became the main, and my expensive soap started to look like table decor, sitting there prettily, but hardly used.To be fair, the soap is great. It really is. But was it worth the emotional rollercoaster that follows every time I visit the sink to wash my hands?Honestly? No. But do I kind of love it? Also… yes.So yeah, lesson learned: self-care is important, but maybe next time I’ll splurge on something that doesn’t remind me of the impulsive spending choices I make, like a massage. Nope, definitely not soap.This article is part of TSS Confessions, a weekly column where we delve into personal finance topics that are unscripted and genuine real accounts from people.