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Being retired doesn’t mean you no longer need to buy stuff like food, clothes, home furnishings and the like. Many of these items can be found at budget-friendly stores like Walmart, which is good if you happen to live nearby or if you’re a Walmart+ member and qualify for free shipping.
But not everything at Walmart is worth the purchase, even if the price tag indicates otherwise. If you’re living on a fixed retirement budget, here are several examples of Walmart products you might want to avoid buying — unless you absolutely need them or have the spare cash.
Contemporary 6-Drawer Wood Dresser
Price: $254.25
Walmart has a diverse assortment of furniture for your home, which can be good if you need something new. These items are often reasonably priced, too, but that alone doesn’t make them a worthwhile purchase.
Take the Atlin Designs Contemporary 6 Drawer Double Wood Dresser, for instance. It has 91 customer reviews and a fairly low rating of just 2.5 out of 5 stars.
One customer noted that the material it’s constructed from “falls apart like stale bread.” Not only do you deserve something durable that still fits your budget, but the last thing you need is to have to go buy a replacement a year or two out.
Crossmax All-Season Tires
Price: $58.00 (per tire)
Walmart’s tires are surprisingly affordable, all things considered. Some, like these Crossmax all-season tires, are also highly rated — 4.5 out of 5 stars.
But that being said, there are a few things you should consider before purchasing any kind of tire.
Ask yourself how often you plan to drive during retirement. If part of your retirement lifestyle involves long road trips, then new tires could be worth getting. However, you’ll still want to do some price comparisons and make sure you’re getting the highest quality possible. After all, your safety is paramount.
And if you don’t plan to drive much and you already have a set of perfectly good tires, buying new ones won’t make much sense. As a general rule, tires can last an average of 50,000 miles — barring accidents or random punctures on the road.
SAMSUNG 75″ Outdoor Smart TV
Price: $9,998
This Samsung Smart TV is fully optimized for a crisp outdoor viewing experience. It’s well constructed and designed to withstand the general elements — including very minor levels of dust and water. Not only that but it also has a glare-resistant screen that lets you watch whatever you want without the sunlight getting in the way of your viewing experience. It can also withstand up to six hours in direct sunlight.
Having a quality outdoor television might be nice if you plan to stay at home or on the patio most days. But for the price tag, this particular option might not be worth it. Also keep in mind that technology is constantly changing, so you could end up with last-year’s model before you know it.
Dewalt Mechanics Tool Set
Price: $348.27
Having a state-of-the-art tool set like this 192-piece Dewalt Mechanics Tool Set might seem great at first, but you’ll want to ask yourself whether it’s truly necessary. It really depends on you, of course, but if you’re not planning on doing a lot of home construction projects, you might be better off sticking with simpler tools you probably already have.
And if you don’t have that many tools and a simple repair job does come up, you can always borrow tools from someone you know. You get to save money while still getting the task done.
Plus, home repairs and renovations can cost quite a bit of money, depending on the scope of the project. If you do decide to buy a new tool set for your project, make sure you also calculate any other costs — like materials and possible labor — to make sure it’s affordable.
$200 Visa Gift Box Gift Card
Price: $206.88
Gift cards are great when you want to give someone who already has everything a gift — such as for a birthday or holiday. But they’re not worth it if you have to pay extra fees just to get them.
At Walmart, you can buy gift cards — like a $200 Visa gift card — at checkout. But you’ll also be looking at a $6.88 fee.
If you’re set on buying gift cards, consider a place like Costco instead. There, you can often find discounts on gift cards to major retailers, something that could potentially even save you money.
Café Built-In Convection French-Door Double Wall Oven
Price: $5,793.64
Household appliances are expensive in general, but considering it’s supposed to be a budget-friendly store, Walmart still charges a hefty price for some of the big ones.
The Café Stainless Smart Built-In Convection French-Door Double Wall Oven (30-inch) is highly reviewed but can put a major dent in your retirement budget. Instead of buying a convection oven from Walmart, check out lightly used or open box options online or from other retailers. You could find a much better deal.
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