Biggest waste of money you've witnessed?

My best friend's father is possibly the WORST compulsive buyer I've ever met in my life. The man LOVES technology... hasnt the SLIGHTEST clue how to use it. He's bought at least 10 different iPods over his life... he's down to 2 because he keeps losing them. "Ally, how do you make a playlist?" "Didn't I show you this last week?" "I forgot! Can we sit down for a couple hours and you show me again?"

Plasma screens, the latest computers... NO IDEA how to use them. Once I returned home from school after a long time away, and I was welcomed home with "The wireless isnt working. Can you fix it?"

Also, shiny things. I went to BJ's WholeSale Club with him once, and we have to walk by the jewelry section at the entrance. He immediately was distracted by these little glass animals, each about $30. When I told him he didnt need any, he said "You never know when you'll need a gift for someone" and talked abut buying ten of them. $300 worth. Thank god I convinced him otherwise, because they would have gotten lost in their pig-sty of a house anyways.

Not to mention his 'hobbies'. Camping, exercising, redecorating, and fly fishing. All expensive hobbies, and fly fishing is the only one that he does continually. The rest is all on random impulses.

I think the worst part about all this is that he used to own his own business, but because he screwed up his back horribly when he was younger, he recently sold it to his nephew. So he's on a totally set income now, has gone through 6 back surgeries in the last 4 years, and STILL buys completely on impulse.


Also, one of my personal 'favorites'... fucking PURSES. I cant understand why a woman would spend upwards of $100 to $1000 (yes, I've seen them) on a PURSE. I use this little purple backpack I've had since like 5th grade... or (surprise!) my pockets.

Jam it back in, in the dark.