Having money issues? It’s time to take stock of what exactly you’re buying and see where you can cut down. You might be paying too much for things you us too little of. Many people practice frugality and they’re all the better off for it. Here are 20 things that frugal people stopped buying last year.
Paper Towels
Paper towels are expensive, and crucially they’re also not very good for the environment. Some people gave up on them altogether last year and started using cloths to wipe down their kitchen surfaces instead.
Brand-Name Cleaners
You can keep your house clean for less, using things you have lying around in your kitchen cupboards! Frugal people opt for homemade cleaners using vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. These DIY solutions are cheaper, non-toxic, and just as effective as commercial brands.
Plastic Storage Containers
You don’t need to buy plastic storage containers, you often get them for free when you order takeout food! And also, many people prefer glass containers now anyway. They last a lot longer and some say they’re easier to clean.
Soda
Gradually, more and more people are coming to understand that soda is bad for you and bad for your wallet. You’re basically paying to gain weight and have worse teeth. Restaurant soda is especially bad, because it can set you back a whopping $5.
Real Christmas Trees
Many families have a tradition of going to get a real Christmas tree and setting it up in their house. But real Christmas trees are so expensive compared to artificial ones. If you get an artificial one you don’t have to worry about spending money on a Christmas tree ever again, you have one ready to go every year.
Pre-Cut Fruit and Vegetables
Unless you have a disability that prevents you from being able to cut things, it’s best to cut back on buying pre-cut fruit and vegetables. Stores charge you more for the convenience, you see. It’s much cheaper to buy the full product and cut it yourself.
Dog Toys
Dogs need one or two toys to keep them occupied… but not really any more than that. Sometimes people buy a new toy for their dog every time they see one, and that’s not a good idea. The dog won’t care, they love you anyway!
Greetings Cards
Greetings cards are starting to go out of fashion now, and it’s all because people just don’t see the worth in them anymore. After all, they’re only going to sit on a shelf for a few days before being thrown away, and you could just as easily send a Facebook message.
ATM Fees
We’re slowly heading towards a cashless society, but many people still choose to use ATMS. And every time they use one, they’re losing money. Frugal people get cashback at stores instead and save themselves a lot of money.
Holiday Decorations
Some people go all out for decorating for Halloween and Christmas, competing with their neighbors for who has the most decorations and the most lights. But you shouldn’t do this if you want to save money! Just hold on to the decorations you already have and stop buying new ones.
Fast Fashion
So many people go into a cheap clothes store and grab as many options as they can find. Then they’re surprised when they can only get one or two uses out of that cute dress or pair of pants. Avoid fast fashion like the plague – it’s terrible for the environment as well.
Gym Memberships
Gym memberships are starting to be seen as an extravagance by many people of this generation. And they’re right. You don’t need a gym membership to stay fit, there’s countless workout videos on YouTube you can try. Or you could even try walking to the store instead of taking the car.
Bottled Water
Bottled water is another one that’s terrible for the environment, but people insist on buying them anyway. Stop it! You’re spending so much money. Just buy a reusable water bottle, fill it up, and take it with you whenever you go out. You save money and less plastic bottles end up in landfill.
Frequent Takeout
When you pay for services like DoorDash, you’re paying for the convenience, not the food. The food is actually fairly cheap! So why not purchase that food yourself and learn to cook it? It’ll save you so much money in the long run, and you might find you actually like cooking.
Concert Tickets
Many people have decided that concerts hold no appeal to them anymore. They’re basically paying for standing in a crowd and watching a pop star on a screen. And the price of concert tickets has gone way, way up. Plenty choose to save their money and just not bother.
Salon Services
Salons charge a lot of money for hair dye, nail manicures and so on. Many people discover when adding up their budget that they’re spending way too much, and decide to do their own hair and nails instead. Some of them actually turn out to be quite good at it.
Coffee
It’s always high up on money saving tip lists: stop buying so much coffee. And well, all the people saying that are right. Grabbing a coffee on your way to work every day will cost you around $25 per week, and that’s money that could be better spent elsewhere.
Specialty Kitchen Gadgets
People get lured in to the world of fancy kitchen gadgets, buy a ton of them and then never use them. All those egg slicers and avocado pitters end up in the back of a drawer. Frugal people buy multi-purpose tools instead, and aren’t tricked by good advertising claiming they can’t live without a certain tool.
Cigarettes
Cigarettes are so expensive and so, so bad for you. You could save thousands of dollars a year if you just stopped smoking. It’s difficult but it can be done, and you should go see your doctor for help to quit. You’d be amazed at the difference it makes.
New Books
Go into a bookstore now and you might be shocked at the prices. But why buy new books when you can visit a library instead? This also saves space in your house! And if a new book comes out that you want to read, you can always arrange among your friends to share it.
