Since I began simplifying my life, I’ve quit buying many of the things I once thought were essential. A welcome side-effect of simplifying my life has been that I have also been able to simplify my shopping list! Here’s a list of 40 things I quit buying in order to simplify my life.
Want the cliff notes version of this post? Check out the video below!
40 Things I Quit Buying
*This post was inspired by the book: The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store-by Cait Flanders.
Cable/Satellite TV-Let’s just get this one out of the way. I mean, really, does anyone still pay for cable anymore? {grin} In our house, we use Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime for all of our television viewing.
Product Protection & Extended Warranties- I try to take good care of the (few) things I own and I really don’t have stuff that is worth a lot of money anyways.
Magazine Subscriptions- Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever purchased magazine subscriptions. Even before I simplified my life.
Upgrades- I am keenly aware of the tactics advertisers and retailers use in order to try and squeeze every last cent out of unwary consumers. When I go shopping, I know what I’m looking for. I’ve done my research ahead of time so I am not swayed into purchasing a product I do not need and will never use.
Extra Features- I’m a simple gal, therefore, I don’t need a lot of bells and whistles on the items I own. I just need the product to do the job it’s advertised to do. And do it well.
Don’t buy what you can do yourself
Services (I Can do Myself)- I can (so I do) groom both of my dogs, cut my husband’s (and sons’) hair, (I use these hair clippers) wash and vacuum our vehicles, mow our lawn, do basic household repairs, etc.
Body Wash/Sprays/Lotions- I use bar soap in the shower, one bottle of perfume, (that I received for Christmas), and unscented lotion (which is used by everyone in our household).
Jewelry- I do not buy jewelry because I rarely wear it. The few pieces I do own were given to me as gifts.
Books (Including Cookbooks)- I prefer to borrow books from the library and friends. *Although, the kids and I DO use Audible occasionally, to listen to audiobooks. >Click here to try Audible for free and receive 2 FREE audio books<
Impulse Purchases- On the rare occasion I slip up and buy something I was not planning on purchasing, I usually come to my senses once I arrive home. Then, I promptly return the item.
What’s a radio?
Coffee From Cafes- Ok, you caught me. I have been known to purchase a coffee (or two) from Starbucks. But only on special occasions like when I am on vacation or on my birthday.
Single-Use Kitchen Gadgets- Everything in my small kitchen performs more than one duty. I do not own an ice cream maker, bread machine, rice cooker, or specialty slicers.
Specialty Cleaning Products- I do not buy fabric softener, dryer sheets, plugins, Febreze, floor cleaners, carpet deodorizers, toilet bowl clip-ons, etc.
DVDs/CDs- Years ago I burned all of my CDs to iTunes. I uploaded digital copies of my favorite movies and sold all of our hard copies with the exception of a few educational DVDs for my kids.
Digital Music- You’d think because I do not buy CDs that I fill up my devices with digital music instead. You would be wrong. I don’t buy digital music. I choose to listen to music on YouTube, Pandora, and the good old-fashioned radio. I also listen to music on Amazon Music Unlimited. Click here to Try Amazon Music Unlimited 30-Day Free Trial.
More things I do not buy
K-Cups & Coffee Filters- I love coffee. I really do. I do not love how expensive K-cups are or the mess of coffee filters. Instead, I own a one cup coffee maker with a washable filter.
Anything “As Seen on TV”- Need I say more?
Lottery Tickets- I may as well take my money and throw it away.
Alcohol From Restaurants- I just cannot justify paying $9 or more for a glass of wine when I can get a whole bottle at the liquor store for the same price.
Landline Phone Service- My kids do not even know what the term “landline” means.
Bottled Water (Flavored or not)- I bring a refillable water bottle with me wherever I go. If I want flavored water, I add a little cranberry juice.
Apps & Ring Tones- I can’t remember the last time I purchased an app or a ringtone.
I {heart} cheap dogs
Pre-Cut Fruit & Veggies- While they look yummy in their cute little containers, I will not buy them. Unless I am on vacation and do not have access to a kitchen or a knife.
Toys- Outside of Birthdays and Christmas, I do not buy toys or games for my kids. However, if they have money they are free to buy whatever they want (within reason).
Pure Bred Dogs- For the record, I have nothing against pure-bred dogs. I’ve simply found I can (and do) love the mutts that come to us off the street whether they have papers or not.
Blank DVD’s/CD’s Flash Drives- With the exception of some home movies and photos which I have backed up on discs, I store everything digitally.
Greeting Cards- Call me a Scrooge if you want, but I don’t see the point in spending $4 or more on a card which the recipient will most likely throw away. I send homemade cards, ecards, or letters instead.
Knick Knacks- It’s no secret that I do not like to clean. As such, the less I have to dust the better.
Not gonna buy it
Party Favors/Decorations- Thankfully, my kids have never really been into themed birthday parties. I also don’t want to add to other people’s clutter by sending their kiddos home with a bag full of dollar store toys.
Newspapers- I read the paper online.
Exercise Equipment- Again, my house is simply too small. I couldn’t fit any exercise equipment in it if I wanted to.
A Large House- At the same time, I am not going to buy a larger house just so I can have more stuff.
Impractical Shoes- I have a hard enough time walking as it is. I am constantly tripping over my own feet! I couldn’t imagine having to spend my day in uncomfortable shoes. No matter how pretty they are.
Dry Clean Only Clothes- If an article of clothing is not wash-and-wear, I do not buy it.
In-App Purchases- Since I don’t buy apps, I also don’t spend money on in-app purchases.
Gym Memberships- While I (really) do need to work out, I don’t need a gym to do it. I can utilize (free) exercise videos on YouTube, or go for a walk.
Craft Supplies- I’m not a “crafty” person, so I don’t buy craft supplies.
Equipment for Hobbies- I don’t have any expensive hobbies. I write (free). I read (also free). And I like to fish, which technically is not a hobby because it has the potential to feed my family.
Most importantly, I do not buy…
Stuff I Do Not Need
Stuff I Cannot Afford
READ MORE:
- 12 Things I Stopped Buying When I Lived In A Tiny House
- Things We Can All Stop Buying Today (Because We Simply Don’t Need Them)
- 10 Best Books About Simple Living That Will Inspire You To Take Action
« 10 Simple Ways to Show your Love
» No Knick-Knacks Allowed: 6 Reasons I've Banned Tchotchkes From My Home
You can go to book swaps in cafes…best of all join book bub and get free books every day downloaded to the free kindle app on your phone or tablet…or kindle if you have one
One thing I do to save money that I have never seen posted is I purchased inexpensive shampoo at Walmart ( VO – 5 for .78 ) and use this for body wash. Just a little dab lathers up really well, and a bottle will last well over a month.
Nancy, My aunt doesn’t have a lot of room for her quilting fabric either. she folds it into flat squares and stacks it by color or motif. she has shelves in a small bedroom about 1 ft deep all down one wall, and to the ceiling and organizes it that way. Good quilting.
YOU SAID YOU READ BUT DON’T BUY BOOKS. I DON’T HAVE A KINDLE- BUT BOOKS COST THERE ALSO. LIBRARY? THEY SELDON HAVE WHAT I WANT AND THE TIME-LINE
TO RETURN DOESN’T ALWAYS WORK. I READ 3 BOOKS PER MONTH SO IT’S AN EXPENSE.
I hide the paper towels. But I keep different sizes of cut up old tshirts in ceramics jars on my cabinet. It saves so much money.
I cleared off the book shelves, donated more than 200 hard back books to the county library, the shelves moved to someone else’s home. Now I ‘borrow’/download ebooks and emagazines from the library for free to my iPad while relaxing on the sofa (need some me time).
great ideas. Save by not buying paper towel, instead use square rags. I bought tiny snaps (dollars a) to sew on the ends, making washable, reusable, soft absorbent cloths. I buy the Canadian tire Frank brand that goes on sale (1/2price) several times a year for a huge bag and they are great (great dishrags and dry cloths as well). These last several years!
The other tip is, that as a crafter, I spent huge amounts of money on supplies. I would recommend shopping online, second hand or what I ended up doing was committing to crafts that I could forage the supplies eg, driftwood, sea glass. I got free ends from a local cabinet shop ( that was going in a dumpster anyway)
Most of the items on your list I have never bought. Why you ask? Because as a doctor told me many years ago I am allergic to modern life. I can hear you chuckle as you read that but it is God’s truth. I am allergic to about 99% of the things created by modern man. I have so many allergies that I carry a 7 page allergy list in case something happens and my husband has to try and figure out what is wrong with me or to find out what it was that I am allergic to. I don’t go down the isle where cleaning products are in stores because I am allergic to fragrances. By the time I am half way down the Isle I am gasping for breath. I do not go near the perfume isles because there it only take me one quarter of the isle to start having breathing problems. Foods I have to read the ingredient list and I can only buy certain national products because even the generic have things in them I am allergic to. I wrote one company and asked why they put a certain product in the past and they said they were required to by the FDA well I buy a Italian brand if pasta that does not have it. They are only thinking of how long it will last on the shelf not on peoples lives.
I had to laugh that you don’t have a landline. My internet is with my phone company and we don’t have fancy cell phones. We have one that is for phone calls only and I can get a card for more time for the cell phone that lasts me 6 months for $35 which is a lot cheaper then one of the big company cell phones. My phone cost me $10. So for $100 a year I have all the phone services I need.
I cut up old clothes or any old fabric that is too stained to donate. I have 3 ceramic jars on my counter of different sizes that represent the size of the pieces of fabric. I use them for everything from cleaning, wiping out pans to keep food out of my sink to soaking up grease. I cut up some to put in my Swiffer, I do use a double piece for the Swiffer. I also cut up my husbands old white t-shirts for my toilet paper in 5-inch squares. I just throw them in with the towels when I use bleach. I don’t use when I go #2. This saves so much money!
I bet no one has done this one. My sink has been stopped up. I washed my dishes using the running water in the washing machine. I spayed with vinegar, wiped out the dirty with my old rags and rinsed in the washer when I was going to use warm water.
I always cook 2 batches or more and vaccum seal what I don’t use.
I make almost everything. Spice mixes, food, cleaning products, hair and body products. I was putting essential oils in my cleaning but now I just use vinegar in a spray bottle. I don’t mind the smell.
My favorite thing I did this year was get a solar oven. I do everything in it. Coffee, soups, bread, meat, cookies. I also dehydrate daily my herbs to make my own teas and spices. It keeps the heat out in the summer and it cooks for free. My favorite Mother’s Day present.
I have really enjoyed your site this evening and reading the comments. Rhonda
I have so enjoyed reading all your comments , I have gained so much knowledge I will be putting to good use
I have only just got into being frugal so all has been so inspirational to me
Thank you all so much
Regards
Kat
I have read a lot of similar articles and this is the first one i find really useful. What you are talking about is common sense. You can save money without compromising the quality of life you have.
I don’t go to yard sales. Sure, you can find good deals, but most of the time its not something you need in the first place and it encourages impulsive shopping because you have to buy it on-the-spot or it may be gone.
I’m struggling with how to organize my scrap fabric for quilting. I need to be able to see it or I forget I have it.
Hello. I believe to be thrifty is to be proficient and saves tons of money while others think being thrifty is being stingy. I do not buy any thing, hardly. I improvise and do with what I have. I take large pickle bottles are decorated with ribbons and i use them to store sewing items. Old rusty nails to hammer stuff cleaned with vinegar, lemon juice and or with baking soda, I do not do my nails, hair, pedicures, etc on salons. I cook at home. Make my own juices on a juices. Seldom buy coffee in fast food stores, I use regular water, no bottled ones. Buy my clothes at Thrift stores that still have tickets from the stores for a major bargain., Also, I ask for swatches from upholstery stores they normally through away and I make curtains, pillow cases, bed spreads, Quilts, eye glass pockets, purses, picture frames, and lots more. Actually, I don’t need a single thing from the store. I have Aspirin, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide. Bandages, etc kept in plastic bags to keep keep, etc. Even if medication are expired, I know for a fact they are still good for over 1 year, maybe longer. ( check this out if you dont believe me). I make my own bath soap, clothes detergent and i try to grow potatoes, and few vegetables in pots to eat in the summer. The only thing I do buy at Thrift stores are books, I love to read. Thanks for your ideas.
We are so self-sufficient at ages 85, 69 that we thrive on 5% pension & give $1000s away to good causes. Home all solar, edible 1/4 acre jungle, 3-wheel dual electric 1/4 hp bike attracts no road tax, licence or insurance here. Follows other ideas:
MY 17 LAWS FOR LIVING WITH: PLANET-SAVING – EMISSION-FREE – POLLUTION-AVOIDING – NEAR-FREE – CLIMATE-CONSTANT – HAPPY-HEALTHY – MINIMUM-EFFORT:
1. DON’T GET ANYTHING THAT HAS ONLY 1 USE like plastic, newspapers & mags for which my FREE Internet Library now has a big part; remaining mags & papers to Doctor’s etc waiting rooms – 2. ONLY ALLOW PLASTIC THAT CAN BE EASILY MELTED & FORMED INTO OTHER ITEMS – 3. DON’T MAKE OR BUY ANYTHING THAT HAS A SHORT LIFE, OR CAN’T EASILY BE RECYCLED, RESTORED, REUSED, REACTIVATED, REMODELLED, REDESIGNED, REHABILITATED, RECONDITIONED & RENEWED; avoid all PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE items – 4. BE VERY FRUGAL buy 2nd hand, garage sales; also MAKE, FIX & GROW or Find as much food as possible like our near zero-effort ¼ acre edible dwarf tree-food jungle including native-edibles + sea life; note from Brisbane to Melbourne we see about 1 food tree in only 10 total front gardens! – 5. OWN SOLAR-CHARGED VEHICLE; MY 1950S DACHSHUND-DOG HILL-ASSISTED LONG-DISTANCE CYCLING; USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT while carrying tiny 11kg folding micro scooter; HITCH-HIKE PICKUP ALL FIJI PRIVATE-VEHICLES INCLUDING TAXIS FOR ABOUT $2 = EMISSION-AVOIDING BUDGET BUS FARE; NO FLYING to AVOID disasters & gross pollution; SAIL BEST; – 6. OWN POWER LIKE SOLAR OR WIND ETC, including glassed-veranda house-heating – 7. PRESERVING in SUCH AS FRESHIELD VACUUM OR WATER BAGS in the wind – 8. COOK SOLAR OR 1-STICK STOVE – 9. BIRTH CONTROL – 10. STOP MOST ALL TOTAL RADIATION – 11. OWN CLEAN WATER like rain tank, stream, clean well – 12. COMPOST TOILET saves water, SEPTIC TANK OR DOWN A HOLE – 13. FOOD & GARDEN SCRAPS TO COMPOST, MULCH OR BURY – 14. HOME 12-VOLT APPLIANCES WE MAKE, OR GET FROM CARAVAN, SURVIVAL, CAMPING OR BOAT SHOPS – 15. STAND ON LAUNDRY IN A BOWL WHILST SHOWERING – 16. NEVER SMOKE, DRINK – 17. A PARTNER GIVES PROVEN MORE HEALTH & HAPPINESS; OPTIMUM LOW COST FAMILY is when one partner works or has village business, the other helps family become highly self-sufficient. Swap jobs every 6 months or less! We are not rich because we have the most, but because we need the least… WE ENJOY ALL THE ABOVE IN TOTAL LUXURY at our healthy ages of 85 & 69, thriving on less than 5% pension!! ANY MORE SUGGESTIONS WELCOME?
I LOVE ALL THESE IDEAS. I GREW UP WITH DEPRESSION PARENTS, HOWEVER I WAS ALSO BORN WITH AN INATE DESIRE
TO SAVE. EVEN THOUGH ONE IS BLESSED WITH MONEY IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO SAVE. ALL YOUR IDEAS ARE GREAT.
I AM CFAFTY AND I TAKE THE COLORED 12 IN A PACK AND SAVE MY BIRTHDAY AND CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS AND DECORATE THE FRONTS AND BACKS OF GIFT BAGS. I TAKE THE PRINTED GREETING PART AND MAKE A TAG TO TIE ON THE HANDLE WITH A RIBBON. THE RIBBON CAN BE MADE OF FABRIC SCRAPS OR ANY THING ELSE YOU CAN THINK UP.
We buy satellite for watching TV. Obviously your family isn’t into watching sports. Lol we watch sports on tv more than anything else. Only cable or satellite allows you to see all sports especially the SEC channel. The SEC channel is not an optional choice S it is considered the most important channel. Lol
My hints to frugal living that I have not read are: turn my electric water heater on a few minutes before I shower and then turn it off (there is enough hot water for 2 showers), since I am away from home over 10 hours at work I move my thermostat temp up or down so it does not run while I am not there, use sun blocking curtains in summer and leave blinds open in winter, check out DVDs @ library, unplug TV and chargers when not in use, wash all loads of clothes at same time (so dryer will be hot once or twice a week only) and late in evening in summer, hang clothes on inside rack under ceiling fan at night, only dry clothes half way to prevent wrinkles and shrinking.
This was a good read! I quit buying impractical once I had kids and love not spending the money and actually being comfortable!
I love this article because I can relate to it! I still have more than I’d like but I’m working on that.
I don’t purchase area rugs, bathroom mats or table mats! I have a family of 5, so we are always outgrowing clothes somewhere. I use the old tshirts to crochet us beautiful area rugs. I also haven’t purchased washcloths in a couple of years. I take my older towels and make them into washcloths. I get anywhere from 9-12 normal cloths out of them depending on the size of the towel. My old washcloths go into a tin of cleaning cloths which SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the amount of paper towels I have to buy. I will use paper towels for the final clean over if I need too get it streak or lint free. Altho… I do use up the junk mail newspapers for cleaning windows and mirrors, if I have any around from checking the mail. I get a better shine from them! For my bathrooms, we wash and then cut up any old or holy socks for cleaning the toilet so they can get tossed after one use. (My mind isn’t too fond of running toilet cloths through my washer or reusing them)
Hi,
Make my own laundry soap, dish soap, deodorant, bathroom cleaner (yeah, dishwasher soap is really hard tried 3 recipes, no go!) buy my clothes at thrift stores, trade clothing etc., use old and worn linens/towels for rags, use plastic bags for trash when I get them at grocery stores (but usually use my own canvas bags). I buy cheaper spices at a job lot and make my own spice mixes using a coffee grinder. Use white vinegar for just about everything; cleaning glass, stove-top, counters, laundry, sinks, etc.
Volunteer in art studio and make my own cards/jewelry/artworks etc there for gifts. Use fancy tea tins, gotten as gifts, to put presents in with big ribbon as wrapping. Use large water filter container instead of those crazy plastic bottles. Make vats of soup with leftovers/discounted produce and homemade stock and freeze in small containers for weeks of healthy, cheap, ready-made lunches (work) and dinners. Buy in bulk; eg. 50 lbs sack of steel cut oats gets me an approx. 50-60 cent daily breakfast (I live alone) over a period of about 9-10 months! Use a lot of glass jars, Ball or otherwise for all storage/food/gifts/freezing. PS, cheaper to purchase Ball jars in bulk at hardware stores than thrift shops (naturally, save good glass jars from food purchases). I sound like a wuss after 57 degrees but I do keep my thermostat at 63 degrees in the winter (I live in New England). I never go to a car wash but make sure I park on the roof when it looks like rain and take the wipes from those big chain grocery stores (as I leave the store…) to clean out the insides – okay, okay, I know, SUPER cheap. I try to shop at local, family-owned grocery stores – usually cheaper and better. I own a flip phone and landline, which together cost about $38 per month (primitive, I know, but it works for me). I get my hair cut at a hair-cutting school; it is $13 and I always get a great cut, plus, the price enables me to tip generously, which is my way of supporting these students. Plans: purchased a good, working sewing machine from Shopgoodwill.com for $30 and hope to do my own alterations (hah!, I’m guessing pigs will fly first!). I try to fix/repair as much as I can in my house.
Didn’t mean to go on and on and I’m sure others do many of these things too but I see it as a challenge/adventure. Also, I can then spend on priorities; travel and family. Thanks for your website – so very helpful!
you could save yourself some time by using liquid soap in the shower instead of bar soap. Bar soap contains talc and that’s what causes soap scum.
I am passionate about sewing. That is my only source of clutter. I retired and lately I have been going through my fabric stash to make gifts for relatives. If I find anything that is not appropriate for the kind of sewing I do, it gets donated.
Mary,
You sound like a very industrious woman! Good luck on your move 🙂
I don’t buy new clothes anymore. I also taught my kids to buy quality, second-hand clothes from thrift shops or “ukay-ukay,” as we call it in the Philippines. And pretty much of the things you mentioned. We also installed a rain-water collection system for flushing our toilets and cleaning our floors. It always rains in our country. We use plastic bags from grocery stores for garbage bags and liners. The paper bags I use for dripping oil from fried foods, instead of paper towels, and it never killed us. I segregate trash into many drums, the cartons, plastic bottles, cans, glass. We are now moving to a smaller place, so we plan to sell most of our belongings in garage sale. I want to start afresh in our new house. Thanks.
Imogene,
You are absolutely right! It’s never too late 🙂 I certainly didn’t achieve all of these tips overnight! It was a process, for sure. Good luck on your money saving adventures! Keep fighting 🙂
I wish I’d tried many of these cost savers throughout my life…sigh… I’d have saved so much money through my 67 years. However, it’s not too late. I cut back on cable. I use an antenna on my kitchen tv. I no longer buy books or magazines. I’d had a fetish for these all my life. I have a long way to go, and I’m really trying. Thank you for all the tips.
I don’t recommend storing movies, photos, etc. on your hard drive. The hard drive can die or the fan can go bad and burn up the hard drive. You will lose everything on the hard drive. I recommend using the iCloud or buying an external hard drive (they are actually cheap) and storing everything on that. I would recommend backing up your computer at least once a week so that if something does go bad, you will have all of your data available to reload.
I am all for being frugal. We don’t have a landline because it was cheaper to bundle the phone with internet and cable. Now I see that the phone is costing all most as much as the landline did. I will be contacting Time Warner to see what changes can be made to get the cost down. We no longer need a landline now that my husband’s internal defibrillator is wireless. The other one had to be connected to a phone line to transmit data.
Because of dietary restrictions I have to be very careful about what I buy. At Walmart I have found that I can buy grass fed ground beef for less than the regular ground beef. I don’t buy cheap cuts of meat because I have found more goes into the trash than in the stomach. I buy free range chicken and pork that has no added anything. It takes me about two hours to do a full grocery shopping trip. We don’t drink, smoke, eat breads and only occasionally have a small sweet treat. The only processed meat I buy is a pack of pre-cooked bacon. The brand I buy has 3 strips as a serving and is lower in sodium and fat than the regular bacon.
I can’t wait for the spring to come so I can start my garden for this year. I so love the fresh vegetables and fruits.
If you use conditioner on your hair, use it when shaving legs too. Much better for your skin than soap – better than shaving cream too! ????
Judith,
Ohhh…I’ll have to check into those! Do you think they could be used to drain greasy foods & rinsed out then thrown in the wash?
I just purchased on Amazon reuseable machine-washable paper towels made from Bamboo. They are called Bambooee. So far I like them.
Absolutely, Christine! Way to plan ahead. I have a good friend who plans a lot of fundraisers & luncheons, and she does the same thing you do. In fact, when our local dollar store ran out of star decor for my son’s graduation party, she ended up having just what I needed!
Awesome, Jeni! Keep up the good work 🙂 Over time, you’ll see those little changes will start to add up!
I’m on the PTA and my main job is decorating for school socials. I hate spending tons of money on decorations because that takes away from our fundraising profits. So I try and be very organized and think ahead on decorations. I’ve just about scoured the area for any red Christmas decorations that can be used for our Valentines Dance. And anything green for our st patty’s day dance. Everything is 75% to 90% off so I think the most expensive thing I bought so far was .75 cents. Organization is key in my book.
hi I have been frugal living for a while now .I grow a garden and grow my own herbs , veggies. I stopped using dish 6years ago I got tired og the price going up every time I turned around,so I got me a Roku and got a prescription for Amazon Prime, It is a whole lot cheaper and I don’t miss the Dish and I order things I need and don’t have to pay shipping..I got rid of my Kurige and got a Ninja coffee Bar and now I don’t even go by the big box coffee shops any more of Mc Ds for a Froppee I can do all of that at home now. I make my own soap and I also make my geeting cards and have made some money on the side making them to sell.I have a lot mor to do ,but I have a good start ON IT.
She never said kids are clutter??? She said they create more clutter
I can’t seem to fall in love with Aldi s here in San Diego. I think because their groceries and products don’t fall in line with my household needs. Will try again a few times.
Juli,
Everything I link to I either currently use, or have used in the past. I include affiliate links throughout my site because a girl’s gotta make a living. 🙂 Plus, I realize that my readers still might like/need to purchase things and that they usually appreciate my recommendations of quality/affordable items. I’m not here to tell anyone how they SHOULD live, I’m simply sharing how I like to do things. Thanks for stopping by!
I find it funny that you post this blog full of affiliate links you want people to click on to make you money yet you won’t spend the money on that stuff. ????????
I have, Michelle. I learned when I needed to cook 20+ pounds of bacon for my son’s cross-country team! 🙂 It’s still hard to achieve the perfect balance of crispy/chewy unless you cook it on the stovetop, though (IMO).
If you sell they hard copy, you should be deleting the digital copy. It is considered piracy if you are not. That’s what the FBI warning in the beginning of the video is about
Heidi,
It’s funny you mention that about the cable box. Our router has fallen off the shelf onto the hardwood floor more times than I can count! 🙂
I agree with your entire list but in regards to the warranty stuff if you have a large yard and your riding mower gets alot of us then a warranty is useful. I am talking field style yard. I.have forgone the warranty on the cable box as well but since it gets moved around an awful lot sometimes it can fall because its placed in wierd positions and ledges so just be careful with it!
Omg have you ever made bacon in the oven? Sooo much easier
Kids are not clutter. I totally respect kids aren’t for everyone, but that is the stupidest reason for not having kids I have ever heard.
Wow! Great work, Leslie! Do you have a recipe for homemade dishwashing detergent you can share? I’ve not had very good luck whenever I try to make it on my own. I too, reuse baggies as long as they haven’t been used to store meat. Using rubbing alcohol to clean the bathroom is a great idea.
I rarely buy sandwich or zip-lock type bags. I just wash them out and hang to dry and re-use. I also re-use foil. I do not buy deodorant and lip balm (make my own), laundry and dishwasher soap (make my own), and I use vinegar, baking soda, Dawn dish soap, and items such as vodka and rubbing alcohol to clean toilets, baths, sinks and counters. I rarely buy processed foods, such as cake, muffin, biscuit and pancake mixes, I make my own bread (well, sometimes), and syrup. I still have a long way to go to get to an independent and manufactured-free life but it is so worth it.
Gale,
Apparently, the cable companies are catching on to the fact that people can live without it, so they are offering the enticement of better wi-fi.:) In our area, we receive the same wi-fi service whether we bundle or not but it is still expensive. When we move back to Fl next year, I have a feeling it will benefit us more if we bundle.
I’m on board with most of that list but in response to who has cable anymore, we do as do most of our friends. We like having decent Wi-Fi, and that comes in packages where we live. If you don’t mind very slow connection then you can get internet only. Netflix replaces the movie theater and buying DVDS. What we did too save was switched from Comcast to Direct Direct TV and saved $100/mo.
I hope not EVERYONE adheres to that lifestyle… or else we’d be out of a population at some point! 🙂
Tiffany, if you’re talking about home movies, I store every video and photo I make in Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive. Incredibly useful because you can pull them up anywhere you are.
Tiffany,
Any movie which my family has purchased within the last few years has been purchased in digital form. Additionally, for several years now, when you buy a DVD, there is usually a “digital code” included. You can use the code to upload the movie directly to iTunes, then sell or donate the hard copy. I’m sure there are programs available that will transfer DVD’s to your hard drive, but I am not technical enough to know of any. Hope this helps. 🙂
Hi, you stated that you store your movies digitally.. where do you save them? I would like to do that too.
Annette,
We use wash cloths for our napkins and paper towels for the same things you do. Although, sometimes my husband grabs a paper towel to dry his hands. Which is why I think I may need to hide the paper towels 🙂
I stopped using paper towels years ago. I cut up an old bath towel into equal squares and zig zagged the edges. I usually wash them with the regular laundry. Sometimes I just toss them. I still use paper towels for bacon or super yucky stuff. The are folded neatly by the sink. This must save us $400 a year.
We are minimalists and I know several other couples (over 40) who like us, chose to be child free. We chose permanent sterilization. We help group homes and donate. We feel kids create more clutter with more furniture, clothes, toys etc. and most women have to work full time anyway, and daycare is expensive. Wives all worked or now retired.
Bashia,
Thank you for your feedback. My site is currently in the middle of a complete redo, so I apologize for any annoyances. You were right about the pop-ups, I disabled them. As far as the ads go, they are in proportion to what most blogs have, and are out of my control. If I were to remove them completely, I couldn’t afford to operate my website. I value your readership and hope you will check out some of my other content. 🙂
For someone who writes about simplicity and decluttering you should take a closer look how your post looks on the mobile device…
I had to close 3 pop ups and scroll through loads of ads to read that.
omg people are spendig thousands of dollars on infertility and here i am spending (not thousands though)on not being fertile….( i dont want kids) //though i love all kids ….i think adoption is wayyy better option..but each to his/her own ..i guess
Barb,
Unfortunately, I do not have an Aldi’s in my state. When I lived down south, I shopped there all of the time.
Margarita,
AHH! I can totally relate. I cringe every time my husband uses paper towels to dry his hands when the dish towel is right beside him! I guess the only way to solve the problem would be to just do away with paper towels.
Karen,
I am completely onboard with the whole dental thing! I brushed my first two boys’ teeth until they were about 8 as well and I take all of my kids in for regular cleanings. I slacked a little with my third son. Guess what? He’s the only one who’s ever had a cavity!
Don’t t know if you have this grocery store where you live, but I try to buy all my groceries at Aldi’s. Much cheaper than chain grocery stores. I also order fabulous new, like new and gently worn clothes online from Thredup.com. you can sell or consign your clothes back to them. They also sell shoes, purses, kids clothes.
I have a hard plastic cover that I use when I microwave foods. I think i got it at the bargain section in the drugstore. I actually save bacon grease in an old glass jar, awesome for eggs! What little is left I clean with napkins from when we eat takeout. They always give you too many. At home we stick to cloth napkins. Other greasy foods where we don’t save the grease, I wait for it to congeal, then scrape off the grease and just clean what’s left with one or two napkins or paper towels. I think we get one or two packs of napkins for the year and only two or three paper towel packs. If only I could teach hubby to use more re-usable stuff…
There are certain things I do annually to save money or every six months. Example dental check ups(easier to fix small problems and cheaper). Don’twait until the problems are bigger and more expensive. I brush all my children’s teeth until they are 8 years old. This prevents problems from starting young. I purchase major clothing needs the year prior to when they are needed at the end of season sales and have even repaired a coat that wrong chewed of mine by using colour blocking to disguise the hole and was asked where did I get such a beautiful coat. I breast fed all of my kids until they were right months old because I refuse to buy formula.This week one of my twins is moving out on his own(19 yrs old),the other in Sept for school(the last of 5 kids).They all fix their own cars and know how to cook from scratch,do woodworking,plumbing and electrical etc. I believe in the Renaissance child – educate yourself with many skills and share your knowledge with others. Thank you ladies for sharing what you have learned.I volunteered at a food bank( Canada) and soon came to understand that poverty was often a lack of skills rather than a lack of money.
Joy,
I love the idea of bartering for your vacations!
I’m pretty good on being frugal. We just got roku and are seeing if we still even need our cable. I bought (off Groupon So savings) a uv lamp and do my nails at home. We haven’t been to or rented a movie in forever… we both drive OLD well maintained (15 year old Corolla with 215,000 miles for me 32 mpg) cars! I barter my gym membership and hair styling. I read books on a hand me down iPad (I don’t get how I got a handmedown but whatever) from my nephew… and I don’t drink. Fancy nights out are often picnics at the park with the hubs and the poodle. And we vacation at a beach house that my husband trades storytelling for (he’s a professional storyteller)
Diane,
We live in such a disposable society. It warms my heart when I hear of people growing their food, recycling, and reusing what they have. Keep up the good work!
Wow! I did not realize how simplified my life was. I on rare occasion impulse buy something, but pretty much don’t do anything else on the list. I grow my own food, can, and freeze my food. Have chickens, and recycle or “upcycle” clothing into other usable items such as quilts.
Great idea, Susan!
One way I save money is walking to the store or riding my bike. Either way I go with a backpack to carry my purchases back. This has two benefits, extra exercise and keeps me limited to what I can fit easily into my backpack. Hence, I think “do I really need this”?
Teresa, thanks so much for stopping by! I say, if you enjoy having cable and watch it, you should keep it. Saving money shouldn’t be too painful, or we are likely to throw in the towel. 🙂
Kimberly,
I prefer to purchase things used whenever possible as well. It goes so well with having boys. (I have 3 boys too). I don’t like to spend a lot on their clothes because they grow so fast!
I’m with you on the toy thing, too. My boys have a few “categories” of toys and on holidays we add a few things to them.
I have cable. I cut back on channels recently. I wash in mainly cold water. I use the library. I buy my meat and repackage to accommodate my family size. I have no land line now either and use the clothes line as much as possible. Love to hear areas that I could be saving in and do better. Teresa
I have 3 boys I do cut their own hair. I don’t buy memberships to places we live far enough into the country that it seams more special to make the zoo a annual thing instead of a weekly. That is the same with the gym I was spending more on gas to get to the gym than the membership,
Fancy storage systems. Really I feel that we are at a point where less stuff makes more since than more storage.
I guess there can also be a whole other list of things that I buy 2nd hand. Really big on shopping the 2nd hand market for kids stuff and selling it on the 2nd hand market. The co-sleeper that we used for 6 months bought for $70 sold for $60 It makes it seam more like a rental for the things that are temporary in our lives.
Toys I am super picky on what toys I want to come into our home. They need to be something that adds to the toys we already have and not something that needs a whole new home. Quality over quantity on the toys.
Shoaib,
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Amanda,
I know how you feel on both accounts. I used to spend so much money on books. I used to have a Keurig and, when it broke, I reassessed what I really “needed” in a coffee maker. It’s simple, I need it to provide me with two (strong) cups of coffee per day. I don’t need a timer, clock, or remote control!
Wow! Such nice tips…n 2 think that this may hav been the norm only some decades/half a century back…n now people might brand us as cheapskates! This is sooo gud on a spriritual level 2….u r using less resources which others can use. 1 cud also giv more for charity from the savings.
Great post. I love that SNL skit – priceless!! (no pun intended.)
Two items on your list caught my eye:
Books. Haven’t bought one in years and I am horrified by what my 20 something self spent on hardback books on a weekly basis!
Extra Features. I am the only coffee drinker in my house and have 2 cups in the morning – that’s it. I have a no frills drip machine. The few times a year we have a house full of overnight guests I make a trip to Dunkin Donuts in the morning for their coffee because I want them to have the flavor / size they want (I am up early and have mine before 6am.). My BIL gives me a hard time about the machine (“why don’t you have a clock and a timer and a better machine or maybe a Keurig ….”) and he can’t / won’t grasp the idea that I just need the effing hot coffee and nothing else. I seriously dread the day he shows up at my house with a ‘better’ coffee pot as a ‘gift.’
Melody,
Sounds like you have clear goals for saving money. I pray your IVF goes well! I love YouTube, it has taught me so much! I’m too scared to cut my own hair so I go to the cosmetology school for haircuts a few times per year. I agree with buying name brand over generic in many cases. As long as you can get them for less. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Megan,
Sounds like you are already on the right track. I too, am always on the lookout for ways to save money and things I can cut out of my budget.
Carol,
Whoo whoo! Virtual high five 🙂
I lost my job 4 years ago, we’ve spent $30,000 on infertility treatment & now we are saving for IVF on one budget so our buying has changed a lot! I buy name brand everything now with coupons & other rebates. It’s cheaper than buying generic. I don’t buy without a coupon. I bearly pay for anything. I have paper towels but we only use maybe 3-4 rolls a year. I cut my own hair & my husband’s, don’t buy clothes (except a few pieces from yard sales), keep our heat down at 66 day & night & sleep under electric blanket at night. We don’t go anywhere or do anything. The most I spend is on good brand couponed tennis shoes as my shoes wear out. We do most all home, car, yard work & any fixes that come up. Sometimes we have to watch YouTube videos to walk us through how to fix things.
We do not celebrate any of the holidays.
I also don’t buy most of this I love reading these sorts of posts because one day i may find something I can do better. I do like to buy the kiddos Party Favors, only because those little favor bags used to make my day when i went to a friend’s party. I know a lot of people aren’t doing them anymore but I’d rather save on the decorations or the food and send the kids home with a little favor baggie. “Outside of Birthdays and Christmas” me neither, and let me tell you my son still has plenty of toys. Our house is small also and we have too many toys! At holidays I always clear out old ones and donate to make room for new ones.
yay for me! I’ve been doing most of these for years! I am still trying to find ways to cut down as I want to save more, but I guess I’ve got a good start!
Joanne, I will look into the reusable cover. The plate, however, won’t do me any good because my family prefers pan-fried bacon. Thank you so much for stopping by! 🙂
These are great tips, thank you! I follow all of your tips but need to cut back on the coffe from coffee shops. I wanted to add to what you had said about paper towel use…you can get a reusable microwave cover and a specific plate for cooking bacon in the microwave. Most of the ones I have seen have grooves in the plate that direct the grease away from the bacon 🙂 These items are usually available at dollar stores or Walmart.
Bren,
We use paper towels sparingly (we don’t buy napkins either). I only use paper towels to absorb bacon grease and to wrap microwavable items in. Do you cook bacon/fried foods? If so, what do you use in place of paper towels? I’d stop buying them if I had an alternative.
I don’t buy paper towels or napkins. I prefer to just use a cloth or hand towel. I also do not buy trash bags because I just reuse the bags I get from the grocery store. We have a dumpster so it’s a short walk to just take out the trash a couple of times a day. I also do not buy shaving cream to shave my legs because soap works just fine…and the list goes on..
Mary,
Brrrr. You do better than me in the heat department! We keep ours at 68 during the day and 66 at night. According to our energy report, we use less electric/gas than our neighbors, so that’s good enough for me. 🙂
You’re welcome! Good luck on your simple/frugal journey 🙂
Related topic. We don’t buy as much propane as the last owner of our house. About $3500 less a year. We keep the heat at 57 deg in the winter, last owner kept it at 75. Your body will acclimate and I’m able to be comfortable in a long sleeved tshirt and jeans. At night we bundle up more.
Thanks so much, I have been wanting to simplify my life and save money and be more frugal like. Starting a new frugal life and enjoyed the tips. Thanks !
Way to go, Debbie! It’s always nice to meet a fellow frugalista! I agree, let the library store stuff for you 🙂
I do not pay someone to color my hair. I buy a kit, usually with a coupon and do myself. It’s easy and turns out great.
I also do not pay someone for a manicure and pedicure. I have no problem cutting and polishing my own nails. A big savings!
I borrow as much as possible for myself and family at the library. I haven’t had any magazine subscriptions in ages. I can read all manner of magazines for free at the library. I let them store the books, magazines movies, etc!