Save Money: Stop Buying these 12 Things
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The best way to have more money is to spend less. Learning to spend less than we earn and live within our means is an important principle. Debt is a form of modern slavery, as many people have to work in jobs they don’t like to pay off debts they can’t afford. It is heartbreaking.
I am not a financial planner and am not here to give you financial advice. But I do know what it’s like to feel the weight of debt lifted off our family, and the unexpected freedom we experienced.
When I look back over those years, one of my greatest regrets is spending more than I needed to on things I didn’t need to buy. I’d hate to look at some of those bank statements and add up the amount. I’m sure it would make my eyes water.
So today I have put together a list of things I’ve stopped buying. Everyone is different, and your list will be different to mine, but I hope it gives you some ideas to develop a list of your own.
12 Things I’ve Stopped Buying
1. Magazines
Back a few years ago magazines were a great way to stay up to date with current events and read about topics that interest you. I used to subscribe to magazines about homemaking, sewing, craft, parenting and decorating. I enjoyed reading them and trying out the projects. These days, all of that information and much more is available online. I now have a few blogs I follow, and Pinterest boards of craft and decorating ideas I want to try. I have no need for the pile of paper I used to collect.
2. Streaming subscriptions
There are multiple streaming services, and new ones seem to be launched regularly. Most of them are good value and offer mountains of content for a small monthly fee. But when you subscribe to multiple streaming services, they can soon add up.
Some services allow you to have multiple logins on one subscription. Work together with family members to share the cost. Or, subscribe to one service at a time. After a year, turn off that provider and change to another. Don’t get caught paying for more than what you use.
3. Fast fashion
I’ve stopped buying clothes because they are cheap or just because they look pretty. In this season I don’t have a need for a lot of clothes (or the space to put them). It hasn’t taken away my love of a pretty dress. I still buy clothes, but I think about it carefully and only buy what I need and know I will get a lot of wear out of it.
I don’t buy clothes that need ironing. If it’s wrinkly in the shop, it’s definitely not going to work in my closet.
I don’t buy clothes that need special care. I don’t have clothes that need to be hand washed or dry cleaned.
4. One-off occasion clothes
I have been caught out buying clothes for one-off occasions. A bright top for a Hawaiian themed birthday party, a white dress for the White Christmas office party… you get the picture. I wish I’d been more creative. There are now places where you can hire clothes for special occasions. I could have borrowed from a friend or shopped from an Op Shop. Unless the clothes I buy fit my criteria for regular clothing I won’t buy them for a one-off occasion.
The exception to this is the top-level special occasions. E.g. my mother-of-the-bride dress. That is an occasion worth buying a new dress for!
5. Multiples & duplicates
I used to have multiple pairs of jeans, black pants and white t-shirts. But as many as I had, there was always a favourite I would reach for first. Eventually, I realised I only need one, or sometimes two, of these staples in my wardrobe. When shopping for clothes, if the new pair isn’t better than the ones I already have, it stays in the shop. When you have clothes you love, fit well and make you feel good, there is no need to constantly add more.
6. Haircare/Makeup/Skincare
I have products I know and love for my hair, skin and makeup. I used to get sucked in by advertisements with the new matte foundation that made promises to make me look younger all day or a new brand of shampoo to tame my flyaway ends. They never kept their promises.
I only try new products when the ones I’ve been using are discontinued. Until then, I stick with what I know and love.
7. Seasonal Décor
It is fun to decorate the house for the holidays. I used to shop after Christmas every year to pick up half-price decorations to add to my stash for the next year. Often though, the leftover cheap decorations were not the most beautiful ones. I ended up with a house full of cheap plastic covered in glitter.
The problem with seasonal décor is you have to store it, organise it, and take care of it. Like everything else in my home, it needs to deserve its place. I now have just a few pieces I absolutely love. Many are handmade, hold special memories and meaning. These decorations make me feel happy, not cheap. They fill my Christmas with meaning, not clutter.
8. Cushions & throws
Cushions and throws make the soft areas of our home, our lounge and bedroom, with comfort and warmth. But we can go overboard, and good quality soft furnishings are expensive. Like many things, less is better. I only have a few, and they are ones I really love.
I bought a pretty Christmas cushion last year to sit on our RV bed. I also bought a plain velvet cover to put over the Christmas design when the holiday season was over. One cushion for all year!
9. Spare Linen
Good quality linen lasts a long time. I found, if I bought good quality neutral coloured linen, that is what I always reached for, even if I had others in the cupboard to choose from. In the end, I had two sets of linen for each bed (one on the bed and one in the cupboard) and two towels for each person in the household, as well as one set for guests. Empty space in the linen cupboard makes me happy, and not shopping for sheets and towels every year saves a lot of money.
10. Food I don’t like
Brussel sprouts in season? Good for them. Walnuts on special? So what. This may seem silly, but I often bought food I thought I should eat or food that was on special, instead of food I love. I now know, if I don’t love it, even if it’s healthy, I probably won’t eat it. It will sit on the shelf, cluttering up the pantry and fridge, until it is expired and needs to be thrown away. It’s better value for me to pay a little extra to buy the foods I love and know I’ll eat.
11. Takeaway coffee
We invested in a good quality machine to make coffee we love at home. We also have a Thermos that keeps coffee piping hot all day. I often make an extra coffee in the morning to take with us when we are on the road or out and about exploring new places. I used to do the same for the office. The cost of takeaway coffee adds up over time. Take your own with you when you can.
12. Takeaway food
When I’m tired and stressed at the end of a long day, takeaway can be a tempting option. The costs add up though. Having a meal plan with quick and easy meals makes a big difference. With everything you need in the fridge to have a delicious meal on the table in a few minutes, the takeaway is much less attractive. I love this book of 5 Ingredient Recipes.
For particularly busy seasons, I found having a stash of ready-made meals (such as YouFoodz) in the fridge a game-changer. I could grab one for lunch at work or come home to one in the evening. Although you pay a little more, there is no grocery shopping, no food preparation, and no food waste.
That is my top 12, but there are many more. I don’t buy random craft supplies for projects I may try sometime in the future. I don’t buy notebooks just because they are pretty. I don’t buy paper books (I don’t have space in the RV), smelly candles or fresh flowers (for now).
How about you? What are some things you have discovered you don’t need?
