We will receive a commission if you make a purchase through our affiliate link at no extra cost to you. Please read our disclosure policy for more information.
Spending money has become the norm. Everywhere you look, there’s another ad telling you what you need to buy. It’s not easy to pay off debt and save money for travel when we’re constantly being told to “buy this, buy that,” and that if we don’t, we won’t be happy.
Back when I was working my 9–5, I spent money like it was nothing. I didn’t have the time or energy to cook or take care of myself, so I’d grab takeout, go for drinks after work, and keep swiping my card on office outfits, shoes, and bags as a form of retail therapy. Did it make me happy? Nope.
These days, I focus my spending on things that actually make my life better, like fresh ingredients for meals at home, a trip somewhere new, or skincare that doesn’t feel like a waste.
Here are the things I stopped buying to save over $5,000 a year!
PIN THIS: I’ll be updating this post so make sure to pin this image here and save it to your Pinterest board. That way you’ll be able to come back to this page to learn about everyday things you need to stop buying to save money!
1. Bottled water
This is probably one of the most wasteful things you can buy because—seriously—water is free. No one should be paying for it. It’s recommended to drink at least eight glasses a day, so if you’re going through 5–8 bottles daily, that’s quite a bit of a fountain waste… talk about money going down the drain.
2. Single-purpose clothes
A wedding dress is one exception for single-purpose clothing. Yeah, you win, it’s your special day. Plus, maybe you’re frugal and scored a great deal thrifting it. But if you’re buying a purple dress for Annie’s wedding, a red one for Diana’s birthday, and a gold one for New Year’s Eve, I don’t even want to know how many more occasions you’ve got lined up. By the time you finish counting on your fingers, your bank account will already be in single digits.
3. Prepackaged food
When I walk into a grocery store and I see fruit platters and pre-made sandwiches, I cringe. You can cut your own fresh fruits and make your own sandwiches, which is way healthier too. Prepackaged items usually come with more chemicals and are probably not handled as properly as you would if you were at home. Think about the avocado, fresh leafy greens, and better cut meats they skip. Not only is prepackaged bad for you, but it’s also rough on your budget, so it’s definitely something I recommend you stop buying instantly.
4. Greeting cards
When I say greeting cards, I don’t mean the bulk packs you can buy at Costco or a wholesale store for a dirt-low price. That’s fine because it will likely save you time if you don’t have time to DIY for every member in your family. I’m talking about buying single individual greeting cards and paying $5–$10 for one that someone is going to throw away. Either make it yourself if you’re creative and love crafts, or buy bulk at less than $0.20 per card — because that’s just sending your money away.
5. Dining out several times a week
Steak, lobster, salmon, etc. Hm, pretty pricey I’d say. But even if you do takeout or opt for pasta and meatballs, restaurants are still charging you an arm and a leg. It’s okay to dine out once a week or during a special occasion like a birthday or big anniversary, but doing it too often is just going to starve your wallet to death. Reserve it for special days so your budget doesn’t end up on the chopping block.
6. Extended warranty
Companies are robbing you good. I mean, how often is your electronic going to die on you within the first two years? Unless you’re my sister, who’s notoriously rough on her devices, you’re fine. You’re not tossing it, yanking it, or throwing it around like a game of hot potato at a family picnic. My advice is to stop wasting money on extended warranties. Don’t fool yourself, your gadgets don’t need that kind of clingy relationship.
7. Home decor
We all want a nice, relaxing, and cozy home that feels like an escape from the 9–5 grind. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a beautifully furnished space, but there’s no need to run to Wayfair to solve that problem for you. Just trust your hidden handyman and creative skills to re-create something nice on a budget. That’s what YouTube videos are for! It’s there to help you save money while creating a home that truly feels like yours.
8. Premium gas
There’s a lot of debate about this. If you’re driving a higher-end car, like a BMW or Lexus, they’ll tell you that you need premium gas or your car will go out of whack. However, many experts say it makes little to no difference for most drivers. Seriously, go onto YouTube and you’ll never hear the end of it.
If you have a practical, everyday car, filling regular gas is fine. You can save money for actual repairs you might need down the road. And if your car manual recommends premium, talk to your mechanic first before you keep paying premium prices for something your engine might not even fuel a difference for.
9. Impulse buys at the grocery store
If I were you, I would take this advice: never shop for groceries on an empty stomach. When you’re hungry, you think you’ll be able to eat the entire world, let alone a whole buffalo, so it’s no surprise you’ll end up grabbing more meat than you need, plus snacks, desserts, pastries, and anything that smells good. You’ll be using your stomach to make decisions, not your brain.
Try this advie. You’ll be amazed that you just might save over $50 from one trip by not overbuying two boxes of chocolate croissants plus a mega-size bag of Doritos you didn’t need.
10. Unncessary subscriptions
It could be a magazine subscription. Maybe Spotify that you barely use anymore? Perhaps Netflix or the Disney Channel? Okay, maybe you want to keep Netflix because it saves you from paying $20 at the theatre to watch the latest movie, but all the other subs you don’t use? Go through them and see what you’ve been abandoning so you know where you can cut. After all, it’s not a big deal cutting the cord, especially if you’ve been streaming money out of your account.
11. Expensive phone bills
If you haven’t given your cellphone company a ring to ask about deals, you’re missing out. Don’t be that person who accepts whatever rate they give you, or takes it just because they said there’s a significant increase within the year.
Always shop and renegotiate your plan. You’ll be surprised that you can save up to 40% off retail if you are willing to put in the effort and just make a 30-minute phone call to chit-chat with the representative and ask them to forward you to the retention team. Many people skip this part because they’re lazy, but it’s one of the easiest ways to stop spending money you don’t need to.
12. Expensive skin care products
I’m a woman, and I can go on and on about the best skincare products. Vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, Cosrx’s snail mucin, anyone?
Yeah, I admit this stuff adds up, and if you really can’t cut back and it’s been doing wonders for your skin, try to be more frugal and use it intentionally. If you want to really stop spending money, just reduce your 10-step routine to 3 steps.
Honestly, all you need for healthy skin is sun protection, a nutritious daily meal, regular exercise, a little Vitamin C (it doesn’t have to be pricey), and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream—which you can grab cheaply at Costco. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
13. Paying for a handyman for easy fixes
It’s obvious that if it involves electronics or digging into the ground to do waterproofing, you can’t DIY. But if it’s something easy like painting a room, assembling furniture, or patching a small hole in the wall, you can save money by doing it yourself.
14. Household cleaners
I don’t know about you, but 3 ingredients is all you need. Just a bit of water, salt, and vinegar does the trick to clean your home without all the dirty chemicals. I’m sure you get a headache the smell lingering in your nose!
After reading this, you can probably stop spending money on them too. Frugal people will tell you the same. Simply, mix water and vinegar in a spray bottle for your counters, windows, and even bathroom tiles for an easy, cheap, and quick clean. It’s like having a magic eraser, without making your wallet disappear into thin air.
Leave a Reply