Things I no longer buy, or buy less of

I have always been frugal, but gradually I caught myself either eliminating, buying a lot less of, or substituting certain items even more so. Are you leaning towards being more minimalistic? If so, you are on your way to saving money and eliminating clutter! Here’s some suggestions:

Seasonal home decor: I used to buy decorations, door hangers, centerpieces, seasonal paper plates/napkins, or whatever for each holiday. Over time I just realized it’s a waste of money, and although I like to be festive, I saved my favorite one or two for each holiday, and donated the rest. This also frees up a lot of storage space.

Fast food: A great deterrent is to tell yourself that yes, that Dollar Menu item was cheap, but the time and work involved later to get rid of those extra pounds or extra body fat really wasn’t worth that dollar.

Perfume / candles : Even when I wore my perfume daily, it seemed to take forever until it was gone. A freshly showered body and clean hair is sufficient to smell nice. The bonus? Less perfume bottles accumulating and gathering dust. As far as candles, the new yummy scents that continuously come out is one big, endless money pit draining your wallet. If candles are your weakness, then burn all the ones you own before purchasing new.

Hair products: I used to be a BIG sucker for hair products, especially if it had cool packaging. However, with a small bathroom cabinet I had to learn to scale back. Now I only purchase if I’ve completely used up what I have, or buy the smallest size available.

Lotions / creams: There’s neck cream, hand cream, cuticle cream, elbow cream, hand lotion, leg lotion, lotion to eliminate bumps, lotion to smell good, lotion to rejuvenate. Seriously, whatever lotion (or two) you like, just make it your universal lotion. Even better, use coconut oil or vaseline.

Window Cleaner: They day I ran out of window cleaner, I simply switched to white vinegar. I poured some in a spray bottle, and have used it ever since. If you find ‘cleaning vinegar’ (usually located by the ammonia in grocery stores), it has a higher acidity at 6%, and is even better. Vinegar is inexpensive, a natural disinfectant, deodorizer, and cuts grease. It’s natural, and safe around children, pets, and yourself. As a cancer survivor, I like to avoid unnecessary exposure to chemicals. I mostly use it in the kitchen & bathrooms.

Dishwasher rinse aids: After loading the dishwasher, I use the spray bottle vinegar, and spray all the dishes, especially the glass wear and silverware. I then add 1tsp of baking soda. Baking soda is incredibly cheap, and is a natural water softener. Anything that softens the water will make detergent and soap work all that much better. Dishes will sparkle and be spot-free.

The less physical clutter you have, the less mind clutter you have. We are subconciously affected by our surroundings. What things do you think you can live without?