Whether you need to cut back on spending to keep up with your bills or you want to save money every month, you need to take a close look at what you buy and what you can do without. By carefully examining your purchases, you can find ways to reduce your monthly expenses and put more money towards the things that truly matter. Here are the 24 things you should stop buying today.

Our whole family has been living cheaply for years to save money. Before our son was born, we paid off all of our debt. After he was born, all of the bills for his care were paid.

I was able to quit my full-time job so I could take care of our son at home. If we hadn’t lived cheaply, none of this would have been possible.

1. Candles and Air Fresheners

Chemicals aren’t good for your lungs when you breathe them in. When you burn candles and spray air fresheners, chemicals get into the air, which you then breathe in. We’re now using a natural air freshener. I don’t buy candles anymore, which saves me money, and I’m down to my last Scentsy bar.

2. Home Decor

I’ve stopped buying new home decor to save money. I instead use what I already have to decorate and “shop.” I bought a few new things this past year, like a new doormat because our old one was worn out, but I don’t need to buy anything else for the next year.

3. Cleaning Supplies

No, my house isn’t always dirty! We save money by making our own cleaners, refilling our hand soaps, and buying products that last a long time. The microfiber cloths and cleaning paste we bought from Norwex will last us for many years.

4. Books and Movies

I was able to go to Barnes & Noble by myself last weekend, which is hard to do when you have a toddler. I looked around just to find something to buy. Then I remembered that I can just ask the library for these things. I took pictures of the book covers and then went online to ask that these books be sent to our local branch for pick-up. What a great way to save money!

5. Lightbulbs

When we moved into our new house, we slowly switched to LED bulbs. Even though we had to spend some money to buy the LED bulbs, we have since saved money by using them. They last a lot longer than regular bulbs and use less energy, which saves money.

6. Kitchen Gadgets

We bought a toaster oven this year and regretted it almost right away. Let’s just say we already have enough tech (and never enough counterspace)!

7. Coffee Filters

We’ve been making our own coffee at home for a few years now to save money. It’s something I like to do with my husband. Our Ninja Brewer has a filter that can be used more than once. We just recently started to use it. We save money because we no longer have to buy paper filters. Plus, it takes up less space in our cabinet!

8. Makeup

I don’t buy cheap makeup anymore. Because you have to use more of it to get the full effect, you use up the whole thing faster than you would with a better product. Also, since I became a stay-at-home mom, I don’t wear much makeup.

9. Body Wash

Just to be clear, we don’t buy body wash because I have sensitive skin and the packaging is made of plastic. Instead, we buy soap made locally in our area once a year.

10. Tampons

At first, menstrual cups sound like they could be dangerous. But once you get used to them, they save you a lot of money and time! The Duchess Cup works fine for me.

11. Cheap Toilet Paper

Once, I made the mistake of buying toilet paper from Aldi because it was cheaper. We used more of it because it wasn’t as good as name-brand paper. When we buy better toilet paper, we use less of it and save money.

12. Fashionable Clothes

I’ve never set trends, and I don’t want to. I like to wear clothes that fit well and make me feel good about myself. By not following trends, we save money.

13. Brand-New Clothes

We don’t usually buy new clothes, but there have been a few exceptions in the past year. When you buy used things, you save money and help the environment.

14. Jewelry

Fun and weird jewelry might look great for a while, but it could also make you sick if it’s made out of cheap materials. I’d rather have a few pieces of high-quality jewelry than dozens of pieces that aren’t as good but are still fun.

15. Plastic Shopping Bags

We don’t have to pay for plastic bags yet in Oklahoma. Aldi is the only place in town that charges for them. I’m very careful to bring my own bags to save money and cut down on waste.

16. Too Much Cell Phone Data

In 2018, we switched from our old carrier to Google Fi. The bill for our cell phone was cut in HALF! Our old provider charged us too much for data. Now, we only have to pay a small amount for the data we use.

17. Small Trash Bags

This past year, we got rid of small trash bags (the size of a bathroom trash can). It’s been great not to throw away so much plastic! We just dump the contents once a week into our larger kitchen trash.

18. Brand-New Clothes for Kids and Babies

The best way for me to save money on baby things is to buy them at consignment sales. BUT I might have done too much this year. Little Guy has more clothes than he needs to get him through elementary school.

19. Brand-New Toys

Little Guy has a lot of toys. Plus, with his birthday and Christmas, we don’t need to buy him anything else. If you want to save money and be thrifty, you could buy toys at a thrift store or on Facebook Marketplace.

20. Baby Gear

Now that we don’t have a baby but a toddler, we don’t need as much “gear” as we used to. Even if we had another baby in the next year or two (don’t get too excited, Mom! ), we wouldn’t need to buy anything new. Little Guy’s baby clothes, like a wrap, zippered pajamas, and more, are still around.

21. Coffee To Go

I really enjoy a fancy cup of coffee. But do I like how much it costs? NOPE! Our coffee is made at home.

22. Separate Meals

My husband and I don’t eat out very often. When we do, though, we usually split a main dish. We spend less money and eat less. In the US, restaurant portions are way too big. Nobody has to eat all of that food at once.

23. Soda

A nice, cold, bubbly soda sounds good almost everywhere we go. But, like coffee, the price ($2-$3) is not worth it.

24. Convenience Foods

As a mom who is always ready, I’ve learned not to leave the house without food. I get hangry and my toddler gets hangry. It just costs too much to buy snacks all the time. Instead, when we are going somewhere, I pack snacks and peanut butter sandwiches.

What have you cut out of the budget that has saved you money?

This article originally appeared on mylifeiguess.com.

Feature Image Credit: pixelshot via Canva.com.

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