I’ve recently noticed that there are a lot of everyday things that Mr. MMM and I just don’t buy. Not surprisingly, skipping out on these little items have added up to big savings over the course of a few years. After getting married in 2015 and deciding to make our finances a priority, quite a few things made the chopping block. If you’re curious to see just what kind of stuff we just stopped buying we live without, keep reading.
New Cars
Let’s start with a big one. This isn’t something we stopped buying – this is actually something we have never purchased. Even before we met each other, we never bought a new car. I can’t see this changing in the future, ever. In our opinions, it’s a surefire way to flush a few thousand dollars down the proverbial toilet the moment you leave the dealership.
We currently have two vehicles and are seriously considering taking it down to one. One is paid for and the other has a balance of $7,000. Quite affordable, yet a huge frugal No-No! Geez, give us a break, we just started on this hardcore journey a few months ago. I think I remember reading somewhere that Rome wasn’t built in a day 😉
Update: We paid off our car with the 7k balance early last year. Since then, we ditched Mr. MMM’s car with the help of the FB Marketplace and bought a conversion van in its place. Basically, we’re down to 1 car (our Mazda 3) with our van being reserved for family vacations and other various cross-country adventures. Read all about our plans for part-time #VanLife!
Cable TV
We decided tocut the cord a fewyears ago and haven’t looked back. Mini Monster isn’t bombarded with the latest advertisem*nts, and neither are we. And since we’re not a big sports family, Netflix covers our entertainment needs just fine. A win for everyone.
In addition to our Netflix account, we also have the NVIDIA Shield, which is an app-based streaming media player. It was given to us as a wedding gift and has been, by far, our most used gift. It comes pre-loaded with a ton of popular apps and is customizable.
Related:Our Incredibly Simple Hack For Cheap TV
Paper Products (minus Toilet Paper)
Is it really necessary to purchase these items? I’m not an expert, but I’d estimate that you could easily drop $5/week on said items. At $5/week, you’re dropping $260/year on paper. Yes, we do blow our noses. We just tend to use toilet paper for this 🙂
This started because I absolutely hate clutter and am probably the biggest minimalist who ever lived. In fact, I was a minimalist before it became trendy and before I knew I was one. Lucky for me, it just so happens that minimalism goes hand in hand with frugality. Yay!
Thanks to my little neuroses, we don’t spend money on tissues, ever. Granted, it could be awkward offering a sniffling guest some TP to blow their nose, but, if they’re in our house, it’s a fair assumption that they know us well and wouldn’t care.
As for napkins, we like using cloth. They’re classy and make you feel like you’re dining at a fancy restaurant. And who doesn’t like that feeling!
But what about paper towels? How can you live without paper towels, Mrs. MMM? Truth be told, we always have a roll of paper towels on hand for the unfortunate event of pet vomit (yuck). It happens. Otherwise, we use rags fromold, worn-out clothing to help us out in the cleaning department. Oh, how I wish we had a cleaning department 🙂
Shaving Cream
Nope, you’re not gonna see it in our house, despite Mr. MMM shaving his head! We both use a good old-fashioned bar of bath soap to lather up for our shaving needs. I started doing this when I ran out of shaving cream quite a few years ago and realized it actually worked. I never looked back.
When I met Mr. MMM, I noticed he didn’t waste his cash on shaving cream either. That’s when I knew we were a match. I highly recommend you try it.
Soda and Juice
Again, we just don’t buy it unless we’re entertaining family or friends. We both grew up with less than most of our friends, so having this stuff in the house wasn’t a daily thing. I grew up loving water and milk (preferably chocolate, of course) and so did Mr. MMM.
We are perfectly fine doing the same thing now. We certainly don’t feel deprived, especially since they’re not really good for you anyway.
Sometimes “Mamaw” (Mini Monster’s term of endearment for her grandmother) brings Mini Monster some juice boxes. Thankfully, they usually just sit in our refrigerator and go to waste, unless we have some kids come over for a playdate. Nobody needs that kind of sugar. And we’re certainly not going to pay for it!
Family Photos
Is it really necessary to drop cash on posed family pictures with the change of every season? Don’t call me a curmudgeon, I like these pictures, but I would never pay a professional photographer to take them.
If you absolutely cannot stand the thought of foregoing these pics, have a friend take them, or set a timer and take them yourself. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the standard poses.
So, sit in the leaves, hold your children, and strike a pose. I guarantee you they WILL be Instagram and Facebook worthy. 🙂
Of course, this list isn’t all-inclusive. There are tons of other things we just stopped buying but that didn’t make our list.
Related:Pet Ownership: A Frugal Guide To Happy, Healthy Pets
Pet Care
It’s no surprise to anyone that our pets are incredibly important to us. But that doesn’t mean we spare no expense. We absolutely spend money on their annual check-ups and healthcare needs. On top of that, we have no problem purchasing grain-free foods to ensure they’re eating well and staying healthy.
But, on the other hand, we’re certainly not paying for doggie daycare or the latest toys. We prefer to spend time with our animals. Lots of time. We also prefer making their toys over buying them. Tying a few T-shirts together for a tug toy makes them super happy and is great for recycling our old stuff.
Other articles you might enjoy:
- The DIY Pet Grooming Hack You Need To Know About
- Our Surprisingly Lazy (and Free) Money Management System
- How We’re Achieving FIRE/FIOR Through Selective Frugality
- What To Do When You Realize Frugality Won’t Make You Rich
- Shifting To A Frugal Mindset Has Given Us Options. Tons Of Options.
