STOP BUYING THESE 15 ITEMS NOW & SAVE TONS OF MONEY

Learning new ways to save tons of money has become a lifestyle for me. Especially nowadays! It’s impossible to go to the grocery store without feeling like you have been overcharged. Not to mention, the price of fuel, clothing, furniture, appliances, and the list goes on.

In this post, I am going to cover some things that you may not have even thought about cutting from your shopping list. If you’re like most people, you are in the habit of just restocking and purchasing the things you usually buy. Believe it or not, just scaling back on some of these items, it does add up to quite a bit of money!

Hello! If this is your first time here, I’m Christina, the mastermind and frugal diva behind The Frugal Duo. I have a love of many things, and saving money is one of them. I love to share hacks and tips that I learn along the way. And today we are going to talk about how to STOP buying things to save money NOW.

STOP BUYING THESE 15 ITEMS NOW & SAVE TONS OF MONEY

I get it. You’re busy. We’re ALL busy. But, in the grand scheme of things, how much time do we waste doing mindless activities? Scrolling through social media, watching TV, etc. My point is, most of the time we get enticed by convenience. (I am also to blame for this from time to time! So, don’t feel alone!)

The main thing is, you’re here and you want to work on this!! (YAY for you!!) And I am excited to help you cut things from your budget to help you save tons of money.

BOTTLED WATER

Believe it or not, bottled water is expensive! Even if you are buying it by the case, it adds up. Invest in a water filtration system for your home to enjoy clean drinking water without the need for single-use plastic bottles.

Get everyone in the household on board with this concept by getting them their own reusable cup. Believe it or not, kids LOVE this!! Take it a step further and let each child decorate their cup with stickers. They even make color-changing cups that are great for kids. This makes it fun for them and it helps encourage them to drink more water. And, not to mention, its great for the environment and helps you save tons of money too.

DISPOSABLE BATTERIES

Let’s face it, batteries are expensive and they don’t last long. Stop throwing your money away and invest in rechargeable batteries. We made the switch several years ago and do not regret it one bit! Unfortunately, it’s kinda hard to find these in the store anymore, but they are available on Amazon.

There is nothing like recharging those dead batteries and knowing that you are not throwing your money away. Best feeling ever!

PRECUT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

This is one of those items that has such a huge markup! You are merely paying for the convenience. I never buy these things because the markup on them is ridiculous.

You’re better off buying the fruits or veggies whole and cutting them up yourself. Not only do you save money but you have more food. Consider investing in some fun produce containers to store your produce in to keep it fresh longer.

PAPER PRODUCTS

Let’s face it, paper products, especially paper plates, are somewhat of a luxury. I get it, there are times when they are necessary, but most of the time they are more of a convenience staple.

If you are in a situation where paper products are needed, opt for cheaper brands. There is honestly no need to buy expensive plates that you will be throwing away!

TAKEOUT FOOD

I know this can be a really tough thing to give up, but did you realize that the typical household spends over $3,000 yearly on takeout?!

When you break it down, that’s approximately $250 a month! Wow!! Even if you scaled back a little and put that money into savings, imagine how quickly that would grow.

If meal prep is NOT your thing, consider checking out the $5 Meal Plan. Click here to try it FREE for 14 days!!

With $5 Meal Plan, they take out the guesswork of meal planning for you. For pennies, you get preplanned meals and save money by not getting takeout regularly.

Get started today with $5 Meal Plan and start cooking at home.

If you want to take it a step further, consider signing up for a meal delivery service such as Blue Apron or Hello Fresh. Enjoy cooking at home by having all of the ingredients and meals delivered fresh to your doorstep.

This is a great option for those who want the pleasure of cooking good, wholesome meals from home but don’t enjoy shopping for the items needed.

Start cooking wholesome meals today with Blue Apron

How many times have you gone to the grocery store to get the ingredients for meals that you have planned? Then, get home and realize that you have forgotten one of the ingredients. So, then you go back to the store to get the ingredient that you had forgotten and end up spending even more money by grabbing a few more items that you may not even need? I have been so guilty of doing this more times than I would like to admit.

Sometimes it’s much more cost-efficient to go with a meal delivery service to help you save tons of money by not making multiple trips to the market.

*Sign up with HelloFresh through this link and get 16 FREE MEALS!

WASHING MACHINE PODS

Yes, I said it! Believe it or not, these things are expensive!! Don’t get me wrong, there may be an instance to where these are very practical. (I like to pack these in our camper and use while we are traveling. They take up much less room.)

But, when I’m doing laundry at home, I stick with liquid detergent. It’s much cheaper and I honestly feel like the clothes get cleaner.

DRYER SHEETS

Stop throwing money away on these! Instead, opt for cost-effective reusable dryer balls that work so much better!

Save time, energy, and money. Wool dryer balls are reusable and can reduce drying time by up to 30%! And, this will also help to lower your energy costs.

CABLE

Consider cutting out cable services and going with cheaper alternatives. Just by doing this alone, it will save you TONS of money!

Do you currently have Amazon? If so, Amazon Prime is included with your membership and they offer so many movies and shows that are available to you.

We currently do not have cable and we haven’t had it for years! Instead, we have Amazon Fire TV stick and watch movies and shows here.

*Sign up for a free trial of Amazon Prime HERE!

STREAMING SERVICES

With so many streaming services available, it’s easy to get caught up in free trials. Then, before you know it, your free trial has ended and you have completely forgotten about it.

Step back and take a good look at what services you have. I’m sure that there are at least one if not more streaming services that you can cut from your budget.

BRAND NAME ITEMS

Stop wasting money on brand-name items when you can substitute them for cheaper brands. Don’t get me wrong, there are some things that I prefer to pay a little more money for. But, all in all, I usually opt for cheaper or off-brand.

I NEVER buy name-brand Tylenol or Advil. I always choose the generic brand of these! They work just as well and are so much cheaper.

FAST FASHION

The fast fashion industry encourages us to constantly chase the latest trends, resulting in impulse purchases and overflowing closets. Instead of falling into this cycle, consider building a wardrobe of clothing that you not only love but are comfortable in.

I’ve learned over the years that buying too many items, only resulted in me wearing the same things over and over again. After taking a step back and analyzing, I decided that my sense of style is what I always went back to. So now, that’s what I stick with almost 100% of the time. And to be honest, it is a great feeling to not get caught up in having the latest and newest trends. I’m not about impressing anyone but myself and I actually save tons of money in the process.

EXCESSIVE GADGETS AND ELECTRONICS

While technology can enhance our lives, constantly upgrading to the latest gadgets can quickly drain your bank account. There is honestly no need to purchase the latest phone or gadget unless your current one is broken. Instead, think about what you could use that extra money towards. Maybe paying down current credit card debt, or putting the money into savings.

UNUSED MEMBERSHIPS

Do you have memberships or subscriptions that you rarely take advantage of? Whether it’s a club membership, a loyalty program, or a magazine subscription, these recurring expenses can add up over time.

Take a good look at your memberships and evaluate whether you’re getting enough value to justify the cost. If not, consider canceling or downgrading to a more affordable plan.

By freeing up funds from unused memberships, you’ll save tons of money and have more to allocate towards things that bring you genuine joy and fulfillment.

EXTENDED WARRANTIES

Yea, these may seem like a good idea at the time, but at the end of the day they’re not!

I learned my lesson on this several years ago after I purchased a small hardwood sweeper for my kitchen. Needless to say, it bit the dust and when I tried to contact the warranty company, they offered to do NOTHING! So, I am no longer a fan of extended warranties. And, over time, this will save you tons of money in the long run.

IMPULSE BUYS

Impulse purchases are a common culprit behind overspending and clutter. Before making a purchase, especially on non-essential items, take a step back and ask yourself if it’s something you truly need or just a fleeting desire.

Implementing a waiting period, such as a 24-hour rule, can help curb impulse spending, prevent buyer’s remorse, and save you tons of money.

By practicing mindfulness and intentionality in your purchasing decisions, you can save tons of money and prioritize what truly matters to you.

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL OF THIS EXTRA MONEY?

To make the saving process painless, I set up an automatic transfer from my checking account to a dedicated savings account right after I received my paycheck.

This way, I saved a portion of my income before I even had a chance to spend it. 

SAVE TONS OF MONEY WITH ACORNS

**Another option is to set up an account through Acorns and you can choose how much to put in. Just by clicking on my referral link, you will get a $20 bonus to get started. The neat thing about this, you can download the app and literally watch your money grow!

What are some things that you have cut from your budget to help you save tons of money? I would love to hear them!