May 13, 2024 by Cecily Anastasia
Feeling overwhelmed by society’s expectations bombarding you 24/7? It’s time to reclaim control. Twelve years ago, my family pursued financial freedom by cutting unnecessary expenses, living below our means, and prioritizing our dreams. Now, I’m sharing my top money-saving secrets, revealing 10 items I refuse to buy, and how you can too.
1. Beverages
Skip costly drinks like coffee, soft drinks, and energy drinks. Not only will you save money (up to $2,327 annually), but you’ll also improve your health by avoiding additives..
2. Snacks
As a mom of four, I am all too familiar with the endless snacks for both kids and adults. Everything from goldfish and granola bars to trail mix and chips, snacks are a newer food category that mostly isn’t real food at all. However, the bright colors, added sugars, convenient packages and great marketing has made this market worth about $580 billion dollars. Here is the thing, we don’t need any of it. Ditch processed snacks for nutrient-dense foods. By eliminating snacks, you’ll save money and promote healthier eating habits
3. Beauty Products
This category covers quite a large range of products that I no longer waster money on. Reduce spending on makeup, creams, and hair products. Besides saving money (a $528.6 billion industry), you get the added benefit of protecting your health with less endocrine disrupting chemicals being lathered all over your body that get absorbed into your skin! As a mom who has 3 girls, I want to protect their internal health and hormones and show them they don’t need to spend their hard earned income on tons of things that promise external beauty.
4. Salons
While I used to love a good spa day, I have come to discover that the prices just are not worth it when it is not a need. Limit salon visits to essentials. Instead of splurging on non-essentials like manicures and facials, invest in self-care practices that don’t break the bank.
5. Vehicles With Car Payment (New or Used)
For our family this is something we have never spent money on and consequently saved a lot of money over the last decade and a half. Avoid car payments by purchasing affordable, reliable vehicles outright. By driving older cars, you’ll save on interest and have more funds for other priorities. Plan to save monthly for any needed car repairs or car savings so that you can bump up the quality of car during your next purchase. One of our most recent purchases was a 2001 Toyota Camry with 219K miles on it, complete with two broken door handles in case you were worried it was too luxurious. We drove that piece of crap around like we were royalty because we knew it was temporary and would allow us to save up toward our newest purchase as we are about to become a family of 6.
6. Streaming Services
Cut back on unnecessary streaming subscriptions such as Netflix, Hulu, Sports, HBO, or Disney+. Besides saving money, you’ll gain time for hobbies and quality family activities. The household change we have seen by removing the T.V. as the center of our home that came as a consequence of removing these services has been well worth it!
7. New Devices
I really like my $30 dollar monthly cell phone payment! This would not be possible if I didn’t own my phone or constantly updated to the newest released cell phone. Opt for used or refurbished devices to save money on monthly payments. You’ll enjoy the same quality without overspending.
8. Grubhub, DoorDash, and Other Food Delivery Services
Most of us know fast food in general is a sure way to overspend on food. Add to that having it delivered and you’re looking at a 40% to 90% increase! Say bye-bye paycheck! Cook meals at home instead of using costly delivery services. By avoiding markups, you’ll keep more money in your pocket.
9. Children’s Toys
Constant toy buying of things such as character driven toys (think paw patrol or Disney movies), easily broken plastic toys or gimmicky toys your kids play with once just create overwhelm in the home and a hole in your wallet. Prioritize quality over quantity when buying toys for kids. Classic, durable toys save money and reduce clutter at home. We have to be mindful of all the areas we are constantly being bombarded with marketing, making us or our children believe we need something.
10. Individually Packaged Food Items
Purchase food items in bulk instead of individually packaged servings. You’ll save money while reducing waste.
By implementing these hacks, you can take control of your finances and work towards achieving your goals without succumbing to unnecessary spending. Remember, frugal living by choice is empowering and can lead to greater financial freedom in the future.
