It’s been way too long since our last Save It post (like this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, and this one to name a few), so the other night I was thinking about a few things that we just don’t buy, and how going without those things probably adds up to saving a decent amount of cash-money.
And it doesn’t feel particularly martyr-ish of us – it’s normal and easy after years of living this way. So it feels less like “going without” and more like “streamlining and simplifying.” We’ve mentioned a few of these things over the years, but I realized there were others that I never really thought about (or blogged about) so here’s a big ol’ brain dump of all the things that we typically skip.
- Meat three or four nights a week: Some nights we just opt for spaghetti, bean burritos, vegetable stir fry, homemade pizza, nachos, sweet potatoes and salad, etc.
- Fabric softener: We use vinegar sometimes, but most times it’s just nothing. We don’t notice a difference!
- Dusting spray: We both grew up with Pledge, but now we just use microfiber cloths and water.
- Regular dry cleaning: All of our clothes are machine or hand washable so we only do one trip per year for a few coats/blazers instead of monthly trips.
- Dog grooming: Burger’s short haired, so we just bathe him at home and cut his nails ourselves and we’re good.
- Newspaper: We get our news online (almost every newspaper has an online format now) and on the radio (NPR).
- Bottled water: We have a water filter and use Klean Kanteens that we refill ourselves.
- Starbucks: In the past year or so I’ve become a chai lover – and it’s $3.99 to make seven cups from this grocery store box, as opposed to that price for one cup at Starbucks. So I save that for special occasions and make a cup at home every morning instead.
- Bag-checking fees: Even when we’ve flown with a dog or a kid, we’ve actually never paid to check a single bag (we’re nerds for the challenge of packing light).
- Gel, hairspray, mousse, or serum: I haven’t bought that stuff since college. I’m just a wash and wear girl – plus I tend to break out a lot from hair stuff, so this is for vanity as well as saving money.
- Lipstick: It’s not my bag baby, so I use what’s in this makeup tote and nothing more (not buying 20 shades of eye shadow definitely keeps money in my pocket too).
- Creams and self tanners: I’m pale and totally cool with it – plus my mom looks awesome for her age and doesn’t use any fancy potions or creams, so I’m hoping to follow in her glamorous grandma footsteps.
- Perfume: I like the smell of my shampoo (John doesn’t wear cologne either).
- Haircuts & colors: Maybe once every two years I get a $35 cut, but other than that I just trim it myself. And of course cutting John’s hair saves us money too.
- Regular manicures and pedicures: I go about once a year with a friend (and usually hit up Starbucks while I’m splurging) but other than that I do my own toes at home and usually leave my fingers bare.
- Gym membership for me: It’s just not my thing, but John loves his.
- Alcohol: John has just never been a drinker and I might drink a bottle of wine a year at home (although most years it’s a gift from some sweet house guest) so it’s not a monthly expense for us.
- Disposable diapers: More on that here.
- Diaper bag: I never got one, just used a purse and kept extra stuff in the car.
- Incandescent bulbs: Using CFLs and LEDs in the bulk of our fixtures adds up to a lot of money saved. We’d love to eventually go all LED in our house, but it’s not exactly a cheap switch, so we’re trying to chip away at different rooms over time.
- A second car: This one definitely doesn’t works for everyone, but since I’ve been freelancing from home for the past seven years it’s no big deal to have one car (and it saves us the cost of a car, the gas, the maintenance, and the insurance).
Best of all, saving in some areas allows us to more easily afford other things that are more important to our family, like project materials, organic produce, cable TV, and ceramic animals. Guess it’s all one big balancing act right? I’d love to hear your “skip it” list! And this is a no judgement zone. You might LOVE to get your hair dyed but can resist giant dangly earrings when I can’t (I may or may not have over a dozen of those in my night table).
Psst- You can peruse over 30 money-saving posts of yore here.
Kate says
I totally remember the Skip-It! I was so jealous of my friends having one and I didn’t. LOL
Great list on what you do without. Makes me want to go though and see what more I can do without, but I do about half the stuff on your list already, so that’s a start. =)
About skipping the hair stuff and perfume, you get a HUGE thanks from myself and my mom. We are allergic to perfumes/fragrances. We have to medicate up before going out in public and it just kills us going out anywhere because of all the clouds of fragrance. Why people?! Why do you have to bath in the stuff?! Anyways…sorry about that…Great post! =)
adèle says
I’ve skipped a microwave and a television since I moved out of my parents house to go to college 8 years ago. Sure, I miss the microwave for melting butter, but that’s about it. People are always stunned that I don’t have a tv — of course I make up for it with my laptop.
Also, eating out. I invested in a few jamie oliver cookbooks and became a better cook so that I wouldn’t want to go out anymore (even though i loved it), now I don’t miss it at all!
There’s something about this kind of simplicity that’s very empowering.
@ESWterry says
I was hand in hand with you until you got to the hair products. Must. Have. Mousse. Otherwise I’d be looking like my 7th grade school picture and we can’t have that happening.
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahahah!
xo
s
Quiana says
Wow you sounds a lot like us! We’re a family of 3 in NYC and have gone through periods of austerity that have taught us how to live well below our means which helps during both boom and bust times in our household. One thing we also did about 4 years ago is cut cable which has saved us a lot of $. We love on-demand TV via our Roku and due to my husband’s years playing pro-bball abroad and missing U.S. TV he’s adept at getting our favorite cables station, sports and movies to stream through it too. We used to have a car when we lived in Manhattan, and it was a real pain and I sing the praises of public transit (especially the bus which a lot of folks unfortunately look down on). I don’t miss having a car one bit plus I count it as my fitness schlepping my now-3 year old daughter around the city (I feel ya on the no-gym thing!).
Kimberly @ Turning It Home says
I loved my skip it as a kid! We only have one car, one cell phone, no cable, and open the windows as much as possible during the cooler months to save on electricity. We also have backyard chickens so most months we don’t buy eggs, but hens can be moody and go through phases of not laying, so some months we do.
Angel says
Love it! Here are mine:
I make almost everything from scratch, even things like ketchup and bread. Seems like a lot of work but like anything, it becomes routine. Bonus: healthier and tastes better too!
I also don’t use fabric softener (we use dryer balls, you should look into them! They’re awesome!) and I make my own laundry soap. I think I calculated I spend about $8/yr on laundry soap. And I have a 2 yr old.
I am minimalist on the makeup/hair gunk/nail polish too.
My son pretty much only gets new toys for his bday & christmas, and even then we stick to 4 or 5 quality things. It saves $ and keeps the house from looking like a toys R us explosion. We try instead to spoil him with fun outings & activities.
If we suddenly get the hankering to pick up a new activity, say, yoga, the house rule is you have to do it regularly for a month before you get to buy anything for it. So, if you can do yoga for a month in pajamas on a towel, then you earn getting to buy a mat and yoga pants. This is necessary to us because we are always trying (and often not really getting into)new things.
Angel says
I should have added too that we have no cable, only netflix! I think a lot of people are going that route… in fact its actually annoying now to go to someones house with cable and you cant just pick the show you want, and you have to watch commercials lol!
Joanna Banana says
Angel, What is your recipe for laundry soap?
Nancy says
We have two cars, but mine is over ten years old and husband’s is over five years old. We buy new and keep them for many years.
Katy says
I don’t wear make-up, use creams, nor has my skin seen the light of day without excessive sunblocking and umbrella-ing in 25 years. I am 41 and people tell me I look like I am in my 20’s. In fact, I had emergency surgery a few months back and the nurses thought my 37 year old husband was my dad, and by no means does he look old (and yes, I have no plans to ever let him forget this event). So, if we pale skin make-up free girls have discovered the secret to youth, what will the Kardashians look like in a couple of years (or even months)? Then again, how much longer can we possibly care?
Jessika says
Oh my goodness, two HUGE recommendations. First off: Try Blue Lotus Chai (you can order online). It’s made with black tea (or rooibos if you go for the decaf) POWDER, so all you have to do is put in a little scoop for your desired spiciness. I love spicy chai, so it more than works for me. Plus, you can order a little tin that gives you 65 (!!!) servings or a bag that gives you 200+! They also make a small, 15-serving baggie for you to just try it out. PLEASE go give them a try. AMAZE BALLS.
Second: Revlon makes a clear gel top coat nail polish. My nails went from lasting a day or two to lasting a week or more, AND they withstand things like furniture refinishing, gardening, and painting. NO JOKE. I’m sporting day 3 right now and not a chip to be found.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip Jessika! That chai sounds delicious!
xo
s
Jessika says
OMG, you have no idea. It is FANTASTIC CHAI. I’ve tried all types, and this takes the cake and tastes like you spent hours mixing spices together on your stovetop to make homemade chai. A little bit of milk and honey, and boom: contentment.
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds amazing… mmmm…
xo
s
Jane says
OK I have to put in and share this with chai lovers. I am an Indian(where chai is from) and I can make a mean Chai.
Bring about 3/4 cup water to a rolling boil. Add one bag of black tea and add ANY OR ALL of the following spices – Ginger/Cloves/Cardamom/cinnamon. Switch off stove and let it brew for a couple minutes. Bring it back to stove and add about 1/2 cup milk and let the milk heat through.Add sugar and filter and enjoy.
I am sorry but Starbucks chai = nowhere near authentic Indian chai! Try this and you’ll agree.
YoungHouseLove says
You guys are the best with all of your chai expertise!
xo
s
Kelly says
We skip cable TV & newspaper, weekly garbage service (we take recyclables in ourselves, buy bags from the garbage service for the occasional bag needed (so far probably half a dozen in 1 year of home ownership)), and I save money on clothing, accessories, perfume & makeup by shopping on eBay.
Aliesha says
I’m a long-time reader but I rarely comment. I do want you to know that I LOVE reading posts like these! It’s fun to hear new ways to save money!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much Aliesha!
xo
s
Sarah @ 702 Park Project says
Great post! I’m a stickler for traveling light as well…I agree that the challenge is half the fun! Also, I really love that you include ceramic animals in the just-can’t-live-without category. :)
Alicia says
I also “skip” most of these same things (though my fine, frizzy hair insists on gel and hairspray if I don’t put it back in a ponytail). We also skip cable, because we aren’t big TV people.
When you say you don’t use creams though, you don’t mean that you skip a basic daily moisturizer with SPF, right? Be kind to your skin! My dermatologist insists it’s absolutely necessary to ward off skin cancers.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, sunscreen definitely gets purchased (I just didn’t count that as a cream or self tanner). I was thinking about all of the glitter body cream and tanning lotion I purchased in high school. Haha! Thankfully that’s no longer in the routine…
xo
s
Isabel says
I skip a lot of these too and have made some of the same transitions – from bottled water to filter, print newspaper to online, etc. The one luxury I just can’t go without is my Starbucks. I rationally know I should at least cut back, but that darn hot chocolate is what gets me out of bed and makes the commute into NYC so much less painful (that and Game of Thrones, God Bless GM for writing such long books!). I also try to make up for it by bringing lunch in every day. We currently have 2 cars but I will most likely get rid of one at the end of the lease in a few months and just pay the taxi cab the $7 on the odd days my husband can’t drive to/from the train. Eventually we may need another one, but maybe we can save up in the meantime and buy the next one outright. I have to agree with Rene though, there’s so much extra “overhead” when you work out of the house!
Samantha says
Our single biggest “skip it” is paying for TV. I know that’s a must on a lot of people’s list but we’ve forgone Cable/Dish for years and don’t miss it. That’s a decent chunk of money back in our pocket each month, and more and more shows are available via season dvd or online for free so we still find plenty to watch during evening down-time.
Other than that big one I’m with you on most of yours. Dog grooming, manicures, never buying water or paying for luggage… we do eat meat more but that’s because we stick with a paleo-ish diet (less grains more protein) but we save there by buying local meat in bulk one or twice a year and storing it in a chest freezer.
Kara B says
We skip newspapers, bottled water, sodas, dog grooming, car washes, mani/pedis, starbucks, eating out. We actually started an allowance policy in our household where the hubs and I each get $20 a week to spend on whatever we like – be it lunch out, a purdy necklace or new purse, new movie or video game. That way, we’ve attempted to budget for extra little expenses and the other person cannot complain about what was bought (mainly means the hubs can’t complain if I buy another purse or pair of shoes).
Rebecca says
Ugh, so jealous of your hair routine! I have dry, curly hair, so while my husband and I can share a bottle of Head N Shoulders, I do need conditioner and styling products.
I skip things like tons of makeup (bare bones here, keeps my skin happier anyway!) fabric softener, dog grooming, cable, newspapers…I also love to shop clearance and seasonal food. However, I love my summertime pedicures (skip it in the winter…nobody’s seeing my toes anyway!) and coffee from our favorite local spot is a weekly event.
Joanna Banana says
We skip most of those items too. Although my husband does buy a case of hard cider from time to time, although I try to pitch it as a waste of $40. We go without cable, and are currently considering ditching internet too since the price seems to go up every 6 months. We are still trying to figure that one out. I wish I could afford to get my nails done regularly, but I go probably two or three times a year with my bestie. I do get my hair cut and highlighted which runs me $120 every 8 weeks (going gray since 22! yikes!) We skip meat a lot because we are so picky about meat and only like to eat pasture raised meat as much as possible. Thankfully greater Philadelphia and Lancaster County have some amazing farms, so the price isn’t that bad. We only have one car. And I’m not sure what the percentage of folks who have a house cleaner on a regular basis, but it seems pretty high here in Philly, and I’m the only person I know who doesn’t have one. We’ve surrendered to the dust bunnies and dog hair! We only have one car, but it’s on it’s way out, so soon we will have the expense of a new one. The main reason for cutting out so many things is due to my insane graduate school loans!
Kathleen says
We use clearwire internet, and, as long as you have them, they will never raise your rate. My friend still pays $20 a month! We got in at $30 and have had it for 4 years at the exact same cost. Pretty awesome!
Amy says
Ooh I love talking budgets and saving. We bought a fixer upper close to work so we could be a one car family; we have since paid off our mortgage & now invest the savings. I learned this the hard way but I now try to buy timeless, quality pieces for my home & closet that I won’t get sick of and want to replace in a few months. I try to avoid trends and seasonal decorating, opting to save up my money for things I truly love. This has led me to try to be more understated, elegant, and grown up in my choices. I do splurge on healthy food and occasionally j crew!
Jessica says
I agree with you on the timeless quality peices! I learned it the hard way too! Now I’m trying to curb my seasonal/holiday decorating habit.
Megan says
I remember skip-its too! Didn’t they have a little counter on to tell you how many times you’d been round?? Sadly we couldn’t afford a proper one, but my Dad made a brilliant substitute out of old rope and some fancy knots that we had for years.
It’s funny how everyone has different ‘essentials’ and skip items. I can’t remember having ever bought a Starbucks and paying for a manicure seems so frivolous (plus I always find it painful when they start hacking at your cuticles!) but I could not live without fabric softener (eek scratchy t shirts), and I love my iPhone 5 :) Satelite tv is my only option as I live in the wilds with no digital reception, but I did haggle to get the price as low as possible!
Isabel says
Oh, and I totally remember skip it! I think a friend or two had it :)
jenna says
I echo Rene — since I started working at home, I save so much money. I’ve never been one for a lot of clothes-shopping, but not having to deal with office clothes is a big savings. Take away all commuting costs, all those obligatory “donations” to going away parties and showers and stuff; remove the sporadic lunches out when I forgot to bring my packed lunch… it’s a lot of money I no longer spend. Working at home is one of life’s true luxuries, in my opinion. I love it.
YoungHouseLove says
I totally agree! Working from home has definite perks and I hope I never take them for granted! Although the whole paying-for-your-own-health-insurance thing probably negates the other savings in some aspects (now that we have Clara on the plan we’re feeling it, haha!).
xo
s
Shelley Nelson says
I skip a lot of those too except fabric softener. I love Downy Mountain Spring for the scent especially on my sheets! haha Chapstick yes! Occasionally I’ll wear tinted lip gloss but that’s about it. Thanks for sharing this!! Now I don’t feel so bad!
Melissa Pinke says
I wish I still had my hot pink skip it!
I skip restaurants. While it takes a bit more time and energy to plan, buy, and cook, I find that making my own meals saves me money and leaves me feeling happier and healthier.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh, my friend Whitney Case had a hot pink one and she was the talk of the school.
xo
s
JMK says
Just the highlights: no restaurants, cable, new vehicles, dog grooming or spa/salon anything. As a rule we don’t budget for clothing or even pocket money. Our spending plan includes only the necessities and anything else happens so rarely and randomly that we just add a row to the spreadsheet when it does happen. We find that by not “preapproving” ourselves to think we need new clothing every month, or $x of blow money in our pockets every week, that we think very carefully about any non essential purchase. It’s a bit of a game with me to avoid needing to add any extra lines for something unscheduled. It doesn’t mean we never spend a dollar on something nonessential, it just that we treat is as the exception and not a standard part of our spending. IF I buy any new clothing this year, I’ll add it at that point. IF we go to a restaurant this year, I’ll add it then. It’s a subtle change in perspective that’s made a huge difference in our spending. As a result when we stick to the basics we can live very comfortably on 55-60% of our salary and all the rest goes to retirement savings and extra mortgage payments. The only real splurge we allow is an annual major trip. For a few weeks we stop the retirement savings and extra mortgage payments and let the excess pile up in the account. We pay for the trip, and then immediately go back to the usual routine. Those trips will delay our early retirement by 3yrs but is the one thing we feel is worth the trade off.
There are also ways to avoid/reduce nonessential spending. I also enjoy a chai tea (once or twice a year) so at Christmas when asked what I’d like, I always ask someone to get me a Starbucks gift card. They’re happy to give me something I will use, and I get to have a little splurge without impacting the spending plan. If I expect to need to replace a clothing item in the next year, I ask for a gift card from my favorite store. If we had some home repairs on the To Do list, we’d ask for an appropriate gift card.
Sayre says
A girl after my own heart… We do have two cars, but everything else on your list? That’s us. Plus we don’t have cable or satellite. We take our TV over the air and subscribe to Netflix streaming ($9/mo) which beats the $90+ with no pay channels “value package” we had with satellite before.
melissa hayes says
We’ve started really cracking down on our grocery shopping, and we’ve seen a big improvement most months. It’s just my husband and myself (and our puppy), and we somehow managed to spend $500 on groceries/toiletries/cleaning supplies each month–plus a decent amount of eating out on the weekends! We started creating a monthly menu that really helps us streamline our shopping trips and cut down on wasted groceries. At the end of each month, we print out a calendar and plan our meals for the next month, keeping in mind what nights we have events/trips planned where we won’t need to cook dinner. My husband goes to Costco to get meat, paper products, etc. once a month, and then I get everything else every Sunday – and I do my very best to only get what’s on the list, which is important… those impulse buys will get you! It’s been a huge help, and we spend less time grocery shopping as well.
Cara says
We are a 100% natural cleaning family here. I make my own laundry detergent and use vinegar for fabric softener. I make our dishwasher detergent too. We use 50/50 vinegar and water for our all purpose cleaner and vinegar and baking soda to clean the toilets. I have a squeegee in the shower and I use that after every shower so I don’t need to clean the shower walls.
We do have our splurges though. We have 2 cars, a motorcycle and a trailer. We have cable, home phone, internet and smart phones. We have 2 desktop computers, a laptop, 2 tablets and gaming systems out the wazoo. I do what i can to save where I can and I guess thats what is important.
Lindsey d. says
I skip cable TV (but high-speed internet is WORTH the cost). I love my $50 a month masters swim program (and the access to the university natatorium), but supplement on the cheap with running (one pair of $100 shoes a year is easy on the budget) and weight routines on YouTube.
Like you, Sherry, I do a mani/pedi maybe once a year and mostly take care of things at home. I also dye my hair at home; the $9 box is much cheaper (and looks just as good on me after a lot of searching for the right shade) as a pro job.
I skip the lawn service and handle that myself, bring my lunch most days to work and rarely buy coffee out.
I also do a lot of cleaning with vinegar, baking soda and lemons, which saves a ton. I’ve been making my own laundry detergent for a year or so and enjoy that.
A big saver is trying not to be totally dependent on AC and heat at all times, hard in Louisiana. I run the ceiling fans constantly and raise the AC temp a few degrees when I leave the house. Trial and error taught me that letting the house get too warm during the summer ended up costing more because it took so much more energy to cool the house off again. In winter, I prefer sweats and slippers to blasting the heat.
Cathy says
We don’t pay for cable TV or a home phone, which saves us a bunch every month. I feel like I splurge at Home Depot though. :)
Beth says
We are very similar to yall in many ways. We skip quite a bit around here and we are ok with that!!! One more thing I introduced about two years ago was “paper towel free!” yes we are. I bought a couple 18 packs of white wash clothes at Walmart for $4.oo a pack. They last us about a year and then tend to get ratty or just to stained up. I keep a basket of fresh ones in our kitchen and a bucket under the sink for the soiled ones. And that is what I use to wash dishes, clean, everything. I do reusable napkins for dinner. I even bought some PUL fabric and made a bunch of cute sandwich/snack bags for the kiddos lunches!
I, too, am a chai tea drinker! yummm. but again, I am to cheap to buy it. So I looked around, got the basics and played with recipes. Now I make it up in big batches and it lasts me a week at a time. This works for me because I like it cold. The spices might be pricy, but They last me a good while. Plus, its healthier and tailored to my specific taste!
Thanks for sharing this post! love it!
Laura says
Beth, I think you have a lot of great ideas. I just wanted to share that PUL fabric is not considered safe for food (according to my Google search). I thought that you would want to know. (I had thought of making some myself.)
Nicky says
I’ve actually been purging a lot lately. I was inspired by your article last year but also when I was on holiday I noticed a friend of mine only packed one small bag whereas I had to pack a giant bag to fit my needs (or so I thought). I’ve been downsizing my wardrobe since (buying only clothing I really love, as you taught me :) ) and although I used to be obsessed with make-up, I don’t use as much anymore. I’ve recently started making my own beauty products (shampoo, soap, body butter, …)so that saves me a lot of cash and it’s convenient since I can just make it whenever I run out. I also try to find creative solutions whenever possible (instead of throwing out a t-shirt with stains I look up ways of saving it etc.)
Another way I save money is by simply adjusting my driving style; this has made it possible to get 200km extra out of a full fuel tank!
Kate says
We don’t have a dryer….on purpose. I hang everything (even socks) on the line. I have a method of hanging everything so that it requires little ironing. Just kidding, I don’t iron. but in the winter it takes 2 days, maybe 3, for things to dry :/
Lilly says
I just left a comment that we, too, line-dry all our clothes! We have the opposite weather conditions (in Philadelphia)–in the winter, clothes dry rather well b/c of the indoor heat (and the fact that the racks are on the 3rd floor of our rowhouse, which is always warmest). One or two times in the summer, on the most humid days, it takes too long and we have to use the dryer to avoid musty-ness.
Krista says
We skip cable and opt for an $8 per month Netflix subscription instead. As long as you’re willing to wait a bit longer, you can usually get all the popular shows on there. Plus, you don’t have to suffer through commercials! If we want to treat ourselves, we’ll pay $1 for a Redbox new release. We also run a home phone via an OBi device and Google Voice and just use pay-as-you-go mobiles for emergencies. We load each one up with $10 per month and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Laura says
I love how budget conscious you guys are!
I’m a spender whereas my hubby is a saver and now that we are planning for kids we’ve challenged ourselves to cut back as much as possible:
-cancelled cable. We have Netflix and download anything else we want to watch.
-cancelled our home phone. We both have cell phones that can be written off through work so there was no need to have 3 phones.
-car maintenance – having a handy hubby saves dollars! He does all the oil changes and maintenance on or vehicles which saves us thousands
-research and negotiate best rates on electricity, gas, insurance and interest rates. It may not seem like much at first but every little bit adds up
-we rarely eat out. Most of our friends eat out 3-5 nights a week. We just simply don’t see the point, as it’s nothing for me to whip up a healthy and delicious meal in 20 minutes
-staying in instead of going out. We’re asked all the time to check out the latest pub, restaurant, lounge, club etc. we have a huge backyard with a fire pit, hubby built deck w/ cedar bench… We have no need to go anywhere as we love hosting at our home and save hundreds a month doing so.
-we don’t buy coffees at Starbucks or elsewhere – drip coffee at home is just fine!
-regularly clearing out our closets and consigning clothes
-buying used – from trailers to clothes to purses to lawn mowers!
I think the point here people who have money troubles miss is that it is a ton of small things that add up to a lot of savings. It takes some practice and will power at first but once you’re accustomed to being frugal it becomes a way of life!
Kaesey says
I’m with ya! We skip a lot of the same things – manicures, gym memberships, the second car, etc. Dusting spray? What is dusting spray? LOL.
We also skip home cleaning help and lawn service. I didn’t have this growing up, either, so it never even occurred to me to spend the money on a house cleaner or lawn service until my neighbor asked why I didn’t!
I do buy books and earrings, though. ;) Can’t do without those. It’s all about putting your money into what actually matters to you.
Lauren (in PA) says
Regarding the Chai, The syrup at home is a huge moneysaver, but if you can do without all the sweetness, you can get just Tazo Chai teabags and that is even less expensive, and sweeten it yourself!
And note…at Starbucks, they will sell the fancier teabags in the tin, which is very cute, but in a grocery store, you can get the standard teabags in box for even less.
Just putting chai options out there!
As a barista, my favorite thing is when guests order a Tai Chi Latte, instead of a Chai Tea latte!
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the chai tips, Lauren!
xo
s
Anne @ Planting Sequoias says
I WISH the hubs and I could do the one car thing! We just paid the insurance and I nearly hyperventilated at the cost. Eeep.
Nicole says
My husband and I haven’t bought trash bags in over a year! We use the additional paper bags when our “green friendly” ones can’t fit anymore. It’s a huge money saver. We also choose to use coupons on a lot of things like shampoo, toothpaste, body wash, etc. This allows us to afford all of the organic and all natural produce goodies at the grocery store.
Margaret says
I wanted a Skip It so badly! I was so jealous of those other girls with the raw ankles, it just wasn’t fair. We had the Pogo Bal. Who liked that thing? No one, no one is the answer. I grew up in a Pledge house too – I can’t tell you how many times I wiped out because my mom cleaned that day and accidentally sprayed Pledge on the floor.
We save on cable by buying all of our shows on Apple TV, and get HD basic cable through a $25 antenna (they don’t look like the bunny ears of yesteryear)! Even buying as many shows as we do, it saves hundreds of dollars a year.
Nancy says
My daughter had a Skip It and so did I, but back then it was called a Jingle Jump. You should ask your mom if she had one of those.
We do skip most of those things you mentioned (except for the 2nd car) but there are plenty of other things that cost so much more these days that make up for it! I could totally skip TV, but I don’t think the hubs would go for that. I’ve only had one manicure in my life (only because it was a gift – never had a pedi) and it was the girl’s first time ever doing one and it was a fail! I had to remove all the nail polish when I got home.
Lisa in Seattle says
Nancy – YES!!! That’s the thing I was trying to remember! It was the toy before Skip-It. Now my hamster brain can finally rest.
Kate says
Hey there! Love these posts!!
Just wondering… about clipping Burger’s toenails…. How does that go? My dog hates it (the cries break my heart!!) when the professionals do it. Any tips on your process would be appreciated, because I’d love to eliminate the cost and the drama! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Burger DOES NOT LIKE IT. But we have learned that he doesn’t like it whether he’s at the vet, at Petco, or at home. So he’s actually more comfortable with us doing it than other people. One of us just holds him and the other does it as quickly as possible. There’s a nice big scoop of peanut butter at the end, which seems to make him forget the trauma. Haha!
xo
s
Brenda says
I was so awesome at Skip-it! I tend to live pretty cheaply (mostly because I have to). I don’t eat at sit-down restaurants very often, I don’t typically order alcohol at restaurants because it’s so expensive, and I can’t remember the last time I paid for a hair cut. The last two/three times I’ve gotten it cut, I donated hair, and at the chain I went to they give you your cut for free if you’re donating. I actually stopped using fabric softener because you mentioned it a few years ago, and I honestly don’t notice any difference either!
Nicole B says
I skip cleaning.
Ok, so not really, but I wish I could!
We skip a lot of what you skip. No dryer sheets, no dry cleaning, cable is only bc it’s included in our building.
We had reduced our cars to one about 5 years ago. Just at the beginning of this month we sold our car and are now a family of four without a car. It helps that we live in a major urban city with great transportation & that my kids are old enough to walk and carry their own stuff. We get big grocery trips from a delivery service and I shop more online, but so far we have been more than ok. Not to mention it saves us at least 500 bucks a month, if not more. (Car payment, insurance, gas, parking fees, and parking tickets)
Also, I get my hair cuts at the Aveda school for $16. While it takes longer to get done, it looks just as good if not better than the salon that was charging me 85! This way I can get it done more often and not feel guilty.
Shareen says
Oh I LOVED my skip-it. I remember the day I skipped so much the little counter (remember that?) went from 0 back to 0. Greatest toy ever. Oh, and my pogo ball…loved that thing.
Allison says
We use a lot of the same tips as your family does. We use only vinegar and water when cleaning our house so we don’t have to buy all those brand name cleaners that are harmful to the air. We just invested in a set of Norwex clothes two years ago and haven’t looked back!
We also only pay for basic cable, we unplug everything we can around the house before bed, buy bulk when we can, use our air conditioning only when its 30+ and we actually invested in a couple of board games for date nights (instead of going out for dinner/drinks as a group or just as a couple).
Our splurges are things that make us feel good in the long term, like getting my hair done or a golf membership.
Laura says
I stopped using “traditional” shampoo. I use J.R. Liggetts natural shampoo bar, which can be purchased at stores like Whole Foods or your can order online. I use the bar about once a week so it lasts forever and then every couple days in between I either just rinse my hair and re-style, or use a baking soda and water mixture to wash and an apple cider vinegar and water mixture to condition (google “no-poo method” for more info.) There’s definitely an adjustment period, where your hair has to get used to keeping it’s own oils and not being stripped by harsh shampoos… but I have to say my hair is smoother than ever and feels a lot healthier, and it gets much less greasy in between washings.
Emily L says
Really? I’ve seen the “no-poo” method and wondered about it. How long was the adjustment period and how bad was it? I’d like to try that method; I think the adjustment period part is what is making me hesitant. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
I love this. A few years ago my family did want verses a need. In order for us to save money I only bought what I felt we really needed. By doing that, we skipped a lot of stuff. Fabric softener and cleaning products were one. I use vinegar. We didn’t eat out or buy Starbucks(huge savings) and we got rid of our land line. We pretty much skip everything that you do but the haircuts and dog grooming. I think this year we may skip the cable and I’m trying not to purchase any new clothes.
Morgan says
Great post…it’s always good to recognize how much money is wasted on daily things then when you splurge it really does feel more exciting!
Amanda L. says
We skip cable. We bought Rokus for each of our three tvs (total cost $270) and pay $16 a month for Hulu and Netflix. So, for the cost of three months of cable, we get an entire year’s worth of tv! Also, we bought an HDMI cable so that we can hook up our laptop to our tv, and watch pretty much any prime-time show the day after it airs (we used to watch most things off DVR anyway!)
I go years without highlighting my hair. I’m thinking about using a box dye the next time I really *need* one.