It’s spending season y’all. I feel my spending goes up a lot in the last 2 months of the year with Black Friday in November and Christmas/Boxing Day in December. We’ve been saving a lot more during the pandemic and now it seems easier than ever to spend that disposable income.
We all want those experiences and do things that we missed out on in the last 2 years. We’re all trying to have a hot girl’s summer since we missed last season’s.
I was inspired after watching Chelsea’s (The Financial Diet) Youtube video on 20 Trendy Items You’ll Always Regret Purchasing which I will link here.
buying lunch at work
I am extremely guilty of this. I rarely ever bring lunch to work unless I’m working at a client that is not easily accessible to cafes. I’m kicking myself knowing how much money I could have saved if I just brought a packed lunch.
Making your own food is often cheaper and much healthier. If you regularly buy coffee, consider investing in a coffee machine. In the new year, I’m hoping to cook healthy meals and cut down on the sugary junk. I’m also a super indecisive person so I usually am thinking about what to eat for lunch. Meal prep will force me to be more decisive and purposeful with my eating choices.
clothes and makeup just on sale
I am guilty of this – I bought a crap ton on ASOS and pretty much don’t wear almost half the stuff I purchased. Not only do I have excess clothing, I’ve also realised I’ve missed out on buying really classic timeless clothing pieces that will not go out of style. Shit – I recently brought a cotton button down shirt. How do I not already have that in my wardrobe already?
I also have a lot of makeup and really want to hit pan on items that I already use. At least I really only purchase makeup and skincare until a sale pops up but I still don’t really need anything I purchase. I have so many makeup and skincare products that I really need to do a low buy in 2022.
Sometimes less is more. In the new year, I’m going to be wearing more of what I already have before deciding I need something new.
fast fashion
Whilst also cutting down on my clothes consumption, I will also try and cut down my fast fashion consumption. I’m glad those days of Shein Tik Tok haul videos are over. Not only is excessive consumption harmful, a lot of fast fashion is terribly made and deliberately not made to last.
Whilst expensive does not always mean better, I will definitely try to be more ethical when it comes to buying. Good on You is a great guide to what clothing brands are ethical and sustainable.
single use items
In the theme of sustainability, I am learning to use less single use items. I can’t believe I spent years using plastic water bottles when it’s so easy to use a reusable water bottle. I don’t think I’ll ever buy makeup wipes again. Not only are they bad for the environment, they are also terrible on the skin so this is an easy one for me.
buying anything just because you saw it on a social media ad
Now, this is something that I don’t really do anyway as I am usually am so skeptical with how legitimate some of these products are.
I actually bought jewellery from an Instagram ad which you can read here. Now, I’ve never really worn this jewellery since then. It felt so cheap initially and the hoops are way too big for my taste.
RELATED >> INSTAGRAM MADE ME BUY IT | CALI TIGER JEWELLERY REVIEW
Anything advertised on TikTok – thank you next. Swipes up.
fancy planners and journals
Every second year or so, I buy a diary hoping to get more organised and then never use it. A 2019 diary isn’t going to be much use in 2021 will it. The only exception to buying a really fancy and pretty planner or journal is if you are already frequently journal.
I bought a relatively cheap journal from Typo for $10 to help me journal and I still can’t even use that – let alone a planner that is $50.
Edit: I’ve since bought a 2022 diary that cost $50 (whoops)- but there is a good reason for that (it has some fantastic planning features for a diary) and I’ll do a review once that arrives and is used. The point I’m making is I don’t think expensive stationary and journals are suitable for those who already aren’t into stationary and journals like myself just because it looks fancy.
brand name medication
This one is random but hear me out. Generic brand medications have the same active ingredients and are only a fraction of the price. The next time your doctor issues you a script, don’t be afraid them or the pharmacist if there is a cheaper alternative. Especially if it a regularly purchased item such as the pill, this can be huge savings down the road.
I was paying more than $20 a month on birth control pills and having requested my doctor for a cheaper script it now only costs me about $5 a month. Small wins.
Again consult your doctor or a pharmacist before doing this.
customised skincare
I’ve seen quite a few skincare brands that offer a personalised, solution-based skincare regimen that involves doing a quiz to find what ingredients suit you and your skin goals. You’re paying a premium for the service but more often than not, the active ingredients may be easily accessible at a drugstore. For example, The Ordinary’s Niacinamide costs me only $10.
This reminds me of Function of Beauty that was advertised heavily on Youtube that customised your shampoo and conditioner and then people complained that their hair fell out.
If you’re paying that much money, you are much better off seeing a professional. Go to a dermatologist who can really make a difference to your skin.
buying books
Now hear me out. I love books. However, a smarter and cheaper way of reading books is to invest in a library card and borrow books from a library instead. There definitely are reasons to buy books. It could be that it’s a book you want in your collection or even if it looks pretty on a shelf (trust me i am very guilty of reading books based on aesthetically pleasing covers).
However, my motivation is just to read more books and I still have many unread books sitting on my shelf collecting dust so I will resist the urge to buy another book unless for a very good reason.
conclusion
I think the most important thing when it comes to no longer buying certain items to save money is to find a cheaper substitute that is still going to give you the same or if not higher quality of life than you already have. You may not agree with some items on my list but these are things that are applicable to me and I don’t find a decrease in the quality or satisfaction in my mood.
Start pledging on cutting down on your spending and make it a habit. Once it becomes imbedded in your routine and mindset, it will stick!
Leave a Reply