What's on your "don't buy" list?

[Dido]

I came across this article http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/shopping/a/051402.htm advocating not buying things rather than merely trying to save for them. The author lists ten things on her "don't buy" list.

What's on yours right now? What might you consider?

[Dido]

Inspired by this article: http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/shopping/a/051402.htm

My list only overlaps a couple of places with hers right now. I don't buy paper napkins and use cloth instead; however, I *do* use paper towels since I do a lot of cleaning up after pet messes. I buy very few canned soups and mostly make my own, although I usually have a few cans of low-fat cream-based soups on hand to make a quick crock-pot casserole.

One thing that I was surprised didn't show up on her list was bread. I don't always make my own, but with the bread machine, it would be easy to do that routinely, and there are long periods of time when I have. Also muffins--I'm currently into making my own. And salad dressings--I do buy occasionally but just as often make my own. And for part of the year, at least (right now!) I grow my own lettuce and tomatoes.

Other things on my don't buy list:

Cable TV. I just use my TV to watch DVDs and tapes I've borrowed from the library or rented from Netflix.

Fiction books. I *do* buy nonfiction books to help with my work, but the only fiction I read comes from the library (the one exception is my every-other-year plane trip home to visit my mom, when I'll usually buy a paperback to read on the plane, which I can leave with mom, who buys me another one for the return journey).

Newspapers. I'm about to unsubscribe--I did sign up for a subscription when I moved towns, but now am ready to unsubscribe. I can get the news online, and don't really use coupons enough to justify even the Sunday paper. If I wanted, it's easy enough to get a free "used" paper at the food court at the grocery store where I shop, and the library also maintains a coupon share box.

[Bookie]

Great article. I also liked this one.

There's also a thread around here on "Things I Don't Pay For" that has a lot of good examples as well.

[Ima saver]

I do not buy drinks with meals. Whether it is breakfast, lunch or supper out, I ask for water. Saves a lot of money!!

It's hard to think what I don't buy, except by seeing what other people don't buy.

I generally don't buy books because I no longer have room. But somehow I still manage to buy a book or two a year.

I also only drink water when eating out, and I don't buy desert in a restaurant. Never got into the habit of eating desert when I was a kid so never miss it. Saves the money, but gosh I already seem to get too many calories. Apparently, lol.

I don't buy the newspaper, unless I have checked on coupon mom, and the coupons in the Sunday paper will be worth it for me.

I really don't buy knick knacks, and I don't buy jewelry. I have trouble getting myself to work on time as it is, without trying to coordinate jewelry, and I think I got my fill on knick knacks by the time I was 16. And since I have problems throwing anything out....

I have never bought a tax program to do my income taxes - pen, tax forms and calculator seems to work just fine. So it takes me 30 minutes longer.

I have never bought a cell phone, or any kind of game programs. I don't subscribe to long distance - I purchase a pre-paid card.

I haven't bought panty hose in years - just wear pants, lol.

I have never paid a commission to purchase mutual funds, and I have never paid to have a credit card - including interest.

When I bought my car, I decided to not have a radio put in it, because I read that they were so much more expensive that way and then you pay all that interest on it. Well.... I never did buy a car radio. I also did not spring for A/C, or tinted windows. It has been since 1989, and I have lived without it, lol.

[PrincessPerky]

pop....
I don't drink it or buy it..not even for company.. I suppose that makes me a terrible hostess, but I honestly was spending 50 - 100 bucks a month on pop that no one drank (cause so and so only drinks X bvrand, buy a case of that, so and so drinks Y brand, buy a case of that, so and so only drinks one kind of cola, and wife drinks the other, buy a case of both...and so on) I gave up. and my house is BYOB. (B=beverage, not just beer, though we dont generally buy that either)

[cschin4]

I don't buy as many household cleaners. I buy Murphy's oil soap, Pinesol, and bleach. I have a couple of spray bottles and make diluted solutions of each for all my cleaning needs. (don't mix together, of course!).
I don't buy pop when eating out. And, I find that I would rather get take out (no tip needed, no drinks, no temptation to get dessert) instead of eating in the restaurant.
I do buy pop but keep it in the basement. The kids have to go out of their way to get a can so they don't drink it very often. We do like pop when we have pizza and I like an occassional can as well.
I do buy paper towels but don't use them often. I generally use them to clean the toilet. For everything else, I use old rags and dish clothes to clean counters, wipe up spills, etc.
I don't buy as much kleenex. A roll of toilet paper works just fine.
I don't buy overpriced laundry detergent. I used to buy Tide but it is just too expensive and some of the cheaper brands seem to work just fine for me.
The article was interesting but I really don't want to make my own laundry detergent or liquid hand soap. I do buy some canned soup as the kids like it and it is still a cheap meal to make for them. I like to buy garlic that is already chopped and I can get a large jar of it at the dollar store for $1.
I don't buy minute rice. A huge bag of rice is cheap and it doesn't take very long to cook it either.
I may save the bread bags as that sounds like a good idea. I tried making my own bread but am not very good at it and with the price of yeast it doesn't seem that it would be that cost effective for me.

[PrincessPerky]

yeast is a big problem for me, I keep forgetting to take care of the sourdough, so i do streatchg the yeast, but I am a lousy 'yest sitter' and keep killing it .

I really wish there was a cheaper alterntive.

[autoxer]

I think I just added shaving cream to my don't buy list. I ran out two weeks ago and found that bar soap or shampoo work just fine.

[rob62521]

I very rarely buy books. I use library books.

[PrincessPerky]

conditioner works better, softer legs, gunks up the razor about as much.

but it does bring up face soap, I don't buy it I use my kids baby soap, softer cleaner face..though I also need a scrub, and I use sugar and oil..no need to buy a fancy product there either.

[Ima saver]

Never bought a cell phone!

[boefixepa]

I'm trying to add all processed foods to this list. It's working rather well. It's amazing how inexpensive trips to the store are now. I also am trying to keep and maintain my own Herb garden and grow some of my own veggies every summer. I keep paper towels only for certain things, use rags for most things. I'll have to think about this and create my own list, but I added that web site to my 'fugal sites' list and will be reading some more there.

As far as Yeast, buy bulk. I can two one lb packages of yeast for less then 3.50 with tax at Sam's or Costco. That's ALOT of yeast. Put one package in the freezer, open the other and put it in a jar in the fridge to use as needed.

PS...never bought a cell phone either...work gives me on or I do without!

[Ima saver]

I don't buy lots of stuff when it comes to food, no coffee, tea, sugar (rarely) no fresh fruit or veggies, except onions and potatoes. No frozen food except for ice cream.

[boefixepa]

Ice Cream is on my NOT ALLOWED to buy list. The reason....it's like Doritos (also on the list) I can't eat just one. Or one serving, or one bowl full....seriously it's gone in a day or two! Not congruant with the diet plan! So it's better just not to buy it!

[Ima saver]

I had a problem with choc. iced donuts. I was buying one fresh every day. When i went on this diet 2 years ago, I quit buying them. I have only bought one, on mother's day, because I felt sorry for myself, cause I got no cards or wishes.

I had a food "do not buy list" of foods that I had given up, but have slipped in the past few months, after I had gotten sick - on the list were doughnuts, pie, cake, chips, french fries, soda, ice cream, cookies, candy, and I think popcorn. I have cheated with each one, these past few months.

[PrincessPerky]

Originally Posted by boefixepa

As far as Yeast, buy bulk. I can two one lb packages of yeast for less then 3.50 with tax at Sam's or Costco. That's ALOT of yeast. Put one package in the freezer, open the other and put it in a jar in the fridge to use as needed.

The yeast at BJs (our warehouse club) is like a block of yeast, sortof sofft, not dry, how do you umm convert? all my recipies call for '1pkg fast acting dry yeast'

course I did discover that usually 1 cup of sourdough starter works, I suppose I could expirament..
but before I do I would love some advice?

[pearlieq]

Interesting thread.

Here's what's on my list:

1.) Books & Magazines - can be had for free @ the library
2.) Makeup - an expensive and unnecessary habit. For the 2 or 3 times a year I want to put some on for a very special occassion, I can get by on samples.
3.) Special potions & lotions for beauty. - One gentle soap and basic moisuturizer can do it all. No need for eye cream, nail cream, heel cream, etc.
4.) Body Wash - bar soap is cheaper, but if you still want a liquid, shampoo works just as well.
5.) Prepared potatoes - diced, oven roasted potatoes are healthier, cheaper, and incredibly versatile
6.) Alcohol - we're not big drinkers anyway, but there's usually enough parties, receptions, business dinners, etc. throughout the year to get a fix if we really wanted it.
7.) Cookbooks - an abundance of recipes can be found free online.
8.) Most greeting cards. Kids don't really care if there's a card stuck to their toy, and a phone call or letter can do the job as well or better for most adults.

[Ima saver]

I don;t buy bottled water, I make my own. If we are going to the mall (2 hrs. one way) I take a small cooler with water in it, so we don't have to stop and pay for bottled water.