9 things you need to stop buying

There's a saying that money doesn’t buy happiness, but to be honest I prefer the words of Tyler Durden: “the things you own end up owning you.”

In this late stage of capitalism, more and more people are turning to minimalism. This is mainly because of a realisation that buying the things you want, will not make you happy. It will just cost you money.

So we wanted to take a look at some everyday items people buy, which we think they shouldn't, to help save yourselves a little bit of extra cash.

So let’s get to it.

1. Single servings of meat

If you love meat this one might be tricky, but not as much as you think. The most expensive way to buy meat is to just buy however much you will use that evening. Instead, try bulk buying meat that you like and freezing whatever you won't use straight away.

Meat can be the priciest part of your weekly shop, so get acquainted with your butcher and your freezer and save a few quid.

And on the subject of your butcher, remember that he or she will usually be cheaper for your meat than the supermarket and get better cuts too. 

2. Name brand products

When you're whipping around the supermarket doing your weekly shop, instead of going for the familiar big name brands, opt instead for the store brand alternatives. Some of the supermarkets have gotten really good at providing a product that is almost identical to the name brand stuff.

Now there are some things that we will be cold in the ground before we give them up (looking at you Kerrygold!) but replace as many products as you can.

3. Books

We’ve all heard some snooty hipster sipping a craft beer made from elderberries say “nobody reads books anymore”. Well, that hipster is as wrong as his beard is crusty. More millennials read books than the generation before, and with Audible, there has never been a better time to be a bibliophile. But if you want to save yourself some cash stop buying books, and get a library card.

For those of you under 25, a library is a building which stores books. Kind of like the library on your phone, but in real life.

4. Unnecessary personal care items

There are lots of products which the beauty industry has convinced us we need to spend extra on, when a regular product will often do.  

When you get home in the evening you'll definitely want to take your make-up off but there is no need to get specialised remover. Instead, get yourself a good cleanser which does both. Your skin and pocket will thank you in the long run.

Similarly, there's usually no need to fork out extra for after-shave balm - your regular moisturiser will often do. Meanwhile toners are increasingly regarded as unnecessary by many dermatologists.

So the next time you're in the chemist and are about to pick up a new cream, serum or lotion, stop and ask yourself whether your skin really needs it.

And on the subject of skin care...

5. Expensive anti-wrinkle creams

We're not saying you shouldn't invest in good quality skincare but you'd do well to remember that there's no silver bullet for ageing. And no amount of adverts starring Andy McDowell is going to change the fact that as your skin ages, it loses its elasticity, and no amount of expensive creams is going to stop that.

The worst part of the whole situation is just how pricy these creams are. So do yourself a favour and stop buying them and put the money into something that either scientifically works (Botox anyone?) or makes you feel better because you're worth it.

And you probably don't need reminding that the two biggest causes of premature ageing are smoking and sun exposure. So if you want to stay looking younger for longer, stay off the ciggies and away from the tanning salon. 

6. Single-use cleansing wipes

Everyone probably has a stash of surface cleansing wipes stored somewhere around their work desk or in the kitchen. And while good for convenience, they can be expensive and too often end up being flushed down the toilet where they cause all kinds of damage. 

If you have cleaning cloths that can be washed and reused, then you are causing more waste than necessary by buying single use cleaning wipes, be it financial or environmental.

So buy a spray bottle of cleaner and use a reusable cloth and you'll save some money in the long run. 

7. Extended warranties

When it comes to extended warranties it's a tricky one. If you're going to purchase a big-ticket item like an expensive computer or photography gear, warranties can be a good idea to cover you should the worst happen, as the financial burden of replacement would be significant.

However, extended warranties for everyday items can end up costing you more in the long run than they are worth. So approach with caution.

8. Paper towels

Paper towels are good for your kitchen but bad for your wallet.

They're super handy for little spills but it might be time to hark back to your granny's kitchen and get yourself some tea-towels instead. That way you can throw them in the wash along with the rest of your laundry and reuse them again and again. 

9. Supplements

Irish people waste huge amounts of money on some form of supplements. While the 'sunshine vitamin' vitamin D is recommended in winter, there are increasing numbers of reports which show that most multivitamins aren't needed.

If you want to make sure you're getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need to develop a healthy constitution the answer is simple but you won't like it. Eat better.

What do you think?

Have you stopped buying anything to save money? Get in touch and let us know!

Plus check out these articles here and here on some of the things you SHOULD buy to save you money. 

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