Things you DON'T buy..

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H

Hellooo

Guest
#1
#1
I've been incredibly inspired lately by a lot of things I've been reading and seeing regarding simple living, minimalism, frugality, being productive, and living with intention (and a lot of tangents like car/van dwelling, tiny houses, etc).

Anyway, there are a few things I've decided I'm no longer buying and I'm curious to see what kinds of things people have chosen not to pay for anymore

1. paper towels....i have microfiber cloths and a Swedish dishcloth that work splendidly...ive just been wasting paper for no reason.
2. lawn service. after this month. I'm biting the bullet and getting a reel mower and a rake and will do everything myself until i can save up for my real landscaping/fencing goals for my yard.
3. Netflix and Hulu subscriptions. This one is really tough for me, there are still a lot of things id like to watch or finish. I also feel conviction over the idea that my income is going to support the toxic mess that is celebrity culture.

What kinds of things have you guys decided to give up?
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#2
Mar 13, 2014
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#2
I'm an addict and nicotine is my drug of choice. The only thing that I really need to give up is smoking. It's a total waste of money and is ruining my health. I keep saying that I will do it but apparently lack the nerve to actually do it.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#3
Aug 13, 2014
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#3
Anything with ingredients I can't pronounce, ingredients I don't comprehend or a long list of ingredients that have no reason for being there. Snack cakes, I'm looking at you. Have you ever actually read the back of that little package? That arm-long list of ingredients can kill any hunger.

If you know you shouldn't eat it but you're craving it, read the ingredients. If you still want to eat it after reading that, go ahead and eat it.
 
laura_charlotte

laura_charlotte

Senior Member
#4
Dec 16, 2012
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#4
Books. Too much space, too much furniture. I'll always read the ebook version, saves so much.
 
H

Hellooo

Guest
#5
#5
tourist said:
I'm an addict and nicotine is my drug of choice. The only thing that I really need to give up is smoking. It's a total waste of money and is ruining my health. I keep saying that I will do it but apparently lack the nerve to actually do it.
Click to expand...
I think you have plenty of nerve in you tourist.
 
SAS

SAS

Senior Member
#6
Jan 18, 2014
175
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#6
laura_charlotte said:
Books. Too much space, too much furniture. I'll always read the ebook version, saves so much.
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Awww I love books... especially old ones... love the smell... yeah I said..gross.. but true!
 
laura_charlotte

laura_charlotte

Senior Member
#7
Dec 16, 2012
1,483
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#7
SAS said:
Awww I love books... especially old ones... love the smell... yeah I said..gross.. but true!
Click to expand...

This is the remainder of what I was going to write: "Except for childhood classics that I've still kept".
 
SAS

SAS

Senior Member
#8
Jan 18, 2014
175
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#8
I can say that if I can make it, build it, create it, whip it up...
hot glue it... staple it, ... Macgyver it.. I will..
I'm cheeeap!!!.. coughs.. highly fugal!! :)

eg. Save orange, lemon, lime any citrus peels in a jar.. when you can't stuff any more fill it with vinegar... close lid put in cool dry place for about two week... presto the best cleaning stuff... gets oven a shinning!!! and smells good!
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#9
Aug 13, 2014
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#9
No problem with that, SAS. I have been known to get an Altoids tin, coat the inside with silicone and use it as a battery case for rechargeable AA batteries. The silicone coating was to keep the batteries from shorting out against the metal of the battery case.
 
SAS

SAS

Senior Member
#10
Jan 18, 2014
175
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#10
laura_charlotte said:

This is the remainder of what I was going to write: "Except for childhood classics that I've still kept".
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me too.. I have books from my childhood... lol they don't smell... I think..
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#11
Mar 13, 2014
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#11
Lynx said:
No problem with that, SAS. I have been known to get an Altoids tin, coat the inside with silicone and use it as a battery case for rechargeable AA batteries. The silicone coating was to keep the batteries from shorting out against the metal of the battery case.
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I saved bunches of those Altoids tins as there are too nice to throw away.
 
Z

Zi

Guest
#12
#12
I have been on a minimal life journey as well. I gave up my car years ago. I have a cheap regular cell phone, I use my computer/tablet for Internet. I've been working on a capsule wardrobe. I used to buy tons of perfume, lotions, hair products etc. I cut that back to what I reached for most often. I cut mine and my son's hair. I was fond of buying anything cute or pretty. I stopped. I use what I have until I need new.

I found freedom came with having less. I no longer have all those things on my mind for one reason or another.
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#13
Mar 13, 2014
42,581
17,050
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#13
Zi said:
I have been on a minimal life journey as well. I gave up my car years ago. I have a cheap regular cell phone, I use my computer/tablet for Internet. I've been working on a capsule wardrobe. I used to buy tons of perfume, lotions, hair products etc. I cut that back to what I reached for most often. I cut mine and my son's hair. I was done of buying anything cute or pretty. I stopped. I use what I have until I need new.

I found freedom came with having less. I no longer have all those things on my mind for one reason or another.
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I'm kind of minimal as well. Based on my observations and experiences I conclude that it's best to travel light on our life's journey.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#14
Aug 13, 2014
27,285
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#14
Zi said:
I have been on a minimal life journey as well. I gave up my car years ago. I have a cheap regular cell phone, I use my computer/tablet for Internet. I've been working on a capsule wardrobe. I used to buy tons of perfume, lotions, hair products etc. I cut that back to what I reached for most often. I cut mine and my son's hair. I was fond of buying anything cute or pretty. I stopped. I use what I have until I need new.

I found freedom came with having less. I no longer have all those things on my mind for one reason or another.
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Heh. Your mention of hair products reminds me of an Arlo and Janis comic. Arlo is taking a shower and reaches blindly for one bottle among the eight or nine around the bathtub. Later he blow-dries his hair. Later still he is sitting at the table with his hair going in all directions.

"What did you use on your hair?"
"How should I know?"
 
mochi

mochi

Senior Member
#15
May 26, 2015
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#15
Book here as well :p i used to buy novel and comic, i even put plastic cover into it as well.. i will bad mood if someone borrow and they fold one of the paper :p
After few times reading i get bored and they are now sitting nicely in a box (such a waste of money)

i like to collect cassette (yeah cassette back then) and dvd.. i have few bags of it and i never listen to it anymore.. if i want to listen i simply just go to YouTube or Google :)

now? i'm addicted into mold and pan -_- i think i need help! my kitchen small and i keep adding items there >_<
 
T

Tinuviel

Guest
#16
#16
Lynx said:
No problem with that, SAS. I have been known to get an Altoids tin, coat the inside with silicone and use it as a battery case for rechargeable AA batteries. The silicone coating was to keep the batteries from shorting out against the metal of the battery case.
Click to expand...
:eek:. My rechargeable AA batteries are in a non-siliconed Altoids tin. Is that a problem?? And would it fix the problem if I wrapped the batteries in a piece of cotton cloth or a tissue?
 
T

Tinuviel

Guest
#17
#17
I can't think of anything...I have a lot of STUFF sitting around that really needs getting rid of, but most of it is not stuff that I buy, it is stuff that is given to me and I have outgrown it, or stuff that was at one time special to me, and I have outgrown it. For the most part I'm quite frugal, I think.

One thing, I guess. Don't always buy the bigger packages of things. I'm a huge sucker for: "it's cheaper per item to get the five pack, even though I really only need the three pack." do you know what happens to those other two?? Yeah, they just sit around.
 
J

joefizz

Guest
#18
#18
I don't buy anything that is outright explicit(anime battle/comedies I buy though but only if it isn't outright explicit as in no plain nakedness in every episode and mostly more fighting or romance than anything explicit,other wise it is thrown in the garbage by me)
I don't buy any games that have a mess of blood shed shown in them more of hack and slash games that don't show blood like samurai warriors,but if it's sadisticly gross it's out to the garbage too,like mortal kombat I sold it along with assassin's creed because they in my view are too centered around seeking to kill instead of having more of a reason,such as rescueing someone or saving humanity.
I don't buy Biblical movies anymore unless they are at least accurate biblically overall,even one movie joseph king of dreams I have for sale because it bothers me alot of the major inaccuracies in the movie.(if anyone has a biblical movie suggestion I'd welcome any suggestions)
I don't buy any music that is heavy metal because it sounds awful to me,some music that is a bit creepy or along the lines of gothic I buy or have bought such as the sound track to corpse bride,and if I had a way I'd probably buy some mathieu chedid cds,but some music gets on my nerves so I don't buy them such as m.c. hammer,or other certain artists because the songs get stuck in my head and I can't stand it.
I don't buy anymore horror movies,because alot of horror movies have had creepy and disgusting scenes that play over in my head if I just think of them,so ultimately I'm trying to forget them,and unfortunately I have watched some of the most graphic and so they are pretty much stuck in my memory so this is no easy thing to do.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#19
Aug 13, 2014
27,285
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#19
Tinuviel said:
:eek:. My rechargeable AA batteries are in a non-siliconed Altoids tin. Is that a problem?? And would it fix the problem if I wrapped the batteries in a piece of cotton cloth or a tissue?
Click to expand...
If there is no problem, don't fix it. I was concerned that they MIGHT short out, but there will probably never be an instance where both the positive and negative ends of the battery are in contact with the metal of the altoids tin at the same time. I just siliconed the inside of the tin as a safety measure.

One time I tossed a couple AA batteries into a pocket, and I neglected to account for the spare change that was in that pocket. Apparently the coins touched both the positive and negative ends of one of the batteries and made a circuit, because my whole pocket started getting real hot real fast.
 
Yeraza_Bats

Yeraza_Bats

Senior Member
#20
Dec 11, 2014
3,632
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#20
Like Tinuviel, I have alot of things I dont use or dont need, but they hold sentimental value.

If it ever becomes a serious problem, like that I cant walk through my house cuz I have so much stuff, I might get rid of some of it. But for now thats not a problem : p

I do have one problem, I need a good place to keep shoes. Thats not a "too much stuff" thing, though. Its really just an organization problem. I only have 3 pairs of shoes, but no one can leave them where I place them, and I always have to go around LOOKING for them. Its frustrating.
I could use some sorta rack to keep them on, definitely.

As for paying someone to take care of my lawn for me, Im not getting rid of that : p Im pretty tired after working all day, and Im providing someone with payment in return for services, so its good for both of us. I have the money that I can give him in exchange for a service, so that way he can provide for himself. I consider the entire thing to be nothing but beneficial : p
 
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