Not long ago, most products were affordable enough to try at least once. But with today’s rising prices, many just don’t feel worth the cost anymore. If you’re looking to save and make smart choices while shopping, here are a few everyday items that you can skip without worrying too much.
Bottled Water
These days, purchasing bottled water is increasingly viewed as an unnecessary expense and an incredibly unsustainable one at that. Reusable water bottles and home filtration systems offer a far more economical solution to staying hydrated, and they don’t lead to a ton of plastic waste in our oceans, either.
Printed Newspapers and Magazines
If you’ve not already switched from printed newspapers and magazines to digital alternatives, it’s about time for you to do so. Online publishers provide us with instant access to news and articles at a fraction of the cost of printed versions, making the hard copies feel like a waste. Don’t worry because we can just about guarantee that your favorite newspaper or magazine is already available online.
Brand-Name Cleaning Supplies
It’s a complete waste of money to buy name-brand cleaning supplies these days, as the cost is sometimes double or even triple the cost of store-brand alternatives. Furthermore, most cheaper alternatives are made with exactly the same chemicals and do the job just as well, so spending extra really is pointless.
Cable TV Subscriptions
These days, it’s rare for people to be able to justify continuing to pay for cable TV, especially considering how good streaming services have become. They’re so much more flexible and convenient, not to mention their cheaper costs. Meanwhile, cable TV subscriptions have rigid packages and absurd fees, making them way less appealing. In fact, Forbes claims that most Americans have already cut the cord on their cable.
Take-Out Coffee
The daily habit of buying designer coffee can quickly drain your wallet, and it’s just not worth it. Brewing your own coffee at home is not only far more cost-effective, but it usually tastes better, too, while also allowing for customization. Expensive coffee shop visits are now seen as an unnecessary luxury for many, with most people even considering them a complete waste of money.
Gym Memberships
Home workouts and online fitness programs have surged in popularity in recent years, primarily due to how expensive gym memberships have become. What’s more, there are so many free or low-cost options available, so spending big on the gym is pretty difficult to justify. Just invest in basic home equipment or use bodyweight exercises, and you’ll have a full-body workout at home on a budget.
New Release Books
Libraries and e-book subscriptions provide access to a vast array of titles at no or minimal cost, and their rise has quickly made purchasing new-release books feel like an unnecessary expense. Unless you really love a particular author, borrowing or renting is a much more affordable and less wasteful option, so consider checking digital alternatives out if you haven’t already.
High-End Smartphones
With mid-range smartphones offering similar features and performance, splurging on the latest high-end model is harder to justify nowadays. The rapid pace of technological advancements means today’s flagship phone quickly becomes outdated, which is why many of us are opting for more affordable models that meet our needs just fine.
Fancy Kitchen Gadgets
While they were once impressive, specialized kitchen gadgets often end up collecting dust in cabinets today. We’ve tried them all out, and they are rarely as useful as they seem in the advert, making multi-functional tools and basic utensils a much more obvious choice. They can handle most cooking tasks without the extra cost, not to mention all the room you save in your kitchen.
Premium Pet Foods
Many people like to purchase premium pet food for their dogs, cats, and gerbils, but budget-friendly pet foods provide just as balanced nutrition, if not more, in comparison. The higher cost of premium pet foods is difficult to justify when these affordable options meet our pets’ dietary needs, and at the end of the day, our pets can never tell the difference anyway.
Subscription Boxes
It wasn’t long ago that subscription boxes were an exciting novelty, but it quickly became clear that they were an unnecessary expense. The excitement of receiving curated items doesn’t always justify the monthly cost, leading many people to cancel their subscriptions in favor of buying specific products they need or want directly. They were fun while they lasted, though.
Specialty Clothing
Fast fashion and second-hand shops provide stylish clothing options at a fraction of the cost of specialty boutiques, so they’re difficult to justify spending cash on today. Furthermore, the high price tag of premium products is rarely represented by the quality of its materials and stitching, so you’re just paying for the brand name, which is a complete waste of money.
Landline Phones
If you haven’t already cut off your landline phone service, it might be time to do so. Everyone has a smartphone these days, so maintaining a landline seems completely redundant. The extra cost is a completely pointless spend unless you live in the middle of nowhere and can’t get a mobile signal, which is unlikely these days.
Movie Theater Tickets
It’s a sad fact that streaming services and home theater setups feel way more worthwhile than visiting the movie theater in today’s economy. The high cost of movie theater tickets, along with outrageous popcorn and drink prices, makes it way less appealing than it once was. It’s sad to see because we really loved visiting the movie theater.
Branded Pharmaceuticals
Just like with household cleaning products, generic medications are often just as effective as their branded counterparts while coming in at a significantly lower cost. The higher price of branded pharmaceuticals is, therefore, simply unjustifiable, so if you haven’t made the switch yet, we’d recommend doing so.
Premium Gasoline
Most vehicles run perfectly well on regular gasoline, making the higher price of premium fuel unnecessary. Unless specifically required by the vehicle manufacturer, premium gasoline is an avoidable expense, unlike the gas station adverts may tell you. So, stop getting ripped off every time you fill up.
Luxury Handbags
Similarly to designer clothes, the allure of luxury handbags has really worn off recently, as their high prices just don’t reflect their quality. High-quality, stylish handbags are available at more affordable prices, offering similar functionality without the hefty cost. At the end of the day, the price of luxury handbags is literally just for the branded logo.
Professional Car Washes
It can be genuinely fun and satisfying to wash your car at home, and you’ll save a significant amount of money compared to professional car wash services. With a few basic supplies, achieving a clean, polished look is easy, and overall, this makes the expense of frequent professional car washes feel completely unnecessary.