I’ve always been drawn to living simply. Even before frugal living or low-waste lifestyles became popular, I found myself questioning how many everyday products we’re expected to keep buying over and over again.
🗑️Paper towels that get used once and thrown away.
🗑️ Plastic wrap that lasts five minutes before ending up in the bin.
🗑️ Disposable products that continuously show up on the shopping list week after week.
At some point I started asking myself a simple question:
Do I actually need to keep buying this?
In many cases, the answer was no. A lot of these everyday items can easily be replaced with something reusable, repurposed, or homemade using things you already have around the house.
Over the years, that mindset has led me to gradually stop buying a surprising number of products — from kitchen items and household supplies to personal care products and everyday conveniences.
Sometimes the simplest way to save money is simply to stop buying things you never needed in the first place.
In this article, I’m sharing 22 things I stopped buying to save money and reduce waste, along with the simple swaps I use instead. Many of these changes are small, but together they’ve helped cut down our household spending, reduce the amount of waste we create, and simplify the way we live.
What You’ll Learn in This Article:
- 22 everyday things I stopped buying to save money
- simple swaps that reduce household waste
- reusable alternatives that work just as well
- small frugal habits that create self-sufficiency
Some of these swaps are incredibly simple, but they’ve made a big difference to both our budget and the amount of waste we produce at home.
Watch: 22 Frugal Swaps That Save Money
Prefer to watch? Come for a wander around my house with me as I show you 22 things I’ve stopped buying over the years to cut costs, lower waste and be a little more self-reliant. 👇
Disposable Kitchen Items I Stopped Buying
Many of the easiest things to stop buying to save money are disposable kitchen products that get used once and thrown away.
Paper Towels
I stopped buying paper towels years ago.
Instead, I cut up old T-shirts, pillowcases, and worn-out clothes into cleaning rags. I keep a stash under the sink so they’re always handy for greasy dishes, wiping stovetop splatters, or cleaning the air fryer.
Most of the time they go straight into the washing machine and get reused again and again.
As they eventually end up in the bin, that’s fine — it was just an old shirt that was headed there anyway.
For many households, paper towels can easily cost $80–$100 a year, so this simple swap saves money while also reducing waste.
Cling Wrap
Cling wrap is one of those products that seems useful, but it’s incredibly wasteful.
Instead of cling wrap I use things like:
- Glass containers
- Jars
- Beeswax wraps
- Silicone lid covers
- Reusable ziplock bags
All of these reusables work just as well (often better), and I’m not constantly buying another roll of plastic wrap.
It’s a small purchase each time, but over the course of a year, cling wrap and sandwich bags add up surprisingly quickly!
Disposable Kitchen Cloths
I also stopped buying disposable kitchen cloths.
Instead, I use Norwex reusable kitchen cloths that can go straight into the wash. I keep several in rotation so there’s always one on the sink, one drying on the line, and a few clean ones ready in the drawer.
Reusable kitchen cloths work out to be much cheaper, less wasteful, and honestly just easier.
| 🌿 READ: 10 Useful Norwex Items → |
Baking Paper
This one surprises people.
Instead of baking paper, I save my butter wrappers.
They’re already coated, which makes them naturally non-stick. Most of the time, they even have a tiny bit of butter left on them, which actually helps even more.
I simply fold them up and keep them in a small bag in the fridge so any bits of butter don’t go off, and they’re ready to use whenever I need.
💡 Bonus Tip:
Butter wrappers work particularly well as air fryer liners!
Plastic Bin Bags
One of my pet peeves is buying plastic bags just to throw rubbish into, which all ends up in the big landfill bin.
Instead, I use whatever packaging comes through the house, like:
- Empty bread bags
- Produce bags
- Food packets
- Parcel packaging
- Toilet roll bags
I keep all of my ‘bin bags’ in a fabric bag in the broom cupboard so they’re easy to grab when I need one.
To close off the bags that can’t easily be tied off, I have a stash of cut-up fabric strips from old T-shirts and pillow cases that were destined for the bin anyway.
💡 Pro Tip:
Use foldback clips to hold the bag in place in the bin so it doesn’t slide down.
Household Items I Replaced With Reusables
One of the easiest ways to reduce household waste is by replacing disposable items with simple reusable alternatives.
Plastic Clothes Pegs
Plastic pegs always end up disintegrating in the sun and breaking.
My absolute favourite pegs are the stainless steel Pincinox Pegs from France. They are constructed as one solid piece; they won’t rust or break, and they hold clothes much better in the wind.
They cost more upfront (about $2.50 per peg), but they will last you a lifetime – a worthy investment in my opinion!
| 🌿 READ: My Pincinox Pegs Review → |
Disposable Lint Rollers
Instead of constantly replacing sticky lint rollers, I use a reusable lint mitt.
You simply swipe it over your clothes, and it picks up lint and pet hair. Then you use your nails to scrape the lint off and use it again.
Simple and no refills required.
Cotton Buds (Cotton Tips)
I stopped buying cotton tips years ago and switched to stainless steel ear picks instead.
Ear picks are designed for gently cleaning the outer part of your ear (not to stick down towards the eardrum).
Afterwards, you just rinse them under the tap with warm, soapy water (I just throw them in with the dishes after a little pre-rinse) and reuse them.
This is a really simple frugal and eco swap that eliminates an ongoing purchase forever.
Disposable Straws
Back when plastic straws were everywhere, I bought myself a set of stainless steel straws to carry around in my handbag. The kids and I used them when we were out to avoid the use of the plastic ones.
These days, I rarely even use straws when I’m out, so I don’t carry them around anymore. But the metal ones are still in the drawer for use at home, and we all love them.
Just pop one into a cold drink and enjoy sipping through the ice-cold straw for extra refreshment.
Everyday Things I Stopped Buying to Save Money
Once you start paying attention to your shopping habits, rather than just adding things to the list by default, you’ll probably notice several everyday things you could stop buying to save money.
Bottled Water
I stopped buying bottled water years ago, mostly because of the impact of the plastic bottles on the environment. But another payoff is in the money saved.
Instead, we just fill our own bottles at home. I keep a jug of filtered water in the fridge, plus the water dispenser in the fridge door topped up, so there’s always cold water ready to go.
I do want to get a proper Berkey water filtration system that removes almost all of the fluoride and other contaminants from tap water, but for now, the EcoBud filter jug will have to do.
For many households, bottled water can easily cost hundreds of dollars a year, so this is one of the easiest savings and eco swaps.
Shopping Bags
My first ever after-school job was at the checkouts at Bilo supermarket. As an eco-conscious kid, I was acutely aware of how many plastic shopping bags the human collective was going through each and every day on this planet.
It was way back then in the early 2000s that I began keeping a reusable fabric bag in my handbag for any purchases I made while I was out.
These days, I have a fabric box in my car boot that stores my stash of reusable bags. Whenever I head into the grocery store or shops, I always grab a bag (or bunch of bags) to take with me.
Once you get into the habit of bringing them with you, there’s really no reason to keep buying shopping bags at the checkout.
Notebooks and Notepads
I cannot tell you the last time I bought any type of notepad. My kitchen has what I call a scrap paper drawer.
Any piece of paper that comes through the house with a blank side — mail, school notices, old printouts — goes straight into that drawer.
This way, I’ve always got an endless supply of paper for shopping lists, reminders, and notes instead of buying new notebooks.
Things Frugal People Don’t Buy for Gifts and Celebrations
Gifts and celebrations are another area where frugal people often stop buying unnecessary items, particularly throw-away items.
Greeting Cards
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like greeting cards are largely a waste of money and resources.
Instead of buying greeting cards, I cut off the front of the cards we’ve received and reuse them. You often still have a blank side to write on and can put a hole punch in the top if you want to use it as a gift tag.
Gift Wrap
I never buy gift wrap anymore since there are already plenty of options that come through the house to use instead.
I hang onto things like:
- Gift bags
- Gift wrap
- Tissue paper
- Brown paper
- Newspaper
- Packaging paper (e.g. Who Gives A Crap wrappers)
Whenever a gift comes our way, I save any useful bags and wrappings so they can be used again later.
| 🌿 READ: More Recycled Gift Wrap Ideas → |
Personal Care Products I Stopped Buying to Save Money
Personal care products are another area where simple swaps can save money and reduce waste.
Makeup Wipes
Instead of disposable makeup wipes, I just use damp face washers. They work better, they’re cheaper (one upfront purchase, rather than another ongoing cost), and they just go straight into the washing machine.
Store-Bought Deodorant
Back around 2015, I was fed up with store-bought deodorants. As someone who does perspire under my arms, they actually just made things worse for me. So, I started making my own deodorant and have never looked back.
Basic DIY deodorant ingredients:
- Bicarb soda
- Arrowroot powder
- Coconut oil
- 2 drops of peppermint oil
It’s simple, natural, and works better for me than store-bought deodorant ever did.
There are pastes, powders and spray deodorants, which can all easily be made at home. However, not all homemade deodorants work for everyone, so it can take a bit of trial and error to find the right fit for you.
Face Powder
I was getting sick of having to continuously buy face powder, so I decided to try making my own at home. I’ve found a very simple recipe using just cocoa powder and arrowroot.
I do burn easily and get rosacea, so I like to protect my face. At the moment, I use a BB Cream as a base, with the DIY face powder over top to give a nice matte finish. It costs next to nothing to make, and I’ve been really happy with it.
Next up is to find a simple tinted foundation/moisturiser so I can replace the BB Cream.
Air Freshener
Instead of buying air freshener sprays, which are filled with synthetics and chemicals, I simply mix water with essential oils in a spray bottle.
Peppermint is my favourite for the bathroom, but you can use whatever scent you like. I use 40 drops of essential oils (in the bottle above) and top the rest off with water.
Disposable Period Products
Another thing I’ve stopped buying is disposable period products.
I’ve tried reusable liners, but I wasn’t personally a fan, as they kept moving around in my underwear. I’ve never tried the menstrual cups, but many women swear by them.
These days, I mostly use period underwear. They’re comfortable, easy to rinse out, get thrown into the washing machine, and then air-dried on the washing line.
I still keep a small organic stash of tampons for emergencies, but I rarely need them.
Frugal Habits That Save Money Every Month
Some of the best frugal habits that save money come from the simplest and smallest everyday lifestyle changes.
Takeout Food
Instead of takeout, we often have what I call “fake-out nights.”
That usually means throwing something quick from the freezer into the air fryer. It’s not gourmet food, but it gives the same fun feeling of a treat night without the takeout bill, which we now leave for special occasions only.
Buying Pajamas
When I was living full-time on the road in a caravan around 2019 (check out my other vanlife blog if you’re interested), storage space was prime real estate. That’s when I realised that pyjamas really aren’t needed.
From then on, I stopped buying pyjamas.
Instead, we just wear old clothes to bed — things like T-shirts, leggings, singlets, and long-sleeve tops that are no longer good enough to wear out.
This small change in habits gives old clothes an extended life, plus saves me money every winter by not having to buy unnecessary clothing.
Buying Books
The final thing that I’ve stopped buying is books, for the most part.
The majority of the books I read now come from the library. It’s free, there’s no clutter building up at home, and I still get to enjoy reading as much as I like.
Occasionally, I might find a book in an op shop that I really want, but that’s pretty rare these days.
Why Stopping These Purchases Makes Such a Big Difference
Small frugal changes might not seem like much on their own, but over time, they can save money and reduce household waste in a big way.
The biggest shift was simply changing the way I think about everyday products. Instead of automatically buying something new, I pause and ask whether there’s a simpler or reusable option already sitting in the house.
Often, there is.
You don’t need to change everything at once, either. Even swapping just a few everyday items can make a noticeable difference to your budget and the amount of waste your household produces.
And I’d love to hear from you — what’s something you’ve stopped buying to save money?
I’m always curious to hear the creative swaps people come up with.
| 🌿 READ NEXT: 50 Things Minimalists Don’t Buy! → |
Pin It
