5 Things I No Longer Buy

I have been working throughout the last few years on really tightening up my budget. I am proud to say that I’ve come a long way from where I was at the beginning of the year. Because of that, there are some items that are just no longer in the budget. And, that’s okay! Here are some items that I no longer buy.

Items Influencers Promote: I am a huge fan of watching influencers and Youtubers such as Michelle Reed, LuxMommy, Danielle Caralon, and Brooke Miccio. I have found so many great Amazon finds through them, amongst other things. Sometimes, they promote products that I buy and they work with my lifestyle. Others, not so much. Therefore, I’ve gotten better with thinking harder about the purchases I make before I make them. I will add them to a wish list, and see where it goes. I think that this is something that I have gotten better with not mindlessly consuming as much. I still do it to some degrees, but in those cases, those really have helped me in the long run, such as organization for my pantry.

Costume Jewelry: I used to go hard on Amazon or Kendra Scott jewelry. With those pieces, I would maybe wear them once and never wear them again. Or they would cause a reaction. Therefore, I have learned that I want to have sterling silver pieces, such as James Avery, Tiffany, and Pandora, because those get a ton of wear. And, don’t turn my fingers green.

Daily Starbucks Runs: I used to be a regular at my local Starbucks. Then, COVID happened. Then, I got a Nespresso. Since then, I can count on one hand how many times I have been to Starbucks. I used to spend $6 a day on a soy latte. That said, a box of 10 pods costs $9.99. If you count the milk, it costs about $1.50 a day for coffee. That’s a $5 savings per day, $25 per week, etc. Yes, the Nespresso was pricey. However, I have saved so much money by having it, so it paid for itself.

Takeout/DoorDash several nights a week: During lockdown, I became addicted to Doordashing foods from Shake Shack, Five Guys, and more. It allowed me to have my favorite foods, which I was a fan of. However, it’s expensive and it adds up. Nowadays, I just meal plan throughout the week.

Random Stuff At TJ Maxx: TJ Maxx is a great store and you can find a ton of great items for a great price. However, it is easy to spend a lot of money there. Therefore, I try to avoid going there unless I have a specific need.