Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

What have you never bought or no longer buy because you think it's a waste of money?

488 replies

Zipps · 31/07/2023 22:17

Dog accessories - they have a coat for the depths of winter but that's it.
Bath bombs - completely pointless.
Many kitchen gadgets.
Clothes/shoes that aren't a perfect fit.

OP posts:
ZenNudist · 31/07/2023 22:19

I've given up paying a cleaner and gardener. I do a better job myself and people are asking silly money around here which makes me appreciate doing it myself. I keep thinking of all the £££ towards the holiday budget and calories burned!

Clarabe1 · 31/07/2023 22:19

All the ‘specialist’ spray cleaners . Fairy liquid and bleach - that’s all you need!

PleaseYourselfandEatTheCrusts · 31/07/2023 22:20

Chair covers for chairs at myn wedding reception.

I don't understand them

RosesAndHellebores · 31/07/2023 22:21

Magazines
Fabric conditioner

Pancakebatter · 31/07/2023 22:21

ZenNudist · 31/07/2023 22:19

I've given up paying a cleaner and gardener. I do a better job myself and people are asking silly money around here which makes me appreciate doing it myself. I keep thinking of all the £££ towards the holiday budget and calories burned!

I do that too but I absolutely hate cleaning and it would be such a relief not to have to clean floors and toilets anymore. I just can’t justify the expense though.

Secondwindplease · 31/07/2023 22:21

Kitchen roll. Never understood it.

Fantina · 31/07/2023 22:22

Any kind of TV show with a public vote - Strictly, Love Island, X Factor etc. The DC used to think I was so mean but I think they understand what a waste of money it is now

TheChosenTwo · 31/07/2023 22:22

Magazines! Made a New Year’s resolution to give up buying them about 15 years ago and
haven’t bought one since.

Mysteriousgirl2 · 31/07/2023 22:22

Stopped having my nails done
Dye my hair at home
No fancy holidays - week in Wales will do just fine.
No more new clothes at all (apart from underwear) as Vinted/ eBay is brilliant.

HedgesNotFences · 31/07/2023 22:22

Never bought branded products as they are the same as supermarket own but cost a lot more. It has saved me loads of money over the years.

Groutyonehereagain · 31/07/2023 22:23

Netflix.

HedgesNotFences · 31/07/2023 22:23

Fantina · 31/07/2023 22:22

Any kind of TV show with a public vote - Strictly, Love Island, X Factor etc. The DC used to think I was so mean but I think they understand what a waste of money it is now

You can usually vote online for free.

IsisoftheWalbrook · 31/07/2023 22:23

Magazines, now that I have realised I can download most of them free to my devices from the local library. (Also books).

New clothes and shoes (except undies) now that I have discovered Vinted.

25sheets · 31/07/2023 22:24

Secondwindplease · 31/07/2023 22:21

Kitchen roll. Never understood it.

I don't understand how you manage without kitchen roll? We ran out tonight and I've just cooked vegetarian burgers on a pan. There is some grease and I would use the kitchen roll to wipe that up rather than pour down the drain. What do you do?

onlynotafan · 31/07/2023 22:25

Hair extensions
Hair dye

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 31/07/2023 22:25

Magazines, at one time I used to buy them regularly every month
Yakut, the price was steadily going up, so I stopped buying them and I've not noticed any difference to my digestion
Regular manicures and pedicures, now just 2-3 times a year for special occasions
Highlights, my hair is in better condition and I've saved money and time

Snozzlemaid · 31/07/2023 22:25

Sky.
Couldn't afford it years ago when I would have got it. Now we can afford it I've no desire to get it as we have so much to watch on Netflix, Prime etc.

IsisoftheWalbrook · 31/07/2023 22:26

I also don’t buy kitchen roll. I’d clean grease out of a pan with some scrap paper or cardboard. In the winter I use it as a firefighter. The rest of the time I bin it.

youveturnedupwelldone · 31/07/2023 22:26

Same on the cleaning products - dish soap, bleach and an acidic toilet cleaner covers every cleaning need in the house! My bathroom never looked so clean since I started cleaning it with dish soap, toilet cleaner does the kitchen limescale etc.

Expensive hand soap. Love it, but no one including me misses it. Cheap bar soap and hand wash works just as well - we go through it too fast to justify the expense of the L'occitane I used to buy.

Top brand laundry products - have never bought one. Own brands are just as good and lots less £.

VinEtFromage · 31/07/2023 22:26

Secondwindplease · 31/07/2023 22:21

Kitchen roll. Never understood it.

@Secondwindplease it's not that deep.

i mostly use it for absorbing mess. Spilt oil on the worktop. Spills on the floor. Drying anything still a bit grubby (trainers, balls)

good as a 'filter' when draining something,

drying washed leaves etc.

101 things.

StrikeItMucky · 31/07/2023 22:27

You pour grease down the drain, if you don't have kitchen roll?!
You do realise that's a big no-no?! As it causes "fatbergs" in the sewers and clogs up pipes 🫤

hexsnidgett · 31/07/2023 22:28

Magazines
Wipes
Tissues
Cotton wool

MissMarplesGoddaughter · 31/07/2023 22:28

25sheets · 31/07/2023 22:24

I don't understand how you manage without kitchen roll? We ran out tonight and I've just cooked vegetarian burgers on a pan. There is some grease and I would use the kitchen roll to wipe that up rather than pour down the drain. What do you do?

I would pour any excess cooking fat into a glass container, let it cool down and harden overnight in the fridge, then I would bin the fat in the food waste container.

FlamingoCroquet · 31/07/2023 22:28

Fabric conditioner - first to see if it would help with allergies, but then realised it's totally unnecessary (and I really hate the chemical-floral smell)

livethislifetoday · 31/07/2023 22:29

Clarabe1 · 31/07/2023 22:19

All the ‘specialist’ spray cleaners . Fairy liquid and bleach - that’s all you need!

Yes to this, but with a dash of zaflora or similar for that lovely clean smell.