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

[Zipps]

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.

We have nonstick pans so for this I’d just use a small amount of oil, much of which would be absorbed into the burger, and so I’d just wash the pan as normal.

For a lot of fat, like after a roast, I’d just let cool and scrap into the bin.

For things like drying veg or straining, I just use old linen napkins, wash and reuse.

Never used coffee pod machine, can't stand the waste it creates.

Exercise equipment.

Hair dye
Extensions
Magazines
False nails
Cigarettes
New cars
Designer clothes

😆

How do you get it in the bin? I scrape it in to the food recycling bin we have with kitchen roll.

Messes I use a dish cloth or microfibre and pop in the wash.

Grubby stuff just stays grubby or gets a proper wash.

Draining/straining I use an old linen napkin and wash.

Leaves I have a salad spinner.

I’m not being sanctimonious about it, just never used kitcheb roll and wouldn’t think to even if it was sat out on my kitchen counter. Don’t remember it as a child either but we were pretty broke.

Pour onto a plate and Let it solidify, or pour into a carton or similar that’s in the bin

How do you use dish soap for other areas including bath? How do you use the acidic toilet cleaner elsewhere?

House insurance. I'm serious. I've saved a bloody fortune over the years. It will be fine, unless there's a fire or a gas explosion or something. I like to live dangerously. (Hardly anyone knows this, but the odd one I have told has freaked out.)

-Fabric conditioner
-Women's magazines
-Cut flowers
-Ready-made sandwiches
-Fish and chips-I have chicken and chips instead which is 4 pounds cheaper and a better meal.
-Indian takeaways
-Branded kitchen roll and toilet roll, I now buy Aldi own brands of these.

Nail varnish.

Fabric softener is often made with cow fat so I don't use it since I discovered that.
If people need to use kitchen towel to drain fried food
1 you're using too much fat or oil
2 heat the pan up a lot more. You need far less fat if you do this.

I hate reading magazines, they are full of expensive adverts for items I don't think the average reader would afford. I hate it when they have fragrances on the page, they stink

I hated this too so I bought a pod for ours that you just refill with ground coffee each time. Worked brilliantly and better / fresher coffee too.

Dry cleaning, which I used to use loads - now I wash in machine and iron, or get the professional cleaning product and read the instructions.

Ditto expensive handbag restoration- albeit the best products cost £60, you can get the full Handbag Clinic transformation for your utterly fecked ancient Mulberry. Like new, smug. Products last for years.

I loathe paying for anything you immediately throw away, so I’m tight about bin bags (reuse carriers), loo roll and skin cleansers. Own brand cleaning products till I die. Except Ariel.

Sorry that was in response to the post about coffee pods being so environmentally unfriendly.

I have thought of trying refill pods, but I use filter coffee now as we all drink loads so easier to make a pot each time

A spatula. Then scrape the spatula on the side of the bin.

Yes fair point and they stay warm for ages!

Lottery tickets.
Dog poo bags. Nappy bags are the same price or less for double the number of bags and they smell nicer.
Dog walker. My cleaner lets them play in the garden for an hour while she's cleaning downstairs. They get worn out and enjoy her company. And my house gets cleaned!

Highlights at the hairdressers. Gave it up during COVID lockdowns and haven't gone back. Doing it myself at home is quicker and far far cheaper!

Coffee pods - too expensive
fabric conditioner - bad for your clothes, the environment plus make your clothes a fire hazard. Use it on waterproofs though as it helps them.
hair dye - just accepting it as it is for the first time since I was 13
TV license - who needs it
New books - joined the library and pick random things now
Matching crockery, cups and glasses - accepting they’ll just keep getting broken and I’m contributing masses of crap because I like them being sets
Random cleaning products - toilet cleaner, bleach, toilet cleaner and disinfectant only..: but I do use kitchen roll although only go through about a roll a month: and household flea spray every 6 months
cooking sauces - waste of money, I do use specific spice/curry pastes for things
garden lighting - just because they’re rubbish and break too easily
chicken breasts - tasteless and expensive
clothes and shoes nee - Vinted/eBay
Brands for unimportant ingredients or where it tastes the same

I do splash out on -
Quality base ingredients: passata, garlic paste, sundried tomato paste, vanilla bean paste
Heinz condiments,
shampoo and conditioner, good but limited make up,
pet food (normally foreign brands who are much better quality at the same price as UK brands which are mostly absolute junk and raw food)
tea bags

Fabric softener
magazines
squash
wine
air freshener
furniture polish
dusters (use old clothes)
manicures, pedicures
tattoos
fags
booze
Football kits

I never pay for anything I can do myself. Over the years that has meant I've sewn my own dresses (most shop ones are made badly, or of poor fabric, or just never fit properly- even expensive ones), made bouquets for weddings, cleaned out drains, plasterboarded a room, tiled a bathroom, laid carpet, painted pictures... all sorts. My first thought, when something needs doing, is not whether I can 'get someone in', but 'how do I learn to do this'.

Saves a fortune, which means I can spend on things that I think are worth it.