what did you used to buy that you now realise is a waste of money?

[overdrawn]

I’m trying to sort out a credit card debt and reduce my spending so wanted to ask what are things you used to spend money on that you’ve realised aren’t worth it?

For some reason, I used to buy the expensive Brabantia bin bags (I have no idea why!) and a few months ago realised it was a complete waste of money and now buy regular black bin bags.

I also bought a home gel nails kit and do my own manicures / pedicures (I did lots of research and bought a good brand, and follow all the advice) They look just as good (if not better) than what I was getting in an average salon and the cost per manicure is much less.

@KittensandPerverts try a rubber top coat - it makes mine last so much longer!

Ooh thanks! Do you cure a rubber top coat under the UV lamp or not?

@KittensandPerverts yup - it needs to be cured!

Holidays. If I didn't take so many I'd have more savings now.

The last holiday wiped me out and because of the Cost of Living I doubt I'll claw it back any time soon.

I suppose I just use kitchen roll about half a dozen times a day, so that's a lot of cloths. I suppose I could just look for lots of thin cloths that would wash & dry quickly.

I would try curing each layer for an extra 30-60 seconds. And make sure you’re buffing really well before the base coat, because I think that’s what helps it “grip” the nail.

@Truemilk but didn't you hang into then for the different seasons?

@Trixiefirecracker mine are from Etsy! They have press studs to clip together then roll them up and place on the kitchen roll holder. They do different patterns so we got some to match our kitchen 😄. Husband wasn't keen at first but he's a convert now!

Yeah, I just use thin cloths. I don't necessarily wash them after every use. If it's just mopping up a bit of water from the surfaces I would just leave it by the sink. If I used it on the floor or if it got very soiled then I would. But I generally use them a few times before I wash them and I obviously wash them when I'm doing a load anyway.

I've not bought kitchen rolls for at least seven years.

I no longer buy clothes in random colours. I buy neutrals and I have a signature colour.
I save money because I only need shoes/bags etc in one colour. I have a smaller wardrobe, almost capsule because everything matches. I am less likely to buy on impulse and shopping is much easier.

I’m reluctant to go to cafes and restaurants these days as I can have nicer coffee and cake or food at home, without the hissing and banging machines, iffy cleanliness and wobbly tables. I feel like I was brainwashed into believing it was a treat. Now if I’m in the mood for a treat, I go home, and sit with a book or out in the garden. Lovely.

I try and split or propagate plants rather than buying more. The garden is looking better too because the repetition feels more together than my random plantings. I’m hoping to be able to give gifts of plants from my garden as I get better at it.

For the last few years we’ve only had Christmas treats for the week before and after Christmas rather than starting mid November, and buying extras to last after the shops run out. It feels much more luxurious and special when it’s only at those times. I used to buy tubs of sweets and tins of biscuits ahead, and then have to replace them again and again as my will power failed.

Gift bags for birthdays/Christmas. I keep any i receive and then reuse them. I've got a bank of gift bags for all occasions now, they just get rotated around different family members each year 😂

White vinegar is so useful for just about everything
I buy a 5 litre container and decant into a spray bottle ( 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) and use for all glass mirrors and to shine sink
It is a descaler left overnight for kettles and shower heads
Citric acid powder is very good too
Mix with bicarbonate of soda to fizz plughooles
For everything else I use fairy liquid which saves buying different cleaners
I buy all tops/ dresses( and my favourite discontinued shoes if I see them)
Never buy coffees out
Not for everyone but I only eat once daily but that suits me and saves money
I'm on disability benefits so I literally have to consider every £
My " extravagance" is my 6 weekly cut and colour(£45) is worth every penny to me

Anything on subscription. I’m down to one streaming service because I get a big discount. After I canceled all but one I realized there’s a large catalog of movies and tv shows on Youtube for free, much wider selection too, so I’ve been having fun with that. I noticed pretty much everything has gone to subscription nowadays- but it’s a money grab. Not worth it unless I sign up for the free month then cancel 🙃

My grandmother did that! I loved it because she was so careful that a lot of them were decades old. I remember in particular a gift decoration of a couple ice skating, from the 50’s from a gift my grandfather had given her when they first got married, it had been wrapped at a fancy store and made of velvet. I loved seeing it every year. I can only manage to get 2-3 uses out of mine but I try!

Agree - I float around supermarkets.

Sainsburys for bulk of the shop. Asda for cheap branded cupboard stuff.

Then maybe a little bit of lidl /!iceland.

Hellman's mayonaise
use lidl

Buy all kids' clothes from Vinted - used to do a big annual shop that cost £200 each

Don't use expensive skin creams - just use prescription-strength retinol

Used to go to a big expensive clinic for skincare - now visit an aesthetician at home for 1/3 the price

Buy electronics refurbished second-hand instead of new

Take the bus rather than tube

Give handmade cards rather than shop-bought

where do you get prescription strength retinol from?? I would love to do this!

Same,

Unless you have multi colours, the DIY hair dyes look pretty similar. And they're £5 rather than £100 at the hairdressers.

And phone handsets. We get free handsets as a family member works for one of the large mobile phone companies.

In the last few years, we've had iPhones, Samsungs, Huawei, Nothing, Oppo and Google Pixel phones. Honestly they're all nearly identical but the price difference is eye-watering. Particularly if you buy iPhones.

With handsets - I buy a sim free handset once every few years (basically, when the battery from the old one is giving out) and have a cheap contract that rolls over. It keeps the monthly charges lower.

@JamieandRoybromance I am a member of my Central Library but it doesn’t seem to allow me to read newspapers online. It’s goes through an app PressReader but in order to read I’d have to subscribe. If I try logging in with my library details it directs to log into a ‘hotspot’ which I don’t live in the vicinity off, unfortunately. Perhaps not all libraries are the same.

Mine is definitely buying books and magazine.

Library and BorrowBox is just brilliant. Also being able to reserve books for £1.20. I don't re read books so have no reason to keep them.

@TheRealHousewife Yes, it's a bit confusing to log in. You need to choose log in using 'library group' then type in your borough. Choose it then it'll ask you to put in your library card number and pin. Then, it'll say 28 days access but in reality it just renews every month anyway for free.