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.

Fabric conditioner. Completely unnecessary. Haven’t bought it for years.

Newspapers. To get a good mixture of POVs, I used to buy the Guardian or Times on weekdays, the Torygraph on Saturdays & the Sunday Times. Now, I just read them online. The Guardian is free, obv. The Torygraph’s paywall can be evaded by disabling JavaScript in your browser and I get a succession of ‘£1 a month’ trial subscriptions to the Times.

I’m told it goes on badly.

@QueenCoconut totally agree.

We're of an age where our house is pretty much full, so in order to buy something we need to throw an item away so it fits in which sharpens the mind about if you need it or not.

I've lost some weight recently and that's great as I have rediscovered items from my wardrobe that I've not worn for a few years.

Funny you say that. I've recently started using 'proper' (ie, Gillette) shaving gel, after years of using cheapo stuff from Lidl/Aldi. The difference is night and day!

Of course, this for shaving, y'know, beards, YMMV.

Generally a big Lidl fan, for most things, though.

Same here. Full of adverts and the content mostly made me feel I was failing in every area of my life.

Anything single use - cotton wool, wipes, kitchen towel etc. I haven't bought these in years since switching to reusables. So much better for the environment and cost wise!

My biggest waste of cash I ever ever had was smoking. I spent thousands and thousands over the years that I smoked and it disgusts me to think about tbh.

I also wasted money on alcohol when I was young and it was the 'done thing' etc. I never enjoyed drinking and now I happily don't.

Also dvds... at one time I had over 3000 dvds all sorted and kept neatly and sorted. Now I just have Netflix and Disney and all the dvds have gone to either friends, the tip or charity shops.

Cheap clothes, footwear and coats.

@Twentytwo22 Do you mind me asking what do you use instead? Specifically for kitchen towel replacement? Husband makes his own chips so used it a lot!

During lockdown I got used to doing my own root touch up, (well, I get my OH to do it🤣). I used to go to a very expensive, upmarket city salon and, although I do miss my stylist, (had been to him for years), I don’t miss spending £100 every 6-8 weeks!

At the same time I also cancelled my gym membership- I probably went a couple of times a year during the last ten of the 20+ years I stupidly paid for it. I could have built a pool in the back garden for what I paid VA over the decades 😱.

Re: Pet insurance for dogs. People forget that it also covers you in the event that your dog injures another animal or, heaven forbid, a person. I really think it is an absolute must, but of course it is worth shopping around for the best price.

Extended warranties
take away coffees (they are just as expensive as sitting in but you don’t get the experience)
Real Christmas trees (fake are bad for the environment but not if you have one for years) and having loads of Christmas trees in your house, plus Christmas cushions, duvets, loo rolls etc etc. In the olden days of the 80s we just had one nice tree and decorations were just for the living room.
Asda yeast spread is an excellent dupe for marmite at half the price.
Having too many children (joking)

Most branded food, drinks, toiletries and make up plus candles etc - Aldi and Lidl are your friends, they have dupes of many things (not everything but you learn which aren't worth swopping).

New cars are only worth it if company cars, ex display can be a good option if new matters to you.

Expensive white goods. Cheap versions just as good!

Brand name nappies, they are about 10x more expensive and pretty much the same as Sainsbury’s brand!

Gym membership, beauty treatments, new clothes. I think I may have given up on how I look, but I can't justify the expense any more.

I don’t know if this is helpful, but I ‘unsubscribed’ from alot of emails for clothes companies, deleted apps etc. I’m then not tempted by the ‘20% extra of sale’ emails.

Also haven’t renewed by annual pass for Next, which means it’ll either cost me to get things delivered, Orr I have to go to the store. No more ordering things to arrive the next day.

We also only have one person in the household with Amazon prime. He orders stuff for the rest of us, and then we pay him back.

Mouthwash - proper flossing, proper brushing and regular hygienist trips make it a waste of money and time

Ignore this if you have gum disease. Mouthwash gets into tiny spaces that are inaccessible with a brush or floss.

I haven’t used fabric softener for years and all our cleaning products come from Aldi, they’re better than branded ones. All our hand wash, shower gel and deodorant comes from Aldi too.

Oh and if you don't have a car, do a 6-8 week stock up and get a cab home/go with a friend ... we reckon it saves us £15-20 a week but a lot of the big savings are shelf stable so stock up shop works well

I asked my decorator as I heard this too, he said the F&B paint was no problem to use, didn't take any longer than other paint brands and he didn't charge me any extra for it

@Imsureitsprobablymebut this sounds like me with my dog! She now doesn’t get new toys we just cycle through all the ones she already has - and she certainly doesn’t need more than one jacket for winter!

Shower gel. Soap is cheaper and better for the environment.

Any toothpaste except Tesco own brand value tubes - 50p

Soup. Really easy to make a huge pot of most types of soup.

Bags of spinach. Mostly wasted. I chuck a cube of frozen spinach in dishes that benefit from it.

Small bags of rice. About once a year I get a delivery that includes a 10kg bag of rice. It's not great to work with - mini weights workout in the kitchen while cooking really

I hardly ever use bin bags. Bags used for packaging mostly suffice. However there are usually only two of us in the household and it's quite a faff tbh.

Liquid washing detergent. Much cheaper to use a big box of powder.

Netflix.

Posh olives. Only buy the noccellera ones as an occasional treat. They're nicer than ones in jars but twice the price.

DD often cuts my hair - it's a bob so she does a fine job imo.

Car washes. Washing the car on a day like today is a pleasant enough job really.

Fizzy drinks, except appletise. Cordial in sparkling water is delish.

Expensive moisturiser. Simple does the job.

@corblimeylove Are you saying floor cleaner is the same ingredient as multi surface sprays?

Pretty much everything - I look around my house now and see everything is simply resting here before ending up in landfill eventually.

I try to buy very little now - and the stuff I do buy comes from charity shop if possible.

I spend my money on stuff I really want or need - so recently I had a cut & colour, got a few school uniform bits and a Uniqlo cross body bag. A few months I got an instant pot/air fryer combo and I use that alot. But I try not to get sucked into buying random kitchen stuff.

I don't use fabric conditioner etc. My pet peeve is scented clothes wash - I really hate the smell. So I sourced the least scented product I could find which turns out to be own brand/basics powder from supermarket. Its cheap as chips, does a great job. No more scented Method etc for me.

I've just looked back through my spending for the last few months & I tend to spend on a few meals out, dancing/clubbing/shows with friends, a nice summer cocktail in a beach bar, gifts for friends etc, and bits for the kids. I buy more experiences rather than things. I get more of a thrill from getting Wordle in 3, than buying anything these days. I dread to think how much I frittered away in my 20's and 30's chasing a life I neither had nor really wanted.

I don't buy many clothes - a few items this summer, and some new exercise leggings etc but that is off the back of not buying anything for a couple of years. I mostly buy from small businesses and ethical clothing companies. When I do buy clothing I don;t spend huge sums but I do aim to buy quality - I don't really follow trends. I try and make my own clothing which I enjoy when I get the time.

I do keep thining I am hankering to buy handbags but I don't know why as I don't use them :) I have a Uniqlo cross body bag that is my go to now.

I do think F&B is great - it doesnt smell and it covers really well IME. 2 coats is always enough for fab coverage, and its great not having that paint smell.

I've never waxed - the most I have done is eyebrow threading which I am happy to pay for as there is no way I could do my eyebrows evenly.

Conditioner is the best for shaving legs etc.

@overdrawn would love to know what brand gel nails you use?? I've tried them in the past and just been uselsss at doing them. Total mess!!

Ours nearly had an orgasm when we chose F&B, he said it was the best on the market to work with. It’s an extravagance we’re sticking with.